An open letter to the apprentices at the Arques School

April 2001

Rob Thompson

My name is Rob Thompson and I completed my apprenticeship at the Arques School about two years ago. Since then I have moved out to Vermont and set up a small shop on my own. I was writing back and forth with Bob a few days ago (as I often do when I need some help on a new project) and it became apparent that many of you have the same concerns and questions about what may come next, as I did while I was apprenticing. This is of course an obvious statement, anyone involved with an education of this sort must wonder where it can take them and how they will get there. I can’t answer those questions, they are far too individual, and my experience is far too limited. But I would like to offer up what little experience I have had in hopes that it might be helpful.

As I said, I set up shop on my own almost immediately after leaving California. Breaking out on my own was a difficult route to go and I might have been better off working for a yard or established shop first, but I didn’t. Regardless of that, getting to work right away was a good choice, it would have been to easy to let skills and discipline slip if I had just waited around for something to happen. This is my first suggestion: develop a plan of what you will do after you graduate, have a definite goal in mind and begin work toward it as you near completion of your year.

Having set up on my own, I found it in my best interest to stay diversified. Most of my energy goes into boat work, but I also make furniture, do some woodturning, and even a little general carpentry to make ends meet. I am doing all of this not only to pay the bills, but to get exposure and develop a name for myself in a new community. That seems to be essential, almost all of my work comes through referrals from a few hard-won clients. I get these referrals because of a work ethic that I employ in whatever I do: do the job well and do the job fast. People expect things to be done right; but they want things done yesterday. The closer you can come to meeting these unreasonable demands the more return business you will have. I have been told this by clients time and again.

There is also the fact that young or less experienced craftspeople will either be employed for less by a owner/boss or must be willing to work for less on their own until they become established. You will probably have to sell your work for less than it is really worth at first. For me this has meant I have to have a high output of finished goods to stay financially viable. If I allowed myself to work at a more leisurely rate, I just could not make it. The fact of the matter is if I want to do this work as my profession I must be dedicated to working hard and fast. I can only slow down if I decide to make it a hobby.

Accordingly this would be my second suggestion: develop the discipline to do fast focused work now while you have the opportunity, so that when you do leave you won’t have to take that additional handicap while developing the necessary speed. It will make you more valuable to yourself and any employer.

In a more general picture-It is definitely a tight market right now, but there are people out there buying boats, and other quality craftwork. Marketing is important, and I am paying now for not realizing that earlier. Even good work won’t sell itself. My overall strategy has been to keep my over-head low so that I can get by during lean times. But always stay busy. If I don’t have definite jobs on hand I build small boats or pieces of furniture on speculation. It keeps skills sharp and hopefully you will get paid for those hours in the future.

I hope some of this may be useful, and I wish you all the best of luck with the program and your efforts after. If anyone wants to talk in more detail about something Bob has my contact info.

Take care, Rob Thompson, Windfall Woodworks, Autumn 2000