Haze Guitars and COVID-19 Update
During the initial COVID-19 lockdown period, I cancelled upcoming appointments and closed the books on new ones. In common with many people, this meant my income pretty much disappeared.
Now, I’m not in bad shape and am able to weather this for a while. Not everyone’s so fortunate, I know. However, the situation has prompted some considerable contemplation. And, the short version of all this thought is:
I’m keeping Haze Guitars closed for a while longer.
Because I feel I owe you some explanation, I’ll try to justify my thinking here.
First off, the uncertainty of the COVID situation is difficult to manage. We’re all aware of the proposed roadmap to ‘reopening’ but each stage depends on sufficient progress being made in slowing the virus’ transmission. At any point, the rug could be pulled from under us, leaving us back in lockdown. Then I end up emailing dozens of people and cancelling dozens of appointments again.
Secondly, my working time is more constrained and less flexible right now. My children are off school and child-minding is out for the foreseeable future. As any of you who have begun home-schooling will know, there’s a challenging chunk of work there. Even when not actively schooling, kids take some looking after so I have less ‘clear’ working time available to me.
Thirdly, my workshop is at my home. Also at my home is my family. They’re not going anywhere for some time. This makes me the primary virus risk as I deal with customers. Of course, I can take precautions and work out some contactless handover, but, while the risk is likely low, it’s something I have to think about.
Lastly, and I’ll be honest, this is a biggie, I’ve had to take a pretty hard look at Haze Guitars. Let me try to explain:
I’m self-employed. When I don’t work, I don’t earn anything. This is something I’ve known all along but, being an idiot human, it’s something I’ve mostly put to the back of my head. Well, over the last weeks, COVID has hammered it front and centre in my mind.
Most of my income is direct: It’s essentially I-fix-thing-I-get-money. Recent events have shown me I need a backup. Over the last few weeks, any time that wasn’t teaching fractions to my son or trying to remember basic Irish grammar, I’ve been working on that backup.
This, combined with all of the other things conspiring against a ‘normal’ working environment, have persuaded me that maybe it’s best to continue as is. I’m taking a hit, but at least I’m working towards a buffer for the future and I’m avoiding some of the COVID complications.
So, the upshot of all of this is that I believe makes sense for me to keep Haze Guitars closed for another while. I realise that this is somewhat selfish and that those reading this probably just want their guitar fixed. I’m sorry. I know this is a pain in the arse for you, and I’m sorry. It just feels like the right thing for me and for my family right now.
Part of this decision is forced and made for me but part of it is my realising that it’s something I have to do. While there’s never a good time not to work, the current time, at least, comes with additional incentives that have contributed to my decision.
I’m sure that other repair shops will be operational as normal and I will absolutely not be offended if you take your business to them. I don’t expect anyone to wait on an open-ended delay like this. I understand completely. If you need it, let me know and I’ll try make a recommendation to you.
If you like, I’d be very happy to let you know when Haze Guitars has returned to normal operation. Just drop me a line at the contact page and I'll email when I’m returning Haze Guitars to something like normal.
I’m sorry.
Thank you.
