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I'm the type of person who loves to learn as much as possible every day.I watch the BB more than I really should in case I get some new knowledge.I live in an area where I can't advertize my shop so I'm not getting a lot of work.I guess you could call me a fool but I love painting signs no mater what is involved.I have been to a couple of Letterheads and would like to attend others.This will not be posible if the prices keep going up.In the US.meets I have seen prices as low as $40.00 plus rooms but in Canada it's $175.00 plus rooms.What would these meets be if you took away tours and golf tournaments.Forgive me for sounding upset but I am.Just figure it out$175.00 meet charge-200.00 for hotel-100. for gas to get there and back-then $300.00 for emer.and in pocket money.$875.00 min. and thats without my wife going.I guess I will miss another meet and read about it here on the BB.
-------------------- Randall Campbell Randy's Graphics, 420 Fairfield N. Hamilton Ontario Canada Posts: 2857 | From: Hamilton Ontario Canada | Registered: Jan 2002
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Be a little more choosy about your meets...two of the finest meets n the country are annual meets Joey Hutsons in Louisiana every january $65.00 entry our room was $49. a nite for two nites...food doesn't matter(you gotta eat when yer home too) but Joey feeds you everything but breakfast and then he has doughnuts and coffee. T-shirt and doorprizes that sometimes are worth more than your entry.
The other is Fred's meet in Oklahoma City (look to future meets) coming up in March...$65.00 there also and there are 50 and 60 dollar rooms available in OKC Frd feeds you coffe and doughnuts...and lunch.T-shirt and door prizes here too.
Both of these meets are the most hands on meets I've had the priviledge to enjoy.
Oh and there are always plenty of Canadians there every year. Infact barb told me last night that her and Steve will be there this year (again)Adn this year Jon Butterworth (Bushie) and his lovely wife Sue will be coming in all the way from Austrailia (now there's some expense)
If you come the night before you are invited to our Shop Warming (no charge).
"werks fer me ,it'll werk fer you"
Hope you make it. You deserve it!
[ January 21, 2003, 09:51 AM: Message edited by: Monte Jumper ]
-------------------- "Werks fer me...it'll werk fer you"
posted
I've never been to a large meet or an international event. Like Monty said, Joey Hutson's meets comprise 2 of the 3 meets I've attended. I'd like to go to more and bring the wife along, but time and funds are an issue. If I can drive and get a reasonably priced clean room those expenses usually run around $150-165 for the weekend. In Joey's case, where they go 18 hours both Friday and Saturday and the half day Sunday that is less than 4 dollars an hour for a constant learning and practice opportunity if you are so inclined. Monty mentioned the doorprizes and I have benifited greatly in those areas by winning an IWATA Eclipse and a full set of Lazerline Brushes, Panels, rolls of vinyl, and much more. I way out front. Now I'm trying to get to Freds. No golf and no tours.
I understand your demise but might offer you an insight that only those hosting these meets can appreciate.
Very few of you folks may not realize the costs in putting these on nor the time it takes to prepare the menu for food, arrangement of space, and costs up front to receive the necessary goods to be used by the different folk coming..panels etc.
If it weren't for the extreme generosity that industry sponsors have willingly donated such as DR. J, One Shot, etc. Without these fine folks helping out, there would be an additonal shortage.
I can tell you that I lost a major chunk of change and know that another person that has hosted meets for a long time has never broken even...to say the least of the shop down time that is lost.
I challenge anyone that has never hosted one to put one on and see for yourself the enormous amount of recources that have to be compromised to make an event succesful. We do it because WE LOVE IT!...
and the added extra of learning something that helps the bottom line immensly makes the experience well worth it.
Hope this helps
-------------------- Robert Beverly Arlington, Texas Posts: 1033 | From: Arlington, Texas | Registered: Jan 2001
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I agree 100% with your concern Randy, so I'll review the activities included in the fee. But you have to keep in mind that you still have 9 meals included and a meet T-shirt as a souvenir, that leaves around $75-80 per head to pay for Tent, tables, chairs, port-a-toilet, mobile kitchen renting, etc... Only insurance for a 3 days meeting like this cost close to $1000. By chance, I have friends who are willing to help for the foods, the convenience and the cleaning. In other hands remember that it's Quebec and you can't compare prices with the States where the cost of everything is cheaper. Hope you'll come!
