posted
Hey Mikey must be the thing with councils around the world they can't see out the sqaure they live in.The council had some entrance signs done around the district i asked who done the job and why i did not get a chance to bid. They said the job was done by out of towners and we did not know you existed. I said do you ever have lunch up the main street they said yes , i said do you know where the newsagent,florist,clothing shop etc and have you seen there signs they said yes, i replied i have done those signs and most of the street as well. oh they said but we did not no how to contact you. I replied you know that publication the council put out every year it has all the business contacts in the district and has a council motto on it LIVE LOCAL SHOP LOCAL you no that book i said. The guy said yes, I said my details are in there and have a nice day and hang up.
Mike you can come work with me me but i only could pay you a cigar a day. Imagine if we could form a sign shop with Redneck Brett Sunstrom, Rod Airness Tickle, Kev with a silent k Browne and Heath 204 Saunders and yourself what a laugh a minute that shop would be.
-------------------- Mark Stokes Mark Stokes Signs Mount Barker South Australia Posts: 388 | From: Mount Barker | Registered: Jan 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
All these people we are talking about need to be brought to task for going to outside shops for their signs, when they have what they need at home. So many do it and then act like they didnt know we existed, when in all actuality, they either went for a cheaper price, or it was someones cousin that owned a shop out of town. The local school board did me that way on some Gemini letters a couple years ago. I gave them a price, and they ordered them through someone else and put them up themselves. They now exist on my poopy list. Poopy list members get a little extra added to their prices.
-------------------- Maker of fine signs and other creative stuff. Located at 109 N. Cumberland ave. Harlan, Ky. 40831 606-837-0242 Posts: 4172 | From: Ages-Brookside, Ky. Up the Holler... | Registered: Jul 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Mahler penalty to number nine, Mike Meyer, two minutes for head butting (against the wall), two for minutes holding (meetings with town councils), two minutes for cross checking (references that is), two minutes for instigating (a town riot), and five minutes for fighting (for what he believes in). Time of the penalty 9:42AM...
Oh the angry stories we can all tell... I got a few of my own.
-------------------- Bruce Bowers
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
Mike this just plain SUCKS! I guess we all seem to have simular stories, I have one here too, actually probably got a book full. The guy right across the road from me who is a window tinter now has a machine and does full page adverts stating hes a "signwriting specialist" and can do "look a like airbrushing" (I wondering who he is targeting) and has a huge portable sign 6ft from the roads edge stating how great he is. Yes its illegal as well. The cruncher is when council decided to sign post this industrial area who got the job? not me, the local "signwriter" who has been signing this town for over 25 years, nup. Seems evan though I have three properties on this same road as him I still didnt evan get my business name on the industrial sign at the end of the road. And they tried telling me every business on this road was approched! hmmm How come the "signwriter" didnt get a sign on the sign index, how come he didnt evan get to quote or design it when I do most of the councils work??
Councils Suck thats all I can put it down to.
Mike Dont tell me this person is the guy I stayed with?? Surely not!!
Well I wunna move there, you wunna move out, hell lets just swap. I'll shake that joint up!
I'm sure Dale will Help me with those billboards heading into town. We can use the same art work we were going to use for the Highland Bank! heheheh
Lets blow this joint!
Chin up mate!
I HATE how they are screwing you!!
Cheers!
Rod
-------------------- Rod from, EAST COAST AIRBRUSHING "Airbrush Art & Graphics" Nambour; Sunshine Coast, Queensland. Australia E.mail: rod@rodticklesigns.com Web: www.rodticklesigns.com Posts: 635 | From: Nambour, Sunshine Coast, Queensland | Registered: Dec 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
Hey Mikey...I feel your pain, bro. Same thing here. Did two big entry signs for the town for FREE, 'cause like you I feel you owe something to your community. Got lotsa comments from townspeople, mostly good, and some "It could have been bigger"...they are only 14 feet tall, fer crissake, but from the town? Nad. Zip. Bugger all. So far, not even a thank you. Now they get charged full ticket. And if you really need a change of venue, come on up. Cigars, hockey, a honkin' big lake and a 114 year old church to work in! You don;t drink, but I can do that for both us. MUR
-------------------- Murray MacDonald OldTime Signs 529 Third Ave S Kenora, ON. P9N 1Y3 oldtimesigns@gokenora.com Posts: 781 | From: Kenora, ON | Registered: Jan 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
Thanks for keeping this post in a way that we can all relate....It can and Should be put in a booklet for sign writers to heed...and maybe drop off to a council/committee and maybe, just maybe, they would understnd the position we come from. Oh well, it was a good thought. yeah, i know, they will keep going in their unforgiving ways......and we will continue to remain passionate about who we are, and what we do. But every once and a while we deserve ....."Aretha are you cued up? R E S P E C T !!
