posted
now that the international meet is over (which i was very bummed that i couldn't attend), i was reminiscing about all the meets that i had been to. ahhhh, the meteorites...
i was thinking about all the really funny, cool, inspiring, stupid, rude, ignorant, and just plain goofiness that i have seen at letterhead meets... some of these may be funny only because of the people involved or maybe it was just the atmosphere... who knows...
the time i showed up at a meet 3-4 hours late because " i don't need no stinkin' map"...
like the time some people bought super soaker water guns and ran around the town and squirted the bejeepers out of everyone...
the time someone brought their dalmatian to a meet and it left a big "doggie donut" out in the parking lot and the owner felt it was beneath him to clean it up....
the time when we were all lining up for the group photo and we had a whole line of people on a plank in the back row and we kept squeezing more people up there until the last guy in the line got pushed off the edge...
the time we were at a medieval dinner and the one guy called the waitress a "serving wench" in a totally authentic sounding english voice... just before she gave such a smack...
the time when someone got caught taking two cases of one shot half pints out to his van because it was "donated for people to use"...
how about going to eat mexican food in an american style steak house run by chinese...
ever watch mike lavalee work? truly inspiring...
speaking of mike... my greatest memory of a letterhead meet was when i was at the "lucky seven" meet in rochester... i had really worked hard on a project panel for it. it looked like a piece of an airplane skin that was torch cut off the plane. it had 180 rivets all arranged just like a real piece would have been. it was so much work and i had a special place all picked out in my house where i was going to hang it. mike was holding it in his hands and told me it was one of the coolest things he had ever seen and then asked if he could have it.... who could say no?
the time we put a "for sale" sign on someone's truck (at the waffle house) and someone actually followed him down the road wanting to buy it...
singing karaoke at a meet up in canada... well, if you heard me singing ....
all the really cool people i have met and the really good friends i have made...
well... those are the one's that come to mind for now. maybe i will think of some more later.
oh... and don't forget about some poultry thing happening sometime in september somewhere in alabama.... i am sure someone will blatently post excessively and remind us.
have a great one!
------------------ Bruce Bowers DrCAS Signtech
"how great are His signs..." Daniel 4:3
i am a proud supporter of this website!
[This message has been edited by Steve Shortreed (edited August 10, 2001).]
Posts: 6451 | From: Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Registered: Jun 1999
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posted
An impromptu dessert sculpting contest errupted on the Saturday night function at the restaurant at the meet I hosted. The craze spread too quickly to see where it started but I have strong suspicions it was a known perp by the name of David Hadley. David
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tryin to get every to agree on a spot for the group photo at commerace..everybodys a photographer, and all were to lazy to walk 50 yrds up the road....wont go to a meet in the winter...after mongomery...closed building and everybody smokes....coughed and hacked for a week after that one...
posted
...like the time when 5'7" mick chucked 6'5" cookie (his best mate) over the bar, the shocked look on cookies face was priceless ...like the time when rob had his off-sider stay away from the awards dinner on the saturday night just to pack flour, food colouring and water into balloons to chuck at devo from a great height ...like the letterhead olympic hopscotch on the brand new concrete slab that turned into 'lets airbrush the floor" when everyone was wire'd waiting for the meet to start ...like the loverly Mrs Butler trying desparatly to work out what i it was that those silly ozzies were saying in that strange but delightfull accent ...like devo geting on tv in the mid-west cause of the same silly accent ... like steve's explanation of what a letterhead is at the canadian border ...like finding out what 'real men' wear under their kilts (thanks stuart) ...like dancing with doc (i almost needed a doctor ofter that) ...like ahhh, well just like every special moment spent with the best friends in the world, LETTERHEADS!
ps: like seeing Mr & Mrs Bowers together in real life... before they got to be Mr & Mrs
cheers gail
------------------ on chat T2
Gail & Dave NSW Australia
taurus@kooee.com.au
sumtimes ya just gota!
Posts: 794 | From: 552 O'Regans Creek Rd Toogoom Qld 4655 Australia | Registered: Nov 1998
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Well I have only been to two meets. Both of them were awesome. At the last meet my buddy Cicso and I decided to go out to dinner....then right across the street there was a blues club playing some dynamite blues. So........off we went. I LOVE blues. Dancing was great fun. Then Cisco asks if I have ever tried a slammer. Nope. Never tried one. So SURE.....bring one on. I slammed it alright. (the first one I slammed half on the counter, so I had to have another.) Dang those slammers were alright!!I am not a big drinker...and......I felt so stupid the next day. Here I was with all these great Letterheads.....Steve and Barb....Mike Langeuin and many others......and I was feeling like you know what. Eyes all red....hair all messed up......so THAT was not a real bright thing to do at a meet. But it was fun..... Next time NO TEQUILA slammers for me. But thanks for the dances Cisco. We were burnin' that floor baby!
