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Donna started this a few years ago and it was fun....She "borrowed" this game from another board, and thought she would start it here!! The concept is to play the nosey neighbor, or sign competitor, or what have you. Each person answers the question the poster above them asked and asks their own question.
What's the funniest sign you have ever seen?
[ May 22, 2007, 04:57 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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There's a bunch of kids here in town who go completely nuts lettering the same van every year with spray cans. They always do some sort of satirical design directed at a political issue or person and run it for only one day...in the annual 4th of July parade downtown. It's probably got 18 layers of paint on it, has more dents than a race car after a full season and is, by far, a horrid display of the fugliest graphics on the planet, but the guys all get into character and everyone looks forward to seeing it every year.
What color was the last can of paint you opened?
Rapid
-------------------- Ray Rheaume Rapidfire Design 543 Brushwood Road North Haverhill, NH 03774 rapidfiredesign@hotmail.com 603-787-6803
I like my paint shaken, not stirred. Posts: 5648 | From: North Haverhill, New Hampshire | Registered: Apr 2003
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Black & white for designing stuff. Full color crazy for funky stuff. Toned down colors for the serious stuff. Gold leaf on the right stuff. White for stripes on firetruck stuff. Stainless steel for kitchen stuff...
I have a large glass TJ every lunchtime. I love them with everything. Even Tomato Sauce (ketchup)
Think it's a throwback when I had an allergy when I was a kid and they took me off tomatoes because that's what they thought it was .... turned out to be very acidic apples!
What's wrong with Cauliflowers anyway ... ever tried Cauliflowers in white cheese sauce!
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My list. I try to keep a list of everything that needs done. Right now it comprises several pages of a spiral notebook. Gotta keep working on the list.
What's next on your list of things to do?
-------------------- Mike gatlinburg Sign Crafters Posts: 1051 | From: Gatlinburg, TN | Registered: Oct 2005
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I personally have not, but a friend who is a striper once painted a penis inside the lines of a PITA client's vehicle. If I like a sign, I put my "bug" on it.
How many Letterhead meets have you attended?
Love....Jill
Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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Yes, I do. It's kinda like coming full circle. From my earliest memories I told folks who asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up that I was gonna be "an artist". What did you want to be when you were a child?
-------------------- Nancie W. Phillips White Dove Painting Studio 74 Dacula Road, Dacula, GA 30019 678-887-3339
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That question brought up one of those really funny childhood memories.. When i was about 9 we were watching jackie gleason show.. and I informed my family.. i wanted to be a june taylor dancer.. My Brother who was 3 years older than me.. was very offended by this.. as he thought they were quite racey i guess..and informed me that NO Sister of his was gonna be a hoochie goochie girl lol.. So needless to say.. I never tried lol...
Ok.. next question... What is the oddest request for a sign that you have ever gotten from a customer..
-------------------- sue brown american instant signs pasadena, calif Posts: 90 | From: southern california | Registered: Jul 2006
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Lettering a horse's "rear end" for a parade.
What is the best money maker in your shop?
[ May 23, 2007, 12:23 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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William H. Schmidt, Tim Butler, and Harrison Todd.
What was your favorite car that you got rid of?
-------------------- Bruce Bowers
DrCAS Custom Lettering and Design Saint Cloud, Minnesota
"Things work out best for the people who make the best of the way things work out." - Art Linkletter Posts: 6451 | From: Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Registered: Jun 1999
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That thing was such a beater it was fun just running into stuff with it. There was one road in town that raised up a bit to a driveway then dropped off immediately on the other side. My buddies and I would take that Camaro over there and launch that sucka right off the pavement, bottoming the car out and throwing sparks everywhere. We tore it UP!
Where, if anywhere, are you traveling for Memorial Day weekend?
-------------------- "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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Ours was last weekend. But we stayed home and had friends in Friday night. Then different friends Saturday, more on Sunday. So I ran away Monday, out to the woods and transplanted woodland flowers back to my place.
My turn for a question. Ha-Who is Bill's Exxon?
No, just kidding, what's the latest you've ever been behind deadline?
-------------------- 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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I had to do a portrait of a little boy who died. When I took the job, I knew it would be difficult, but every time I would try to work on it, I would look at those gorgeous little eyes and that sweet face... I just couldn't work on it for too long at a time. That little face really haunted me. Those portraits are very rewarding (feel good inside) to do because they mean SO much to the people I am doing them for, but they are tough for me to get out of my mind at night when I look at them all day!
On a lighter note...What's the funniest sign story you have heard one of the "old timers" tell?
-------------------- 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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Another local shop with whom I was friendly told me this story about when he owned a large billboard company in Texas.
Seems they went out to install a new sign waaaay out of town - miles away from anywhere. They were just setting up when their boom truck backed up into an electrical line pole, knocking the wire down. The wire didn't break but the tension from that line falling started a chain reaction and they watched in horror as the line kept snapping off of the poles as it went along - in both directions!
Needless to say, he packed things up, drove back to town like nothing happened. He told me that the line was down for about 2 miles in the direction toward town - he had no idea how far it was down the other way.