Sock it to THEM!!!!!!!
Itroducing STAUNCH
Sign Troopers Against Un Necessary Council Hostility
-------------------- Mike Meyer Sign Painter 189 1st Ave n P.O. Box 3 Mazeppa, Mn 55956
We are not selling, we are staying here in Mazeppa....we cannot re-create what we have here....not in another lifetime! SO Here we are!!!!!!!
posted
When I first read this Mike, I thought you were joshing us. One, because Mazeppa is so small nobody could even get near it without seeing the HIGHLY VISIBLE signmaking talent plastered all over it. How many of your illustrious locals could possibly be responsible for that? Only ONE and EVERYBODY KNOWS HIM - and second, you're far too good natured to get seriously upset over some dingdong losing his marbles. The guy is clearly fried. His brain is gone. No reflection on you. Poor Postman. If that town let's you leave they are stupid, stupid, stupid. Some serious butt-kissing needs to ensue. C'mon Mazeppa. Without Myers you will dry up to dust and blow away.
SONGPAINTER Original Sign Music by Sign People NOW AVAILABLE on CD and the proceeds go to Letterville's favorite charity! Click Here for Sound Clips! Posts: 1974 | From: Orleans, MA, Cape Cod, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
What say we head for sunny Florida and snap for the winter, Mike? STAUNCH is a good idea, but I think bikinis, beaches and tans are a better deal. You can always bring a puck to chew on if the NHL withdrawls kick in. I'll buy the Sno-cones for Christmas so we don't get homesick.
Did I mention bikinis? 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
The Postman stopped in yesterday afternoon and I asked him about the services they offer...I said.."Do you actually deliver and send MAIL? I thought you just sold stamps?" He didn't get it. ???? Then he said.."I'll bring you the specs for the signage tommorrow..then he said..These signs have to be on posts, I didn't know if you did that too?" geezzzzzz.....it just doesn't end. yeah, Rod, I am going to do just that...big white ugly Helvetica Condensed 70% bkack letters saying "I DO SIGNS"
Part of our business is to listen to the average joe blow and try and understand what they see. Put ourselves in their shoes and try and figger out what image comes to their mind when "Signs" or our names are considered for "Signage." One quote the postman had was this...."I thought you did just the more artistic stuff, the fancy end signs." In one way, he's right, and I have treid hard to portray that image with Gold Leaf Windows and Pictorials of girls, and cut-outs attached to the building inside and out....so he only glances over and only sees THAT side of what I do. On the other hand it has not shown anyone the bland, run of the mill, no parking signs, directional stuff that everyone does now and again to pay the bills. Don't get me wrong, the fancy Gold Leaf and all is great, I love it, and love to do it...but I can honestly say I have not sold more than 5 Gold Leaf jobs in 10 years. Seems that all I do them for now a days is for a Letterhead Project. So, maybe I need to show another aspect on the image of my business. No, I don't wanna become a generic street sign distribitor but alot of the municipality type "spec" signage is good money, already layed out, color speced and many times you can order the material out of a catalog such as Grimco out of Chicago, mark it up and there ya go....
I have concentrated on the higher end, fancier type signage and maybe i am losing bids because I am stubborn to what the people need. Just recently I did a 3 ft by 4 ft sign for a day care...she wanted the typical ugly "Printers business card graphic" off her card of a boy running with a net to catch a butterfly....horrible graphic. My first idea was to create a similar graphic that was nice and uncluttered, then the lettering bold yet not overpowering with a simple shadow....my wife Ayleen took it to her and she did not like it AT ALL. So I made the neccecary changes (very blah and ugly in my book) CUSTOMER LOVED IT. ???? Check is cashed evrybody's happy...? This business never seems to amaze me...luckily I wore 2 grocery bags over my head when i did the sign so no one knew it was me! (2 in case the first one blew off! just a free tip for all you newbies...wink wink)
What will walk thru the door today? Sometimes it sacres me, other times I just shake my head....
