In the world we live in, image is everything. Some say my image is country western, a little bit of cutting loose, and a touch of Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills.
The reality is that I'm just a Texas transplant who loves the smell of burning welding rod, building bikes, expensive cowboy boots, Stetson hats, and looking sharp. The only horses I tend are the iron ones I build in my 2,500-square-foot shop that's outfitted with all the tools I need; however, what I love best is getting to show off my creations at the various bike shows around the country. In this business it takes a strong image to be successful. Don't get me wrong, though-when it's time to shape and bend metal, I look and smell like the business end of an overworked cattle dog. But nevertheless, image is a very important part of this industry. I see a lot of folks staking claims in the name of "bike builder" but who lack the genuine personality that spawns a true image. Instead we get a posse of Jesse James clones going around with twisted ball caps and wearing Pendletons. And what's up with the short pants hanging halfway down your ass with your boxers heading the other direction? I don't mean to offend anyone, but if you're wondering why someone isn't handing you $50,000 to start building him or her a custom bike, take a quick assessment of what they're looking at. A builder's image is the direct reflection of his/her environment, and to have a successful business you had better look successful.
I've learned that we all have a deep desire to be important, a craving to be appreciated, and it's this desire that drives us to build the craziest bikes, wear the coolest clothes we can get our hands on, or make our choppers set the bar even higher. It's this desire that also lures us into joining a gang or engaging in criminal activity, doing drugs, and drinking mass amounts of alcohol. I made this mistake. I did my time and was released in 1993, only to end up in rehab in 1999, but I'm proud to say I've been clean and sober since. How you get your "feeling of importance" is what you are, and that determines your character. This will help define the image you portray to other people.
I love being a part of the motorcycle industry and the privilege of contributing to the many personalities and faces it wears, but, like all industries, it isn't immune to the economics of the world. We have been experiencing the closure of many businesses and shops in the past few months and probably will see a few more closures before it's all said and done. I don't really understand the reasons behind all these closures, but I am grateful that things are still going well for me. So far this year I have had the opportunity to build three customs, all around the $45,000 to $55,000 mark. My business didn't start off that way, but I believe that all my forthright honesty, diligent hard work, and good old-fashioned ethics formed my character, which established an image that has helped me achieve success at this level. I sincerely wish success to everyone who reads this article. So let's pull together as an industry-a community, if you will-and start changing the course of our industry.
Here is my challenge: Let our image be that of honesty, friendship, and caring. Let's lift one another up to encourage each other to be successful and help fellow bike builders get the recognition they may deserve instead of insulting them behind their backs. Give words of praise and appreciation and gratefulness that we have the freedom to do what we do and an industry that supports it. Your bike-building competitor is not the enemy, so let's stop treating each other as if we're bike gods, put away the "rock star" attitude, and recapture the creative environment that was so off the charts in the late '60s and early '70s. If we all strive to have successful attitudes and put our best foot forward, it will be interesting to see what "image" the motorcycle industry will be wearing in the next 10 years. That being said, rest assured that if I have the opportunity to personally meet with you, I will greet you with a Texas hand shake and a "How the hell are things going?"
Hope to see you all at a show soon showing off your latest creations.
'Til then, your fellow builder, David Anthony
Check out my new web address:www.davidanthonycustoms.com