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As some of you know, I have been doing work experiece at Bushie's (Jon Butterworths) place for the last couple of weeks.. And I've been surprised at some of the weird, and just plain stupid comments I've gotten, whilst working on the window splashes in the main street and blackboards at Cocos (A fruit market place). So, what are some of the comments you get whilst working???
Some that I got whilst doing a few window splashes: "When you're finished here, you can come and paint my place" "Wow, everybody's looking at you, you're doing so well. If I win the lotto, you can decorate my house" - And how a person knows how well you can 'decorate' from painting fluro yellow lettering, I don't know. The classics, such as, when I was climbing the ladder, "Is this your rise in life, is it?" and "Is this the only raise you're likely to get?" Three people also asked me for directions... I had to pass them along to Jon, 'coz I don't live in Toowoomba... They all came to me before him... I must be more approachable hehehehe
Whilst doing the blaackboards at Cocos, I got a comment from an old guy, "Do you paint the sunshine on the clouds?" I don't know where that one came from... I was kneeling down, double-coating lettering close to the ground, and I got "Just put your hands together, and you would be praying."
And of course, one that Jon seems to get, but not me, and I'm sure you're all familiar with, "Are you a sign writer?" hehehe...
So, there are a few of the weird comments I have gotten lately... What about you?
From Katie
------------------ From Katie Wright, 16 year old professional signie wannabe from Aus.
"Life is a great big canvas, throw all the paint on it that you can"
Posts: 530 | From: Brisbane, Australia | Registered: Feb 1999
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Katie they ask you for directions cause your a site better looking than JON not that I can talk. You are right people sure do ask some stupid questions and that is for sure
------------------ Ian Wilson Signmaker Toowoomba City Council Cnr Anzac Ave & Stephen st Toowoomba Queensland Australia may all your toubles be little ones The man that never make a mistake never makes anything
[This message has been edited by Ian Wilson (edited January 11, 2001).]
Posts: 656 | From: Toowoomba Queensland Australia | Registered: Nov 1998
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HAHAHA....'Whilst'!!! that's so cute!!! OK....Kookie....same here....what do i look like the information booth!?????? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I get asked for directions, spare change, if I work there, when are 'YOU' open?, when do 'YOU' close?, do I have to go to school for that?, Do I use a stencil, am I hiring, do I do that freehand (no, I charge for it), "Is this what you do for a living ?"(with van lettered up next to me)"Do they PAY you to do this?" "Hey! you missed a spot!" (then they laugh like they JUST made that up)"OH! the ARTISTE!" "Are YOU the Artiste"? " "I WONDERED who did this!" "your a REAL artist!" , "My son (daughter, aunt, brother-in-law, dog) is an 'artist' too!, can you teach him (her, them, it) to do that"? "Did YOU do that?" (me:yes) "YOU?" (me:yes) "Really?,YOU? YOU did that????" (oh for pete' sake....!) "WOW! great job!!!!" (at the point where it's nothing but roughed in white house paint and totally formless)"You can come and paint my HOUSE when your done" (yuk yuk yuk) And my favorite..........(drumroll please)
"How much do you charge for that?"
Kookie...it's part of the joy of being a signrider! Have fun!! A
------------------ Adrienne Morgan Splash Signs www.splashsigns.com "Rainkatt'
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Before downtown moved out to the mall strips, I used to do almost every window on Main Street touting the "sales" coming up at such and such a date. Most folks were cordial and let me go about my business undisturbed. But....there were always those who liked to stand behind me and irritate with all sorts of comments. They weren't aware I could see their reflections in the window I was working on, so at just the right moment, I'd flick a brush load of tempra behind my back as if it were part of the preparation. Their shirts and pants were spotted with whatever color I had on the brush. Heh, heh! When they yelled, I'd calmly turn around and say, "Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't see you back there!" Guaranteed to move the hecklers on down the street!