-------------------- Mike Meyer Sign Painter 189 1st Ave n P.O. Box 3 Mazeppa, Mn 55956
We are not selling, we are staying here in Mazeppa....we cannot re-create what we have here....not in another lifetime! SO Here we are!!!!!!!
posted
I think the saddest part is that most of us are good hearted and are ready to donate our time and material and when we are shut out it is a slap in the face. We would not do it to anyone and it is hard to understand it being done to us. Maybe the only thing to do is not donate anymore, and then it will not feel as bad.
-------------------- Bill Riedel Riedel Sign Co., Inc. 15 Warren Street Little Ferry, N.J. 07643 billsr@riedelsignco.com Posts: 2953 | From: Little Ferry, New Jersey, USA | Registered: Feb 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Mike, Mark Stokes is onto something, but go one step further - start your own "Postman Plus" or "UPS Shipping Store".
On another, more serious note. As we moved to a new market here in Gettysburg, we jumped right in with the "fancier, high end" signage that we love to do. As signmakers, it is great for our egos and nice to look at in our portfolios. BUT, we may not realize that we are missing out on the "bread & butter" jobs and excluding a good bit of work.
We are NOW in a good location and we are set up, in appearance, as a quick sign company. We look franchised, but we are not. It is a clean (kinda) organized (sometimes) sign "store". The difference is that people come in thinking "cheap and quick", which we DO offer, but usually end up with a better (read more expensive, nicer) sign than they anticipated. Just changing our appearance and additude has added tremendously to our bottom line. We would have NEVER seen some of these customers if we didn't look inviting and professional.
It is THEIR perception of US that brings us business, not our perceptions of ourselves. We may be artists, but they don't REALLY care. All they need is a sign. THAT is our job.
-------------------- Gene Golden Gettysburg Signs Gettysburg PA 17325 717-334-0200 genegolden@gettysburgsigns.com
"Art is knowing when to stop." Posts: 1578 | From: Gettysburg, PA | Registered: Jun 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
New music.... "Bad signs, bad signs, Whatcha gonna do, Whatcha gonna do when they come for you..."
-------------------- 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 |
quote:Originally posted by mike meyer: Put ourselves in their shoes and try and figger out what image comes to their mind ~ "I thought you did just the more artistic stuff, the fancy end signs" ~ maybe I need to show another aspect on the image of my business ~ maybe i am losing bids because I am stubborn to what the people need.
I agree this is a very real SIDE-EFFECT of doing custom work. Instead of concluding someone capable of such high-end work could easily handle their mundane needs <and I mean really easily>, they assume you are too busy, too good, or too expensive, when in reality the opposite is probably true. You could do a better job for the same price.
The tradeoff is you don't get a lot of tire-kickers or price-shoppers. Those brave enough to approach you have already decided you WILL be making their sign - and that ain't such a bad thing. On the down side, gravy jobs slip by. I'm not convinced you can have it both ways.
I've often considered opening another shop with a whole different identity, catering strictly to quickie signs. My market won't quite support it as there are already a couple of those shops in place, so I concentrate on networking with them to refer clients between us to the shop with the most compatible specialty. But maybe Mazeppa could handle a 'dumber' shop. The trick would be for you to control it and profit from it without getting tied up in it emotionally or creatively. Food for thought.
SONGPAINTER Original Sign Music by Sign People NOW AVAILABLE on CD and the proceeds go to Letterville's favorite charity! Click Here for Sound Clips! Posts: 1974 | From: Orleans, MA, Cape Cod, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
I got the "dumber" part mastered Joe...haha
Original Letterhead, Noel Weber has his own seperate "Sticker" shop next to Classic Design Studios in Boise...I do beleive it is called Express Graphics.....works for him.
Thanks Joe.....You're a "In the Trebches kinda guy!"
Ray, buy a Kilt, the chicks dig it!
-------------------- Mike Meyer Sign Painter 189 1st Ave n P.O. Box 3 Mazeppa, Mn 55956
We are not selling, we are staying here in Mazeppa....we cannot re-create what we have here....not in another lifetime! SO Here we are!!!!!!!
posted
I read almost every post and it didn't shake itself out until the end when Mike communicated one more time with the postman. People were building the gallows and ready to string all of Mazeppa up for their "injustice" against Mike. WHOA!!
Joe is right when he said "they assume you are too busy, too good, or too expensive, when in reality the opposite is probably true."
This is NOT the intentional disrespect it first appeared to be when Mike wrote the post. The discussion between Mike and the Postman seems to clear up the confusion.