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When Sam and I missed the last morning at the Banff meet because 'we had been busy jogging and working out all morning...', is that the way the story went Sam? OK, we really slept in cuz Sam, Mac, Sonny, Lazy Edna all wanted 4am pizza sitting on MY bed the night before.
posted
Oh gee! It would have to be a certain, very drunk...I say,very drunk Newfoundlander guy who, in front of a small group of us chatting at the Walljam meet.....tried to 'hit' on Dave Butler!! It took a moment or two to figure out just what the guy was trying to imply........well, it's understandable...afterall, Dave is a cutie! A
OH! And Mike Lavalee's story about an unfortunate female student that was a victim of a natural 'gassing' accident (ahem!) You'll have to ask him about it. He had us all in tears in Boise!
------------------ Adrienne Morgan Splash Signs "Wherever you go...there you are!" www.splashsigns.com "Rainkatt'on chat
posted
...can you imagine watchin somebody come into a meet and shake a few hands and get drug to a plywood mule, so they can sign it?
...even better, watch em jump out of their shorts when somebody (ahem) whipped on the water faucet which was strung up behind the mule...in a manner that would lead you to believe the mule was..(ahem) goin no. 1? (Can we say that here Stevo?)
I'll say one thing for sure...alabamians know how to have fun with critters, all the fun the law allows, anyway. (I figured that's why they were all plywood, couldn't reproduce.)
(Is there anybody in Letterheads that has not seen Steve's red thong?...didn't think so...hehehe.)
posted
And how priceless will it be when about 20 people all slip Pat King a pair of paint splattered drawers, saying..."Hey dude, you left these at my meet!"
------------------ PEACE SIGNS Big on Murals and Tight on Camera Ready!
"With every breath, we have a choice." --Linda Silver Eagle Georgia, USA
posted
I was just remembering the terrified expression on the face of Steve Shortreed. There were around thirty of us that drove many miles, parked and entered this all you can eat sushi restaurant. Shortreed's went in an looked at the selection, and had this look of a mixture of terror and confusion, and then dissappeared to a more to their suiting steak house.
------------------ The SignShop Mendocino, California "Where the Redwoods meet the Surf"
Posts: 6718 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
What about the time at a mexican steakhouse owned by some chinease people who sold a Letterhead a metal lite beer dragster promo sign that they had put up on their drywall and painted walls with double sided tape, and told the purchaser to take it down himself....
Repair of the drywall was probably more than they charged for the sign.
But it looks good in my...er..his office.
At my meet this last April, I got a kick out of seeing several people make cool backgrounds on panels. THe happiness and joy these people experienced for making something so neet the first time was well worth the headaches of putting on a meet.
SAM Signs "At old Hose House No. 8" 931 W. Columbia street Evansville,Indiana 47710 812-437-5367 Home of the: "Brush Fire at the Hose House" Letterhead Meet April 27-29th,2001
"Chaos, panic, disorder - my work here is done."
[This message has been edited by Steve Shortreed (edited August 10, 2001).]
Posts: 1100 | From: Evansville,Indiana, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Well, I've only been to a handful of meets but the wildest thing I saw was at Greg Reid's in Seattle. And ice cream truck came around and he lived to regret it. While people kept him busy with orders and questions, basically stalling tactics, the pinstripers where having a field day with his truck. They covered the back, passenger side and actually got some of the front without the driver noticing ! I think he was a few scoops short of a full cone. He did notice later on, or perhaps someone complemented him on the new design motiff, and he came back...with a posse of Seattle's PD in tow. Some of them were amused and some of them were not so amused. We bought out his stock and managed to get the truck cleaned up so one went to jail or had their "weapons" confiscated.
posted
At Letterheads on Main Street watching Alton Guilepse sign his micro signature on the sign-in board (approx 1/16" tall!) Then watching DeWayne Connot come in after him and in even smaller letters sign "Alton you're my hero" (or something along those lines) below it! Cool!! DeWayne's flamed/pinstriped bugs were pretty cool too!
posted
At a Skeeter Roundup in the early 90's a few of the guys stayed late drinking beer and painting. An unfortunate stray dog happened along. The decision was made to "flame" him. This was done and a polaroid was taken. Another attendee who had left earlier to sleep it off came in early the next morning and saw the dog on fire, decided he needed more sleep and went back to his motel. When he returned later that morning he was told he did indeed see a dog with flames.
