I so wish I didn't have to pay for a wedding and a house this comming year.
This sounds like an awesome opportunity.
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| Author: | Brock Poling [ Wed Dec 06, 2006 6:56 am ] |
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This is something pretty spectacular. As some of you may (or may not know) I have spent some time learning guitar making from Frank Finocchio. He is just a great guy, a wonderful teacher, and is very knowledgable on all fronts. He called me yesterday to tell me he is offering an INLAY workshop at his shop in Easton, PA from May 14 - May 18 2007. He is hosting a special instructor --- GRIT LASKIN. Yes, you heard me right. You could learn inlay from Grit. The cost is $2,500 for the full five days (and I believe this covers materials, but you should confirm that). And be aware THERE ARE ONLY 6 SPOTS AVAILABLE FOR THIS CLASS. If you are interested give Frank a call at 610.258.5154. Make sure you tell him that you heard about this from me. |
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| Author: | JBreault [ Wed Dec 06, 2006 8:12 am ] |
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I so wish I didn't have to pay for a wedding and a house this comming year. This sounds like an awesome opportunity.
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| Author: | JBreault [ Wed Dec 06, 2006 8:19 am ] |
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Just to clarify my last post...I'm not upset at getting married and buying a house. I'm upset at having to pay for them.  I guess I need to win the lottery soon.
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| Author: | Don Williams [ Wed Dec 06, 2006 8:36 am ] |
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<sigh>
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| Author: | Brock Poling [ Wed Dec 06, 2006 8:44 am ] |
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you know Don... if you cut loose a little of the BRW pile you are hording you could make that happen.... |
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| Author: | LuthierSupplier [ Wed Dec 06, 2006 8:53 am ] |
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[QUOTE=Brock Poling] you know Don... if you cut loose a little of the BRW pile you are hording you could make that happen.... [/QUOTE] Brock, Talk about throwing salt on an open wound  We all love Don's stash of BRW!
Tracy |
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| Author: | JohnAbercrombie [ Wed Dec 06, 2006 11:28 am ] |
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Nice to see the 'starving luthier' tradition is gone! $3000/day for teaching is pretty good! ( I guess Laskin is charging $150k + to apprentice these days.) Wait till the Nobel laureates catch on and start charging the going rate for lectures! If you like this idea, perhaps you'd be interested in the "Learn to Paint like David Hockney" one-day class- coming soon. John |
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| Author: | Brock Poling [ Wed Dec 06, 2006 12:58 pm ] |
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first off... it is a 5 day class. Second, this reminds me of a story. A woman runs into Pablo Picasso at a restaurant and goes over and fawns all over him. "Oh Mr. Picasso, Mr. Picasso... please please please sketch something for me... anything. Please." He agrees. Whips out his pad and pencil and sketches something for her and hands her the completed work in 2 minutes. She is thrilled and asks what she owes him. $9,000 he replies. $9,000!!!! she exclaims but it only took you 2 minutes!!!! ... to which he replies... No Madame.... it took me a LIFETIME. ... maybe you want to think about that story before you make another post like this... huh? |
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| Author: | JohnAbercrombie [ Wed Dec 06, 2006 1:47 pm ] |
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I guess the subtle approach didn't work- this was my point: 1) If you have the artistic talent that Laskin does, you don't need a class from him. There's nothing technically different about his work- it's the concepts and the artwork that are outstanding. 2) If you don't have the talent, you won't produce work like his, no matter how fat your wallet. Fools and their money are easily parted, as the saying goes. 3) If I liked that sort of thing, and could afford it, I'd have no problem buying/commissioning some of Laskin's work (like the Picasso sketch, get it?) at his going rate- his instruments are stunning. 4) I doubt that Laskin costs his inlay jobs- inlay and lutherie (not teaching) are his areas of expertise, right?- at $400+/hour (the rate the class is being charged) but I could well be wrong on that. I'm just in 'old geezer mode' - sitting around complainin' about how expensive everything is, I guess! John |
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| Author: | Josh H [ Wed Dec 06, 2006 2:15 pm ] |
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If you don't have Grit's book on Inlay I would highly recommend it. It is interesting that he said he was not artistic before he got into doing inlay. If I remember right he couldn't even draw. But he taught himself how to draw from a book and over time developed the skills that have made him famous. I sure wish I had the money and time to do the course, but I'm a starving luthier which means that I don't. Learning from him would be worth every penny. josh |
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| Author: | fryovanni [ Wed Dec 06, 2006 4:04 pm ] |
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There is no way I would be able to afford or get that kind of time off from work . I am really hoping that one of these days I can attend one of Charles Fox's classes. Given that his classes are held within a 10 min. drive from my house. I may be able to work it into my schedule.