It is a result of poor marketing. How do I know? The same thing has happened to us in the past - and still does to this day. We obviously position ourselves to do higher end work - but we must also remind people WHAT ELSE we do.
It seems ignorant from our (sign folks) perspective that "if we can do the fancy stuff, then we SURE AS HELL ought to be able to do the easy things". But - again, as Joe said, "they assume you are too busy, too good, or too expensive, when in reality the opposite is probably true."
Mike, now's your chance to make this right. Take some time to educate - not damn - the people in charge. There is NO WAY they mean to be disrespectful to you - not after what you've done to bring money to that town (more than once!!). They're people - just like us - and forgive them, they know NOT what they do.
But they aren't totally stupid. Those bars and restaurants and stores had their best weekends ever when we've come to town. Ask those folks to defend you and you'll have a freakin' army behind you.
Use this to build the business further - and stay put. The rest of us don't need you to compete with us. Mazeppa's just fine with you there.
Make money - not trouble!!
[ September 09, 2005, 12:33 PM: Message edited by: Jay Allen ]
-------------------- Jay Allen ShawCraft Sign Co. Machesney Park, IL jallen222@aol.com http://www.shawcraft.com/
"The object of the superior man is truth." -Confucius Posts: 1285 | From: Machesney Park, IL, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
Mike ma man... I'd have you come to Alaska in two beats of my coffee-logged heart. You could do all my sign (no typo here) and I could handle the graphic (again, no typo). We could call this new enterprise Mike & Bob's Sign and Graphic. -- (can you have an ampersand and the word AND in the same name?)
After we get our work done we can go shovel roofs!
-------------------- Bob Parsons 907-258-6283 rparsons@gci.net Posts: 118 | From: Anchorage, AK / USA | Registered: Aug 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Throw in season tickets to the Seawolves and I'll gas up the Studebaker and head Northwest Bob!!!
This post could and has been a good topic for "Round table" disscussions at Live Meets.
What if........
What if a guy had a Motorhome, an enclosed trailer and went coast to coast....not snapping but scheduled to work in a place for a sign shop that needed someone to do something they can't do such as hand lettering or Gold Leaf etc...done thur the internet and phone....line up work and away you go...It's good for me, and good for the shop requesting the work.
What is it this Cigar? I must be high.....
-------------------- Mike Meyer Sign Painter 189 1st Ave n P.O. Box 3 Mazeppa, Mn 55956
We are not selling, we are staying here in Mazeppa....we cannot re-create what we have here....not in another lifetime! SO Here we are!!!!!!!
posted
wow.....pass the doritos man.... hehe..drool...haha Thanks Jay you stud lookin homecoming king you! I ain't plannin on movin to Rockford or Mazeppnee Park any time soon...you're safe...
-------------------- Mike Meyer Sign Painter 189 1st Ave n P.O. Box 3 Mazeppa, Mn 55956
We are not selling, we are staying here in Mazeppa....we cannot re-create what we have here....not in another lifetime! SO Here we are!!!!!!!
posted
I resigned from the local Chamber here to for the same reason as Ron. I was a paying dues supporting member and they had their new sign done by another local guy who wasnt a member. I could maybe understand if they asked for a quote and it was too high but they never even asked.
When renewal time came around I told them to kiss my ass and told them why. To this day I'm still not a member and will never be again.
-------------------- Bob Stephens Skywatch Signs Zephyrhills, FL
posted
Mike, This is the way I feel about this. After all has been said and done, and if it had happened to me, I may finally, ask the mailman what he actually thought, honestly.
As I read the posts, finally, it came to mind that it "may" have been that it was the type of signage you offered; it takes a lot of energy to be intentionally disrespectful, especially in your case with all the visibility you have in that town. It had to be a misgiving on that individual's part to imagine you wouldn't want to touch prefabricated signs as street signs are known to come out of a catalog.
To ask this individual may give you insight to what he was thinking and his perception of your skills and services. You may get an honest answer or not, but, you may be able to read him, as to what he really means.
Some folks just perceive things differently. I've been read wrong at times too, even though if someone had asked me, they would have realized my talents.
Several years ago, I belonged to a team that taught a "children assault prevention" program in which we visited the preschools and schools to help the kids and work on skits to teach them safety.
