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Sandblasted signs are my favorite. Even though I don't do all that many I like the creativity that they give you. So many options & the fact that they last a long time.
What person has most inspired you? (in the sign business)
[ July 01, 2008, 01:57 AM: Message edited by: Dan Kearfott ]
-------------------- Dan E. Kearfott KEARFOTT GRAPHIX 312 W. 8th St. Gibson City, IL 60936
Success comes in "Cans", Failure comes in "Cant's" Posts: 121 | From: Gibson City, Illinois | Registered: Mar 2003
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""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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gee...seeing as i work at home and it doesn't really matter on the saving fuel thing...ummm...i think i would love to participate in that!!!! anything for a long weekend!!
if you use your pet in your advertising ads...can you deduct all their food and vet bills??? it is kind of a gray area....lol.
-------------------- Karyn Bush Simply Not Ordinary, LLC Bartlett, NH 603-383-9955 www.snosigns.com info@snosigns.com Posts: 3516 | From: Bartlett, NH USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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What's your favorite food for a cook out. I'd say a good, gooey brownie!
-------------------- 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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I'd probably have YOUR steak with MY brownie! What's the oldest joke you know. I remember this one: Why was the little ink drop crying? Becasue his father was in the pen and he didn't know how long the sentence would be.
-------------------- 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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""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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Doing two parade with the St Cloud Shrine Club's Go Kart team.
What was your first pet?
-------------------- 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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German Shephard named Ginger, but I'm not sure if she counts as my first pet. I'm fairly certain I didn't ask for her as I think we had her before I could talk. She had pups shortly before the flood. Someone (would still love to find out who & thank them) went through town that night letting loose all the pets that were tied up as the water was rising. According to Army Corps our town wasn't suppose to flood, but we had left home as I was driving my mother crazy, freaking out over the storm. After the flood we found Ginger & 1 pup, Brownie. (I was 3, I wasn't real creative with names.) Ginger was given to a farmer we knew, Brownie died 17 years later.
Don't ask how many cats I went through on the farm, I lost count. Now I'm not particularly fond of cats anymore & I've become allergic too.
What's your favorite "firing a customer" story.
-------------------- Chris Welker Wildfire Signs Indiana, Pa Posts: 4254 | From: Indiana, PA | Registered: Mar 2001
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I had a customer that owned 14 tire stores, and did window splashes for him.
All was fine when they would pay me when I finished the windows. Then he decided that they would pay out of the main office ONLY! That kinda ticked me off...but when he bought a Ferrarri Testarosa, and had a cement pad put in front of the main waindows so that he could display it...and wanted real fancy window splash behind it. The window splash had to have tire tracks across it to match the tire tread on the Ferrari.
Hen I went in to collect my money, he started bitching about the fact that I had charged more for that window.After I had my check in my hand, I said"Joe, I realize that I am an a*****e...but you put me to shame! As of now you can take all your windows and stuff them up your a**! You can call someone else from now on!"
The look on everyone's face in the office was worth it...to see them biting their lips so as not to laugh!
-------------------- Si Allen #562 La Mirada, CA. USA
(714) 521-4810
si.allen on Skype
siallen@dslextreme.com
"SignPainters do It with Longer Strokes!"
Never mess with your profile while in a drunken stupor!!!
Brushasaurus on Chat Posts: 8827 | From: La Mirada, CA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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A 4 day work week is good, but a 30 hour 3 day work week is better. With all the automation we should be working less but now we need 2 pay checks per family. Wasup wit dat.
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My favorite fire customer story is not really a favorite event, but, it had to be done. I lettered (in the snow with tarps) complicated logos on the customer's trucks, as he had four different trucks (3 sides each).
I told him I would finish the three but the fourth would have to wait until after the weekend as my husband and I and child were going to a Studebaker car show in another state and I didn't want to miss it. See, I bent over backwards with the labor and doing a lot of it at home since I liked to work where my computer was and did a beautiful job. I was ahead of schedule, but he was very pushy and kept showing up. I told him to come to get his truck and take it home for the weekend and he showed up very late and then started talking disrespectfully to me about rushing the truck job not agreed upon. He thought he could get away with that and I had to raise my voice and told him to take his truck out of my garage and never come back again. He was just so arrogant from the start with his antics that it was the only thing I could have done. I know he couldn't find someone to hand paint those complicated logos for a reasonable price and scanning wasn't available those days. So, to this day, I feel I learned to do some research on the customer's personality before you take the job. What do you do when you get those unreasonable customers while in the middle of the job? Is there a P.I.A. clause in the contract? I usually get good ones though. Anyone like Studebakers?
[ July 05, 2008, 12:48 AM: 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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"What do you do when you get those unreasonable customers while in the middle of the job?"
I'd been approached by an older guy to do a sign for his used merchandise shop (read that as indoor yard sale). He's been opening and closing the place over the last few months, not really committing to it either way. I knocked out a quick layout for him, got the approval and he said he'd be back the following Saturday with cash in full for the job. Didn't show until Monday, but explained that he DID drive by but chose not to stop because our mechanic was here going over some repairs to Gump's car. "We don't get along too well." was his reason.
Started the job up and was all set to finish it last Monday when he showed up, said he might be moving and waned to cancel the sign. He asked for a full refund. I told him I had some time and materials in it, I would have to figure out the difference and make a stop at the bank later since I had no cash on me at the time. While I was at the bank around noon, he stopped by again looking for the money and asked Gump if we could drop off an old door next to the shop so he could use it as a table. ???
I threw the door in the truck, headed to his shop and he wasn't there. So.....
I dropped the door outside, went up to my mechanic's shop and gave him the old guy's refund. Seems the old guy owes him a lot of money and I asked him to apply it to the bill. (My mechanic thought that was a rather good idea and wrote up the slip.
The old guy came back one more time looking for money while I was out on an install and my wife told him the news. He called the next morning saying I had no right to do what I had done. I bluntly told him that he has no right to order services with no intention to pay for them. I added that our business was through and that if he came to my shop again, I'd have him arrested for trespassing.
If you went to a parade on the 4th (yesterday), was it longer or shorter than last year's?
-------------------- 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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I drove a Go Kart for my Shrine Go Kart unit. Was a very excellent time.
What is your favorite restaurant?
-------------------- 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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Holdfast Community Cafe. It is owned by the members of the community. Every morning the farmers and other locals start meeting around 6:00 - 7:00 am - depending on the season. They all have keys, first guy in puts the coffee on. they leave their money on the table go off to work and so it sits till the staff comes in at 9:00 am. Local women run it and they have become known for their home made soup and pies. The wall has framed testimonials from out of sports teams and work crews as to the fantastic food and hospitality. If any one watches corner gas - we put them to shame.
Do you dream of writing a book - what about?
-------------------- “Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?” -Winnie the Pooh & A.A. Milne
Kelly Thorson Kel-T-Grafix 801 Main St. Holdfast, SK S0G 2H0 ktg@sasktel.net Posts: 5496 | From: Penzance, Saskatchewan | Registered: May 2002
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I don't know about dream... I've already done it: "A Century of the Clydesdale Horse in Queensland"- about five years' research, 330 pages, published for the clydie society in 2001. I'm working on a 'volume 2' of it to be out mid 2009.
The local show society started to do a book on 100 years of their show, and the person 'doing' it has pulled the pin and won't finish the job, so thay've asked me to please finish it (probably a voluntary request, but it'll all be good, anyway)- I said I would do it for them, and for him- later in the year.
I've also been asked to do another one for the regional council- they did a 75 years book 25 years ago, and want a 100 years book now- but I won't even consider that for 12 months, if I think of accepting the request (it'll be paid). Anyhow, I enjoy the research, layout & writing, just not the typing up!
I've done a couple of in-house private genealogical books, too: genalogy is a hobby. I spent 22 years writing newsletters for the clydie society, and if you put them all together, you get a book as big as the local phone directory, but I don't think that counts!
In a couple of years, I plan do one on scrollwork & striping. Just have to get these other commitments out of the way first.
Enough of this long story from me though, and I'll re-ask Kelly's question "Do you dream of writing a book - what about?"
-------------------- "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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I always wanted to do a book. I want to call it "Sign Painting as I See It".
It would be a blunt, to the point, and pointedly opinionated book of the art of making signs.
What is your favorite spectator sport?
-------------------- 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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Do you have a defining moment in your life? If so, can you name it? Did it smack you on the head or was it subtle? Love....Jill
Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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Other than getting married, or when each of our kids was born, or the death of some close friends, it would have to have been the house fire in 1987. I was in a daze for a week or more after that, and what was funny was I figured out it had happened, about five minutes before I met anyone who could have told me. (I wasn't there when it burned down).
After the fire, I had the strength of mind to change vocation & start being a full-time signie.
I'll take the easy path & re-ask Jill's question: Do you have a defining moment in your life? If so, can you name it? Did it smack you on the head or was it subtle?
-------------------- "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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Marrying my FIRST husband! I made out great on #2 but #1 was a BIG mistake!
What song bring tears to your eyes? I can't hear "Dance with my Father" (for obvious reasons. Listen to THOSE words!) or "How Great Thou Art". My parents used to sing it as a duet and we sang it at both of their funerals. Just THINKING about it makes me tear up.
-------------------- 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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Majesty. For the same reason as yours, they played it at my father's funeral. I really like the song and we sing it in church, but I can never make it through without choking up.
What is your current favorite shop CD? Mine is Bedouin Soundclash, Street Gospels. Got it on my birthday yesterday.
""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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Vinyl: Oracal and Arlon but NO AVERY! Paint: High quality Watercolors!
Who is the most notable/famous person you have ever met?
-------------------- 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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Billy Connolly, he came into the shop where I was working, ordered a custom made leather guitar strap and came back the next day and posed for photos with us all. He was really nice!! (PS, not a sign shop, my mothers leather goods shop)
What's your favorite holiday destination?
-------------------- Anne McDonald 17 Karnak Crescent Russley Christchurch 8042 New Zealand
"I used to be indecisive, now I'm not so sure" Posts: 877 | From: Christchurch | Registered: Sep 2006
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My neighbor brought over rhubarb pie, rhubarb muffins, rhubarb cookies and rhubarb tarts to try. Yes, you can make all that with rhubarb, I didn't know that. Now I do, but I don't feel so good....
Are you allergic to anything? I can't handle house dust and sometimes cats and other critters. Makes me sneeze.
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My only allergy is to doing the annual accounting/tax bookwork.
Are you a 'musical' person?
-------------------- "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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Do you prefer an automatic or manual shift transmission in your vehicle?
-------------------- 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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Depends on the car. We had a 1994 VW Passat sport model with a manual that was a blast to drive. In my shop truck I prefer automatic.
What was the last thing you hand-lettered with a direct layout (as in no mask or pounce pattern)?
-------------------- "A wise man concerns himself with the truth, not with what people believe." - Aristotle
Cam Bortz Finest Kind Signs Pondside Iron works 256 S. Broad St. Pawcatuck, Ct. 06379 "Award winning Signs since 1988" Posts: 3051 | From: Pawcatuck,Connecticut USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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