------------------ Gregg Harbison Signs 'n Stripes 615 West St. McComb, MS 39648
Posts: 68 | From: McComb, MS | Registered: Nov 1999
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Someone looks at the airbrushed vinyl lettering on my truck tailgate (after picking at the vinyl with their fingernails) and asks "Did you paint right on the vinyl?".. gee.. no, vinyl is available already printed in my handwriting with 3 Dimensional effects.. heh
or my fave when Im workin an on-site vinyl application: "So, that stuff just sticks on there, huh?" Gawlly no, it's an anti-gravity film!
=)
I actually did say that anti-gravity film remark to someone and they got a kick out of it. =) He ended up buying something too.
------------------ Mike Pipes -----trapped in a box with a computer and a slice of cheese-----
Posts: 145 | From: Lake Havasu City, AZ | Registered: Dec 2000
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"Whilst"........ is this a word frequently used in Australia? Not being critical, just curious.
Sounds like you have a lot of friendly, jovial, and outgoing folks there.
Comments I've heard: Did you go to school for that? Are you sure you spelled that right? Where did you learn to do that? So......the computer just spits that out.
------------------ Wayne Webb Webb Sign Studio creators of "woodesigns" "autograph your work with excellence" webbsignstudio@digitalexp.com
Posts: 7405 | From: Chipley,Florida,United States | Registered: Oct 1999
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"Whilst" is most certainly a word, and it is not only used in Australia either. It is still used in Ireland and UK. It is one of those words like "whom" - quite valid but becomming obsolete. It's probably in Huckleberry Finn somewhere.
They just like you! You definitely are a prettier site than John! I think people are fascinated with you.
Ahhh... "the human circus!" I guess that is their way of "breaking the ice" with us I wondered how many of us were getting teased and your post really brought it to the forefront. I've always thought about wearing a t-shirt that said in large letters on the back, "TIPS ACCEPTED", but then I was sure they would give me the verbal tips instead of the money tips. Sometimes I would tell them that if they are nice, I wouldn't charge for the show. Or sometimes put them to work or have them bring a soda. Also, I thought about having a video camera like Candid Camera just to watch the spectators and tape all of the faces and gestures and comments! What a riot that would be!
I guess the most irritating comment was, (as he shook my scaffold): "you sure this is safe?" grrrrrr Deb
------------------ Deb Creative Signs "All the gold in the world cannot buy a dying man one more breath. So what does that make today worth?" Og Mandino
Posts: 5373 | From: Loves Park, Illinois | Registered: Aug 1999
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And then there was the guy who traced my brushstrokes on the window with his tongue. I was on the inside, he was on the outside. I just wonder how the soap tasted... as I had laid out the rough of the window layout on the outside of the mural with a small bar of soap. And no, I didn't clean the window after. Some things I leave for more qualified folks. (like store owners)
We've all heard these things a thousand times Katie. just enjoy a laugh.
We considered putting stupid answers on the back of our shirts with numbers beside them. After a studid question you just answer with a number and then the person could answer their own question.
A large radio-active symbol on you sign kit can keep people a little further distance too.
Have fun!!
-dan
------------------ Dan Sawatzky Sawatzky's Imagination Corporation Cultus Lake , British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.ca
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I new that "whilst" was a proper English word. I believe it's used in the Bible. I just though it interesting that it is still used. Are other words like "thee" "thou" "ye" "thy" "thine" etc. still used in other English speaking countries? I wonder why they fell into disuse? Aren't such words more precise, proper English anyway?
------------------ Wayne Webb Webb Sign Studio creators of "woodesigns" "autograph your work with excellence" webbsignstudio@digitalexp.com
Posts: 7405 | From: Chipley,Florida,United States | Registered: Oct 1999
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Chuck, Now that is sounding very familiar. I always get someone that says they used to do signs, or their brother does signs! (this should go on the pet peeve list)
and Si, I wonder how many of us would buy a shirt like that if someone made them. How classic!