When they mentioned they were wondering who could do a particular sign, I said, "Ah, you know I told you a year ago I do signs, one member said, "Oh! I thought you meant sign language!" We all had a good laugh about that as I realized that me being new in town had to go hand in hand with lack of knowledge they had about my abilities and opened our eyes as to how little we know about each other, really.
[ September 09, 2005, 09:34 PM: Message edited by: Deb Fowler ]
-------------------- Deb Fowler
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible - Walt Disney (1901-1966) Posts: 5373 | From: Loves Park, Illinois | Registered: Aug 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Mike, Don't blame me for the condition of the building, but, the location is great!
Before I go too far, I really need to thank Ricky Jackson for planting a seed in my mind in a post, many months back. There was a remark about how he is a "real" sign maker too, but he markets himself through a franchise. That gave me the inspiration to break through the stigma of being either one or the other - I'm both, and so are many of us. I like having the appeal of the quick sign maker with the luxury of being able to upsell my wares.
Now... If you peek inside the windows you may see the vinyl hanging on the wall like eye candy. Also notice the Gemini letters on the wall in the back. They have a nice soft "under canopy" light on them and they are visible as you drive by. The signs lining the bottom windows say it all.
You'll also notice the name we use for our "new" venture is Gettysburg Signs Express. It smacks of a different type of sign. We also keep the "Gettysburg Signs" title and actually let the customers know that they are into another realm if they want the upscaled signs. They all seem to get it. Two tiers of service in one storefront.
We still do as many of the fancy signs as we used to, probably more. The difference is in the quantity of requests. Not really a lot of tire kickers. Once they are in the door, we sell.
I think many of these elements help to establish us as a versatile sign shop. It is also a very "approachable" sign store. We've had people walk in off the street just to see what we make. MANY become customers.
-------------------- Gene Golden Gettysburg Signs Gettysburg PA 17325 717-334-0200 genegolden@gettysburgsigns.com
"Art is knowing when to stop." Posts: 1578 | From: Gettysburg, PA | Registered: Jun 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
quote: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Originally posted by mike meyer: Put ourselves in their shoes and try and figger out what image comes to their mind ~ "I thought you did just the more artistic stuff, the fancy end signs" ~ maybe I need to show another aspect on the image of my business ~ maybe i am losing bids because I am stubborn to what the people need.
I said this to a fellow sign guy once I wish i could switch my mind to a person who has no idea on how a sign is made or how they feel or respond to when they look at a sign.Especially if it was a Mike Meyer hand lettered job, a Rod Tickel airbrushed sign job or a mike lavelle flame job, or a johnny jordan gold leaf gold job and a Dan Sawatsky creation. I know when i drive into a new area or drive somewhere i am always looking at signs for new ideas or how it was done or if it was crap looking or i would have done it like this. Maybe we try to hard to please ourselves by doing a top job all the time, maybe sometimes we should listen to our head not our hearts.
-------------------- Mark Stokes Mark Stokes Signs Mount Barker South Australia Posts: 388 | From: Mount Barker | Registered: Jan 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
Jay's post needs printing out & framing- VG-we're all human! ( I get it here- the local school our kids go to seldom ask me to do work- it has to be free or they go elsewhere. All surrounding schools come to me and pay happily!. One museum I've done voluntary signs for for 15 years paid a Toowoomba signie the other day to do something I used to do for them......so, you can bury your head in the sand, have a tantrum, or try & educate them. The last idea does work, but you have to be in the right frame of mind.
Gene, nice, I didn't know you did signs! (& Ricky's post was a good one, also woorth framing!)
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
I was out of town and missed this thread til today so I'll put in my two cents worth. I got a call last week from the Red Cross asking if I would donate a couple of banners for the hurricane relief. My wife had made two trips to Macon to see them recently; they stood her up on an appointment the first time. She gave them very good prices but they chose to buy from some cheaper. I had already given several hundred bux to the relief effort so it didn't bother me to tell them to ask the sign company they paid their money to donate the banners. Our policy is if you are not a paying customer we don't donate to you - period.
-------------------- Ricky Jackson Signs Now 614 Russell Parkway Warner Robins, GA (478) 923-7722 signpimp50@hotmail.com
"If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." Sir Issac Newton Posts: 3528 | From: Warner Robins, GA | Registered: Oct 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
Mike, That is truly amazing. I've been to Mazeppa. It was pretty obvious what you do for a living. They could have at least asked before going somewhere else.
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Rolling On The Floor]](graemlins/rolf.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic