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Reading Lotti's post about what defines a letterhead, my response would be "someone who commits to learning a new skill or technique." In my own case, I currently have the unique situation of learning a new skill in technology, having just this week purchased an Edge, and having a job requiring me to learn an old and "esoteric" skill, making a glue-chipped glass sign. It's a lot on my plate, especially given I have a very tight time limit on the glue-chip project, as I leave for England (for the Folk 'n Ale meet) in nine days.
What, if anything, are you working on that "pushes the envelope" of your sign-making skills?
-------------------- "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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IM TRYING TO LEARN HOW TO DEAL WITH CUSTOMERS I CANT DEAL WITH! ID PRAY TO THE SAINT OF LOST CAUSES IF ONLY I KNEW WHO THAT WAS.....MAYBE ST. SOPRANO!
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Good post Cam. I recently learned a lot about networking after literally months, & a few abandoned approaches & the help of 2 consultants (after the first one went awol), as well as new hardware & new software.
It doesn't make me a letterhead, but helps me to juggle being a business man & a husband. Although working at home may not be the most family oriented activity, I can come home at 5:00 now, have dinner, enjoy home life, & if I need to stay up late or get up early to finish a few layouts, do my accounting or whatever, I can use a remote connection to log on to my office computer & access any file I need to from home.
My next skill will be to tackle the learning curve to switch from Casmate to Flexi 7. I have determmined that I will be better off for a number of compatibility issues reasons, once the transition is done, but I expect some frustrating loss of production before I experience the benefits.
[ September 16, 2002, 07:21 PM: Message edited by: Doug Allan ]
at this time i am learning everything i can about antiqueing signs.(crackle finishes, glazes, stressing, etc.) it is funny you mention glue chipping, i talked to mike meyer this morning about that very subject. in his usual optimism bubba meyer says, "hey bubba, there is nothing to it!"
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Hey Bubba Fair, I've done a bunch of those antique crackle-finish signs. You need any help, give me a call or an e-mail. I think I still have some crackling varnish and stuff kicking around.
-------------------- "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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In the last month I have become a journeyman box packer, mover and unpacker and have now reached the stage of learning to work out of a box...we're nearly crazy with all the disapearing tools equipment and paints but have come to realize that with a little sense of humor and a LOT of patience we can work thru this...the new digs are worth it however (even though it seems like working in someonelses shop).
Interesting at it's best and challenging at its worst!
-------------------- "Werks fer me...it'll werk fer you"
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As far as craft skills, straight line pinstriping, and antiquing. In the technology dept., Autocad.... I hate that program, but it's a necessary evil. Rick
-------------------- Rick Chavez Hemet, CA Posts: 1540 | From: Hemet,CA U.S.A. | Registered: Jun 2001
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I'm in the midst of bread n' butter jobs right now that aren't stretching any of my capabilities but a skill I am determined to 're-learn' is freestyle lettering. I was completely self taught as a teenager having never even seen a sign painter in action until many years after I had developed incredibly bad lettering habits that required lots of masking tape for square ends if I wasn't doing a simple letter with round ends!(LOL) I hadn't even had any notion that there were special brushes for lettering. Seeing 'knock 'em out' hand letterers in action at meets always gets my full attention.
Not having hand-lettered anything for nearly six years, hopefully I have forgotten most of those habits and can start fresh. Now if a job would come along that would require me to learn that skill that might be motivation enough. Even learning to carve and building dimensional signs didn't seem like much of a stretch for me because I had built all sorts of things for many years including furniture and I'm not a stranger to any hand or power tool. Some of my earliest memories are of fashioning my own toys with chisels and rasps out of scrap pieces of 2x4.
As more people seem to be going more heavily into computers I'm finding that I'm getting away from them. It has been a useful tool for design but nothing I have ever created with a computer has ever given me the satisfaction and sense of accomplishment of a handcrafted sign and I'm constantly on the lookout for new project to challenge and stretch my skills.