------------------ Deb Creative Signs "All the gold in the world cannot buy a dying man one more breath. So what does that make today worth?" Og Mandino
Posts: 5373 | From: Loves Park, Illinois | Registered: Aug 1999
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Hey Adrienne....when they ask me that, I say "Me?? I'd use a big hammer, but you would probably be better off using detergent solution and a brush!:
I have an agreement with the window washers: I don't wash windows and they don't do window signs!
------------------ Si Allen #562 La Mirada, CA. USA (714) 521-4810 ICQ # 330407 "SignPainters do It with Longer Strokes!"
Brushasaurus on Chat
Gladly supporting this BB !
Posts: 8831 | From: La Mirada, CA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Let's see..... From the customer while I'm lettering the base letters, "You gonna put an outline on that?" "I hope it looks better after you're done." "Can you go ahead and put the shading on that letter so I can see how it's gonna look?" "What color you gonna do next?" From passersby..... "You spelled (word) wrong, hee hee." "Can you put some curlycues on there?" "If I hit your arm, will it mess you up?" "Is this your only job?" "Don't mess up!" "Are you a sign painter?"
Hee hee, aint the signlife grand!
------------------ John Deaton III Deaton Signs&Grafix 109 N. Cumberland Ave.,Harlan, Ky. 40831 606-573-9101
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The one I like the best is, "I knew this old sign painter that was so awesome, he did it all freehand, didn't use a pencil or a ruler! Dang, how come you have make all those marks on there? This other guy did it all by eye! Shook like a leaf 'til his brush hit the window, then he was smooth as silk."
I can imagine what this guys sign would look like if no guides where put down. Haha. IF he really existed.
------------------ Robert Thomas Creative Signs In Beautiful Naples, Fl.
Posts: 965 | From: Bonita Springs, Florida USA | Registered: Feb 2000
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Way, way back when I was an apprentice, I was working with one of my "mentors". A crusty old dude named "Hawkins". A lady stood there watching him lay gold leaf on a window. She seemed fascinated how he would rub the gilders tip across his hair and then pick up a leaf of gold.
She's asked several questions about how that process worked and I could tell Hawkins was getting irritated. Well...... She finally did it, she asked Hawkins what he would do if he ever went bald. He turned and looked her right in the eye and replied, "I'd pull down my pants and run the gilders tip across my butt"!
The lady left in quite a hurry.
------------------ Jerry Mathel Jerry Mathel Signs Grants Pass, Oregon signs@grantspass.com
Posts: 916 | From: Grants Pass, OR USA | Registered: Dec 1998
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Just recently I was putting up a 10x20 billboard (with an edge graphic done by none other than Dave Draper, thank you), when a man pulled up on a bicycle. You know the sort..... 3 teeth, greasy hair, smelling of yukon jack....... half of the new sign was up, the other half was the old one, and I mean OLD, and out it came "what ya doin'?, puttin' up a new sign?". I slowly turned around and said "yup, and here's yours". I don't think he got it. Anyhow, I was about to cry.
------------------ Dave Utter D-utterguy on chat Sign Designs Beardstown, Il. utter@casscomm.com
Posts: 777 | From: beardstown, illinois, usa | Registered: Mar 1999
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Katie, your "whilst" brought back a funny memory for me. I've always loved language and am one who detests the trend towards simplifying our speech. So many lovely words have already been dropped from our every day vocabulary. Maybe it's because we want to be certain we're understood, maybe we don't want to be thought of as snobbish. Whatever the reason, it's a shame. Getting back to my story..
Back when I was 16 years old, I had arranged to spend the night at my best friend Pam's house and had peddled over on my bike that afternoon. I don't remember what started the fight, but I got very angry and decided to go home. Pam took exception and insisted that I stay, so that I wouldn't embarrass her by leaving. I was getting on my bike when she grabbed a handful of my hair. It hurt like heck. I just blurted out in a very formal voice, "UNHAND MY HAIR". Well, the choice of words worked. Her jaw dropped in disbelief and she dropped my hair in pure reflex. Then she ruined the moment by cracking up in laughter. After a moment, my words registered in my brain and I started laughing too. We made up, but she never let me live it down.
