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On a recent trip to Disney World, I snapped a few pics of the great signwork there.
This is my favorite....
------------------ Pat Neve, Jr. Sign Man, Inc. 4580 N. US 1 Melbourne, FL 32935 321-259-1703 signman@signmaninc.com Capt. Sign Letterville Constituent constituent: "One of the individual entities contributing to a whole"
Posts: 2284 | From: Melbourne, FL, USA | Registered: Jan 1999
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I went to Disney Land a few years ago and boy was my Wife mad when she saw that 80% of my pictures were of signs etc... instead of her and the kids!!! She says next time she will take her "own" camera!!!
------------------ Greg Gulliford aka MetroDude Metro Signs and Banners 1403 N. Greene St. #1 Spokane, WA 99202 509-536-9452
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Oh yeah!!! I went last year for the first time. I couldn't believe how cool ALL the signs were. About twelve years ago, SignCraft had an article on the signs at Disneyworld (issue #46). Since that time, I couldn"t wait to go. It must be such a thrill to work on projects like those. Can't wait to go back.
------------------ Mike Kelly theSignWorx Ashburnham, MA 978.827.4439 thesignworx@hotmail.com
Posts: 42 | From: Ashburnham, MA | Registered: Jun 2000
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How do you land a job at Disney's sign shop? and do they pay enough to make it worthwhile applying? Looks to me like the type of signwork that cause openings not to come up till somebody retires.
------------------ Don Coplen aka "SaintPete" Coplen Designs St.Petersburg, FL dcoplen@mindspring.com
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A behind the scenes look at amusement park sign makers. Like everyone here, I study each sign at amusement parks (what else do you do for the 2 hr wait). 3 years ago A six flags opened here in the Washington DC area.
I applied, and got an interview. Heres how it goes: V.P. of "theme design" flies in from HQ in oklahoma. wants to know if I can hand paint since nothing is vinyl. "sure I say" good he says, sometimes the signs get scratced during shipping from our facility.
You will do some distressing, smalting, snadblasting, airbrushing, gold leafing on small signs. But you will solely responsible for all sign maintenence here at the park.
I show him my portfolio, and he says the HQ will make a formal offer in writting. He tells me all the designs are sent e-mail to each park for conformity (no need to use your designs talents here).
The next day I get an offer for $11 bucks an hour. I call him to laugh in his ear. He tells me that the signmaker position falls under maintenence, and none of the maitenence workers are paid more than that.
So, the next time your admiring the work of a talented artisan, they just might be ready to start their own business leaving that "wonderful" opening for you.
Last summer, I happened to meet the guy who took that job at a letterhead meet in PA. (crazy 8" thanks jillbeans) He didn't have many good things to say. Bu those signs - they are beautiful. Too bad they are made by underpaid slave labor.
------------------ Mike Duncan Lettercraft Signs Alexandria VA
I have never let schooling interfere with my education - Mark Twain
Posts: 1328 | From: Centreville, VA | Registered: Oct 2000
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Mike, I work in a sign shop at an amusement park in eastern pa. and I wouldn't say I am underpaid slave labor. There are 2 people in this shop and we have been working together for 16 years and we design and produce vinyl, including edge prints, hand lettered, carved, sandblasted signs and graphics. We even create 3D themed elements that may also require molding and casting. I don't have the overhead and headaches of running my own shop and I am allowed to freelance when I want, it gives me time to spend with my daughter without thinking "I really need to be at the shop to get that job done". So please do not refer us in-house sign artists as slave labor.
I would be glad to post some pics in the near future. I just need to figure out how.
Thanks, Rich Litzenberger Dorney Park
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Posts: 31 | From: Allentown, PA, USA | Registered: Oct 2000
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