-------------------- Pierre Tardif P. Tardif Inc. 1006 boul. PIE-XI sud Val-Belair QC. Canada G3K 1L2 418-847-4089 pierre@ptardif.com Posts: 800 | From: Quebec city | Registered: Aug 2002
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I'm with Monte, be a little more choosy about which meets you go to. I went to Joey Hutson's meet for under three hundred, and that included what I spent at the Lazerlines booth. This was my second year and both times I have learned something major! I go more for the hands on type of meets. I've been going to meets for over twenty years and have never been to one with a golf tournementand it's not that there haven't been any either, it's just that type of meet with all the extra events and organization just doesn't appeal to me.
-------------------- George Perkins Millington,TN. goatwell@bigriver.net
"I started out with nothing and still have most of it left"
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Pierre I'm not just commenting just on your meet.I think I'm just frustrated with the way my own business has gone this year-the exchange rate and the huge amount of taxes we pay here in Ontario.I know there is an extreme amount of expence in putting a meet on with insurance and rent plus food.I am still trying to get there and will let you know soon.Even if the meet was in the USA.like Monte said the exchange rate adds .60 to every dollar.Thankyou Randy
-------------------- Randall Campbell Randy's Graphics, 420 Fairfield N. Hamilton Ontario Canada Posts: 2857 | From: Hamilton Ontario Canada | Registered: Jan 2002
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Golf tournaments? Where's the meet?!? The purpose of going *IS* for the meet, right?
I'm with Monte and George.
I went to Fred's in Oklahoma City last year.. when things are rockin and rollin' from 7am til 2am each day, there's no time for golf!
I'm planning on going to Fred's again this year and I'm pretty sure it's only gonna cost me about $200.
If you really want it to happen, there are ways to make it happen.. surely someone else is driving and maybe they have room for another couple.. or maybe share a hotel room.. or find somebody local that doesnt mind putting you up in their place.
-------------------- "If I share all my wisdom I won't have any left for myself."
Mike Pipes stickerpimp.com Lake Havasu, AZ mike@stickerpimp.com Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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Soem shops are in residential neighborhods and cannot advertize, Some shops are in restricted areas and cannot do ads either.
Soem shops are so far remote that the easy cheap stuff will not do any good.
-------------------- 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: 5278 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
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If you are ever in the south carolina area just drop in for a small panel jam, addmision is only a six pack. I have started making freinds that are in a 30 min area of the shop. We have started trying to get together once every mounth just to practice. No shop jobs just fun stuff and experimenting with new tools and styles. You might try locating some guys in your area.
-------------------- Ryan Young Indocil Art & Design indocil@comporium.net 803-980-6765
I highjacked Letterville!! Winter Muster 2004 Posts: 904 | From: Rock Hill, SC | Registered: Sep 2001
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Randy, I like others, have been to several meets, large and small. From the 1998 International meet in Bloomington,In with over 350 sign folks to hosting my own meet a few years back with about 25 people. I like both types because they are so different. Although, I prefer the smaller meets. It just gives more time for 1 on 1, or small groups to talk, teach, meet or catch up with old friends.
The larger meets are more expensive, but they do offer more usually. I think Bloomington was $ 150.00 for the 4 days, with food included, + room and travel of course. My meet was $20.00 and included soft drinks, coffee and donuts each morning. A shirt was $10.00
I like Ryan's idea of getting together on a monthly basis or whatever works for your group.
Hope business picks up for you !!!!! Best of luck and looking forward to meeting you in person at a meet someday!!! Troy
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Randy,I think you could try hosting a meet on a small scale, find the letterheads who are nearest to you and invite say 6 people over for the day. In the UK we have only one meet per year,many smaller groups have come out of this and quite a few mini meets happen, it only takes 2 or 3 to get together to push the learning. I hosted the 2000 meet for about 120 people from all over the world, with careful planning I broke even on the meet and gave a lot away in door prizes thanks to many of the merchants here.However it did consume the life of this family for many months, out of that some of us do get together say to do a day of glue chip glass or whatever cheers Terry
-------------------- Terry Colley The VintageSign Co 42 barrack hill Romiley Stockport Cheshire, England sk6 3az tel 0161 494 5089 terry@bullandbrush.fsnet.co.uk Posts: 210 | From: England | Registered: Dec 1999
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I'd like to title this rant..."NO MATTER WHAT THE COST!" A Letterhead Meet, at any scale, large or small will propel you to a higher level of ability, it will connect you to a wealth of knowledge with people not just in your town but...THE WORLD. By sitting and talking with one experienced sign maker and asking question after question about the materials/techniques/sources,etc.to do a certain job back at your shop to make YOU more MONEY?....To travel to new places/countries/villages/cultures.etc.? To help other people as well as feeling good about yourself? To join a cause to help brighten a once dingy small town in nowhere America, and say that you drove X amount of miles and spent X amount of days away from the shop to spend X amount of dollars for Lodging-food-drink-gas to paint with some real pros who have a passion for what they do? To learn AS MUCH as a YEAR in a tech school that you can learn in 3 days?
IS IT THE PEACE CORPS? IS IT L. RON HUBBARDS DIANETICS? TONY ROBBINS SEMINAR? No my friends.....It's a little ole thang called............LETTERHEADS.
My question is this Randy...How can you afford NOT to go to a MEET? WHo cares how much they cost..LOOK WHAT YOU GET FOR IT!!!
Please don't take the "ALL CAPS" as a scream at you....I'm just doing it to em-fa-size the point. I will be hosting a meet at this time next year here at my shop in Arctic Minnesota. What will registration be? Oh..probably $75.00 80 bucks...just covering the port=a=johns-food-coffee etc. I like to have at least one night of live music too. I'm also hosting the International Meet in 2005. Cost of that...oh maybe $170.00 to $200. Ask anybody who was here in 1999 if their $175.00 was too much. They probably can't remember what they paid cuz they didn't care, they were HAVING TOO GOOD A TIME! And you can too.
This is not the first time this issue has been raised. Just before my meet in '99, this topic was discussed AT LENGTH and it went to over 75-60 replies...(Thanks to Terry Teague!) and I'm sure it will come up again. But please keep in mind if you are a new reader to this web site or the sign industry as a whole.....You will not find another industry that has an unselfish pouring out of training it's novices. This is what the Letterhead Movement is all about....since 7 guys got together in Denver Colorado over Green Chili, Beer, and a few old sign books. The year was 1975 and thank god they did, otherwise , where would we be?
So carry the Movements roots high, and reach down to pick someone up, cuz we're all in this together...NO MATTER WHAT THE COST!
-------------------- 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
AMENHALLELUYAH! OH HELL YEAH! GO GETTEM MEYER!!!!
-------------------- "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
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You coming to Quebec City this summer? There's some culture you probably haven't experienced yet. Poutine anyone?
I'm saving my pennies to get to the Sign Painters Picnic 2005 and might even get me some new ski-doo boots for the Winter Muster (Just don't ask me to play hockey!)
Can't shop owners write off the costs of attending a meet as a business expense?
[ January 22, 2003, 08:40 AM: Message edited by: Terry Whynott ]
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Way to go Mike! I have made as many meets as possible over the years and never regretted going to any of them. In fact, just when it seems that they just couldn't get any better, they always do.
Just the other day I picked up an old Signs of the Times magazine and was shocked at how crude the lettering and layout was compared to what you will see today. The plain and simple fact is that only because of the Letterheads, the quality of signs all over has risen to a new high.
To mention the cost, well it always cost me double to make a meet because I had to pay someone to stay with my disabled wife while I was away. I always felt it was well worth it.
-------------------- 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
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The registration form is now ready for FRENCH KISS A BRUSH. $135 CDN OR $90 U.S. will be the fee including t-shirt, apron and 9 meals! Golf, fishing and guided tour will be charge separately. Take a look at the link.
