posted
Now that the weather is nice (up here in the USA, anyway), and bar-b-ques and cook-outs and are happening every weekend or so, it gets me thinkin' about a phenomenon that I notice when I'm meeting new folks and the small talk turns to occupations.
Is it just me, or do any of you notice that when you tell someone new that you are a sign maker (and after the inevitable follow-up question "Oh really? What kind of signs do you make?"), the conversation takes a dive. I mean it shuts down so fast you barely remember your own name.
It's kind of like you just told them in an off-handed way "Oh sure, well you know, I have leprosy. How's by you?"
I guess most folks simply can't relate or think of anything even halfway coherent to say about the trade that doesn't sound stupid right off.
It can get to be really funny, actually, once you learn to expect it and not take it personally. In fact, I've learned to make up little games around this inevitability: How long will the awkward silence last before someone changes the subject? How fast do they try to get away from you after you drop the bomb? Or you can follow up with something REALLY off-the-wall like telling them that you're also a part time organ donor, or maybe a disgruntled postal worker, for even more laffs.
So. Anybody else notice this?
Or are you all going to tell me that "Nope, Brian, never had that reaction. Maybe you should pay more attention to your dental hygene."?
Gotta go.
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Posts: 237 | From: ft. collins, colorado,usa | Registered: Mar 2001
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posted
I don't remember that ever happening. Do you use "Right Guard"??
heh
------------------ St.Marie Graphics & Makin' Tracks Sound Studio Kalispell, Montana stmariegraphics@centurytel.net http://www.stmariegraphics.com 800 735-8026 We're chiseling every day of the week! :^)
posted
I have had that happen. People will ask me what I do, and when I say sign maker, its usually just, "oh." I was at the bank the other day, and one of the bank teller women came up to me and said they were wondering what I did for a living. I said, "I'm a sign maker." And then she said, "oh. I thought it was something intellectual" Go figure.
------------------ Tyler Malinky
A Step Above Signs Cleveland, Ohio 440.479.8129 440.842.1894 fax
www.astepabovesigns.com tmalinky@astepabovesigns.com or exmayors@aol.com
Posts: 190 | From: Parma, Ohio USA | Registered: May 2001
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posted
I was at a pub some time ago with a guy I was working with and the band was a little noisy. The guy I'm with is doing his best to chat up a girl on the other side of the table to us. "What do you do for a living?" she calls across the table. "I'm a signwriter" yells back my friend. "Oooooh a songwriter, how interesting" she says now smiling and leaning forward. My friend looks at me with his evil grin, looks back at her and says "Yeah, thats right a songwriter, did you ever hear..."
David
------------------ David Fisher D.A. & P.M. Fisher Signwriting Brisbane Australia da_pmf@yahoo.com
Posts: 1450 | From: Brisbane Queensland Australia | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
No, this doesn't happen to me. If it is happening to me, I don't pick up on it.
When they find out I make signs, they do ask what kind of signs, and generally it sparks a few jobs they have in mind....like a birth day banner, anniversary sign, a gag father's day gift.
I don't realy like doing those things, but they sometimes lead to bigger jobs as has happened to me in the past. For example:
I did something dorky for one guy, a stupid $10 gag gift job for his friend's birthday, he was happy, 6 months later I land a $10,000 contract because this guy told his boss about me.
Go figure!
So, maybe a book on the art of converstation would be good to read. Then when you get asked what you do for a living, you know how to reply to wiggle your way into sign work through the side doors. (the employees door) Just FYI
------------------ Draper The Signmaker Bloomington Illinois USA Get To A Letterhead Meet This Summer! See you there! 309-828-7110 drapersigns@hotmail.com Draper_Dave on mIRC chat
Posts: 2883 | From: Bloomington Illinois USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Well if you really want to shut down a conversation fast then tell them youre a full time at home mom and your husband runs a call centre!
------------------ "When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean--neither more nor less." * Lewis Carroll
Karen Tighe, Strandhill, Sligo in the Wild Wet West of Ireland.
mIRC = cafe_cruiser
Posts: 238 | From: Great Britain | Registered: May 2000
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posted
Yeah, sometimes they say "How interesting" and turn & walk away (women). Or "Oh, so you're the guy I see on the freeway doing the bilboards. How much to paint my house?" Or "But what do you do for a LIVING?" If you really want to strike fear into the heart of one of those suit & tie wearing corporate types tell him you're "creative". If you do this during a job interview you won't get lost finding the door.
Huh. Whatta THEY know?
------------------ "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
posted
There is an element of class snobbery associated with job names and titles. Signmaker is weak title. I call myself a sign contractor. I make (or manufacture) "Non-electrical commercial signs up to 40 square feet". People by and large are not interested in signs, so at that point it is time to move the conversation on to another topic.
------------------ Victor Georgiou AnchorBlanks.com Jack Wills Clipart CD's & FONTS Designer Sign Blanks
Posts: 1746 | From: Danville, CA , USA | Registered: Dec 1998
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posted
they ask me and i tell em "iam a "kept man", my main purpose in life is to make the lady that keeps me...happy! usually there is no comeback from them .....or i tell em iam unemployeable..so iam self employeed..and that i paint signs & murals(lettering a wall/window with words or pictures)and and my middle name is micheal and my grandfathers name was angelo...and that iam also a computer guru...(mostly everyones gota computer problem) any place i go, there is always people for me to talk to...got nothin to do with what i do for a livin...all in your own personelity..ax any of the people here that have met me in person....
------------------ joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-944-5060 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND
[This message has been edited by old paint (edited June 17, 2001).]
Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
When I'm asked that, I never just say signmaker. I say, "I own a graphic design studio (or I own my own sign company) I develope logos, create signs, stripe and letter vehicles..."
If I feel like playing the game and impressing them abit more, I'll bring up a local company I did alot of work for, certain they've seen the work. "Ohhhh, wow, really? Cool. YOU do this?" is usuall the response I then get.
Waaay more explainatory than 'signmaker. Plus, you're impressing them right off that you OWN your biz, you don't work for someone else. That appears to make a diff.
Then on the other hand, if I wish to unimpress and end a conversation, I dully say "I'm a signmaker. I've gotta go."
posted
BINGO!! Donna. Thats what I tell people when asked also. 75% of the time I end up with a job out of the conversation! Guess im a good salesman! ha ha.
------------------ Ryan Ursta Ursta Graphics 27 West Shenango St. Sharpsville Pa. 16150 Call: 724•962•2206 "letters of Recommendation"
posted
I think it happens with all professions that people can't relate to personally. Before our foray into this business I was a computer scientist and my husband a mechanical engineer. We'd get the same blank stares and 'how interesting', but it could be because they don't know where to go from there with the conversation. And trying to explain what you actually 'do' is difficult. At least with signmaking, people can see the end product, and can even be shown some of the procedures. With our previous livlihoods, our parents could never really get their heads around what we did...try showing someone reams of computer code if you really want some blank stares hahaha.
I usually do like Donna does and give a little explanation of the type of work we do. Then if they seem interested, we go from there...sometimes even getting work from it.
------------------ Diane Crowther, Metaline Graphics Ltd., Nova Scotia, Canada, ID #285
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