posted
What are we called. I always called myself a signpainter. But I now wonder of that term even applies to todays "Modern" techniques of producing signs.
-------------------- Signs by Alicia Jennings (Mudflap Girl) Tacoma, WA Since 1987 Have Lipstick, will travel. Posts: 3812 | From: Tacoma, WA. U.S.A. | Registered: Dec 1999
| IP: Logged |
If all you do is paint, then Sign Painter or Sign Writer is / was the norm.
What we call ourselves doesn't matter. How our clients preceive us does matter. If we call ourselves sign painters , yet make sand blasted signs, our customers may not understand that aspect of our business by our name.
Calling yourself a sign builder may give the impression that you build high rise lighted signs only.
Which brings us to the question: Do our clients need to think of us as a sign painter, or a sign builder, or sign crafter, at all? Or, do WE feel we just need a title for some reason, maybe to feel we have our place or niche in society? I don't know those answers.
=========edit---- NO OP, NEVER DID FIND THOSE LADDERS!
[ January 24, 2004, 09:42 AM: Message edited by: Dave Draper ]
posted
ya gota luv a guy.....thats that honest....hehehehehehehehehehehehehe you ever find them ladders? hehehehehe i be DASIGN GUY...joe, ice gream truck driver....but at the bank they call me mr. pribish.......that all that mattters..
[ January 24, 2004, 02:25 AM: Message edited by: old paint ]
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
It's strange that this came up.Whats in a name... While I was sending out resume's looking for work I had down that I did "plastic fabrication/vinyl application" Mostly the plastic part. I've had lots of people (owners) look over my resume and say" I see you have alot of plastic experance,How are you at vinyl" Well as far as my brain cells worked,All the shops that I worked Plex. dept did both, plastics/vinyl/awnings/brass it was all the same. Anywho...If your building signs and working at something to create signage,we are a "sign makers" Some of the "old guys"(sorry) I think of as Masters of the brush, True there are young ones that are working But it is the seasoned ones that kept things pure.
posted
I as a "signpainter/signwriter" long before I was what I am today...so I tend to hold on to that tag.
But according to the people that use my phone to call their office or boss...I am "the sign guy" and if they are being especially thoughtful (which is seldom ) they acknowlege my wife Pat and call us the "sign people".
That works for me too
Strange we are producing all the worlds signs and don't have a title...what would everyone think if we included a title at the end of our names like dentists D.D.S. or how about "Monte Jumper M.D." (Master Designer)you think they would take us to court? If nothing else I'm sure my "malpractice insurance" would be increased.
What other titles could we have initialed after our names that would make people ask what do it mean?
[ January 24, 2004, 09:26 AM: Message edited by: Monte Jumper ]
-------------------- "Werks fer me...it'll werk fer you"
posted
Alicia.....I am W O M A N Hear Me ROAR! But I am honored to bear the title SIGN PAINTER (or "Hey Sign Lady!" Love-JILL
-------------------- That is like a Mr. Potato Head with all the pieces in the wrong place. -Russ McMullin Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
| IP: Logged |
-------------------- Jane Diaz Diaz Sign Art 628 W. Lincoln Ave. Pontiac, Il. 61764 815-844-7024 www.diazsignart.com Posts: 4102 | From: Pontiac, IL USA | Registered: Feb 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Well, I've never been called a Son-Of-A-Fitch, but close.
Monte, I am a Doctor Of Letters, with a B.S., M.S. and a PhD. You all know what B.S. stands for, I have More of the Same. and I have it Piled Higher and Deeper!
posted
A few years back Employment Canada took a detailed look at our trade. The goal was to evaluate what the sign industry involved, as well as the skills and knowledge required to do the job.
We managed to get a few Letterheads involved. Thanks to Doug Downey, Barry Tonner, Heather Moodie and a few others, we were able to produce a document that included all traditional sign related skills along with today's technologies.
Our last job was to come up with a name to call ourselves. After all sorts of debate the term SignMaker was agreed on.
I'm spending more time on the phone these days talking with potential new Merchants. I still find myself using the term Sign Painters all the time. It's hard to change old habits. Today's suppliers are quick to correct me. They want everyone to know that they service all signmakers.
It's always amazing to discover that many out there still believe Letterheads use only paint. There is an impression that we are artists, somehow different from "normal" signmakers. Many are shocked to learn we actually use computers. I suspect they feel we have magic paint cans or thinners that allow us to access Letterville.
-------------------- Steve Shortreed 144 Hill St., E. Fergus, Ontario Canada N1M 1G9 519-787-2673
posted
I guess it's really more of how others percieve you.
Over the years, most of my work has been hand painted signs, so "sign painter" is the most common one I hear. "Sign maker" follows in a close second place. When the airbrushing was dominant in my work, "airbrush artist" was the title most used. Heard 'airhead" more than once, too.
One of the best things about this biz is when you get a job you can really sink your teeth into and use all the knowledge, experience and creativity you have to produce a one of a kind piece. Those are the ones that draw out the word "artist" the most frequently.
When someone asks what I do for a living, I just say "I do signs and lettering". That 'bout covers it all. Rapid
-------------------- Ray Rheaume Rapidfire Design 543 Brushwood Road North Haverhill, NH 03774 rapidfiredesign@hotmail.com 603-787-6803
I like my paint shaken, not stirred. Posts: 5648 | From: North Haverhill, New Hampshire | Registered: Apr 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
Some habits die hard...most people still call an artist's music a record or even an album. I'm sure the kids of today are callin' them CDs but I still say to my husband - Hey! So-and-So has a new album out. Hell, I'm so far behind that I still PLAY the albums themselves. hahahaha
As for Sign Painters, I still say Sign Painters except with my husband and then I say Sign Guys.
I saw a calendar yesterday and it said Administrative Professionals Day instead of Secretary's Day! Who are they kidding?!?!?! I almost fell over laughing.
-------------------- Kimberly Zanetti Purcell www.amethystProductivity.com Folsom, CA email: Kimberly@AmethystProductivity.com
“Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.” AA Milne Posts: 3722 | From: Folsom, CA | Registered: Dec 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
I use "signpainter" & "signmaker" interchangebly Although like a few others have mentioned,To most people I'm "the sign guy", or "the sign guy on the hill"
And two things always surprise me. People who know who I am and all about me, and I don't know em from Adam. And then the people who have know idea what kind of signs I make. They are always shocked at the portfolio..."you did that?!"
-------------------- Bill Dirkes Cornhole Art LLC Bellevue, Ky. Goodnight Mrs. Calabash, wherever you are. Posts: 591 | From: Bellevue,Ky. US | Registered: Aug 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Guess I'd be a "sign Painter" cuz I only do paint....oh, and a pin striper and artist. And airbrush....geez, guess I'm just a regular ole painter.
-------------------- Kristie Byrnes Paintbrush Graphics 6126 Big Cut Rd. Mt. Carroll, IL 61053 rugbyrnes@hotmail.com (563) 357-7614 Posts: 90 | From: Thomson,IL | Registered: Dec 2002
| IP: Logged |
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
![[Applause]](graemlins/clap.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic