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Did all of you folks do before or during the time that you became signmakers/painters or stripers ?
I have been a house painter at times, machinist, tool maker, model maker (as in product design) aircraft mechanic on jets, designer, inventor, marketing director, clipart maker, and font designer. I am now in management and too fking tired to do much of anything else. But I got one more clip project getting ready for the publisher.
Jack
-------------------- Jack Wills Studio Design Works 1465 E.Hidalgo Circle Nye Beach / Newport, OR Posts: 2914 | From: Rocklin, CA. USA | Registered: Dec 1998
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...Before signs, I layed floors, put up drywall, worked as a nurses aide, and worked at a skatepark. And I was a construction laborer- for 6 dollars per hour, which in the '70's, (I thought) was good money for carrying a shovel around and pretending to look busy.
...Since signs, I'm striving to be a faster, stronger MOUNTAIN BIKER, and a better GARDENER.
My mind wanders. And that's not a good thing, 'cause it's too small to be out there alone. Posts: 3129 | From: Tooele, UT | Registered: Mar 2005
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counter help in a boat yard, restoration helper & guard at an antique auto museum, switchboard operator, various office clerking, waitress, Union carpenter, photographer, boat builder, cabinet maker, chair maker, museum demonstrations of all sorts...
[ August 20, 2006, 03:24 PM: Message edited by: Catharine C. Kennedy ]
-------------------- Catharine C. Kennedy CCK Graphics 1511 Route 28 Chatham Center, NY 12184 cck1620@taconic.net "Look at me, Look at me, Look at me now! I't's fun to have fun, But you have to know how!" Posts: 2173 | From: downtown Chatham Center, NY | Registered: Feb 2004
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well, drawing was my thing as a kid, got exposed to sign painting at 10-12 yrs old. also was a "go-fer"for the older guys with cars, used to watch them work on em and i was the "get me a 9/16 open-end long wrench outa my box" so i spent a lot years...turnin wrenches for myself and as part time jobs. worked on a dairy farm most of teen years. worked as laborer on construction,went to school for drafting(pre-computers)drew and designed BUTLER metal building...and field supervised errections of such.U.S. AIR FORCE 65-69, reuped in 72, got a hardship dicharge in 73, worked as a counter man, outside sales for NAPA 15 yrs, worked a few dealerships as parts manager/service writer. PENN STATE 76-78, did some time in drug rehab, owned a biker bar, did some things i dont want print here. got fired from a ISUZU dealership(for my mouth,tellin them what i thought of their operation)in 1986 and picked up my brushes and never looked back!
[ August 20, 2006, 03:40 PM: Message edited by: old paint ]
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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Ive done a number of things.. for 19 years tho i was a stay at home mom.. kids have long since grown and are all gone.. I have owned and run a antique and collectable business.. dealt mainly in primatives and owned and operated a decorative painting shop and taught tole and decorative painting..
oo plus ive done web design.. in all my spare time ..
-------------------- sue brown american instant signs pasadena, calif Posts: 90 | From: southern california | Registered: Jul 2006
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I worked in a large grocery store. Worked my way up to assistant produce manager. In 1975 our produce dept. gross sales topped 1 million dollars. I wrote out all the "specials" signs... the biginning of my sign making career. Drove truck part time. Moved to upper Michigan and started a men's clothing store. Expanded to junior dept store. Main employer (a mine) closed, then recession, closed the store and went on the road selling miniture signs... ad specialties.
Started my sign business in 1982 making golf tee signs... kept expanding till I went full time in 1995 then bought 20 acres and built the shop in 1999.
-------------------- Dave Sherby "Sandman" SherWood Sign & Graphic Design Crystal Falls, MI 49920 906-875-6201 sherwoodsign@sbcglobal.net Posts: 5397 | From: Crystal Falls, MI USA | Registered: Apr 1999
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I worked at a factory, was a numbers runner, dope dealer, did automatic transmission modifications, hippy street preacher, then found I could get paid for doing the sign work that I enjoyed.
