HEEEEY! Seein' as how you already know HOW you want it, all you gotta do is paint it!! You're really gonna save some money since you don't need me after all . . .see ya!!
-------------------- Signs Sweet Home Alabama
oneshot on chat
"Look like a girl, act like a lady, think like a man, work like a dog" Posts: 5758 | From: "Sweet Home" Alabama | Registered: Mar 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
I just got approval on a job from the customer after proofing the job 9 times. I got paid for the artwork but it's a major kick in the butt to make changes so many times fruitlessly.
Get this...did you see it coming ? All the changes they made came full circle back to my original proposed drawings. They don't even know it.
I'm never sure what's worse a customer that knows what they want (usually terrible) or the ones that don't have a clue what they want.
Steve
-------------------- Steve Aycock Designs 3489 Oswald St. Johns Island, SC zaor@warpdriveonline.com Posts: 124 | From: Charleston, SC | Registered: Feb 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
Had a similar situation on a big sign. When it was finished, she said "be sure to put your name on it for advertising...after all, alot of people are gonna see this sign" My thoughts exactly! How bout NO!
""Good judgment comes from experience; and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" - Will Rogers Posts: 3485 | From: Beautiful Newaygo, Michigan | Registered: Mar 2003
| IP: Logged |
It ain't a world class art piece. Its a window sticker. STick it on get paid. Yes you know what looks better, yes you worry about the reputation, yes you want the best for your clients. But he wants to show he is gratefull to his clients.
-------------------- Leaper of Tall buildings.. If you find my posts divisive or otherwise snarky please ignore them. If you do not know how then PM me about it and I will demonstrate. Posts: 5274 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
I just delivered some signs today. The customer asked what I need to make the signs. I told them I need artwork for your logo, approximate sizes, and if there are any colours that need to be specific, then I will come up with a design or 2 for you to approve, the deposit and then we start. She says.."we will design the signs, give you the sizes and the colours, all you need to do is make them".
I pondered this for a while wondering if I will see their design and try to talk them into something more appealing or just make the signs and take the money. I opted for the second, they liked their signs and I have a cheque.
oh yeah.. The layout was not horrible, just plain. My name didn't make it on the signs either.
posted
I hate it when they do that. Usually they want to send you a picture of the sign in Microsoft publisher or the equivalent. What in God's name would posses someone to want to layout graphics in a wordprocessor I'll never know.
Glad the second option worked out for you.
Steve
-------------------- Steve Aycock Designs 3489 Oswald St. Johns Island, SC zaor@warpdriveonline.com Posts: 124 | From: Charleston, SC | Registered: Feb 2003
| IP: Logged |
DrCAS Custom Lettering and Design Saint Cloud, Minnesota
"Things work out best for the people who make the best of the way things work out." - Art Linkletter Posts: 6451 | From: Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Registered: Jun 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
I am in the process of working "with" a doctor on a sign for his office. He actually did a semi-decent job on the layout, but it isn't exactly what I would have done. I am going to throw a quick sketch together for him, and when he says "I like your design better", I will say, "that's why I don't operate on people"........He's a doctor, I'm a sign artist.
-------------------- "The 3-4 minute mark of "Freewill" by Rush.
Bob Kaschak Artisan Sign And Design Peru New York Posts: 1874 | From: Upstate NY | Registered: Jul 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
I will be doing his final choice as the sign.
The hard part is that this is not vinyl...The signs are 20"x28" blasted HDU. Putting so much effort into such a poor layout is what dismays me. But, they're payin' for it and it will take just as much time as my original version so ... on we go...
-------------------- Pat Neve, Jr. 321-537-8675 Capt. Sign
posted
Designing on a word processor is the adult version of crayons on a placemat. Only a word processor costs more than a box of Crayolas, so the results MUST be better... Right?
It's all relative. I've seen great sign layouts drawn on damp bar napkins to the sound of David Allan Coe in cheap roadhouses that reeked of Marlboros and stale beer. I've also seen drawings from high-dollar ad agencies, created on the latest-greatest Macintosh Artiste-Luxe 9000XX, hand-colored with Japanese watercolors on gesso protected by rice-paper overlays, that I wouldn't use to wipe my a$$, metaphorically and graphically speaking.
