posted
A client came to me recently and asked me to make a sign...They wanted something that would definitely be a copyright problem.
She wanted a sign relating to "Harry Potter" and "Hogwarts". I told her that I don't want to end up in jail for making things for a brand that is very much in control of the copyright and licensing.
My client insisted. She wanted this so much that she offered me her entire life savings! She then offered the most important item she owns in trade too! Her life savings wasn't much incentive. It was only 12 dollars and 34 cents. It wouldn't cover the materials, let alone the lawsuit costs. But her other offer got to me. She was offering her favorite blanket or "blankie" as she calls it.
She decided to play hardball. "Daddy, you are always making signs for people now, but you haven't made me one. Plllleeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaasssse?"
Ok. I told her that I would not be able to accept any form of payment, so that I could avoid the lawsuits. This was going to have to be a non-profit gift....from me to her. My sign company isn't involved. I also explained that she could not sell it, or put it on public display (we agreed that her bedroom isn't public).
With that, we talked about what she wanted. She has a good imagination, and she had it all planned in her mind. She wants the Hogwarts shield with the four houses on it, but it should have Harry Potter's owl (Hedwig) perched on it- and a holder on bottom for a wand.
So I'm hard at it. This client has a tight deadline- she wants it yesterday. She's very picky and has been hanging over my shoulder as I do the work.
Here is some early rough work on the owl-which will be covered in Magic Sculpt and mounted on a sculpted limb that will rise out of the logo.
-------------------- Doug Haffner Haffner Signs www.haffnersigns.com 309-338-9570 211 W. Williams Wyoming, Il 61491 Posts: 211 | From: Wyoming, Illinois | Registered: May 2010
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VERY nice work Doug. I look forward to seeing the finished product!
-grampa dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8739 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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-------------------- “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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posted
Here in Canada we are supposed to declare and we have to pay the sales tax ourselves, to the government based on the retail price we would have charged the client, even if it is going to be a gift. They always want their cut of the cake.
great sign.
monk
-------------------- Sandy "Monk" Baird Windwalker Sign Studio Port Colborne, Ontario L3K 4H9 Posts: 442 | From: Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jun 2004
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Here's Hedwig in progress...I've never sculpted an animal before, so we'll see where it goes. This is why I love Magic Sculpt- The layering possibilities are a blast. I'm building up the wings on the bottom and also working down from the head. As the wing feathers solidify over the next hour, I'll bend them into final position...something you can't do with clay! Lot's more to add but it's a great time.
-------------------- Doug Haffner Haffner Signs www.haffnersigns.com 309-338-9570 211 W. Williams Wyoming, Il 61491 Posts: 211 | From: Wyoming, Illinois | Registered: May 2010
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I'm a little further....lunch time brings a few minutes to dedicate to it. I have some more feathers put in and whipped up a replica of Hermione's wand. The, of course, required feet on the "H" so it can hold the wand. I also managed to squeeze in some lunch.
-------------------- Doug Haffner Haffner Signs www.haffnersigns.com 309-338-9570 211 W. Williams Wyoming, Il 61491 Posts: 211 | From: Wyoming, Illinois | Registered: May 2010
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Very nice intor & sign- but Doug, you could have suggested the client visit the quicky-sticky shop down the road, just to keep your conscience clearer...!
-------------------- "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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Sandy, what if you made the thing for yourself and then somebody, maybe your daughter, stole it while you weren't looking? No sales tax then, right? Or does Canada make you pay sales tax even on stuff you make for yourself?
Or, what if you made the thing for your daughter only as a way to get some peace and quiet so you could work? Then it wd be a business expense. You dont pay taxes on expenses, do you?
-------------------- dennis kiernan independent artist san francisco, calif, usa Posts: 907 | From: san francisco, ca usa | Registered: Feb 2010
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Your client and mine must know each other. I have to make a "tropical" designed sign for my daughter. She loves the palm trees and beaches which is funny since we live in Illinois, far away from any beaches! These 7 year olds can be quite demanding and ask everyday "Is it done yet?" She also wants a beach scene mural painted on her walls to complete the theme. Looks like I will be putting in some overtime at home for a couple of weeks.
Sign-cerely, Steve
PS: I'm not into Harry Potter but Love the owl Doug!
-------------------- Steve Luck Sign Magic Inc. 2718-b Grovelin Godfrey, Illinois 62035 (618)466-9120 signmagic@sbcglobal.net Posts: 870 | From: 2718-b Grovelin Godfrey, Illinois 62035 | Registered: Dec 2004
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Looks great! I've been wanting to try Magic Sculpt also. For the foam you used for the owl, is it one solid piece? If not, what kind of glue did you use to glue the foam together?
-------------------- John Duckett Strike Creative Greenwood, South Carolina Posts: 277 | From: Greenwood, SC | Registered: Feb 2004
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John, the foam I used for the owl is 3 pieces of 2" pink insulation foam. I use "gorilla glue" to glue them together. You have to clamp it for a few hours. In most cases I'd rather use HDU- but this is one of those times where weight actually enters into it for me. This bird is going to be moved around quite a bit by my 8 year old- and hanging off of her wall. I opted to keep the weight low. The legs are 3/4" dowel rod cut and glued up inside of the foam...then magic sculpted in for strength.
Here is a pic I took before I cut it out. Notice my highly detailed and accurate sketch...HA!!
-------------------- Doug Haffner Haffner Signs www.haffnersigns.com 309-338-9570 211 W. Williams Wyoming, Il 61491 Posts: 211 | From: Wyoming, Illinois | Registered: May 2010
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-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8739 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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That is just awesome, Doug! Great story as well!
-------------------- 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, I'm nearing the end on this one.... I felt the sign had to be attached to something- so a wall seemed like the right idea. So I built a stone Hogwarts wall, and gothic door. They are both out of pink insulation foam so I can keep them light and remove them from her room in about a year when she no longer loves Harry Potter. Easy in, easy out.
The door still needs some last highlighting and the ring pull door handle.
I told me daughter this was the line...a wall, door, hogwarts sign, hedwig sculpture, Hermione wand and wand holder. That's it. There have to be limits.
-------------------- Doug Haffner Haffner Signs www.haffnersigns.com 309-338-9570 211 W. Williams Wyoming, Il 61491 Posts: 211 | From: Wyoming, Illinois | Registered: May 2010
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I'm just glad you didn't let this client get control of the job.
I have a small client like that in these parts.
Nice work Doug!
-grampa dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8739 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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No problem, John... I kept the whole thing very lite, so that I could easily install and remove it. I created some special spots around the door frame (in the grout lines) that I could attach screws. I did the same thing with the sign up on top...There are actually only about 8 screws holding it to the wall. When she gets tired of it, I can unscrew it, fill the holes and that will be that!
-------------------- Doug Haffner Haffner Signs www.haffnersigns.com 309-338-9570 211 W. Williams Wyoming, Il 61491 Posts: 211 | From: Wyoming, Illinois | Registered: May 2010
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I have one of those clients as well. I am really glad that she doesn't know yours! I am KNOW that she would be greatly disappointed in what I could produce for her. Although we did a sandblasted birthday project for her dad together a few weeks ago.
VERY nice job indeed!
-------------------- Kerri Brownlee Glorious Graphics and Gifts 312 Hwy 89 N Mayflower, Arkansas 72106 Posts: 20 | From: Mayflower, Arkansas | Registered: Feb 2011
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