posted
Hi fellow Letterheads. I've had the opportunity to attend Letterhead Meets and also a Walldog type Meet, and had positive experiences at both. I've also heard how the "Walldog" type events have such a positive effect on the communities in which they've been held. There's now some "history" available for meaningful analysis, since those communities who benefitted have had some time to live with the results. This then begs the question regarding "follow-through". In those communities, have ANY further murals been commissioned that has generated additional work for artists or sign companys in those communities? I'm not asking about additional "freebies", but work that's been commissioned and PAID FOR by individuals or groups within those communities.
I guess that what I'm asking is whether or not those communities feel "positive" enough to see the "value" that's been given...enough so that they collectively or individually choose to continue to enhance their environment through the use of the "mural medium"? I'm sure that a lot of the participants get a nice warm, fuzzy glow about leaving something really nice behind that people can see and identify with. They might also greatly enjoy the attention and interest they get from the folks in those communities who turn out to watch them transform the walls into works of art. But...after all of that's done and past, does this actually translate into any additional PAID work for sign artists? Platitudes and praise are great, and they do stroke the ego, but in the end do not provide any actual income.
Are Walldog type events really just a good Public Relations vehicle, or do they inspire those communities to continue what's been started?
-------------------- Ken Henry Henry & Henry Signs London, Ontario Canada (519) 439-1881 e-mail: kjmlhenry@rogers.com
Why do I get all those on-line offers to sell me Viagara, when the only thing hardening is my arteries ? Posts: 2685 | From: London,Ontario, Canada | Registered: Feb 1999
| IP: Logged |
I have never been to a walldog event either and have often thought about the exact parameters that Ken outlined. I personally don't think that it is an area that I would professionally venture in to but often wondered how this all benefits the movement rather than a select area or group of folk. It seems that the folks at Dr. Pepper contacted Steve Shortreed a couple of years ago with a desire to have murals painted from coast to coast. I was going to contact them since they are based locally to find out their intent. My idea was a major promotional event encompassing their advertising to include promoting the artists in their ads...but paying for them as they go as well but I don't think enough heads out there care so I decided to shelve it as well.
I have asked several people about walldoggin and their response usually included the question that Ken raises and also why would they want to pay money to work all weekend. They laugh and say they can stay home and do that.
so I too would be curious to know how the work put in by these folks involved in letterrip helps the movement and also I am curious why I have never met or seen anyone listed at any of the meets I have attended. I don't see them post here until the meet pops up nor most that are attending that have posted here as of recent.
-------------------- Robert Beverly Arlington, Texas Posts: 1033 | From: Arlington, Texas | Registered: Jan 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
About twenty years ago I painted two murals for a restaurant just north of town, one on an inside wall, the other on the outside. From those I got two more mural jobs before I moved to the Keys, one in the entryway to a Shrine Club the other a wall in a senior center recreation room.
A couple of years ago a gypsy sign/airbrush artist past through town and ended up painting murals on two building for the school board.
In the newspaper the school board said they started looking for someone to paint murals on their buildings after one of the members saw the ones (I did) at the Lonesome Dove Restaurant.
After the article about the school board was in the paper, three more murals have been painted by out of town shops.
So maybe if someone got the newspaper involved it would cerate some jobs.
-------------------- Steve Levitt Signs Of All Kinds Okeechobee, Fl. 34974 Posts: 64 | From: Okeechobee, Florida | Registered: May 2003
| IP: Logged |
I know at least 2 people that you have met in person at a letterhead meet will be there, Pat King and myself.
I don't think of myself as a walldog, because walls are a small portion of my workload, but I do enjoy these meets, and I do learn from them.
In my opinion the only differences between a letterhead meet and a walldog meet are... The panels are bigger, predesigned, and need to be finished on time. Also a walldog meet does benefit the town that hosts it.
It is not done to enhance business for the local sign shop (Atlanta, Il doesn't even have a local sign shop). For me the main reasons for attending are the same as a letterhead meet. Meeting and visiting with friends(old and new) and the education gained by working along side them.
It is not all work. We have a lot of fun and do a lot of visiting also. The work can also be a lot of fun if you get beside the right person(I haven't found the wrong one yet).
IMHO... Anyone that thinks they might someday do a wall, would benefit from one of these meets. You are certain to learn something that will help you out later on.