------------------ Kelli Cajigas aka Janda Dolphin deSigns & Banners “A satisfied customer will tell two friends, a dissatisfied customer will tell ten.”
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hahahaaha! Well, I haven't said that before... I like being grammatically correct, using whilst, and whom and such, though it still fits in with 'everyday' language fine... unhand my hair, though.... hmmm Seeya!
------------------ From Katie Wright, 16 year old professional signie wannabe from Aus.
"Life is a great big canvas, throw all the paint on it that you can"
Posts: 530 | From: Brisbane, Australia | Registered: Feb 1999
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Almost all the stupid questions I've ever heard have been covered. The worst place for them seem to be boatyards.
"You want HOW much? Old man so-and-so used to come down and letter my boat for fifty bucks!" "Really? Why don't you have him do it?" "'Cause he died last year", is the answer, to which I reply, "ayuh. "Spect he starved to death."
Or: "I could letter it myself if I had the time." After I hear that about eight or twelve times, I get cranky, so I finally said, "Really? How much time do you need? The forty-five minutes it takes me to paint it, or the fifteen years I've spent learning? Tell you what, Cap. C'mon over to my place and work for six bucks an hour for a few years and I'll teach you how to letter, that'll save you a couple hundred bucks. I guess you're right, you DON'T have the time!"
And then of course there was the "Round Letter" story, but I'll leave that for another time.
------------------ "A wise man concerns himself with the truth, not with what people believe." - Aristotle
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro. - Raoul Duke (Hunter S. Thompson)
Cam Finest Kind Signs 256 S. Broad St. Pawcatuck, Ct. 06379 "Award winning Signs since 1988"
Posts: 3051 | From: Pawcatuck,Connecticut USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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I read this post on Thursday and really got a good laugh from it... had all the usual, you've spelt that wrong etc. from the passing wits (who are only half right), but amazingly on friday, whilst applying vinyl to the outside of a new shop window (i'm there,kneeling down, arms outstreched lining up the lettering) and this woman comes up and asks me what the time is .......I politely told her the time instead of telling her to **** off back to the planet she came from - must've been a full moon on Friday. He hhee.
------------------
Posts: 11 | From: Bristol, UK | Registered: Aug 2000
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Whilst working on a Shrimpboat Lettering upside down and from the back, I was asked whats that gonna say?(I thought, nothing it will just lay there) Whilst lettering a Window, How Much do you Charge to do it on the inside like that? and, Is it hard to paint letters backwards?
My Nephew can paint really good, he painted a "picher" of a barn onetime, you'd a thought it was real!
I used to do that till I got a Job with the City.(garbage truck)
Where'd ya larn to do that Podnah? Didja go to school or sumpin? or is that just natural?
That looks easy, do you get a lot of money to do that?
How much is a sign?
Where's (you name it) from here?
and many more! Thanks for the reminders, Katie! Bill
------------------ Bill & Barbara Biggs Art's Sign Service, Inc. Clute, Texas, USA Home of The Great Texas Mosquito Festival Proud Third year Supporter of the Letterheads Website MailTo:twobeesusa@netscape.net
Posts: 1020 | From: Lake Jackson,Tx | Registered: Nov 1998
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last week, while painting murals at a mall. a good portion of the mural is done and i'm airbrushing along. at least 3 people asked me if i had painted it...
"did you paint this? "did you paint the WHOLE thing yourself? "who did the artwork?
weird.
and, then of course, i get all the others you all said. the comments on how you obviously drink to be that steady really throw me. what's that about??
