This inquiring mind wants to know?
Posted by Santo (Member # 411) on :
Good question. I was considering taking Steve Robertson up on the idea of having a group at so much a person. I felt it was worth the money, but I could not find any others interested. So they continue to do roll striping at $15 a pop.
Posted by Mike Languein (Member # 319) on :
Huh?
I'm lost on this one - I thought perhaps Joey meant LetterHead Meets that can be attended only by those that have been invited? If this is the intended thread I feel very uncomfortable about it in that I've been to a couple and the 'reason' is that the shop space is limited and only so many folks can fit in - and the case has been that there has been some crowding but plenty of room outside and more could have attended and shared in the fun...well, they weren't MY meets - maybe control is important, but recently 2 of the guys I work with went to an exclusive meet and keep bringing it up. So I think there is a certain amount of rubbing-it-in that goes against my idea of what LetterHeads is supposed to be about. When I had a meet at my shop 90 sign painters went and only about 20 of them could squeeze inside. So most of the meet took place outdoors, no problem and subsequent meets were held at a larger shop nearby, but no one was limited from attending. So there.
______________________________________________
Or is it about golf or something like that?
Roll striping????? Wuzzat?
[ October 05, 2001: Message edited by: Mike Languein ]
Posted by Bruce Bowers (Member # 892) on :
I have no problem with invitational meets. If someone wants to invite a select few of his/hers favorite sign people to enjoy their company, so be it. I liken this to inviting people back to your house.
When we got married this summer, not everyone that was at the wedding was invited back to the house after. Not everyone was invited to spend nights at our house, either.
Mike, if your co-workers keep rubbing it in, it just shows their immaturity. I have been invited to some of these meets and i have attended some of them and some I did not. It doesn't bother me that some people get invited and others do not.
If you are going to have an invitational meet, then I would think that no publicity would be the word of the day. To advertise the meet here or in the trade journals would just show no class and poor manners.
Have a great one!
Posted by coop (Member # 504) on :
My take, (since you asked).
I think the folks doing the invitations, should invite the folks they want to meet!
DUH?
Posted by Ryan E Young (Member # 2325) on :
I agree There is nothing wrong with an ivitation only meet. I am going to go to my first meet to learn some much needed basics. If more experianced heads want to work on more advanced projects together I dont want to get in anyones way . At the same time i feel that I would enjoy talking to beginners at the advertised meets. There is a time and place for everything.
Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
I'm with Bruce on this one...
Invitation only...Don't advertise, just invite.
Open meet...Advertise it anywhere you can.
There is a very well known meet out west that is invitation only. I know that it is recognised for the quality of the work the participants do and I am impressed with the work. BUT I don't believe it is ever "promoted" in advance. It is "covered/chronicled" in magazines after the event is over. THAT is OK in my mind. Everyone gets to see the results of the meet.
Posted by Monte Jumper (Member # 1106) on :
I know of several that have had what you call an "Invitational meet" they however call them "Work Shops" and frankly there can't be a better way to glean an intense education in a short period of time.
I think you will find that these "workshops" are generally made up of the most zealous of our band of gypsies and whats wrong with that?
I see it as two seperate things...does anyone else?
Posted by Linda Silver Eagle (Member # 274) on :
I have a great place to have small meets, and a couple of spare rooms here, 4 extra if pressed. But, I don't have a good parking situation going...for more than a handful of folks. I tend to get distracted easily in a large crowd, but think it would be kewl to have a few folks over at a time...quality time, more time to spend getting to know each other and get some serious stuff done.
I've got 3 full bathrooms, but don't know how the neighbors would like me setting up porta potties on the front lawn. (I'm not found of having to use them either, hehehe.) I figure if I had a few folks at a time, we wouldn't have to worry about hotel rooms, etc. and those that wanted to stay up and paint could, and those that wanted to wander off and fall over could. It would be cheaper to feed and easier to clean up after. I've only got two living rooms and two dining rooms, so I would be hard pressed to feed 5,000. The back yard is big enough fer a bar-b-cue, though...hehehe.
I like the idea! I've been talkin to my hubby about having one a month, every other month...just to keep the craft alive! It would be fun to look forward to and give folks who come this way, a place to stay, when they travel.
I don't know if I'd have the strength to throw a biggie, to begin with, from what I've seen it's a lot of work!
Posted by PKing (Member # 337) on :
Invitation by what you have in common,rather than who you are, seems the attraction anyway.Weather it is motorcycles,pinstiping,'32 Fords,or Bazooka Rallys! Seems to be a good way to figuire out how pizzas to order.