-------------------- Happy Signing...... Marty
M.F. (Marty) Happy Signmaker Since 1974 Happy Ad Sign & Design Regina SK, Canada S4N 5K4 306-789-9567 happyad@sasktel.net www.happyad.ca
Get Happy & Get Noticed! Posts: 773 | From: Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada | Registered: Jan 1999
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Ive done most all aspects of the sign business including servicing signs & building new stuff. But I keep coming back to illustration somehow. I really like to incorporate pictures into signage,but for some reason I find it very hard to produce this work. I have 2 friends who are awesome muralists, and I get inspiration from them. One of them says I have "art phobia", so I guess I'm trying to learn how to relax more when doing this type of work. I CAN do some nice stuff if I just settle down and do it, and quit worrying about the outcome. So I'm down here in Florida teaching myself to jump over this big hurdle.Having access to this site seems to help alot in a round about way. People who are willing to admit that they don't know everything give me positive vibes.
-------------------- Jeff Ogden 8727 NE 68 Terr. Gainesville FL, 32609 Posts: 2138 | From: 8827 NE 68 Terr Gainesville Fl 32609 | Registered: Aug 2002
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Ive done most all aspects of the sign business including servicing signs & building new stuff. But I keep coming back to illustration somehow. I really like to incorporate pictures into signage,but for some reason I find it very hard to produce this work. I have 2 friends who are awesome muralists, and I get inspiration from them. One of them says I have "art phobia", so I guess I'm trying to learn how to relax more when doing this type of work. I CAN do some nice stuff if I just settle down and do it, and quit worrying about the outcome. So I'm down here in Florida teaching myself to jump over this big hurdle.Having access to this site seems to help alot in a round about way. People who are willing to admit that they don't know everything give me positive vibes.
[ September 16, 2002, 09:23 PM: Message edited by: Jeff Ogden ]
-------------------- Jeff Ogden 8727 NE 68 Terr. Gainesville FL, 32609 Posts: 2138 | From: 8827 NE 68 Terr Gainesville Fl 32609 | Registered: Aug 2002
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I am learning to let go of the customers who are total pains and cheapbutts. You know the ones. THOSE I am actually telling to go. L E A V E. It has been my pleasure to do this. The jobs I no longer have any fun at, I am not doing anymore. Simple as that.
Just today I stopped in the sign carving class to ask when the next class is! I can't wait!!!!
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I've determined that 1-Shot is my friend. After a bunch of attempts, screwing up EVERYTHING that I've touched.... Along came the Mars Letterhead meet and everything is starting to fall together!!
MUCHO thanks to Jill, CJ, Art, Mike Meyers, Don, Bill and a WHOLE bunch of others for helping me out.
I'll never be whatever I turn out to be with out you guys!
sniff.. sniff....
LONG LIVE LETTERHEADS!!
-------------------- Mark Neurohr "Ernest" Paintin' Place 141 Sunnyside Road Kittanning, PA 16201
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I think my biggest thing now, is trying to remember all the things I've learned the last 30 years...LOL. (all those one shot paint fumes)I just moved into my new shop in July, and me being the pack rat that I am, found many things that had been stuck back over the years. Some of the things I found, I was glad to see I had at least improved upon over the years. I found some old gold leaf panels that I had forgotten, among other things that were BC (before computer) I went through a period of time after I got my first computer that everything was done on it. But now I try to mix hand lettering and vinyl on a more even scale. You never forget your first love.
-------------------- Steve Brown Brown Art Signs & Graphics 5381 Seven Islands Road Madison, GA Posts: 10 | From: Madison,GA,USA | Registered: Aug 1999
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Hey Cheryl, You have those types of customers in Washington too....LOL I thought I had the market cornered. One thing about staying busy, you can always be to busy to take them on.
-------------------- Steve Brown Brown Art Signs & Graphics 5381 Seven Islands Road Madison, GA Posts: 10 | From: Madison,GA,USA | Registered: Aug 1999
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Lately I have been telling some to take a hike even if I'm NOT that busy. It just isn't worth it to try to compete with some of the other sign shops who give their sh*t away. I have a selective customer list now. And I am happier. Not necessarily richer. Posts: 3729 | From: Seattle | Registered: Sep 1999
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Lately its been v-carved, prismatic, and hog-out tool paths. Along with spindle speeds and feed rates for all the metals, plastics, and woods that are finding there way into our shop.