-------------------- Don Hulsey Strokes by DON signs Utica, KY 270-275-9552 sbdsigns@aol.com
I've always been crazy... but it's kept me from going insane. Posts: 2299 | From: Utica, KY U.S.A. | Registered: Jan 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Well, I don't know if I am qualified to speak for past walldog meets and their "results" but I can say that we have attended quite a few including Allerton, both Kenlakes and Bellvediere as examples. Robert I don't know WHY we haven't met each other, other than we must have attended different meets that you or we just never ran in to each other at the larger meets. We started attending meets with Niles in '89 (I think that was the date?) We have attended 1 or 2 a year ever since, some the big internationals, some the small "Makin' Tracks to Jacks" with 40-50 people. We co-hosted LetterRip in 91 with three other shops and had 400+ people there. (Don't remember too many people from that meet because we were too busy!!) I tell you all this to answer your question about where have we been and why we are posting on this site now and not before. We have always been here. We were readers and just didn't post much. I can remember in the beginning before there were no login names and there was alot of flaming going on. (Didn't enjoy that.) As to why we post now, we are trying to get people to come to this meet! No secret here! WE ENJOY doing wall work and DO get paid to do walls. We have been in business for almost 25 years and have done a bit of everything except for the illuminated big bucket truck stuff. I liked your idea about the Dr. Pepper walls. Sign me up! I know what you mean though about walldogs CAN be alot of work. There were some meets that when we got home we had to rest up! But we had such a good time while we sweated our heads off! Who can forget the impromptu joke fest on main street of Belvediere where the Mariachi band came out and serenaded us! What about the ice cream social that the town planned in Allerton or the song fest at it or the ladies gathering with home made lunches for us at the VFW hall? How about the pats on the back and homemade pies in Atlanta last year? What about the friend that we made in each of those communities that we STILL keep in contact with! I know maybe you might think it is kind of silly, but money isn't everything to us! We may NOT get any work from these meets. The artists in the area may NOT benefit from it. What's wrong with just working along side some of your old friends that enjoy doing what you do? Learning something new, be it a new media, technique or joke! What's wrong with just benefitting a small town and it's people and making something that they can be proud of? WE PURPOSEFULLY will not do work that is advertising any exsisting business in Atlanta. If a business wants to have work done, we gracefully decline as not to take work away from area sign people. We are doing historical restoration in my eyes. Some people volunteer by working in the park picking up trash, some work at the hospital auxillary, some do play sets for the community theatre group, some coach football....we paint walls! (Along with some of that other volunteer stuff too!)
As far as if any other further work results from the walldogs being in that community....don't know. We will have to ask those associated with those other communities. I DO know just since Atlanta got one mural last year it has had a noticable rise in people driving thru town to look at that mural. A resident there say he sees people out of their cars on a regular basis, snapping photos of it. The city just received a huge grant from a local resident to restore one of it's buildings to a museum and to replicate a 30-40's diner that used to be in the bulding across the street from one of our murals. The mural is the Palm's Grill Cafe that Steve Estes mural for this years meet is fashioned after. When the rest of the town is sparkling with nice work don't you think that the average citizen starts to appreciate nice work? And when it is time to do their building's signage, they won't want to hire the infamous Joe Wino to "slap something up there". They WILL hire the local sign artist and be willing to pay a little more to have their building sparkle with the rest of them. JUST my opinion.......Jane
posted
I was asked to respond to this post but since I am so busy I will be as brief as I can - but still try to paint a complete picture.
Ken, the answer to your question regarding if towns continue to contract for more murals is: that really depends on the host of the meet and if they continue to promote the community project on their own or through another group.
With all the meets you have a host(s) (I hosted a "Walldog" meet that turned into the International in Belvidere in 1997) - the host works with the community - the community relies on the host to see the project through in exchange for the usual Letterhead 'amenities' like food, shelter, etc. through the weekend.
Once the meet is over then the only way the town has any connection to the mural community is through the host. If the host continues to work with the community then the murals continue. They have in Belvidere because I felt obligated to treat the gift the community of Belvidere received from the Letterheads with the proper respect it deserves - and the notion that it needs to continue. (Belvidere is my hometown - but not where my business is located) Belvidere has secured paying mural work for a few different muralists since 1997 and will continue to refurbish and spiff up the murals as they fade - or just do new ones. The Boone County Arts Council sponsored those murals while I was still on the board of directors. The city started with 10 murals after the '97 meet - and now has 18.
The city also changed their official letterhead to include the tag line 'Illinois' City of Murals'. All the water towers in town were repainted to say 'Belvidere - Illinois' City of Murals' (an official distinction proclaimed by the Governor at the City's request). The community won awards for the project and still desires more murals. Before negotiations fell through due to annexation problems, the city demanded that Wal-Mart (soon to build in Belvidere) put a mural on the building. They were going to pop for over $75,000 for a mural to be designed and painted - and installed on the FRONT of the Wal-Mart. I think in this case, the community of Belvidere still respects the project - especially when the city officials are so bold as to demand that from a company of Wal-Mart's size.
Wonder how much identity it can give a community? Use Belvidere as the roadmap for success. Not tooting my own horn here but I could easily have let the project go and never worked on it again - and the city would have forgotten it. It hasn't been easy - and it costs me a bundle in time and effort. I DO NOT use it to enhance my business - though I do get some nice work from the community. But I have ties there.
In my opinion, it is my responsibility is to keep the Letterhead movement alive locally by reminding the city how they got this identity - and by whose hand that identity came about. The Letterheads did that. Not just me. We chose text-based murals for two reasons: one, they are signs - no matter how you slice it. And two, they tell a story about the city's past - for citizen and visitor alike to share in.
So if the host is sincere (I was - and still am) then it will yield more work. But like anything else, somebody will always think someone else is 'taking care of it' until ten years down the road someone realizes "Hey, whatever happened to that mural thing?" Then it's too late.
My challenge to any host: use your meet as a platform (read: bully pulpit) to bring attention to your profession - and the positive results it will yield for bsuiness OR community. Otherwise you're just peeing in the wind and spending an awful lot of time on something with so much potential - but very little yield.
So the short answer still is: It depends on the sincerity and motivation of the host - 'cause the commuity lacks the connections (in most cases) to keep a mural project going.
[ June 18, 2003, 11:47 AM: 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 |
That being the short answer, maybe you could make your long answer available in PDF format for download. I'm on dialup internet and it might take awhile, but you write it and I'll download and read it.
Yeah, I know. I say short - but I never mean it. At least everybody knows they can give me a hard time about my excessive 'wordage' without making me cry!!
My mom says I was talking all during her pregnancy. Everything was muffled though.
[ June 18, 2003, 08:42 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
(I am glad to know what Jay really thinks of short considering the remarks he has made about me.) He is quite the pontificator; He says it well. While reading these posts, I have realized that many of the "main meets" over the past few years have had the "Walldog flair" to them, I think speaking to the popularity of this style meet, and the great contribution to the community that it can be. ( ie murals at Mazeppa, Boise, and Mars )
I think that the hosts of walldog events are thinking more of what we as letterheads can do to contribute to a community than self promotion. The artistic awareness in a community that receives one of these great projects is definately enhanced, therefore creating a growing desire among the population for finer appearances in all areas of community presentation.
There is work involved in creating these masterpieces, and therefore definately the more the merrier. With small numbers in attendance it does make more work for the few ( so come attend Atlanta so I can have more fun )
My brother and I have hosted two walldog events. Lifetime friends and memories were made at both. The area that the murals were painted in has not added any murals, but there have been inquiries. Our shop is about 35 miles from the site, but we have received many Kudos for the project, are known in the area for "fancy" work, and I am sure get many jobs from forms of word of mouth from those projects.
I'm just glad to be a letterhead and stay involved. Some of the most rewarding experiences of my life have come from my involvement in walldog projects.
-------------------- Steve Estes Sign Studio Calvert City, Ky 42029 Posts: 185 | From: possum trot ky usa | Registered: Apr 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
The benifits are ENORMUS! at any "walldog" meet. Unless you are talking about Greed Money for those locally in hopes of riding on the coat tails of others. My FIRST Live Letterhead Meet was in 97 at Jay's Belidire Meet. Crused in a full day earlier to get a front row seat and possibly meet some of the locals. Found a Sign Shop in town introduced myself,where I was from,with plans to learn something while I was there. Lo and behold THIS guy was ANTI-ANYBODY ELSE in his town. BUT once it got started,with the amount of people, and quality of work being done. He jumps on the band wagon and starts doing a mural on his own wall Which was NOT sactioned to be done,and was hit with a STOP WORK order
I came home with a New outlook,techniques,and pricing structure.
Now I try not to miss ANY Walldog meet that I can help on weather I am learning or teaching. Made LOTS of new friends and was appreciated for my work!
I could not buy,or afford what I take back with me
So.... your answer is "YES" somebody benifits
Hope this helps
-------------------- PKing is Pat King The Professor of SIGNOLOGY Posts: 3113 | From: Pompano Beach, FL. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
Pat King's transformation after Belvidere is one memory that I hold a special place for as just one of the significant moments of the Letterhead meet we ran in Belvidere. He changed his outlook, his attitude, his habits and his pricing structure as a result. He became a true Letterhead by learning - then sharing what he learned - as most of us have.
Ask Pat his story sometime. You'll get an earful - you'll have to stare at those damn spotty britches - but you'll understand just how much the whole Letterhead 'movement' can alter your skills and attitudes. And maybe help make you whole again, eh Pat?
His community is better for a meet held elsewhere (and not hosted by Pat) - so the effects are like little 'Johnny Appleseeds' spreading all over most English-speaking countries. It's only "one tree in a field" when one man learns something new at a meet (if you want to look at it in a finite way) - but the possibilities are many if someone cares to spread the seeds of knowledge.
A wave starts as a ripple in the water.
-------------------- 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 |
I think it's great what y'all are doing...and I only seek further understanding...
Don I did meet you and Pat and I term you both as true Letterheads...it is all good and fun at a meet but I have witnessed you both willing to SHARE!...That is what I look for from this movement. I did not make plans to go because I didn't know anyone going until you both posted and speaking with Pat.
...I am interested in raising this craft to a level that people in the industry can stand up and recognize as a viable unique group of individuals located around the world that rise above your typical signshop. That will be my goal as long as I live and I will support those functions that I feel support that goal. Many do not agree with me and that's ok but my agenda will not change. I will just address them person at a time if I have to...and that is those folks that are true letterheads! I think there are an awful lot of folk in this town that would love to have some help in getting work and becoming more successful and if I can help, I will do that...period.
The walldog thing is great if it helps this movement...and inspires the younger guys to aspire to a higher level than what now exists. All of the stories that I hear about being undercut on jobs and competing against others for pennies is not my interpretation of a Letterhead. There is just way too much talent out there in Letterville to have to do that!
so I will continue to learn (gosh, I am still learning to paint on a small surface first!)...and share ideas, and what knowledge I have to share.
and I will continue to make sure that those that have inspired me and share this wonderful craft and it's message are appreciated.
-------------------- Robert Beverly Arlington, Texas Posts: 1033 | From: Arlington, Texas | Registered: Jan 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
My Goodness! Some wonderful things said here by some wonderful people. I'm first going to say that I'm sure that by my number of posts, you can see that I'm new to this forum. I'm slow to keep up with a lot of the internet technology. I'm very impressed with this BB and the opportunity that it affords us to express our ideas and experiences, and you'll probably hear from me again. Ken,Linda and Robert you have some great questions and yes, I am trying to sell our meet.
Let's put that aside though and talk about what takes place between the letterhead and the town where a walldog event takes place. The nature of our work has always attracted a different sort of person. When I first started we still hand lettered everything. It took me forever to learn how to letter with a brush. I didn't think I would ever get it. I also thought I was the only one who did it. I vaguely knew about signs, their history and often I heard stories about some of the sign artist from the past from our area. Everybody talked about these people as if they were legendary. There was a mystery surrounding it all that kind of appealed to me. One thing was clear -- these craftsman were unique and there had to be something about the work that would attract so many unique people. Then I heard about letterheads. My involvement with these people put me in touch with these folks and my life has become much richer because of it. I also want to tell the world about these talented and exciting people. They should know what I know. That's the basis for the walldog adventure.
It's probably more about what we get out of it than what the town gets out of it, but it's obvious the town's are getting a tremendous jump start, just because we took a weekend's time to show them our skills and enthusiasm. I'll bet there's not too many efforts from the other crafts that could rival ours in what we leave behind and what we take home with us. Town folks are thoroughly amazed and impressed and at the same time they're enlightened. They become patrons and aren't afraid to seek out the best amongst us and pay us what we're worth because now they know and they understand.
