Hi Mr. Gino,
I'm hardly a "has been", in fact it is painfully clear that in your eyes, as evidenced by your erratic behavior I am a "Up and coming Threat" to you personally. I know you're understandably upset about the fact that I knew about your blood pressure medicine, but with all due respect sir: it takes no "psychic" ability to read the tea leaves in your cup.
All witticism aside: Thanks for taking the time to reply in some vague sort of civilized tone. As to me telling you whats going on in your head: One simply needs to do a search of say maybe your last 4-5 posts and the telling will simply speak for itself. I have nothing but the utmost respect for anyones talent, (yours included). I could only wish that I had the ability to design a graphic poster, advertisement or sign that didn't look like some 3rd grader's finger painting assignment. But when someone like me or any other newbie comes onto a signmaking forum, asking for advice on the appropriate sub-board, and has you and your gang instantly fly off the handle, accusing said postee of ruining your livelihood, stealing food from your mouths, destroying the industry, etc.. It is frankly juvenile on your part. Why do you even bother to view he posts and take the time to rant about them if you feel they are so far beneath your superior skill level? Why not just stick to the "Paid Subscription only" forums where you and your pals can sit around and massage each others egos and ridicule the likes of me and other newbies? - Why even lower yourself to needlessly debate my worthless comments? (You can answer for yourself, my psychic abilities not withstanding)
You are 100% correct (aping my own statements, about myself BTW) In that I don't know jack diddy about the industry: I got my start in the "industry" buying a cheap a$$ plotter from UScutter, and started selling wimpy vinyl cut decals on ebay for a few bucks each Something a true professional such as yourself would consider far beneath your sophisticated talents and not even worth your time. Yet you have no hesitation about attacking me for stepping up and doing so.. So basically your philosophy on the subject can be summed up as: "I, Gino consider the manufacture and sale of $5.00 vinyl decals far beneath my 40 years of experience, and I would not even consider lowering myself to such trivial undertakings: HOWEVER, now that I have dictated that such measly doings are beneath me.. I hereby dictate that nobody else can do so either, since to do so would be to disrespect me and my 40 years of experience..." Whatever, the whole precept is silly, and you know it Gino.
As I outlined in my very first post on this "sales, marketing, pricing" (where: Whoa! you better think twice about asking a "sales, marketing or Pricing" question! (unless of course you are already a professional, then it's OK to ask a question because you of course already know the answer! You are after all a pro, and the only possible reason that the "sales, marketing & Pricing" forum even exists is for industry pros to ask each other questions that they already know the answer to and then they can bandy back and forth with clever "industry insider" repartee) forum - I was asking you so called "Industry professionals" what a fair price to charge per square foot on banner printing would be so as to not even try to undercut my local "Industry professionals" would be: How the 'h more respectful to you pros and the "industry" could anyone be for christs sake? - or do you cling to the stance that someone like me Should not even be "allowed" to buy a wide format printer in the first place? Are you truly that daft? - As I clearly explained: I Market my printing only service to a local "SignMaking Professional" who's printer crapped the bed, and he does not have the technical/mechanical skills to keep his own printer running. He came to the astute conclusion that it is more profitable for him to market and reap the profits from his design talents (and charge the customer accordingly, with my Price/sq foot considered & Built in) and leave the mechanical (no brain required) task of physically printing to me, and pay me a fair price for that. How exactly is that disrespecting or Harming any of you old goats? How is that Harming anyone? Even the slightest application of common sense would show that it is a win-win for everyone. How do you construe that as me telling you all how to do your jobs? - It does not even slightly imply anything of the sort. Therefore - It is my expert opinion (drawing on my vast knowledge of ALL THINGS that you conceded above (thank you for recognizing that!)) - that you are not quite so secure in your 40 years of experience so as to just ignore little bull$hit filled guys like me, if you were you would simply..ignore me.
Lastly, and food for further thought: It is entirely possible to figure out how to install a diesel (or gasoline) Turbocharger simply by googling around and watching some informative Youtube videos. If you decide to take it on, please PM me. Despite your overt hostility, I'd be happy to lend you a hand and impart what knowledge (if any, besides my awesome personality) I have. heck - I'll even bring the beer. you're actually kinda likable in your own curmudgeonry sort of way.
*smoochies*
lod, just forget it. You missed the boat, entirely. If I want to hear someone TELL me and not explain my shortcomings, I'll be sure to look you up. Otherwise, put a sock in it. While you sound like you have potential, you're just an over-inflated windbag who knows some neat words and nothing of the trade.
-t
I'm sorry some of you "professionals" feel the way you do. I joined this site to gain knowledge about some things I'm unfamiliar with. However, every forum I've viewed to answer some of my questions has some "professional" making an ignorant remark about the question which ends up (like this post) as a battle between unknown individuals hiding behind their computer screen.
Karma? If you give, you receive, If you put your energy into hating and bringing down individuals you feel shouldn't be in your trade that are here asking for your professional help.....You will receive that negative energy in some form right back at you.
All of this is a matter of opinion based on personal thoughts created in our own minds. Everyone makes up their own meaning to others input.
Great people are more than happy to help the underdog in any way they can. Not smash em to the ground. It's about love, no hate. That's good karma. Whatever you believe, you will attract. Ignorance will be your biggest enemy.
My "hobby vinyl" won't have any affect on you all unless you live in my town. Someday, I would love to open my own shop. But financially right now it's not feasible. I can't fathom starting a business in mounds of debt. Especially in such a small town. My customers are more than happy to give their business to a local because there is no one else here that does it. I'm sorry that it makes some of you angry that us small hobby people force you to have to explain yourselves to customers. That is a sincere comment.
My experience on this site has been rough because of all of the negativity here. Jealousy is eating everyone alive. I've found no inspiration here yet. So sad
You said the very thing I've been saying for years. You, the lods or most anyone on this site is not going to affect another member here, but you are affecting the industry in your home-town. You ARE hurting someone or perhaps many, who are trying desperately to do this with the proper insurance, pricing, equipment, software and most of all..... knowledge. They too have families, bills, mortgages and things they need or want, but some hack is preventing them from getting their fair share. You are not being fair to our industry, simply cause you wanna be a sign person with absolutely no talent or dues paid in.
After hearing Jill's story, you and lod... and probably some others are still gonna go on about how you're not hurting anyone. Well open your frickin' eyes
!! There is a sign artist and letterer, that can paint circles around you both by brush or computer. However, she has something none of you have. INTEGRITY. She is going to sell her house, give up her business, rather then become a cheap hack like you or lod. Can you say any different ?? No, I didn't think so. I will do anything I can to help her in her transition, if I can, because I have met her on a few occasions and she is a really a good person with a heart of gold. lod says we're a bunch of mean ol' people cause we're pros..... well, I'm not much one for titles, but it now needs to be said, if we're a bunch of old, stubborn, selfish, b@stards, it only stands to reason, you and you're kind are a bunch of silly, gimme-gimmee, self-praise-stinkin' bunch of users and abusers. You come here and take and never contribute. Like a bunch of teenagers who think they know it all and should move outta the house while they still do, cause their parents are just too old fashioned. Well kiddies, if the foo sh!ts wear it.
What are you gonna do when you're done running off the last professional here ?? So many are already gone. Is it my being obnoxious towards snot-nosed nobodies or is it because day in and day out it's all about how to get the cheapest ink, the dumbest design accepted or just newbies ranting about the fact that they don't know anything ??
We're what you call pattern makers. We KNOW how to do all of this without a computer. Most of us can paint pictures, caricatures, letter buildings and high tanks without ever turning on a computer. We can weld, blow neon and screen print. Most can design something beyond a 'for sale' sign and still make it look pleasing. While eye to hand coordination was essential in our day, it's still widely needed to accomplish most tasks in this field. A thumbnail will say volumes for someone meeting with a new client. You don't have to create a Rembrandt. Even stick figures will do, but someone with no artistic talent.... in this trade..... why ??
While you people keep beating your heads against the wall trying to put us old codgers in our place, you're slowly letting a huge amount of knowledge just wither away. There is nothing better than watching and getting hands-on experience...... and coming here is next best. There's no right or wrong way to ask dumb questions, but there is a way to insult your teachers. All I can say, is wait. Just wait. Your day will come, if you make it in this industry or anywhere. There will be takers and givers and it's not pleasant to constantly get kicked in the teeth from a no body. How many of you when going to school told your teachers.... or better yet, your college profs.... that they had queer ways of teaching ?? Bet that landed ya a good mark, huh ??
This place is for everyone and although there's no right or wrong way to be here if you are ever so remotely into the sign industry, you still need to learn. Can't we all get along and play to the same tune ?? You want less belittlement and we want less know-it-alls pretending to already know it all.
Considering we all want to further this industry, it's not looking good, so it's really your call. I learn something here all the time, but it has very little to do with the sign industry. Can any of you say that ??
Practice, Practice, Practice! Your first 50 cheap jobs aren't going to be perfect. The customers don't know jack about vinyl so unless they've had previous experience they wouldn't know what to expect from someone. I've been doing this for 7 years, using Flexi 8.6 and am finally broadening into printing and Flexi Pro. I've gotten around by word of mouth in my town and ppl continue to come back and send others. Yep, I do this out of my house and it works great! I started doing vinyl for walls and crafts only....then people started coming to me for trailers, truck windows, business windows etc. I've got an in with a local body shop as well. I learn something new everyday. I enjoy doing what I do 
The other side of the coin is that you have made three posts ... all critical of other members, without offering any praise of good posts or making a helpful post yourself.
