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Do you like your profession?
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Gino
Premium Subscriber
After 44 years of doing this professionally with about 6 more before that when I was dabbling in it..... I think I finally have it down as a 'Like'.
How often can someone in most other businesses be driving down the street and say..... I did that or we made that or that's still there after 30 years ?? There is a certain amount of inner gratification from seeing one's work around town. It's also good to know ya made a lotta money while doing something you like.
How often can someone in most other businesses be driving down the street and say..... I did that or we made that or that's still there after 30 years ?? There is a certain amount of inner gratification from seeing one's work around town. It's also good to know ya made a lotta money while doing something you like.
mmblarg
New Member
Probably depends on your position. For me, I'm the low man on the totem pole in a solid 5 person business with no possibility for advancement. The only paths I have are stay and slowly build pay raises, leave and start my own sign shop from what I've learned (terrifying) or build a new career - currently working on the later by getting a degree.
The flip side though, I've never been happier in any entry-level position (I work graphic design, production, and sales at a local sign shop) so I'll be hanging onto this job right up until I finish my degree (and possibly after)
The flip side though, I've never been happier in any entry-level position (I work graphic design, production, and sales at a local sign shop) so I'll be hanging onto this job right up until I finish my degree (and possibly after)
C
ColoPrinthead
Guest
I enjoy my work. I am lucky to have found several niches I can apply skills learned from a print background that tend to pay far better than a run of the mill FastSigns etc.
At one point of time I was letting stress and bad coworkers get to me and hated seeing my work out and about (took a vacation to Tenn from TX to get away from it all only to see my stuff); Now that I am with a good team it doesn't bother me and helps me explain to people what I do by telling them what they have seen that I have made around town.
At one point of time I was letting stress and bad coworkers get to me and hated seeing my work out and about (took a vacation to Tenn from TX to get away from it all only to see my stuff); Now that I am with a good team it doesn't bother me and helps me explain to people what I do by telling them what they have seen that I have made around town.
Pete Moss
New Member
I love what I do. I especially love the creative aspects and building brands. Most of my clients are truly a pleasure to work with. After 20+ years in graphic design I am finally in a management position and making a fairly decent living for this area. Of course it could always be better, more benefits, etc. I think in many ways I would be happier if I owned my own shop. At the same time I am aware that with that comes longer hours and more responsibility.
Bigdawg
Just Me
I love what I do. Period. Well... maybe except for the occasional jerk, but we are pretty much a B2B shop with very little walk-ins.
I like helping people make their business look good. I like finding solutions for them that fit within their budgets. I like that we aren't the cheapest shop in town - and we tell people it is for a reason. We take the time they need without shortcuts. All in all I find my work very satisfying - especially when someone sees their new sign for the first time and I get to see their eyes light up. All in all, I find my job very satisfying.
I like helping people make their business look good. I like finding solutions for them that fit within their budgets. I like that we aren't the cheapest shop in town - and we tell people it is for a reason. We take the time they need without shortcuts. All in all I find my work very satisfying - especially when someone sees their new sign for the first time and I get to see their eyes light up. All in all, I find my job very satisfying.
bannertime
Active Member
I grew up in the business, so it was all I knew growing up. I say I hate it, but there are definitely days that I absolutely love it. We do other forms of outdoor advertising and event decor so we get to go behind the scenes of a some pretty cool places. Make friends with a lot of businesses. It's always funny to see two business owner friends run into each other in my shop. What can really make it all worth it for me, is that sigh of relief that a customer gets when you say "yes of course we can do that."
My true passion is law enforcement. That's what I did in the Army. Though I probably won't ever be able to do it again, I'll always dream of it. Until the day comes that I may do it again, the only other career I can imagine being in, is the print industry. Eventually I'd like to move away form walk-in business to servicing local government, schools, and other businesses trying to do in-house graphics. I can see myself doing that for another 40 years.
My true passion is law enforcement. That's what I did in the Army. Though I probably won't ever be able to do it again, I'll always dream of it. Until the day comes that I may do it again, the only other career I can imagine being in, is the print industry. Eventually I'd like to move away form walk-in business to servicing local government, schools, and other businesses trying to do in-house graphics. I can see myself doing that for another 40 years.