------------------ Dennis Goddard Excalibur Signs & Graphics Tampa Fl
Posts: 1050 | From: Tampa Fl USA | Registered: Apr 2000
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posted
One year Matt Sanky showed at PSS meet in San Jose with his head shaved, and he got it pinstriped********
Back in Denver in '85, the upper story motel rooms got a letter in each window reading LETTERHEADS.
At that same meet, some of the doors in the hallway got numbered. Some of the TV screens got striped. Many of the rental cars were returned with stripes.
------------------ The SignShop Mendocino, California "Where the Redwoods meet the Surf"
Posts: 6718 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Crawling out of the mens bathroom on hands and kness wiping my mouth with a SMILE on my face at the Bloomington Main Street Meet! The look on everyones faces and the questions in thier eyes was PRICELESS. excuuuuuuuse me,but I had a broken heel,and it was the fastest and easyest way! OR..............Bruce and Dana actually making it to the DuckSoup in Alabama 36days,14hours,42seconds from this post.he he he Quack quack
------------------ PKing is Pat King of King Sign Design in McCalla,Alabama The Professor of SIGNOLOGY
Posts: 3113 | From: Pompano Beach, FL. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Water balloons being launched out of a catapault from the front steps of Meyer signs in downtown Mazzeppa with a certain kilted someone screaming orders like "3 deggggrees to the right lassie...fire!" Until the mounties showed up.
posted
"Nobody knows the dirt in the corners better than an old broom."
I heard the saying above while listening to one of those books on tape. The thought hit me that when it comes to Letterville, Barb and I are truely the old brooms. Don't panic! Our lips are sealed. hahahahaha
By the way. Looking over this thread brought back many memories for me. Look back over the posts and you will see I have added links to many of the meets the posters are referring too.
posted
I think one of the best things we ever did was letter our rental car with the hotel's name at a meet in Vegas, so we could park right in front of the entrance.
The craziest thing I've ever seen was Jay Landsburg's auto graphics presentation at a PSS meet in San Jose. He had everone rolling on the ground laughing.
------------------ Jerry Mathel Jerry Mathel Signs Grants Pass, Oregon signs@grantspass.com
Posts: 916 | From: Grants Pass, OR USA | Registered: Dec 1998
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.......memories.......... I remember painting 666 on a certain minister's rusty mini-van in Mars...... love- Jill
-------------------- That is like a Mr. Potato Head with all the pieces in the wrong place. -Russ McMullin Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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-------------------- Leaper of Tall buildings.. If you find my posts divisive or otherwise snarky please ignore them. If you do not know how then PM me about it and I will demonstrate. Posts: 5274 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
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Alton playing his rendition of the "Star Spangled Banner" on the airbrush at Mainstreet. The "yardstick brigade" jokefest and then the motorcycle mishap at Bellvediere. The Kenlake dance and possom barbeque? Pinstriping with Herbie Estes beard at Kenlake. The "Hootnanny" songfest at Allerton during the ice cream social.
[ May 07, 2004, 02:11 PM: Message edited by: Jane Diaz ]
-------------------- Jane Diaz Diaz Sign Art 628 W. Lincoln Ave. Pontiac, Il. 61764 815-844-7024 www.diazsignart.com Posts: 4102 | From: Pontiac, IL USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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posted
For a number of years Mark and Jeanne Baty hosted a gathering in their hotel room the first night of each Letterhead meeting. Very elaborate invitations were sent out, although most came whether they had an invitation or not. The Baty's provided drinks and snacks, but the price of admission was that you had to tell a joke. Of course, most told several. As time went on, each person always told the same joke until most of us could mouth the words right along with them. What fun back in the good old days. We would have about 50 people stuffed into one small room.
In Waco the police were called and we were asked to keep the noise down. They said a complaint had been filed from the room next door. The room next door was John Cox's and he was with us and telling a joke at the time the police opened the door.
Too many Letterhead meets and too many stories to tell here. But all great memories. Most were of the "you had to be there" sort.
-------------------- Chapman Sign Studio Temple, Texas chapmanstudio@sbcglobal.net Posts: 6306 | From: Temple, Texas, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Perkin's window being lettered with a "for sale" sign at the duck soup meet. Good offer, included a free cat with purchase.
Couple of sign goofballs acting like kids in a candy store, paint kits in their hand announcing "we're going to paint the spaceship" at mars, then practically running down the street. In the dark. And exactly how many people can you fit in a golf cart?
The Infamous Roundtable at Quebec. Suelynn & I running to the front of the bus to tattle on Karyn, "That lady broke the window". Trying to drive back to the hotel after supper Sunday night with Pierre playing some sort of cat & mouse game with those who drove themselves and were trying to follow him. The look on Bruce's face as Steve told the Belvidere story. I have photos of Bruce crying!