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Been in the crazy game of signs for 47 years. It's what you get from hitshing a ride on a rainy Sunday morning down in the bayou country of Louisana. Got my first sign shop job at Houma Sign Shop. Found myself as they say, and haven't had any regrets. The sign business has been good to me and I hope that I have been good to it. Will I ever retire? When some one looks down at me and says, "Don't he look natural?" How did you get started in the sign business and when will you hang up the brush? Best to all. Don
-------------------- Donald Miner ABCO Wholesale Neon 1168 Red Hill Creek Dobson, NC Posts: 842 | From: North Carolina | Registered: Apr 2006
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1963...wanted to do commercial art, class was full, tried signpainting class, loved it, now it's 2007! still love it, someone else will have to hang it up, as i'll have stopped breathing ;o)
-------------------- John Lennig / Big Top Sign Arts 5668 Ewart Street, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada bigtopya@hotmail.com 604.451.0006 Posts: 2184 | From: Burnaby, British Columbia,Canada | Registered: Nov 2001
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Opps, next Question...is there some aspect of the Business that you'd like to persue?
-------------------- John Lennig / Big Top Sign Arts 5668 Ewart Street, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada bigtopya@hotmail.com 604.451.0006 Posts: 2184 | From: Burnaby, British Columbia,Canada | Registered: Nov 2001
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I like where I am in my career. I have a great job and i really like being a hapless loser. I have my little side gig going. Maybe other people in town aren't going to like it but, hey, that's a damn shame, huh?
So, what is your favorite brand of lettering brushes?
-------------------- Bruce Bowers
DrCAS Custom Lettering and Design Saint Cloud, Minnesota
"Things work out best for the people who make the best of the way things work out." - Art Linkletter Posts: 6451 | From: Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Registered: Jun 1999
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"Thin Red Line" (seen it before years ago and still a good movie) ... wife, asleep on the couch beside me (Doesn't like War Movies)
Answer Bruce's un-answered question:
Hadyn Truck Lettering Brushes 1/4" to 1" ... super soft but hold a real good shape. Great with Acrlic, enamel and Ink. But most my paint jobs are Big. Small lettering I go French Quills.
QUESTION? Will you attend a Letterhead Meet this Year? If not. Why?
Why- well, because we're co-hosting it (shameless plug there)
Next question: where do you see your business in 10 years' time?
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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At 62 now, and comfortable, I'm winding down and starting to enjoy the fruits of my labours. I don't really plan to fully retire until I can't hold a brush.
Ask me same question 10 years ago and I would reply. Look at what I am doing best and try to do it better. Provide quality and service. I did that and got to where I hoped to be today.
In this age, technology changes so quick it is impossible to predict where it will be at in 10 years nowdays. I think you have two choices: (A) Invest in the technology (B) Invest in the craft. One takes money, the other takes time. If you got both and use them wisely you will reap both the money and time to spend it!
QUESTION: (shameless plug again!) : If airfares outa LA in September are so low and it's freezing cold in USA/CANADA, business hibernates for winter ..... why can't you afford a hoiliday in the SUN and come to OZ & KIWI Letterheads?
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Does cheese stop smelling... Hmmmmm... I suppose as long as no one cuts it.
Back in 1972, I lettered two signs for the American Cancer Society and was paid $20 for the pair.
What was your first paid sign/lettering job?
-------------------- Bruce Bowers
DrCAS Custom Lettering and Design Saint Cloud, Minnesota
"Things work out best for the people who make the best of the way things work out." - Art Linkletter Posts: 6451 | From: Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Registered: Jun 1999
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A teacher saw me doing calligraphy in High School and paid me to "repaint" her neighborhood's entrance sign. It turned out to be a huge headache,because it was a galvanized steel surface that was peeling. But, I learned a lot from it... What is your biggest regret (personally or professionally)?
-------------------- Nancie W. Phillips White Dove Painting Studio 74 Dacula Road, Dacula, GA 30019 678-887-3339
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I wish I would have asked more questions from my grandparents about how thing were when they were little, how they took the ship ride here to the "new world", etc. And my FIRST husband was a dweeb...WHAT was I thinking!! My BEST decision in my life was my honey, Bill! What was YOUR best decision in your life?
-------------------- 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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That led to losing my business partner (losing him was great... getting screwed doing it wasn't so great but I am not dealing with WNY and that is great) which led to moving to Minnesota (I wasn't born here but I got here as fast as I could).
***************************
I just love laying out and lettering "Q"'s. There are so many cool things that one can do with them.
What is your favorite letter to letter?
-------------------- Bruce Bowers
DrCAS Custom Lettering and Design Saint Cloud, Minnesota
"Things work out best for the people who make the best of the way things work out." - Art Linkletter Posts: 6451 | From: Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Registered: Jun 1999
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![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
There was one road in town that raised up a bit to a driveway then dropped off immediately on the other side. My buddies and I would take that Camaro over there and launch that sucka right off the pavement, bottoming the car out and throwing sparks everywhere. We tore it UP!
![[Rolling On The Floor]](graemlins/rolf.gif)
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
I just couldn't work on it for too long at a time. That little face really haunted me.
![[Bash]](graemlins/bash.gif)
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