TrustMoore_TN
Sign & Graphics Business Consultant
I love this industry and like Gino said, there's a great satisfaction to be driving down the road and seeing a project you worked on. And now that my son is old enough to know what I do, its neat to point those out to him when we are driving around. I brought him in on a weekend to do some work and had him pulling RTA letters off a reception counter so we could rebrand it for another client's tradeshow booth. When he realized he was pulling "stickers" off, he made the comment "Daddy, you get to play with stickers all day?!?!?!?! THAT'S NOT WORK- THAT'S PLAYING! I can't remember laughing so hard. He was really impressed when he saw me mount a digital print to a 4x8 panel.
After working in sign shops for 20 years, I have finally found a great home in the exhibit industry and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I still work hard, but knowing my work is going to be seen by 1000's and 1000's of people at shows like SGIA, ISA, CES and other big shows is really cool.
After working in sign shops for 20 years, I have finally found a great home in the exhibit industry and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I still work hard, but knowing my work is going to be seen by 1000's and 1000's of people at shows like SGIA, ISA, CES and other big shows is really cool.
Msrae
Rae
I think most of the people on here like what they do and the sign/advertisement industry. I love working with the plotters, printers, sign blanks, banners, I enjoy the vehicle installs, I love it all. Hopefully someday I will be able to make a full time living at it instead of it being my secondary income.
visual800
Active Member
I love designing, fabricating and installing. I do not like customers that do not heed advice, do their own logos and go for cheaper products.
Its become more of a battle in past couple years. Signs are an after thought sometimes. People will spend 1.5 Mill on a building and then "rush" to get crappy signs because they are now broke and in a hurry to open
Its become more of a battle in past couple years. Signs are an after thought sometimes. People will spend 1.5 Mill on a building and then "rush" to get crappy signs because they are now broke and in a hurry to open
Gino
Premium Subscriber
eahicks
Magna Cum Laude - School of Hard Knocks
I started at my first sign shop 25 years ago, with a baby on the way, needing a new job that paid better. I started there with the mindset of "this will do for now". 25 years later, after 5 or 6 different companies, I guess I haven't really sought out what I would do after the "temporary" line of work...LOL...so here I am. Of course, I've learned a ton, created a LOT of things throughout the DFW area, and advanced as a designer and fabricator. Do I always like it? No. The people aspect can wear you down. But I guess if you get up every day and not dread going to work, you've found your niche.
I never thought I'd get into the printing industry, my dad has owned a print shop for 20+ years, and added a large format department probably 8 years ago. I majored in marketing, and have always been intrigued with the branding/consumer behavior aspect. So, a year into the job I do feel like I enjoy it. I've been able to motivate and push the higher ups involved in the large format department to expand beyond just providing for customers who call in asking if we do signage like this, and I think we've been relatively successful. It's stressful since I was the initial visionary to do so (and the least experienced in the industry, yet the most qualified in terms of understanding the potential) , but I'd love to make this my career in the long term if I can help grow the department into my own company once pops is retired.
myront
Dammit, make it faster!!
Yes, given my age and position in life I am happy to be in an art field. I wanted to be a freelance artist in my youth but couldn't afford "Art School" and well...hated school. joined the military, got married, had kids, yada yada yada. Now I have my pension + this and a good team here and a damn good boss/owner. Can't complain.
Texas_Signmaker
Very Active Signmaker
I am a one-man shop and my favorite part are installs... second to getting paid.
Gene@mpls
New Member
We started 20+ years ago with computer knowledge but never having been in a sign shop. Talked to Sign-a-rama, they showed me 8-10 shops and let me talk to the managers... and I thought, I can do this... so we [my daughter and I] did. My first task, after learning Flexi, was teaching her to double-click a mouse
. I am now semi-retired and she is a good designer. It has been a good ride and I intend to do this as long as I have breath, and they keep having Happy Hours. Gene
. I am now semi-retired and she is a good designer. It has been a good ride and I intend to do this as long as I have breath, and they keep having Happy Hours. Gene