Jill's sister June's appearance at the pajama jam. Steve walking around with the flap on his jammies open. Everyone piling on Jill's bed for the group photo.
-------------------- Chris Welker Wildfire Signs Indiana, Pa Posts: 4254 | From: Indiana, PA | Registered: Mar 2001
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posted
I've seen a few, even some of the same already posted, but the "craziest" had to be at the late night pool party Chicago '85. As I was standing in pool about chest deep watching the Night Manager who was younger gentlemen dressed in a suit, discussing with "heads" a complaint about people belonging to a Wedding Party be splashed or dunked etc., and then all of a sudden someone gives this guy a push and splash- suit and all he goes into the pool. I never seen a guy get out of a pool so fast in my life, and he was quickly surrounded by "concerned" Letterheads that could'nt understand what happened and quickly put cash and a beer in his hand. He then let stay out there a while longer. What a "sales job!" It seems like I could tell a story from every Meet I have attended, but this one is the most memorable.
-------------------- Rich Stebbing RichSigns Rohnert Park CA 707-795-5588 Posts: 755 | From: Rohnert Park, CA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Cannonsburg PA 1992 Dave Correll hand letters the word "PIG" on the back of the local cop car while the officer was checking out the meet. Classic.
-------------------- Mike Meyer Sign Painter 189 1st Ave n P.O. Box 3 Mazeppa, Mn 55956
We are not selling, we are staying here in Mazeppa....we cannot re-create what we have here....not in another lifetime! SO Here we are!!!!!!!
posted
Living in Belvidere after Steve's escapade there! I always grin when I tell them I am a letterhead and they shake their heads!.... ....getting spooked by aliens in my tent at Vinton, ....and then soaking every one of them in their tent the next morning as they were just getting to sleep, too funny, the look on their faces...some were too sleepy to make the group picture so they did acrobatics in the street as if they didn't care! observing the entire camp of letterville campers lined up under the power line like ducks in a shooting gallery at a carnival (this was at the fairgrounds at Vinton as the lightning hit the pole...and furthermore, none of them budged!) This one not stupid just amazing to see: this year, entering Mazeppa and seeing Cisco and Pat Neve with his son entering the auction with parkas and tan faces, ha! It was my first time to meet them and I will never forget as they come from the tropics!
... back in Vinton, IA ,listening to Devo when he tells us about the motel being like the motel as in the movie "sockeye"....four times before I realized the owner was Bates, hmmmmm....he said Americans have the accent, lol... ....getting a wild ride on a golf cart at the Route 66 Ill. meet by none other than the wild and crazy Jay Allen...there were more people on that golf cart than you can fit football players in a VW! and no sides made it interesting around the corners...singing "flintstones, meet the flintstones, have a yabba dabba do time...or something to that effect, who cared? ....watching Franko the magician at Tomahawk swallow knives and fire for four days just to get his magic caravan lettered by authentic world wide letterheads! What Laurie, Andy, and Mike Meyers can do to convince him is beyond me!
[ May 07, 2004, 06:15 PM: Message edited by: Deb Fowler ]
-------------------- Deb Fowler
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible - Walt Disney (1901-1966) Posts: 5373 | From: Loves Park, Illinois | Registered: Aug 1999
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-------------------- Harris Kohen K-Man Pinstriping and Graphix Trenton, NJ "Showing the world that even I can strategically place the pigment where its got to go." Posts: 1739 | From: Trenton, NJ, USA | Registered: Jun 2001
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Belvidere Ill. Walldog meet , My son, Dave Hightower, & Bill Beckner Stayed at a host family Barefoot sue and cousin eddie from lost in the 60's. I knew we were in trouble when I noticed there was no stairs into the house only a plank and our host said " just find a place to crash we're going out for more Bud." the rest you could'nt make up but I don't have enough room for the rest of the story . ask me at the next meet. AJ
-------------------- Alan Johnson Alan Johnson Grafix Blairstown, NJ 07825 [URL=http://www.alanjohnsongrafix.com] Posts: 261 | From: Blairstown, NJ | Registered: Dec 2001
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posted
Hey I got one! In fact, I just might have ya'll beat.
My first meet was at Fred's.. I bumped a cup of pepto-bismol pink one shot off the table and onto the floor, and consequently all over my shoes and pant legs. As soon as I get up on my feet after cleaning it up, Adrienne hands me her cell phone - it's her daughter (in Seattle) on the phone, and she tells me she enjoyed watching me make a mess of myself on Head TV! D'OH!
The craziest thing I've seen at a meet: Alton. 'nuff said!
-------------------- "If I share all my wisdom I won't have any left for myself."
Mike Pipes stickerpimp.com Lake Havasu, AZ mike@stickerpimp.com Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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