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6718 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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hey pickett.....i still got my chain saw....that i ran the last guy outa there(before i sold it)..you wana push the issue????? did you read "did some things i dont want printed here." iam one of those ill stop and help a biker with colors....quicker then i would a stop and help a cop.....
[ August 20, 2006, 09:46 PM: Message edited by: old paint ]
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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Printing press operator, menial, starving artist, welfare recipient, signs since 1980. Apparently in the 1970's I didn't behave well enough to be let into Canada this summer..
-------------------- Frank Smith Frank Smith Signs Albany, NY www.franksmithsigns.com Posts: 807 | From: Albany, NY USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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I'll give ya a hint. "How do you want your eggs cooked? Butter or sour cream on your baked potato? Todays special is short ribs. You want sum more coffee? Thank you, come again!"
-------------------- Signs by Alicia Jennings (Mudflap Girl) Tacoma, WA Since 1987 Have Lipstick, will travel. Posts: 3816 | From: Tacoma, WA. U.S.A. | Registered: Dec 1999
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Mom and housewife Before that....artist, art store clerk, dog groomer, vet assistant, housekeeper, motel maid, and change girl at Harrah's casino in Tahoe.
A digital modeler for film A digital modeling instructor 4 years a digital modeler for TV an animator..hand drawn, don'tcha know a layout and props designer for children's tv shows..various places. Now we are going way back..aren't we? A framer in construction. an auto parts clerk..yes canadian tire. a parts driver..lost that job due to speeding..go figure that I would SPEED..ask some of the picnicers. a janitor a maintenence worker a butcher's helper a restaurant cook..not fast food..something like olive garden...various places Head cook at a dinner theatre and in the beginning there were dishes many many horseradish covered dishes
G
-------------------- Gerald Lauzé FeatureWorx Creative Fabrication 206-19148 27th ave Surrey BC Posts: 264 | From: Cloverdale ( Surrey ) BC | Registered: Mar 2006
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maid waitress tour guide at a small museum (for 5 years while also being a waitress) short-order cook/dishboy mom sign painter short-order cook McD's (hardest job I ever had) counter help at shoe store cashier (the last 4 were when signs got slow) love....jill
Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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home builder, tree surgeon, concrete worker, sold nuts & bolts(dont laugh I learned alot about nuts and bolts)
-------------------- You ever notice how easily accessible people are when they are requiring your services but once they get invoice you can't reach them anymore
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Right from High School into the Navy for a couple of years and got a job in a sign shop.
-------------------- Bill Riedel Riedel Sign Co., Inc. 15 Warren Street Little Ferry, N.J. 07643 billsr@riedelsignco.com Posts: 2953 | From: Little Ferry, New Jersey, USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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Started as a waitress in a Chinese restaurant in High School. Worked at a Trailer Park ( Wildwood by the River Bayfield) during College days. Worked at an Advertising firm in Toronto from College 1981 to 1985. Moved from the city. Started working for the Liquor Control Board. Which my friends said was rather like asking a pedophile to mind your children. Started my Sign business in 1993, finally got enough nerve to quit the liquor board in 1998 and have been slinging vinyl & paint since.
-------------------- Deri Russell Wildwood Signs Hanover, Ontario
You're just jealous 'cause the little voices only talk to me. Posts: 1904 | From: Hanover, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Dec 1998
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Telephone operator right out of high school then worked for a silkscreen shop where I made silkscreens for Lilliston Empliments,designed,cut film for real estate/posted signs and decals. After that I worked for 3 local sign shops before starting my own business in 1980.
-------------------- Judy Pate Signs By Judy Albany, Georgia USA 229-435-6824
Live simply...Love generously...Care deeply...Speak kindly...Leave the rest to God. Posts: 2621 | From: Albany,GA,USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Out of high school, worked for my dad in a small grocery business, then for the postal service, painted houses, drywaller/sheetrock hanger, flunky in a discount store, free lance gag cartoonist, worked for a newspaper in distribution department, brickmason helper, carpenters helper, then into the sign business. During all this time, since I was 17, I also was a musician in local bands playing in bars and clubs and weddings, etc. Still do.