Posted by Rick Sacks (Member # 379) on :
Often these "by invitation" meets are specific to a subject or specialty aspect of the craft. Those invited share the interest in that specialty.Sometimes those invited would be the ones that share the discoveries from that meet with the broader letterhead population at future meets. Sometimes these meets are for the purpose of experimenting with processes not yet developed, so there's nothing to be taught, only discovered. There are some things that only occur with smaller groups. and there will always be some feeling excluded. I think everyone doing one of these workshops feels uncomfortable about needing to keep the head count down and not wanting to hurt anyone rusulting from not being invited. It ain't easy, but often necessary.
Posted by Kathy Joiner (Member # 1814) on :
I just attended my first meet last month. So now I have an idea as to what I don't know, and that covers a lot of territory.
Invitational meets from what I gather are geared towards the more experienced signwriter. It gives them a well deserved chance to receive knowledge from one another.
How would you like to sit beside someone new like me while you are trying to learn a specialized technique? All you would hear is my mouth. "What's he talking about? What's that stuff? Where do ya get that? What in the world is that thing?"
After Duck Soup, I'm hooked on meets, but my feelings certainly aren't hurt by invitational meets. You can't play Scrabble with a 3 yr. old.
Posted by Mike Languein (Member # 319) on :
You can sit next to me, Kathy - I'll be glad to answer if I know and if I don't I'll make up something...
Posted by Rich Stebbing (Member # 368) on :
I think "invitationals" are fine,but I would prefer they call them something other than a Letterhead Meet. Perhaps, Gold-Crafters Meet or something pertaining to theme. The Sign business wears so many hats with Carvers,Painters,Artisans,Vinyl Technicians, etc. that many are now "niche" specialists, and these people want to have meets that can be very intense and serious regarding their particular niche which is fine by me. I hosted a small one years ago, and because my shop was so small at the time I put out the word locally only, as I wanted to introduce and perhaps bond Sign-people in my community. It was free to attend and included lunch and snacks mostly donated by a local supplier. It lasted only a day and I felt it was very cozy and successful. We had about 35 people and long-lasting friendships were developed. When I here Letterhead Meet I like to think of it as a representation of a "cross-section" of Sign/Artist people of all levels with all the dumb questions as well as all of the expertise shared, and thats the key word for me right there,..."SHARE".
Posted by AdrienneMorgan (Member # 1046) on :
HEY RICH!!!! How come I wasn't invited ??????
hehe
Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
I don't like the lable of "Invitaional Letterhead Meets" simply because of the implication that you must be "qualified" to be invited! AND I don't believe that it should be publicized beforehand!
I understand the purpose behind the idea...it could be due to lack of workingparking space,a specialized meet, not wanting to spend a HUGE amount of time organizing it, or a whole list of other reasons.
If you want to put on an "invitation only" meet...quietly call, Email, or write to those that you wish to have attend! That way no one's feelings get hurt.
Posted by Rich Stebbing (Member # 368) on :
Yo Adrienne,....you were on the "B list"
Actually it was in '92, were you around then?
Posted by AdrienneMorgan (Member # 1046) on :
umm, well, I was in Sacramento......ok, your off the hook, this time...but if you do one again........ Posted by Rick Sacks (Member # 379) on :
Quite often when some veteran craftsmen assemble at a meet time is consumed offering instruction to others. I think there was recently a small gathering and it was intended that noone come other than those invited so there would be time to focus on pieces that could actually be finnished at the meet. It was a time to jam and not a social affair. I sure can't find fault with it.
Posted by Dan Sawatzky (Member # 88) on :
I have often dreamed of hosting a meet some day. Hopefully not too far in the future. But one concern on my mind is the limited space I have in my (future) shop. (hopefully in the next year.)
The meets I have attended were held in a public space ie. the local curling club or in a big gym. Lots of work to organize and big money as well.
The meet I envision would have to be held in my shop as I would want to demonstrate the stuff we do and pass on those skills to others. This means we would need to be where my specialized tools are. Hopefully we could do some other great projects that would share skills that others bring to the meet as well. I would hope to get some finished projects done that would leave a legacy in the little tourist community I live in.
I would also like to combine it with some of the recreational and fun things that are on our property. Like the first ever letterhead and adventure golf meet.
All this means the meet would have to be very limited in size. Perhaps 50 letterheads or so at maximum. This post gives me some insight as how to limit it...
The question is ... invitation or limit the number of attendies. First 50 registered and no more?
How would you do it??
Just wondering...
-dan
Posted by Rick Sacks (Member # 379) on :
Dan, Try to imagine who would actually use the techniques you developed and take them further and do their own style instead of coppying your, and those might be the ones to invite. Someone that does glod on glass might not utilize skills that make amusement parks and sculpted mall facades. Blend this crowd with an alligator wrestler and sword swallower and a good caterer and you have a winning meet that could change the world some.
