A time before Signs

[showcase 66]

This morning I was meeting with a client who is planning on opening an Ice cream and Frozen custard place. I really hope he actually does it. It is hard to find frozen custard in AZ. One of the first things I do when I go back to PA or NJ to visit family is to visit a Ritas and get a Gelatis.
Anyway, turns out this guy use to be a big corporate guy in NY and just decided he didnt want to do it anymore.

It got me thinking what everyone else was doing before getting into signs. I know some were brought up in the business, but most of us weren't.

I am a structural Engineer by trade with a minor in art. I worked as an engineer for 7 years before leaving and sticking with signs and graphics. Money was a lot better than signs but the stress was way to much. The day I decided to leave the engineering field, was probably the least stressful day in my life.

What did you guys do?

 

[iSign]

I left Oregon for Hawaii in 1984. I had been a tree planter, working with (one of) the largest owner operated co-op's at that time, bidding on Forest Service contracts. Fun but very very hard work. I started studying architectural drafting, which consumed the next 4 or 5 years of school & work... but then I moved to NYC and got a job at the nations largest Architectural Sign Company.. that was 20 years ago... never looked back

 

[Fred Weiss]

Office coffee service business. It tended to go slow in the summer. Started out in signs by making vacuum formed magnetic sings in 1971 as a summer lark.

 

[SignManiac]

Construction work - framing - masonry and finish trim. Restaurant - waiter - cook - bartender - busboy. Landscaping - Marina work. Tried my hand at dealing pot but got so paranoid I just smoked up all I had and gave up on that idea.

 

[showcase 66]

tried my hand at dealing pot but got so paranoid i just smoked up all i had and gave up on that idea.

 

[Stealth Ryder]

20+ years as a soldier in the US Army, a couple of years as a teacher and found out very quickly I did not want to do that... Just sorta stumbled in to what I do now... Glad I stumbled that day...

 

[showcase 66]

20+ years as a soldier in the US Army

As for being a teacher. I couldnt do it either.

 

[theskipman_98]

let's see: USN ET"A", expeller press and grinding operator for a chicken rendering plant, auto/heavy equipment mechanic, service writer, parts supply, lumberyard rat and sales, car salesman (wth was I thinking), an ex-sign guy sold me his plotter and stuff so I became a flea market stikar maker...

 

[Cross Signs]

Long haul truck driver. Was an Owner Operator at 21 years old, Wow that was a long time ago.

 

[TheSnowman]

I did Garage Door Service/Repair & Installation from probably 7th Grade in the Summer for about 14 years till I bought the sign biz. That was a family business, and so is the sign shop. Grandparents were forced into retirement due to health, and I'd been around it my whole life, so I bought it from them. Now when it gets slow on signs in the winter, I go hang garage doors, cause it gets crazy busy with that when it gets cold out.

 

[David Wright]

Material and parts handling at a Ford prototype plant.

 

[Brandon708]

I made pizzas then worked as a subcontractor for Comcast installing cable. Those jobs where while I was in High School. After high school I got into the sign business. I think i'm still young just turning 29.

 

[Stealth Ryder]

As for being a teacher. I couldnt do it either.

You are welcome and Thank You...

 

[Williams Signs]

Network Admin and Telecom Manager for a large trucking company. Copier and Computer repair. Family been in Landscaping for 40 years. Help out from time to time. Worked for a guy that did vinyl graphics, got better than him got mad and layed me off, so bought cutter and opened up a shop and have loved every minute of it since.

 

[Flame]

Amazingly this is the only job I have ever had. Done journalism on the side, worked counters at a dirt bike shop, but eh....still young.

 

[CheapVehicleWrap]

Got into a world of legal trouble with computers in 1984 when I was 15 and naturally progressed into software development and later on domain names sales and monetizing traffic. Mostly.

 

[skyhigh]

bouncer at a strip club.

 

[Mike Paul]

bouncer at a strip club.

Is that where ya got the lipstick kiss from? :Big Laugh

 

[Mike Paul]

Worked construction part time while going to a local college for graphic arts and survey drafting.
Decided to go to Butera School of Art in Boston in 88' http://www.buteraschool.com/
when I was 21 and have been self employed since.

 

[David Wright]

You are welcome and Thank You...

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