-------------------- Mario G. Lafreniere (Fergie) J&N Signs Winter did show up! Posts: 1257 | From: Chapleau, Ontario | Registered: Jun 1999
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To Bob and any one else in the area my shop is 20 miles south of Charlotte NC and it must be a six pack of any thing that makes my work look better when the night is done !!!
PS Amen Mike !!!!
-------------------- Ryan Young Indocil Art & Design indocil@comporium.net 803-980-6765
I highjacked Letterville!! Winter Muster 2004 Posts: 904 | From: Rock Hill, SC | Registered: Sep 2001
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Mike Meyer's Bro - He got the talent for curved lines & color & I got the talent for straight lines & blue prints Posts: 3 | From: Mazeppa | Registered: Jan 2003
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I have to say I can "Feel your pain" as Uncle Sam is trying to pull out my brains (and other delicate parts) through my wallet. Times are tough but persiverance(sp?), will and smart thinking will get you (us) through. We ARE profesional problem solvers. This is just one more on the way.
But...I don't feel you can put a price tag on a meet when it is this important to us as individuals and as a whole.
After last year's meet on Mars (a first) I was able to raise my prices and live with it. Good bad or indifferent. I lost a few jobs because of this but the up in quality (design & techniques involved) were enough to bring in more/other/better customers who are willing to pay the amount deserved.
If you or anyone wants to split a room and or transportation, give me a shout.
Hang in there Randy, don't let things get you down. If you can put 2-3 bucks a day in a jar somewhere you will have between 400-600 bucks by August. Consider a large cup of coffee, buttered roll and the daily paper costs that much each day.
peace
-------------------- Alan Ackerson LetterWorks Design and Graphics alan@ack2.com Posts: 776 | From: Oak Ridge, NJ | Registered: Aug 2002
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have you tryed to leave your home without spending any money lately? It´s more than worth it to spend it for a meet. I´ve been to my first meet last year in england, becaaus it´s the closest chance the get on a meet for me. I wish to go to some us -meets but the shop needs me. US Trips means overseas for me and that hurts badly for a weekend. It was one of the most (job-relatet) inputgiving thing i did so far. Keep the honest work, or bring a peace of it to germany(or I will) ......To host a meet in germany would not be to bad , lets think about it
posted
Somebody always says it so concisely - and it's never me!! Why am I always so long-winded?
I will echo Mike Meyer's statements - you can't afford NOT TO GO to as many meets as you can - until you feel you have enough knowledge. But exactly when does that occur? (truthfully, never - but...) It occurs when your business demands start to exceed the time you must commit to attending a meet. Just ask me - I know personally. When is the last time anyone saw me at a meet? June and August 2001 at the Int'l in Milwaukee and Nancy and Noella's Walldog Jam. Do I miss it? Abso-freaking-lutely. Has my business flourished mostly due to the knowledge shared and talents exhibited by others so I didn't need to lose money learning 'the hard way'? Damn right.
The cost (estimated) of attending all those meets? I spent somewhere around $25,000 - with hotels, meet cost, airfare, etc. I bet Mike Meyer and Doc Welty have the record, though!! But think about that... $25,000 American dollars - Canadian that would be about $35,000, right? Either way - am I a fool for spending that? NO. You may think so now that you see the hard numbers because that's a hell of a lot of money for anyone in the sign business. But that was vacation (thereby the need for golf tournaments), business (thereby the need for drinks with lunch), and gathering with friends (thereby the need for drinks at lunch AND dinner). Can you place a limit on value for those things? I don't think so.
I feel closer to some of my Letterhead friends than members of my own family. Was $25,000 too much for that? I sell skills and talents I learned for very little money - for great big money. Was $25K too much? I get the privilege of writing for a trade magazine by virtue of contacts I made at meeets. Was $25K too much for that? Should I go on? You get out of it what you put into it - just like real life.
I respect the limits some people place on themselves - but they are just that - limits placed by them. Anyone - and I can't emphasize that enough - ANYONE can have the same experience I have had - just by hard work - and spending a lot of cash and a lot of time. But if you like small meets then go to them. They're out there to attend - as many have already stated. Don't damn the hosts of the big meets for not adjusting to fit YOUR limitations. Me? I like the meets big - the bigger the better. It shows our trade/business/profession in a positive light. More so than just working the weekend hidden away in someone's shop. But those small meets are certainly a great time also. In fact, they are wonderful for the intimacy and closeness that you can't always find at the larger meets.