Anywho.... I ran across this little video(a member of the project guitar board posted the link). Kinda cool Grit vid.-Video Peace,Rich |
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| Author: | John Mayes [ Wed Dec 06, 2006 5:08 pm ] |
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If I had the time and the money There is no doubt this would be worth it. Knowledge is priceless and it something no one can take from you. I could easily spend $2500 on a POS car and it would be gone in a couple years...the learning and education taken from this would last forever |
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| Author: | JohnAbercrombie [ Wed Dec 06, 2006 5:45 pm ] |
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[QUOTE=John Mayes] If I had the time and the money There is no doubt this would be worth it. Knowledge is priceless and it something no one can take from you. I could easily spend $2500 on a POS car and it would be gone in a couple years...the learning and education taken from this would last forever[/QUOTE] Good point. Is there any price where you would feel the knowledge wasn't 'worth it' ? I'm just trying to get 'in tune' here... John |
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| Author: | Colin S [ Wed Dec 06, 2006 9:37 pm ] |
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Well I think it's expensive, 6 X $2500 = $15000 / 5 = $3000/day. Nice work if you can get it, he may be good, even so. I didn't know that Frank Finocchio or Grit Laskin were OLF Sponsors, I know Craig Lavin and Paul Bordeaux are. Colin |
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| Author: | Billy T [ Wed Dec 06, 2006 10:47 pm ] |
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[quote]The cost is $2,500 for the full five days [/quote] As I see it, $500/day not $2500/day. |
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| Author: | Brock Poling [ Thu Dec 07, 2006 12:16 am ] |
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[QUOTE=Colin S] Well I think it's expensive, 6 X $2500 = $15000 / 5 = $3000/day. Nice work if you can get it, he may be good, even so. I didn't know that Frank Finocchio or Grit Laskin were OLF Sponsors, I know Craig Lavin and Paul Bordeaux are. Colin[/QUOTE] Yeah, there is some serious math problems here. It is 2500 for a 5 day class, why is that so hard to get? And neither of them are sponsors. I thought this was an amazing opportunity and the community would be interested. Next time I get info like this I will keep it to myself. 
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| Author: | JBreault [ Thu Dec 07, 2006 12:48 am ] |
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The price is about right for many one week classes. I know that when the IT departement at the college here send me to professional training, it can cost that much. I am baffled by the confusion here. Wasn't Erwin's class about the same cost too? Brock, I do tink this is an amazing opportunity to get a two in one education. I met Grit briefly at Newport and he seemed a real nice, down to earth fellow. Please continue to share this type of knowledge when you come across it. |
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| Author: | LanceK [ Thu Dec 07, 2006 2:14 am ] |
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Man, I wish I had the time to do this... I for one would consider learning from an Icon such as Grit a chance in a life time. There are a lot of great teachers out there, but when you can identify them by first name, Grit, Ervin, Charles, there is something special to be said. 5 Days for 2500.00 PLEASE! That's a bargain! |
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| Author: | Colin S [ Thu Dec 07, 2006 2:33 am ] |
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[QUOTE=Brock Poling] [QUOTE=Colin S] Well I think it's expensive, 6 X $2500 = $15000 / 5 = $3000/day. Nice work if you can get it, he may be good, even so. I didn't know that Frank Finocchio or Grit Laskin were OLF Sponsors, I know Craig Lavin and Paul Bordeaux are. Colin[/QUOTE] Yeah, there is some serious math problems here. It is 2500 for a 5 day class, why is that so hard to get? And neither of them are sponsors. I thought this was an amazing opportunity and the community would be interested. Next time I get info like this I will keep it to myself. [/QUOTE]
Brock, I don't have any maths problems. The $3000/day is what Finocchio/Laskin are receiving from the six students. As I said $3000/day is good money if you can get it. A little simpler each student is paying $500 per day, there are six students so that means they are paying in total $3000 per day. OK? Colin |
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| Author: | Mike Crocker [ Thu Dec 07, 2006 2:44 am ] |
