Originally from The Northern Times (but chances are will not be there forever, hence the copy and paste): http://www.kapuskasingtimes.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3042537
This was quite the inspiring read about Marc-Andre’s guitar business back home! At least I was inspired to go out there and do something.
===
Strumming it up
Tanja Ingram-Paquette
Lutherie Dubosq Guitars has opened it’s doors next to the Royal Theatre and Marc-Andre Dubosq said he has a lot of ideas for his new business.
“I will hand build custom made acoustic and electric guitars,” said Mr. Dubosq. “As well I will repair and restore guitars and other stringed instruments. Eventually I would like to teach guitar lessons as well as a guitar building course so people can experience the overwhelming satisfaction of playing an instrument they built themselves.”
He added that he has been interested in music for as long as he can remember but when he reaches back into the recesses of his memory, searching for that triggering event, he find myself in the front row at his very first concert.
“It was Robert Paquette live at the Centre des Loisirs,” reminisced Mr. Dubosq. “The music was so wonderfully loud you could actually feel it in your core. My interest in all things music hasn’t let up since. I was taught to follow my dreams and so that is what I am doing. I come from a family of entrepreneurs (my parents have owned and operated La Boulangerie for many years now) and enjoyed the idea of being my own boss and turning my passion for music and guitar building into my livelihood.”
When he and his wife started to talk about the possibility of the business, Mr. Dubosq said the first thing that came to mind was Carpe Diem (Seize the Day).
“Why waste away in a job that provides little personal growth and self-actualization when you can take a risk and hopefully turn your passion into your livelihood,” said Mr. Dubosq. There are lots of opportunities out there and I for one was accepted on the Ontario Self-employment benefit program as well as the NOHFC entrepreneurship grants and also found financial backing from North Claybelt.”
Born and raised in Kapuskasing, Mr. Dubosq said he is truly “un gars du Nord” and wouldn’t trade places with anybody else in the world.
He was a teacher for eight years and although he enjoyed the work the reality of cutbacks and school closings was slightly unsettling.
“My wife and I had talked at length about embarking on a once in a lifetime adventure before starting our family (what we now know to be the biggest adventure of our lives),” said Mr. Dubosq. “My wife was just finishing a contract and I needed to officially quit my job to qualify for the entrepreneurship grants. The timing was impeccable. I found a guitar building course in Australia and so we decided to take a well deserved break from reality, satisfy our sense of adventure and most importantly learn the intricacies of guitar building from a renowned Master Luthier. Now back to reality our lives have been turned upside down. The construction of my workshop is complete and we’ve welcomed baby girl Zoé, the future spokesperson for Dubosq guitars, into our lives.”
Mr. Dubosq hopes to combine his love of teaching with his passion for music and guitar building first by teaching guitar playing lessons but also, and more importantly, he would like to teach a guitar building course so people can experience the overwhelming satisfaction of playing an instrument they built themselves.
There will be a grand opening for the store front later this spring but Mr. Dubosq will be building and repairing guitars in the interim. Once the store front is open the hours will be open weekdays (except Wednesdays) and Saturdays and will be available to the customer through phone or e-mail.