But people, we need to promote our profession!!! That's why people swallow hard and host the big meets. They understand that - and accept the burden so they can keep our profession in the forefront. Jeez, most of the future hosts already know they will lose money and time - and then they get to read someone's complaint about the high cost. That complaint is a lot louder than the compliments they'll get - let me tell you.
When I hosted the 1997 Int'l some guy from Jersey came up to me early in the meet and said "I came all the way here to learn about pinstriping - and you cancelled the pinstriping seminar". I felt like ****. But Alan Johnson and Billy Beckner found me and said "find the guy and we'll teach him personally - just the two of us". Pretty swell, huh? That's the Letterhead spirit at its best. But then they made me feel even better by saying "what kind of a dumbass comes to a mural meet to learn how to pinstripe anyway"? Well, that did make some sense - but I still felt badly because I let just one person down. When someone complains about the high cost of meets it really hurts the host more than anyone. They are bustin' their ass to not forget anything and then somebody always starts complaining.
Please understand, most all of us who have attended meets were in this same position of trying to justify the expense of attending meets. Same thing for the hosts of meets. But to the man or woman they will all tell you that it is the best money - or time - spent. The old adage is "you gotta' spend money to make money". That couldn't be more true.
Please understand this one thing: you work will change for the better and ultimately you will reap the benefits of the money you spent. Then you will make enough to move your shop to a location you can advertise - or you can stay where you are and just charge more for the skills you learned. If it doesn't work that way then maybe the sign business should just be a hobby and you stop trying to earn your sole living from it. Then money isn't the issue - but you still satify the passion you - and all of us - feel for sign design and signmaking.
Please don't construe this as criticism. It is just a voice from one of the lucky past hosts of a large meet trying to make sure everyone understands why meets take the shape they do.
Respectfully, 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
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-------------------- Jon Aston MARKETING PARTNERS "Strategy, Marketing and Business Development" Tel 705-719-9209 Posts: 1724 | From: Barrie, ON, CANADA | Registered: Sep 2000
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It's still a lot of money if you haven't got it. I see alot of meets advertised here on the BB that I'd love to go to, and afterward reading about them I feel left out - But I can't afford to do it and I will not get near an airplane.
25 years ago Doc Guthrie used to have get-togethers with L.A. Trade-Techies at someone's shop or home. There was never any charge at all - just show up. If we wanted pizza we chipped in and made a call. Most of the time there were only a handful of people show up but it was great and we did this every couple months or so. There wasn't much in the way of hands-on but we showed pics of our work, got honest critiques of it and got to know each other.
As part of the class we were urged to go on personal field trips to local shops and take notes. You learn in about a nano second who the ones are who are willing to share knowledge and who the knuckle heads are.
One time Doc had bought a new (to him) truck, had it painted and took it out to Bob Bond's for pinstriping and we all went to watch, about 30 of us. It turned into a late night fest - and if any money changed hands it was from Doc to Bob for the striping job. We had never heard of any "Letterheads" back then.
When I opened my shop in '78 I had a meet - also at no charge, and the only prep work was the phone calls and flyers I sent out to all the local shops and Trade-Tech and I swept the floor. 90 or more people came to it and there wasn't room inside for even half that many so subseqent meets were held at a larger shop a mile away - we had two there, a year or so apart, and well over 100 came each time. Anybody who wanted to demo a product was invited to show their stuff. We never thought to ask suppliers to donate stuff for drawings.
I'd have meets today if I had the place to do it - but don't. Insurance for such a thing is a necessity any more, and if you're going to have people coming out from far away it makes more sense to have a whole weekend to play. Ours were all just one night stands. What's with renting Port-a-Potties? The recent meets I've been to have had around 75-100 people and one shop restroom was more than adequate.
