The Big Time
 

Hey, at least one Chimney Sweep made the big time!

"You run with this crowd, you’re expected to be swimming in cash.

Not sweeping chimneys. Or still bunking at your parents’.

“People think because I play baseball, I have a lot of money,” said Phil Coke(notes), the Yankees’ rookie left-hander who spent one offseason working as a chimney sweep in his hometown of Sonora, Calif."



http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_yl...yhoo&type=lgns

Re: The Big Time
 

You know i'm interested clue me in on the history of Chimney sweeps.

Re: The Big Time
 

Here are a few pics from our National Convention followed by a short historical story.

http://www.chimneysweeps.net/History...ney_Sweeps.php

This site has some good info too.http://www.gascoals.net/Library/Arti...5/Default.aspx

AND... If you are really interested... Here is the best documentary on the History Of British Sweeps - British Chimney Sweeps: Five Centuries of Chimney Sweeping - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/156...27108?n=283155

Re: The Big Time
 

Reminds me.....I need to call me a chimney sweep!

Re: The Big Time
 

My half sisters husband started a chimney cleaning/repair business back int he 70's. Everyone thought he was a loon for doing it.

They bought a home on an island in North Carolina a couple years back with the retirement money he got from that business along with his other job. There aren't a lot of chimney sweeps/repairmen around so if you are in the business, you can make good money. Supply and demand is an awesome thing.

Re: The Big Time
 

That is true, compared to other trades, but not so much in my case... there are five companies in my area of the Lake of the Ozarks region (pop 60,000).

I am getting 75% of my business from direct referral - from individuals, repeat, and networking with related businesses. Also, we are strictly professional in our presentation and workmanship... my competition - not so much. (at least most of them :) ) They are scheduled a few days in advance. We charge a bit more and are scheduled to the 15th of Dec. for service calls and installations. Like any trade one learns many "tricks" to make the job easier and more profitable as time goes on. It has been over 22 years since I started out.

At any rate, I make a decent living, but have no fantasies of great wealth or retirement on an island!

One down side, this seems to be a very litigious business. When things do go wrong the Homeowners Insurance attorneys are looking to sue the last person who touched the fireplace.

Interesting about your brother in law. Where was his company?

Re: The Big Time
 

Sheesh! $74,000 for a photo of a sweep! You could have my picture and half of my right arm for that!

http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/l...jectID=5236779

Re: The Big Time
 

Better call a week or two before you expect them to show!

Re: The Big Time
 

I hope he does well. I like the under dog; which is why I generally don't like the Yankees, but who knows?