I have some business related questions, opinions and comments wanted!

Let me tell you a story.

back in the late '70s or early '80s I had a friend that was deep into Harleys. A lot of us were back then. There was a shop in N cal that I would pick up work at for a few years, never a full time employee because it didn't fit my schedule. Anyway this fella was a musician by trade but he worked as the service manager for the harley shop in question for awhile. I ask him one day why he quit working at the shop and he said, " Ya know bikes are my life but music is my living."

Sometimes what you do for cash and what you enjoy doing are two exactly different things. Once you start doing something for cash it is a job not a hobby.

 

EXPOSURE. I don't know what the competition is like in your area but definitely don't kill the goose that's laying golden eggs for you. Do both. Car clubs are always looking for activities so contact car clubs as a guest speaker and tell them about the range of services you provide along with a nice visual presentatiion of your work. Assure them that you will provide them the high quality service and workmanship no matter what the clientel.

 

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In 1971 there was a great little local upholstery shop that got a good write up in Hot Rod for their high quality work for the latest best selling small pu of the time. He just couldn't kept up and raised his prices so much it forced him out of work. He made a come back by offering the same product as a kit, but Sorry to say his shop folded and he drifted to another shop.
Follow your passions, but be able to pay the bills first.

 

If I may make a suggestion, take a lesson from the car makers. Brand both sides of your business seperately, Chevy, Buick, Caddy - Ford, Lincoln - Toyota, Lexus. The basic skill sets to construct a custom interior are the same, the difference being in the design. I would brand a traditional interior business apart from your current trade. The shop, equipment, materials and craftsmen can cross over. If the traditional business reaches a scale where it can solo, you can sell the street rod business and retain the traditonal business you prefer. If not, you can pay the bills with street rod interiors and "pepper the ragou" with the occasional traditional job to dispel the thoughts of suicide. As several posters noted, you need to have a presence, people won't hire you if they can't find you. If your current portfolio doesn't represent your capabilities for traditional style interiors, then be prepared to offer a rendering of what you propose to validate your grasp of the "traditional" genre. Buona Fortuna!

 

Move to southern nevada. We need people like you here.
Good luck with your choice man!

 

You could have a charge scale based on the type of work. Charge a fair amount for the work you want to do and way overcharge for the work you don't want to do. That would take care of most of it, but if someone really wants your skills for a job you don't really want to do, at least you're getting paid well for it.

 

I think I'd hire someone to do the work I didn't like so I could concentrate on the work I liked.
Bad time in this economy to turn down work. Gotta keep the reputation going.

 

Hate to say it but on rereading your original post I can't help thinking you are a little bit spoiled.

In this day and age of high unemployment, 50,000 jobs being sent overseas every month, familites losing their jobs and homes, one in 7 Americans on food stamps. The fact that you have your own business, that is doing well, you are doing the kind of work you like, making good $$$$ bucks, but you feel hard done by because it isn't EXACTLY the kind of work you like, well..... maybe it is time to count your blessings and think how lucky you are.

Maybe you just need to get away for a while and take a vacation.

 

Reminds me of the old saying, "If you love what you do for a living, you never go to work". I kinda' agree with Rusty O'Toole though. In this economy it's strange to hear someone bitchin' about the TYPE of work they're doing, especially when you do it so DAMN good. But I hear ya'.
As for getting a rod together for yourself, (or your wife) if I were in your shoes, I'd be bartering with other Hot Rodders to get a rod put together. Swap upholstery work with a chassis guy, an engine guy, and a body guy. You'll have yourself a Hot Rod in no time.

 

Don't over analyze or you'll end up not doing anything. Just go and sooner or later it will fall into place. "Are you driving your business...or, is it driving you...crazy!?"

 

Boy, I can't say enough how true that statement is. Loving your job and loving your hobby are two entirely different things. It's important to like what you do for a living, but you have to put up with a lot of stuff that just comes with any business. With a hobby, you really don't have to put up with anything you don't want to.

I've been playing music for years. I liked it so much that I thought I'd like to do it professionally. For the most part it was exciting, but I had to learn to live with a certain amount of pressure and frustration that I never experienced when I did music for a hobby. Ultimately what happened is the experience changed forever how I look and feel about making music. I no longer respond to music as spontaneously as I use to.

 

Trading work for a traditional rod is a good idea, but would probably take awhile....how about shop around for an unfinished car that rings your bell....do the interior, etc. in your way, and cruise....real quick deal and advertising you can be proud of....