A century ago before radio and tv, wall advertising was abundant in even the smallest town. There was a certain look about it that perked up the town's landscape. It was also a location for a craftsman to show off his skills. Sign making was a noble and sought after occupation. But the industry as a whole suffered during the 60's when Ladybird Johnson's Highway Beautification Act took work away from many sign makers. Our craft went underground and sign makers became secretive and suspicious of each other. Our esteem in the communities suffered because of it. With the letterhead movement, it was clear that our craftsman wanted to have fellowship together and share their secrets and better themselves. It is this aspect that we bring to these communities. Many other professions do similar things gratis.
We should work toward a free meet for those attending who work on the projects benefitting these towns. We spent a great deal of time trying to figure out how we were going to pull that off with this meet. With each meet something new is added. We did solve some insurance needs with this meet that hopefully future walldog meets can use. Some have suggested corporate sponsors pick up the tab. I'm not so sure, but there can be a considerable financial nut to crack when you talk about renting scaffolding and lifts to work on these projects. I'm sorry we didn't get it worked out on this one, but we did consider corporate sponsorship and we did seek out bigtime media exposure. I think the sheer volume of towns interested in providing a spot for us to gather and do our thing will enable us to get that free meet. - Bill
posted
Actung!!!! It always has to come down to the dollar....RIGHT? 1. Letterhead/Walldog meets are about us sharing our craft with each other. 2. Yes communities that have been the subject of Walldag meets have recieved the benifits of our craftsmanship...but...they have also contributed to the meet...therefore, the meet could happen. 3. Now...It's time for some folks, the ones that seem to moan and gripe all of the time, the whinners, to get their heads out of their rectums and market what we do as our craft. Accentuate the Positive...Eliminate the Negative! Get off your butt and learn to market your Sign Biz. When you attend any meet always have your camera...make your pics a special section of your portfolio...remember, your portfolio is one of your sales tools...the rest is up to each individual sign artist to convey the event pics to your prospective clients...in your words...Sell It! The pics form many of the Walldog/Letterhead meets have helped me make the bucks....here we are back to square one...the dollar...and the way I see it is just like "Voting". Have you ever noticed that most of the bitchin' comes from folks that aren't even registered voters...Be wise and don't get caught up in this kind of negative thinking...Get to a meet wheather it be a Walldog Meet or a Letterhead Meet....Just go and go with a positive attitude...take something with you to share....I PROMISE, you'll return with more than you brought. I should say here as a footnote...If this writting ****es anyone off...that, in my book, is just tough skinny and I challenge you here and now to a battle of dueling fitches....
-------------------- David Estes West Kentucky Outdoor Signs 8975 Hwy. 62 Calvert City, KY 42029 ffw2@hcis.net Posts: 15 | From: Possum Trot, KY | Registered: Jun 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
Hello everyone, I've been involved with the Vinton and Allerton meets and can tell you a little about the steps the communities have taken since the meets were held.
Allerton has commissioned the local sign artist to do some upkeep on the murals, has put up new signage on the north and south entrances and has repainted the upper facades of the downtown buildings.
Vinton is getting ready to host the 125th Fireman's Convention in September and has commissioned me to design another mural that will be painted for the most part by local volunteers.
The meets have been a springboard for tourism and community pride and they provided a new awareness of the benefits of signage and graphics.
Hope to see all of you soon at a meet of some kind!
Nancy
-------------------- Nancy B. Bennett Walldog Public Art 317 N. 13th St. Centerville, Iowa 52544 Posts: 95 | From: Centerville, IA, USA | Registered: Mar 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
My photo album of past meets I have attended isn't BIG ENOUGH for mere book form. They are NOW housed in photo BOXES! While you are in Atlanta,stop by the portfolio table and take a look. Jay Allen is right about the direction my business and my life has changed since my FIRST live meet. All of a sudden I am PROUD to be a SIGN PAINTER I am going to get my "kicks on route 66" can't wait for July!!!
-------------------- PKing is Pat King The Professor of SIGNOLOGY Posts: 3113 | From: Pompano Beach, FL. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
Thanks folks for your replies to this question. In particular, to Jay Allen, Bill and Jane, Nancy Bennett, Steve Estes since all have been past or current hosts. It's nice to see that the continuity is being maintained by those communities, and that their interest level and committment is alive and well. Nice too, to hear from our resident "professor of Signology" and the effect that has had on his life and vision.