-------------------- Maker of fine signs and other creative stuff. Located at 109 N. Cumberland ave. Harlan, Ky. 40831 606-837-0242 Posts: 4172 | From: Ages-Brookside, Ky. Up the Holler... | Registered: Jul 1999
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After High School Joined the Army Reserves and tried College (ASU Mechanical Engineer) Bombed out. Got Degree in Commercial Photograpy. Since then. Detail Draftsmans (Sheetmetal/Copper Roofing) Then installer for the same. Lumber buyer for Home Depot. First Business, Panzer Concepts - Model Maker and Designer. (Military Models for Hobby and Movies) Mold Maker for Resin and Lost Wax.
posted
small engine mech, welder, pipebender,sheet metal worker, last 3 for making dog sleds, army viet nam vet, machinist, plumber, fair barker, retail, leather craftsman, retail again, signs plus a few I forgotten or little was done THANK YOU & ENJOY LIFE
posted
Born into signs. My father was painting signs when I was born.
Worked in his shop until the ripe old age of 20. Decided signs suck and I wanted to do something else. And so it goes...
Lotion factory (too slippery) Casket maker (yes the wooden kind, don't ask) End of line worker at bus factory (buses's suck) Production welder at truck factory (welding is not very good for you when not properly ventilated) Heating and Air installer (one case of heat stroke / 2 bum knees is enough)
during all of the above, played 2-5 nights a week in bands at every place from Georgia to Caroline (loved every minute of it...well almost every minute)
Then thought one day "you know, signs weren't that bad"
Full circle
I do miss the music, haven't played in over 10 years...
-------------------- Snow's Sign Works 865-908-0076 snowman@planetc.com www.snowsigns.com
I'm out of my mind, but feel free to leave a message... Posts: 1640 | From: Sevierville, TN | Registered: Jul 2005
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Worked at a convent for nuns & teen girls at 14, waitress, bartender, demolition of apartments, sold pot/coke, Burger King, baby sitter, sign shop, lawn care, small print shop, printed newspaper on large press, video store, "signlady".
-------------------- The Word in Signs Bobbie Rochow Jamestown, PA 16134
724-927-6471
thewordinsigns@alltel.net Posts: 3485 | From: Jamestown, PA 16134 | Registered: Oct 2002
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Without including high school and college part time jobs..
School teacher Insurance salesman Parts manager at a dealership self employed body shop guy..two businesses Worked at a yacht building place while trying to start a yacht building business back to doing body work as an employee self employed as a licenced body repair guy (thanks to previous employer) self employed sign guy (last 14 years)
After all that..still happily self employed at the sign game. Lessons learned and also very helpful, both in business management and the proper ways to treat vehicles and vessels.
-------------------- Dave Grundy retired in Chelem,Yucatan,Mexico/Hensall,Ontario,Canada 1-519-262-3651 Canada 011-52-1-999-102-2923 Mexico cell 1-226-785-8957 Canada/Mexico home
""Good judgment comes from experience; and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" - Will Rogers Posts: 3485 | From: Beautiful Newaygo, Michigan | Registered: Mar 2003
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Caught chickens at night during highschool. Delivered pizzas for a couple of years. Welder/metal worker building logsplitters. Worked part time at a Moped shop, putting them together, selling parts, fixing flats. A 'minimaid' (the only male). Bagboy at a grocery store. Tried to sell Filter Queen vacuums for a couple of weeks, lowest point in my working career, couldn't even sell one. Painted window banners for grocery stores for my Dad. Apprentice Industrial painter. Spent some time in the 'sign shop', discovered 'one shot'. Industrial painter. Planner Estimator. Computer software developer.
-------------------- "Are we having fun yet?" Peter Schuttinga DZines Sign Studio 1617 Millstream rd Victoria BC V9B-6G4 Posts: 521 | From: Victoria BC | Registered: Mar 2002
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Chaser in Wax Room of Bronze Sculpture Foundry - Placerville,CA - Agriculture Show Demonstrator for Dad's Inventions - Stockton, Tulare, Colusa, CA - Pro. Picture Framer (5 years-various locations: CA & MI) - Fast Print & Copy Shop: Everything- press operator, pre- and post press worker, typesetter, counterperson, manager, A/P A/R, (15 years total - hometown, CA) - Glaze dipper at a Ceramic Studio - Folsom, CA - fillet maker for mass-produced picture frames - factory basement, MI - In Food Industry I was grill girl, routisserrie cleaner, waitress, bus girl, Hostess (I stopped working food service when the gov. started to tax my tips) - Bookkeeper at Property Management
======
Now: Artist - lifelong learner of various mediums, designer & CNC operator, woodworker's assistant - self-employed
-------------------- Rose Davidson Sleeper Woods Design Honoring Tradition with Technology Lakeport, CA 95435 Posts: 104 | From: Lake County, California | Registered: Nov 2005
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After school, got a few jobs in restaurants as cook and grill-man at a fancy steak-house... didn't pay much but I'm still using a lot of what I learned then to cook for a family of 7 today...
Got a diploma in graphic arts that was supposed to lead me towards a print shop (the BC years), but the first thing I found was a job in a sign business making patterns and cutting grip-mask by hand.
3 years later at 24, I was my own boss, owned and operated a small electrical sign co. that I sold in 2000, I had 7 employees then.
Got a job in a large electrical sign co. as operations manager with over 85 employees to supervise... then realised I wasn't making signs anymore.
2 years later, started my little thing again, no employees, not even a plotter or vinyl in the shop, 600 sq,ft of happyness right behind the house, making wood signs and having fun.
With all the contacts I still have in the "other" industry, I still sell top of the line electrical signs but I just design the package and have some of my best buddies to build them for me.
posted
First Job ever was on the Grill at the local Sizzler'...from there I went into sales 2 different Radio Stations and a resort, Telemarketing, a short stint in a chicken plant, gas station attendant, free lance artist, screenprinter, telemarketing again, Graphic Artist fro a Sign Comapany, then my own gig.
These days I'm looking at going back to school for Video Game Design--and continuing to make cool and hot stuff for the digital print industry.
[ August 27, 2006, 09:17 PM: Message edited by: Barry Branscum ]
posted
well, what a great post, Jack; now, since you asked...
first started sorting inventory plates when I was five with my sisters and brother (my dad and mom owned three businesses); and from five through 7 I got to say hello to the customers at their Army/Navy surplus and play with the toys from Hong Kong;
high school: worked at a drug store, a chicken restaurant; and at the oldest Italian restaurant here being a salad chef: that got me started at another wonderful restaurant still here; and intermittently until 27 I was extremely fortunate to work and learn as a top salad chef at several country clubs including the one they filmed Caddy Shack in Ft. Laud, FL; worked as an apprentice carpenter, ran a forklift at Valspar, worked at a pharmaceutical company dispensing drugs for mail order in Ohio; delivered pharmacy drugs for a drug store in FL.; receptionist; just out of high school when attending junior college I made my extra money at ages 16 and 17 helping my dad with building the heads for water softeners ; he paid me $12 bucks each (had to put all the washers and tiny parts together); I could do three of them in 2 hours, oh I miss that job!
jumping up to 28 yrs old, in FL, I worked at a huge arts and crafts store called Pearl's owned by the NY owner, Mr. Pearlmutter serving artists from all over the globe; it was so rewarding; there I met some signpainters who were buying one shot enamel and quills, and from 1981, I haven't been able to get away from the biz. In between, I've been a MOM, and a wife; and also helped rebuild racecar carburetors, been a hostess at the Holiday Inn restaurant in Marathon Key, co-managed three General Nutrition Centers in Ft. Laud, Hallandale, and Hollywood, FL. ... did housekeeping with several companies dusting the very wealthy folks homes; including some very famous folks; also worked at a 50's restaurant like Happy Days with roller skates; (Florida) beach bum, candlemaker, gypsy, choir girl, and shark cage cleaner; now, I am enrolled fulltime at the college nearby and attempting to work fulltime in the day and weekends as a sign maker and receptionist.
-------------------- 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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