One meet I've attended the owner charges $10-$15 a day each, claiming it helps to pay for the food, and they put out a couple bags of chips and a pot of coffee...we buy our own lunch. A T-Shirt is extra. Is it necessary to do that? Maybe not, but it's well worth the $30/$45 to go all weekend. Add to that travel and lodging. Then, again, the shop owner will make $1,500 to $4,500 on a 3 day meet. I just think if I were claiming the charge was to offset food cost I'd put some out there, but that's just me, I'm cheap. Personally I like to see costs be kept down. The Boise meet was a killer and I wouldn't have wanted to have missed it for the world - but it cost $300 to walk in the door. Lucky for me I have friends who live in Boise!
Another recent meet the Porta-Potties were dispensed with, sandwich stuff was put out at lunch time, several folding tables were rented, and the charge to attend was $10 for a 3 day meet, and I think there were around 30 or so of us. That one cost the owner around $500, which he writes off. Earlier meets he charged $30 to attend and anybody putting on a demo got in for free and he made a few bucks on it.
There are ways around spending a lot of money to go to a meet - have a small one of your own - invite your competition. Just don't miss out.
Posts: 1859 | From: / | Registered: Nov 1998
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I understand the problem with $$$ right now but the international in fantastic outdoor air-conditioned Mazzeppa, MN was worth more than anyone paid. Save for one however long it takes ( just be ready for 2005 ) to get to an international for something serious in the way of letterheads meets...or opt for one of the smaller meets for some brotherhood of the brush fellowship. web page
[ January 22, 2003, 02:35 PM: Message edited by: John Byrd ]
-------------------- John Byrd Ball Ground, Georgia 770-735-6874 http://johnbyrddesign.com so happy I gotta sit on both my hands to keep from wavin' at everybody! Posts: 741 | From: Ball Ground, Georgia, USA | Registered: May 1999
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Ditto Mike, Bill and Jay. I have hosted and helped to host so many meets I have lost count, the biggest being the Internationals in '85 and '95 and helped with 2000. More than that, I have totally lost count of the meets I have attended. Not to trump you Jay, our running total has exceeded $75,000. Having said that, have you looked at what to expect to pay in college tuition in the next few years? I have no idea how my 8 year old grandaughter will be able to afford a 4 year degree.
I will never regret the time or money spent for a meet, even if I come home only with having spent a weekend visiting with my best friends. Even in my circumstance, I always come away with having learned something new however. We have had to choose sometimes when the money is tight or there are just too many meets to practically attend. I have missed the last couple of Internationals due to circumstances here with aging family members and tight money. We have however managed to attend a few small meets and we always try to get together locally a few times a year. Judi has written many acrticles and a couple pamphlets about hosting with the bottom line, start with a few local friends and a pot of coffee. That helps to sooth the sole when you just can't make a bigger meet for whatever reason.
Keep the faith and keep the spirit alive, attend a meet to teach and you will learn. All that work at home, IOAFS. Time and money short, drop in here to keep in touch. Need a Letterhead friend, go make one of the guy down the street. The movement is well known worldwide, even in the biggest shops as they too have been effected by this wonderful thing.
-------------------- Kent Smith Smith Sign Studio P.O.Box 2385, Estes Park, CO 80517-2385 kent@smithsignstudio.com Posts: 1025 | From: Estes Park, CO | Registered: Nov 1998
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I'm not even a signpainter and I'm driving two hours, getting a hotel for the weekend and going to a meet soon just because you guys are too much fun to be around.
It's inspiring for me to be with people who are creative and want to make the world a more beautiful place with their artwork.
And I can't even write it off! Get thee to a meet my friend!!!
-------------------- 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: 3723 | From: Folsom, CA | Registered: Dec 2001
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I am not a signpainter either, but I totally agree with Kimberly. I am a student from the Netherlands. In 1999 I went to high school in Minnesota for a year and I lived with Mike Meyer and his family. During that time Mike took me to some Letterhead meets. The first one was the big international meet in Mazeppa. Later Mike and I went to Mark Fairs meet in Montgomery, Alabama and we also went to Hot Springs, Arkansas to help a friend of Mike with signs for an amusement park. These were good opportunities for me to travel and see some more of the States, but being at the meets was a great experience too! It was awesome to see the stuff that the people at the meets were painting or had painted. In the Netherlands you don’t see anything like that. There is almost no hand-painting. That is a big shame, because it is so nice! I’m really glad that I’ve had the opportunity to see some of it and, who knows, maybe I just might show up at one of the meets in Minnesota to have a look again.