------------------ free to paint, day and night :) Gailforce Airbrush & Design Squamish, BC, Canada www.gailforce.homestead.com
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"It costs HOW MUCH?? Oh, I guess it must be because of the materials." (NO, the magic fingers rate something, too)
"Didn't you have to 'digitize' that first?" (Yes, I did - with these 'digits' right here)
"Oh, you just put that there paper thingy up and rub on it with that dirt and it's almost all done for you."
"Why that looks like ANYBODY could do that."
"Aincha gonna put no 'Fancy Stuff' all around her there?"
"Who prints up all this sh** for you, anyway?"
"Where do you get that there Rubber Sh** all you guys get to put on the windows?"
(to a female sign painter) "Yeah, the sketch looks real good there, Sweetheart, but who's gonna come Paint The SIGN, your boyfriend?" (Oops - price just went up, up, UP!)
------------------ "If it isn't fun, why do it?" Signmike@aol.com Mike Languein Doctor of Letters BS, MS, PhD ___________________
You know what BS is, MS is More of the Same, and it's Piled Higher and Deeper here
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I like the one Donna said. And I to get this alot when showing my portfolio....Did You Paint these pictures? My response is NO! I'm not that good so I had my wife do them!!!!!
Raven/2001
------------------ Raven/2000 Airbrushed by Raven Lower sackville N.S. deveausdiscovery@sprint.ca
Posts: 4327 | From: Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia, Canada | Registered: Jan 2000
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I have been Lettering boats the past few weeks by hand. I've been getting some interesting comments and getting my picture taken a lot, but a guy last Sunday, walks around the sailboat to the transome where I was and said "I thought you guys were extinct!"
------------------ Robert "Bobby" Salyers Airbrush & Graphics Studio Clearwater, FL website:http://airbrushbobby.com
He put in your heart certain wishes and plans, in my heart he put other and different desires. Each man is good in his sight. It is not necessary for eagles to be crows.---Sitting Bull
Posts: 505 | From: Clearwater Florida USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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Something slightly heavier than the occasion calls for, but relevant. How many times have we been told that we must be lucky to have this God-given talent. That stopped being flattering after the first fifty times I heard it. Like we have no part in its development. I now tell people that I have no more talent than they have. What I DO have is a God-given desire to learn more about this craft, so I have invested the effort into learning it. The only thing I cannot take credit for is the desire. That seems to have been ordained. Everything else is all mine.
Ok, a little lighter, How many times have you hear "I couldn't draw a straight line with a ruler". Or "I couldn't draw to save my life". (Its usually followed closely by "How lucky you are to have such a God-given talent"). You can hear it coming. You can bank on it. When I hear a variation on the theme it stands out. One elderly lady had one I still remember. Bless her originality. "I couldn't draw my own breath".
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Joe You are right about the given talent.. I was given the talent to walk and so was you! But I honed the talent of (Crayons to Pencils to Brushes to Airbrushes ETC.. with years of practice. Anyone can do it (whatever) if they practice long enough in the field or trade.
Raven/2001
------------------ Raven/2000 Airbrushed by Raven Lower sackville N.S. deveausdiscovery@sprint.ca
Posts: 4327 | From: Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia, Canada | Registered: Jan 2000
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Yeah, God wasn't in Ernie's clasroom strokin' out Os for me - I hadda do every one of 'em myself, and I took the lumps for the crooked ones. Reminds me of a scene in "The Great Ball of Fire" where Jerry Lee Lewis gives a car to his cousin, Jimmy Swaggert, and Jimmy gives a big "Thank You, Jesus!" Jerry says "Heck, don't thank Jesus - thank Jerry Lee." That God-Given line and another one "You've got a million dollar talent there" is often closely followed by "I'll give you $10 to come out and paint my house."
------------------ "If it isn't fun, why do it?" Signmike@aol.com Mike Languein Doctor of Letters BS, MS, PhD ___________________
You know what BS is, MS is More of the Same, and it's Piled Higher and Deeper here
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