Spencer
” The " I need it back for a tourney", or whatever in a week was more stressful than I wanted it to be”

I suggest you take control of the situation, and inform them that you repair/build rods in the order that they are received, and that if they want it back by such and such?

That it will require an extra fee because you will have to work over time to get it done because you cannot justify putting off other customers that had made previous arrangements for their rods.
That way if they truly want it, you are at least making enough on it to justify the stress. But in most cases you will find that they are willing to wait the extra time.

Simply double the fee you normally charge them and make it worth your time.

I balance my rods by assembling the rings and reel seat on the rod before glue-up. I put on the reel and see how it balances for my own taste and preference. If it is too tip heavy, I add a ring or two to the handle; and the reverse if too butt heavy. When I am satisfied, I glue it up.

Sometimes the 'balance point' seems to take up too much of the fishable end of the rod so I just get it close...and try to find that other 'balance' between how the rod feels and it's usefulness to me for the type of fishing I want to do with it.

Bottom line, the rod has to feel good to me; and I never catch fish on a rod I don't like to use.

Les