I wrote last fall that I’m declining custom orders. The reason was simple: they take a lot more time than builds where I consult no one but my muse.
But frankly, the sort of person who buys a custom Character Cue is the sort of person I like to know.
I don’t, on principle, like people.
However, I’ve noticed from talking to so many of you, there’s a common trace. Shared DNA. Self made, backs of steel, none of the victim mindset you see so much today. Movers and shakers. Dick swingers. Figuratively, of course, for those of you with *figures*.
Anyhow, I like you people and want to accommodate. Plus you’ve come up with some brilliant ideas for cues. So what I’ve decided to do is start the list.
**What to Understand: **
1. I work on one custom cue at a time. (I’m working on one now, the last order I took in the fall. There are two who have contacted me since I decided to start the list yesterday, so the next add is number 3.
2. The bulk of my time goes to my regular build schedule for cues that become available on the Hanging tab. I fit custom builds around that.
3. I work diligently, but promise no specific timeframe for quickly I will clear out the builds in front of yours.
4. I’ll update the Character Cues Facebook Group (join here) from time to time with what List Number’s build I’m working on.
5. To add your name to the list, please email me at clayton@charactercues.com. Include your phone number and what you know at this point about what you’re looking for in the build: butt, shaft, extension, type of cue, materials, colors, pin pref, etc. Consider the pricing here: https://charactercues.com/badass-your-way/
6. You can skip when your number comes.
7. If you don’t skip, we’ll spend time on email and/or the phone to flesh out the details. I’ll ask you for either a reference cue I’ve already made or a drawing with labels and measurements that you’ve made to define the build. This is imperative. You don’t need the drawing or reference cue to add your name to the list, but absolutely to proceed with the build once I reach out. Please spend time researching my sticks, woods, etc. The better you know how to ask for what you want, the more what you get is going to resemble what you had in your mind.
8. Once we know what I’m building you, I’ll create a product page for your cue with the details we agree on, and the price, with whatever payment plan we set.
9. Work begins when the payment plan starts.
10. When I build your cue, you get approval of the wood I use.
11. Cues hang 6 months after glue.
12. Cues are finished in the month after hanging 6 months, provided they are paid for. Otherwise we figure it out.
13. Thank you all very much.
My goal is to be able to work with folks who want to work with me, but do it in a way that doesn’t disrupt the work I’ve figured out how to do efficiently enough to pay the bills.
Please understand: It’s just me. I do everything between scouting the wood, harvesting/processing/drying/stabilizing, through every stage of building and finishing the cue, then packing and shipping. Life rebels at the idea of discipline and efficiency; the universe conspires to make things go any whichway but the way we plan. Because there are so many moving parts to running Character Cues, that dictates my only being able to do custom cues on a limited basis.
If you’d like to be added to the list, I am grateful for your business, I appreciate you more than you know, and I will build you the ass kickinest cue I am capable.
Please email me at clayton@charactercues.com with the info I requested above, and I’ll respond with your list number.
Thank you all, and God bless.
Clayton