But most important has been coming up with effective marketing and sales strategies for the thirty years worth of knowledge crammed into my head.
Oh and the networking was a necessary pain in my buttocks.
-------------------- Bob Stephens Skywatch Signs Zephyrhills, FL
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Web design. After seeing some of the stuff Dan Antonelli, and Doug Downey does, I think I'll pursue it a little more than I have been. Im re-working my own site now. Also, carving, mainly HDU. Fun stuff to work with. Ive did a few things, like small ornaments with gold leafing, but would like to do some bigger stuff. Awfullll dusty though.
-------------------- 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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I'm going to Shep's wood graining class and playing with a redesign of my website. Always trying to learn new things and upgrade the skills I have.
-------------------- Rob Thomas 3410 Ketcham Ct Beautiful Springs FL 34134 Posts: 965 | From: Bonita Springs, Florida USA | Registered: Feb 2000
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Right now I'm really looking forward to getting over to Shep's on the 28th and 29th to learn "HIS" method of woodgraining...........Tht's a GUARANTEED" Moneymaker......!!
But the antiquing is something I want to get into next........You can't believe all the OLD Barn -Wood we have on my place, just begging to be turned into some old signs..........Every time I just glance at one of these boards......I see an old sign just waiting to jump out........
..........cj
PS...Cheryl...... I've been kickin customers out by the herd lately......and DAMN it feels good..... I just love sayin "NO".......hehehe Just gonna do the work "I" want to, and ta hell with em........
Camm........GREAT Post... You asked me a question a few weeks ago, I was gonna answer you.....Now I not only can't remember the question....but I can't find it in any of the old topics.........DUH !! Can you remember what it was....?? hahaha!
and that's the "Second" thing ta leave ya my friends.....
[ September 17, 2002, 03:08 AM: Message edited by: CJ Allan ]
-------------------- CJ Allan CJs Engraving 982 English Dr. Hazel, KY 42049
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I am learning the technique of "teaching and working" with an up coming wannabe(nephew) Although I have always been willing to SHARE what I know with others. To actually TEACH another to replace me seems to be somewhat another matter.
-------------------- PKing is Pat King The Professor of SIGNOLOGY Posts: 3113 | From: Pompano Beach, FL. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Good one Cam...I'm still trying to cram 25 lbs of **** into a 5 gallon bucket. You think you got alot to do before liftoff.....I'll let you know how much I actually got done when I see the whites of yur eyes on the Queens soil. Otherwise, the usual walking and chewing gum at the same time always stumped me....
-------------------- 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!!!!!!!
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Hey Meyer, nothing you gotta do is anywhere close to the task we'll have in England. Since your "retirement" as Salvemeister, whose going to have to test all those local beverages for purity and flavor? Tough job, but somebody's got to do it!
See you in Merrie Olde, my friend.
-------------------- "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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Metalworking, blacksmithing, welding, making wrought iron brackets . . . .
Oh, yeah. . .. your check is in the mail !!!
[ September 17, 2002, 07:36 PM: Message edited by: John Smith ]
-------------------- John Smith Kings Bay Signs (Retired) Kissimmee, Florida Posts: 822 | From: Central Florida - The Sunshine State | Registered: Jan 2000
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This post sucks Cam..............hahhahaahh just kidding!
Actually its a great thread!
We have been building solid "styrofoam" (expanded polystyrene)signs in the 9 foot by 5 foot high size and covering them with a nylon mesh, scratch coat of fiberglass cement and then a top coat of acrylic stucco.
The signs are hard as rock, but lightweight as two people can carry them.
We are building them to stockpile, set out by the road and sell them off the lot, like a car dealship would sell new cars!
Premade signs, ready to letter and install, what a new way to think...I hope it works. Anyway, I am having tons of fun coming up with original designs. My goal is to give Peachtree Foamcraft down in Georiga, a run for thier money!
We are right in the center of Chicago to the North, St. Louis to the South and Indianapolis to the East and DesMoine and the quad cities to the west. Should be able to sell some of these signs to a coulpe of businesses, eh?
[ September 17, 2002, 08:59 PM: Message edited by: Dave Draper ]
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