Machines don't design anything. You need a mind for that, and a mind consists of a brain, eyes, a perceptive and active imagination, fine motor skills, and the balls to use all of them at the same time. Which would explain why there's such a shortage of decent design work, or anything else worth a damn.
-------------------- "A wise man concerns himself with the truth, not with what people believe." - Aristotle
Cam Bortz Finest Kind Signs Pondside Iron works 256 S. Broad St. Pawcatuck, Ct. 06379 "Award winning Signs since 1988" Posts: 3051 | From: Pawcatuck,Connecticut USA | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
I talked to a customer yesterday about lettering a box truck. I told them $800.00 and all you heads know that is a good price. Reply: I talked to a guy that would do it for $395 Me: The box needs painted too. I talked to Maaco and their price was $1500 without looking at it. I'll do it for $1200.00 again a GOOD price. Cust: I talked to a guy that will paint and letter it for $600. Me: Who did you talk to and what kind of paint job will they do? What kind of lettering will they do? Vague Reply: Someone in Roswell. Me: Mine will look good and last with your logo and a good design, but I can't do it that cheap.
I guess after they have the cheap one done I can up my price to remove it and repaint and start over again.
posted
Love this thread! Two weeks ago I recieved many calls from the local universities police department. Homecoming was just around the corner (last saturday to be exact), and they wanted a banner. They had no idea what to put on the banner and after many talks I advised them to think about what they were trying to do/say with banner and let me have an idea what that was. They were going to sketch ideas out on a pad. They designed it! Their computer drawing was BAD!, but I could do no no changes, as is is what they wanted! They wanted a 3'x20' banner, drawing scaled 10'x20'. They didn't understand. I did a banner 3x10, nice! They didn't like it, they wanted their computer generated disgrace. I faxed them a thank you for the opportunity to bid, but respectfully decline. They called immediatly and begged! I explained again the problems of their design, resubmitted another change on mine, they accepted. The banner won first place in Design and the spirit award at homecoming. Mind you my banner only used elements of theirs but was almost totally different. I guess when you cut it to the wire and are over a barrel you can be pushed into a good banner.
-------------------- Michael A Latham Tee's Me Shirt & Sign 16462 Jefferson Davis Highway Colonial Heights Va. 804-835-3299 signdogopie@aol.com Posts: 379 | From: Colonial Heights, Virginia | Registered: Feb 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
GREAT story & PR Michael!! They will now refer others to you with the addition of praise for your design abilities and save you time with future customers, not to mention the recognition you received from the public on this!!
BTW: I hope they got a deep revelation of WHY they came to you in the first place
Did they fire, disassemble or mabey provide capitol punishment for, the "banner committee"?? . . .
-------------------- Signs Sweet Home Alabama
oneshot on chat
"Look like a girl, act like a lady, think like a man, work like a dog" Posts: 5758 | From: "Sweet Home" Alabama | Registered: Mar 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
We did 2 welcome signs for the entrances to our town this summer. They asked for quotes on (1) 8' x 12' sign and (1) 12' x 16' sign. They couldn't get the budget past council for the 16' signs so they ordered a 8'x12' and a 4'x8' which I hadn't quoted on at all . I told them that IMHO the 8' was too small for what they wanted but they insisted and we did the two signs. The signs went up about a month after we delivered them, and they weren't installed for 3 days before I had a fellow (from the planning committee) in my office complaining that my 8' sign was too small, and that somehow it was my fault. Push shove - push shove. I didn't budge and the signs were paid for. Last week Council requested a quote on another 12' sign so I quoted exactly what I charged for the first one, (which did include layout). New sign got ordered yesterday, and I guess the 8' sign will be a trophy for someone. (but not me )
-------------------- Mike O'Neill
It has yet to be proven that intelligence has any survival value. - Arthur C. Clarke
![[Bash]](graemlins/bash.gif)
![[I Don t Know]](graemlins/dunno.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Rolling On The Floor]](graemlins/rolf.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic