When a Letterhead meet is organized and posted here is that the same as when a Letterhead holds a "seminar" [ work shop ]and posts it here?
Isn't the "seminar" sceneio really an advertisement of of a paying event where the guy putting it on is making all the money, instead of the spirt of sharing all the expenses as in a Letterhead meet.
I'm thinking this is sneaky way to get free advertising for the "seminar" [work shop]
What do you think? ( or what does BARB think?)
[ July 30, 2003, 08:09 AM: Message edited by: Dave Draper ]
posted
Well, as far as making money on these things....your problem with that IS....?? If a person is able to give a workshop and make money because people value their knowledge enough to be willing to pay them to learn from them, I say more power to ya! It's the same as writing a book and publishing it or doing a video or getting paid to teach a class at a university or recording a CD. You would want to get paid for those things!
As far as making money on a letterhead or walldog meet, dream on, Davy! By the time you pay all the expenses of hosting one of these meets, you are lucky if you don't end up in the hole! And that's NOT counting the multitude of hours that you spend organizing it. The cost of any large meet is printing & mailing out brochures to 1000's of people, renting porta potties, scaffolding, catering, lifts, tents, insurances, t-shirts, supplies, meals, lodging for the seminar and project leaders, etc. that are not covered by donations from vendors or philanthopists. If you are hosting a meet, you don't do it for the money! OR the glory! OR the fame!! You do it because someone before you did it or it is your way of paying back the letterhead community or sharing your knowledge or to have a good time with your sign friends or WHATEVER! THAT'S what it's all about! If you want to a small meet in your shop, pass the hat and order pizza! If you want to advertise your meet, go for it! If you think you can have a seminar and people are willing to come and pay to learn from you, you can charge whatever the market will bear. I guess I don't understand what the problem is.
-------------------- Bill Diaz Diaz Sign Art Pontiac IL www.diazsignart.com Posts: 2113 | From: Pontiac, IL | Registered: Dec 2001
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posted
Stir the pot? I thought we were here to promote unity and sharing. Will "Stiring The Pot" become a new workshop at future live meets, or remain a pastime reserved for those gathered in the corners and/or secret phone calls? I really need a tonque in cheek icon to insert here.
Letterville is devoted to promoting the Letterhead Movement as we understand it. The original 7 founders were at the beginning of their careers, excited about learning and sharing anything they could that might improve their craft. Whenerver these sort of questions come up, I try to go back in time, and imagine how the Original 7 would answer these questions at that point in their lives.
Let's leave that for the time being, and talk about something else. Letterville is also a business and we do have a policy in this matter. Workshops and seminars conducted for profit are not considered the same as Letterhead/PinHead Meets here in Letterville.
Private seminars, as well as trade shows are designed to generate a profit, and are therefore considered a business. Our policy for promoting workshops is to charge exactly what the workshop charges. We then have a choice to attend that workshop or just pay bills.
We're not greedy, evil, money loving Scrooges. Our goal has always been to make money by helping other people make money. You'll see all sorts of posts here that promote products, sevices, trade shows and workshops. It's advertising, but in most cases, we just consider it a free plug. Nothing like a free sample to demonstrate the value of Letterville to potential new Merchants.
We're content with things the way they are. When we see a non Merchant product or service, we contact the company using the poster's name as a referral. If they become Merchants, the person who sold that vendor on Letterville gets a $50 finder's fee. We like to consider it a free dinner on Letterville. In those rare cases where it becomes obvious Letterville is just being used as a free way to advertise, we'll strongly direct them to the Supplier's Soapbox.
One last note Dave. The Butlers have been Letterville Merchants for many years. I cannot recommend this workshop enough. You've heard me say this many times..."Listen only to the people who have, or are doing, whatever it is you dream of achieving." If design is your thing, there is none better than Dave Butler.
posted
Sorry Dave, I had to go find this quote since I just read it yesterday & it seemed so relevant today:
quote:Originally posted by Dave Draper: I passed the test, I must have ADD too... ...this explains why sometimes on this board one of my posts can be very helpful, and another can come off with bitterness, and I don't seem to understand the difference.
Dave, read your post real S L O W, & look for the very helpful part. I think you will see the difference. (BTW did you hear about that Allison Krauss concert coming up? oh yeah, sorry, they charge money... better not mention it. )
My question was about sneaky ways to use this site to advertise a "seminar" type "Letterhead" workshop. I not sure how your comments apply to illegal advertising on this site.
My question is a legitimate question.
Making notification of things available to buy that are Letterhead related can turn into a commercial very easy, intended or not.
Steve's answer made sense, after all it is his site, and is keenly aware of suttle plugs.
posted
Try ' subtle plugs ' ... as in "I'll occasionally give a subtle plug for a non advertising supplier who gives exceptional service" vs "I'll shout praises loudly & frequently for an advertising supplier who gives exceptional service".
-------------------- Mike O'Neill
It has yet to be proven that intelligence has any survival value. - Arthur C. Clarke
posted
I've searched around and the only seminar mentioned has been David Butler's....who is a merchant here. Draper, were you planning to do seminars and wondering what the policy is?
posted
Geez, I thought this was about my new pinstriping seminar-workshop where you can buy the newest addition to the KillerKart family, the Lite-Lite. Sorry folks but it won't be out til around Thanksgiving. If I thought your feelings would be hurt, I wouldn't have mentioned it. Since I'm only a visitor here it wouldn't be fair to add a link to its photo, if I had one up at this time! Gosh darn, I think I'm taking up too much space.
-------------------- HotLines Joey Madden - pinstriping since 1952 'Perfection, its what I look for and what I live for'
posted
Oh yeah Dave, If a chicken and a half can lay an egg and a half in a day and a half, how long would it take a monkey with a wooden leg to kick all the seeds out of a dill pickle......Huh?
[ July 31, 2003, 09:52 PM: Message edited by: Robert Larkham ]
-------------------- Rob Larkham Sign Techniques Inc. Chicopee, Ma Posts: 607 | From: Chester, Ma. | Registered: Apr 2002
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posted
When someone posts about a seminar, usually it's only 1 thread. It's not like a non-merchant posting a new thread every day to try to get around paying merchant fees, forcing it down our throats, or using used-car salesman tactics to annoy us to the point of buying something so we'll finally be left alone.
-------------------- Chris Welker Wildfire Signs Indiana, Pa Posts: 4254 | From: Indiana, PA | Registered: Mar 2001
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posted
Just one more word concerning the workshops: As Don said, the only one mentioned lately was the Butler workshop and David himself was not the one doing the posting. The three workshops were all posted by people arranging the location (me being one of them). None of us are receiving anything from David for doing this - we are donating our time in order for David to have a place to conduct his classes. In fact, we are paying the same price as everyone else for attending the workshop.
Since Steve sees no problem with this arrangement, especially since David is a merchant here, I guess that answers the question.
-------------------- Chapman Sign Studio Temple, Texas chapmanstudio@sbcglobal.net Posts: 6306 | From: Temple, Texas, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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