For 4 years my (now) husband and I have been trying to get to Australia, just to experience living outside of the US for a time, and, Hooray! We've finally made it. The original plan was for me to come and look for work/apprenticeship, (thus being able to go anywhere in the country) and he was going to work on screenplays and coding/programming on his own, but because fate is funny he had a job within 3 days of being here. :p Now that we have finally sorted out a place to live here in Sydney, it's time for me to hold up my end, and here seemed a good place to start, because otherwise I have no idea!
I graduated last year with a degree in cabinetmaking. After my schooling the only thing I was sure about was that I didn't want to make kitchen cabinets. (which we never really went into anyway- it was more of a fine woodworking education without being overly fancy) I arrived on these shores with the hope of gaining some luthier experience. I play Irish banjo and will one day branch out to 5 string, so that is honestly what I'm most keen on. I had emailed some banjo Aussie banjo makers before we came over here but never got any replies. Most of their websites haven't been updated since 2006ish anyway, so I don't even know if they're still around. Moot point really, as I don't know that there are any around Sydney.
Anyhow, thanks for reading. That was kind of long winded!
I haven't built an instrument, and will be sharing an apartment with 4 other people, (not including the husband) so getting a kit isn't really an option. I'm not particularly interested in taking a course to build a guitar, though if absolutely nothing pans out I suppose I will look into that as an option. What I am interested in is working with someone already making instruments. Guitars, Harps, Ukes, Dulcimers, doesn't matter to me. I will work for cheap- I will work for so cheap that I will work for free. I will happily push the broom. I just want to learn and explore this further. I'm friendly and reliable, and cheap, as I mentioned.
And, now tethered to the Sydney area as well, but I will train an hour out if I have to. I understand that many or most of you do this is your spare time, and do other things to pay the bills. Perhaps someone though is willing to take someone like me on, or knows of someone who would. I will also take other useful advice, because I have no idea where to start otherwise. I suppose my next course of action would be tracking down every instrument builder in the Sydney area through google and asking if they'd take an apprentice.
Anyhow, thanks for reading. That was kind of long winded! whew!
Just kidding I'm a lapsed Yank but now a staunch Aussie. More Americans should see the U.S. from afar.