-------------------- Aart Geurtsen the Netherlands Posts: 1 | From: netherlands | Registered: Jan 2003
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I also have been to DOZENS of meets and hosted my own meet. I do consider mine an "average" meet, price wise.... but, Don & Dora HULSEY's meet in Kentucky was THE BEST as far as food goes!!! Them guys from ShadeTree Cooks & catering for ALL occasions (Terry Stinnett and Rich Harris) put on ONE helluva FEED !! (( shadetreecooks@aol.com ))... I mean these guys can COOK !!! SLOW SMOKED BAR-B-QUE But,,,, you know the price for the event and amenities in ADVANCE.... it is up to you to attend or not..... if you do attend... don't pout over it afterwards .... you made the decision to go.... Just look over the schedules very closely and go to the ones that you can LEARN from and have a great time. Unfortunately, I can't host a meet this year due to relocation in progress.... Instead, Cheryl and Don are going to host an AWESOME meet in April in Sunny Florida and a LOT of folks from the Great White North are attending..... hope you can too. Food will be AWESOME... rooms are decently priced and air travel is affordable. And, if you drive down like Steve & Barb..... the road trip is SPECTACULAR !!! Good Luck to ya and hope to see ya soon !!!
-------------------- John Smith Kings Bay Signs (Retired) Kissimmee, Florida Posts: 822 | From: Central Florida - The Sunshine State | Registered: Jan 2000
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And as a person who has been to a few meets and has very little money...there are enough meets around to choose what fits your budget...also, there are creative ways to cut the costs,
i.e....see if someone can accomodate you in the area, someone who will trade (a mural, house sign, for instance...)
Take advantage of Southwest airline's email specials (I've earned TWO FREE sets of tickets so far) offer to do demos (might get you in free or discounted) offer to help with set-up and/or clean-up.....
Everyone should go at least once a year!!!
Ask Michael Boone if he will go to a second one now!!
posted
here's an idea, how about inviting all the people you want to learn from to your place, invite the wives, feed em 3 meals a day, provide drinks, have em teach you all their secrets they learned throughout a lifetime at the university of hard knocks, and supply them with panels, paint, and the run of your shop for a weekend. that may be a cheaper way out! sorry, I don't mean to be a jerk but HELL! it cost everybody that goes to these meets the very same as you or more! some have long flights they had to pay for above and beyond the cost of the hotel and meet. ask yourself what priceless education you could possibly get out of a meet if you actually went there to learn something to improve your own skills as a craftsman as well as increasing your earning potential instead of going there to be ingage in Cofee Talk. I see more and more people go to these things and not pick up a brush or get involved in any demonstrations and thats ok but they knew the price of admission and if thats how they choose to spend the weekend so be it. if you want to talk about cost, I traded work for $1,900. worth of camera work, color seps, screen costs and tshirt printing and the cost of the shirts for the swampland meet! that was a donation on my part that I felt comfortable with, then on top of that I had to pay for 2 plane tickets, a rental car, food, and hotel! I don't even want to think about what I spent to basically spend the weekend TEACHING! and I loved doing it! Please don't complain about having to spend a couple hundred bucks to spend time with some of the finest people you'll ever meet to share trade secrets with, have fellowship, and just plane enjoy being with! if you want to feel better about what you've been spending on meets just take a look at what it costs to go to just ONE airbrush getaway class where you get no one on one personal training, you are one of about 50 to 75 sheep in a class and all for the resonable cost of $400 to $600 per seminar!!!!!
-------------------- Work like you don't need the money, Love like you've never been hurt, And Dance like no one's watching. :) Mike Lavallee Mike Lavallee's Pinstriping & Airbrush Art Everett, WA Posts: 449 | From: Everett, WA | Registered: Dec 1998
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