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Agreed, his book is fantastic! Well, Mr. Laskin isn't likely to do this for free. He'll need to make at least as much as he would in the shop on any regular day or it costs him, and it's doubtful that he won't suffer overhead expenses. Travel, meals, lodging, tools and supplies, instructional materials, may figure into costs, not to mention time, insurance, border hassles...Bet his actual take home pay will be worthwhile but not quite what the preceding math would indicate. Guess I'm envious of the skill and ability that allows the guy to do what he does, and envious of anyone who can afford to pay for it. So far as I'm concerned, he's earned the right to charge what the market will accept. Mike |
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| Author: | Don Williams [ Thu Dec 07, 2006 3:28 am ] |
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[QUOTE=LanceK] Man, I wish I had the time to do this... [/QUOTE] Stop taking so many orders for guitars! [QUOTE=LanceK] There are a lot of great teachers out there, but when you can identify them by first name, Grit, Ervin, Charles, there is something special to be said.[/QUOTE] Right on... but you forgot Al... [QUOTE=LanceK]5 Days for 2500.00 PLEASE! That's a bargain![/QUOTE] Yes it is. If you were to pay Tiger Woods to teach a golfing seminar for a week, what would you expect to pay for it? Or how about asking Bill Gates to speak about business at a week-long seminar? Grit is at the top of the field. Those kind of rates are normal in business for a week long seminar with the absolute leader of an industry. I've seen it many times. Why should this field be viewed as anything less? |
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| Author: | Dave-SKG [ Thu Dec 07, 2006 3:37 am ] |
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I think this is a fabulous opportunity. Learning from someone who's made all the mistakes (and all else that goes with experience) is priceless. Think about all the ruined headplates, fretboards, MOP and the rest of supplies that will be saved. Besides...then you can tell everyone your beautiful artwork was inspired by a class you took with the Master himself! I am seriously considering going...I figure my cost after air, car, hotel and the class s/b around 5K, I know people who spend more than that at the dog track! ( not me...I don't even go there). THANKS Brock for bringing this to our/my attention 
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| Author: | JohnAbercrombie [ Thu Dec 07, 2006 4:42 am ] |
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[QUOTE} Those kind of rates are normal in business for a week long seminar with the absolute leader of an industry. I've seen it many times. Why should this field be viewed as anything less? [/QUOTE] Well, uh, uh... I guess I was thinking about folks who would actually be paying out of their own pockets for the course. In the business world, the inflated costs for 'seminars' are passed on to the customer and/or used to reduce the taxes paid, so the rest of society is footing the bill. That's why business people generally don't care much about the price (or value). I must be delusional, but I didn't think Grit Laskin's yearly income (aka value for time) was in the same range as Bill Gates. I guess I was wrong, as many folks seem to feel that $10k (after 5k 'expenses') per week is his usual rate. $500,000 USD per annum will certainly make him the highest-paid luthier in Canadian history. |
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| Author: | LanceK [ Thu Dec 07, 2006 6:18 am ] |
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John, I don't really think it matters what the cost of the class is - if someone (anyone) is willing to pay it, then it is, with out question, worth the price. We have had discussions here at the OLF about the cost of custom guitars, some builders out there are getting 20K plus per instrument, are there guitars worth that much? Darn right they are! If they were not, they would not be getting that price for them. If Grit could get 10K for a ONE day class I say more power to him! I also feel that publicly degrading the value of ones worth is not a very nice thing to be doing. If you don't feel Grits class is worth 2500.00, fine, that is OK! And you have every right to have your opinion. But is there really anything positive coming from trying to convince others that its not? |
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| Author: | JohnAbercrombie [ Thu Dec 07, 2006 6:34 am ] |
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We should take this discussion to the 'Off Topic' area if we want to continue. Sorry I got folks off track! Back to making money... John |
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