Often, one cannot foresee what such efforts will do toward the development of community pride and awareness, so it's gratifying to see that the Letterhead contribution is appreciated and continues to have a positive benefit.Thanks again, not only for this update, but also for your past efforts in organizing and hosting...I know that it has cost you all in time, lost production, etc.
-------------------- Ken Henry Henry & Henry Signs London, Ontario Canada (519) 439-1881 e-mail: kjmlhenry@rogers.com
Why do I get all those on-line offers to sell me Viagara, when the only thing hardening is my arteries ? Posts: 2685 | From: London,Ontario, Canada | Registered: Feb 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
I have attended and even acted as lead on a mural at a walldog event. I know the murals had a positive effect on the community.
I was also very active in the little town of Chemainus which is very famous for it's murals. I did four there.
I was paid a nominal fee for the first one. The next three were donated.
Through my efforts and the efforts of many, many others the town saw tourism increase from litterally ZERO to over four hundred thousand visitors each year.
The spin-offs & benefits were incredible! While I didn't make money at the murals (in Chemainus) the work I did there was marketed agressively and parlayed into a 10 year stint of travelling all over North America doing 85 plus murals. I did make money on those!
And those 400,000 visitors to Chemainus allowed me to do over a hundred quality sandblasted signs, design 14 commercial buildings, and countless other smaller projects. I also built three commercial buildings of our own which did well for us. We owned our own art gallery as well for five of those years. This was an opportunity afforded by the creation of the murals & the folks who came to see the art on the walls.
It amazed me to hear many locals merchants bellyache how nobody was spending money and tourism sucked. In reality they refused to adapt & change their way of doing business to the new reality of tourism.
A local sign guy there complained of the same thing... how he could only sell cheap temporary signs. I refused to sell anything BUT sandblasted cedar signs. He moved on and I stayed and did lots of creative work.
We prospered by being creative and being agressive and original in our ideas & marketing approach. "Amazingly, success came to me without effort."
The simplest truth in business is that you must always go forward, keep improving, and always keep changing to suit today's needs... or else you will slide backwards in a hurry! If you sit back, let things get stale, and wait for the world to come to you... things are going to get tough!
Life is what you make it, even in a town where murals have been painted.
-dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8743 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
Hi! Everyone. My name is Jon Clingman. I have not posted a topic or reply on this site since September of 2000 so most will not remember me. I was a community coordinator for the Harvest of Walls 2000 meet and am familiar and proud to know many WallDogs through my hometown meet in Vinton, IA and the WallDog Jam in Cornwall, Ontario Ca.
I can not believe that it has been almost 3 years since the Harvest of Walls. I still receive many complimentary comments from local people as well as visitors who do not know I had anything to do with the project.
WallDog meets are indeed a great benefit to the host community and I hope that they are beneficial to the artists as well. I look back at the talent of the project leaders and other artists in attendance and still marvel at what they are able to create. (Pharmacists as a general rule are on the other end of the creative spectrum) so it is really exciting to witness and marvel at such talent.
I also recall the sharing of ideas, techniques, special ways of solving problems and also marketing that occurred at the 2 Walldog meets that I attended. In the Pharmacy profession I know that the practitioners who attend these conventions are usually the pioneers and leaders of our profession. They are the ones who are on top of the current trends and potential business opportunities.
It is easy for me to draw a parallel between the potential benefits of attending both types of conventions. When I return home from a good pharmacy convention my wife laughs at me because she says that it is the only time that I talk to much and she can feel the brain waves working overtime. Many of the Walldogs I have visited with have shared this same sense of enhanced excitement toward their profession. It is hard to quantify whether this really converts to dollars at some point in time, but my bet is that often times it does!!
I am planning to use the creative abilities of a good friend and WallDog to put the finishing touch on the major store remodel that I am currently undertaking.
Thanks for the opportunity to again thank the WallDogs and for giving me time to offer an uplifting opinion of your work.
Jon
-------------------- Jon Clingman A big fan of the Letterheads and Walldogs! Posts: 4 | From: Vinton, Iowa, USA | Registered: Sep 2000
| IP: Logged |
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic