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Hello...If you haven't noticed, I was again featured in Sign Craft...May /June issue. The reason for this post IS NOT TO TOOT MY HORN!
I would like to share a short story with...a year ago my brother, called me and said you are the subject of a HEATED conversation on the internet...to tell you the truth I couldn't spell internat.Certain parties were slamming my work...and to tell you the truth I probably deseved it...I lost my drive for quality, and was only interested in the $$$$....but because of this criticism, it has peaked my creative gears. I have been featured in Sign Craft twice this year,and also Auto Art Magazine...like I said I'm not trying to toot my horn ...my purpose in this post is...I want to make a video of striping...and I already have a book of designs, do you think it will sell? I know most have a problem with my prices...to put it in perspective...I can chase the high dollar jobs, or I can stay at one place and do every thing they have...I know this confuses most...if McDonalds sells 3000 hamburgers at 39 cents piece you get 1,170.00 .... but if you sell 250 hamburgers at 1.95.00 you get 487.50... the trick is being able to flip that many hamburgers.
I have worked for over 20 years to perfect my trade...not slamming anybody, there is some incredible talent out there...I have received several emails wanting to learn what I have to offer.
I'm considering a complete video on striping ...from the basics to the extreme, from basic design to body shops and the repair, to full blown custom, from starting the business, to where there is nothing left unturned...for example most sign shops don't know they can do repairs for bodyshops, easily if they had the basic instuction.
So my question is .....will it sell?
-------------------- Stephen Michael Robinson Steve's Pinstriping Houston, Texas Posts: 71 | From: Spring, Texas USA | Registered: Aug 2001
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Hey Steve, how ya doing?! I am more of a 'hands on' kinda gal. Maybe give a class? I would love to know how to pinstripe like you do.
Posts: 3729 | From: Seattle | Registered: Sep 1999
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I spent a couple days with the Shortreed's shortly after they left a visit to your home, and I'd never seen anybody as excited bout pinstriping as they were after seein you work! And I imagine that Steve and Barb see more pinstriping in a year than alotta us see in a lifetime.
So, I ask them what makes this Robinson guy's pinstriping so special?....
Answer: A person could make one helluva living learning his style of striping.We've never seen anybody pull lines that fast and clean.
Money? Hey, I like money. Money is good. NO!..Fast and clean lines are good, MONEY IS GREAT!
I hope you give the video a shot.
Will it sell? How the hell would I know...I'm just one of them wierd artist types!
[ May 08, 2002, 08:42 PM: Message edited by: Don Coplen ]
Everyone has opinions on this matter because as we all know, "Opinions are like a$$holes, they all stink".
Anyway, my point being, your going to have some of us that think its a great idea and some of us that dont think its worth a darn. and some that think your absolutely friggin nuts.
Now here is my opinion for what its worth....
Contact Jillbeans in Mars and maybe arrange to do a demonstration or class at the international letterheads meet. see how that pans out, it the interest is that great then you know it will be worth doing a video.
I hope your plans for doing a video are to help further the art of pinstriping and pass it on to others, rather than to profit from the video. If its for the money, my suggestion would be to sell those hamburgers for 50 cents instead of 39.
Nuff said!
-------------------- Harris Kohen K-Man Pinstriping and Graphix Trenton, NJ "Showing the world that even I can strategically place the pigment where its got to go." Posts: 1739 | From: Trenton, NJ, USA | Registered: Jun 2001
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You first need to find a publisher for the video, and/or production company to produce it. After those expenses, plus the expense of self-marketing make the process a challenge to turn a profit.
I though about self-publishing my book, but was fortunate to have SignCraft publish it and work out a royalty structure instead.
Marketing is the thing that's the hardest and most expensive to do.
I don't think the market for a pinstriping only "how to" video is strong enough to turn a profit any time soon.
I mean, here in NJ, how many stripers could there be? I know there's maybe two dozen stripers left, maybe less. Jeff Kessler is a big name, and he does a good majority of the dealers. So how many people are we really talking about that need to learn? There's few people coming into the trade as apprentices learning to paint.
I'm not tryint to be negative - I know you do some awesome work. BUt I think you need a broader target audience, and I'm not sure the subject matter is broad enough to enable you to turn a profit.
Look at how poorly 1-Shot is selling, and how many suppliers are pulling support for it, and you get an idea that there's maybe not enough people to buy a video.
"Some are born to move the world, to live their fantasies. But most of us just dream about the things we'd like to be." - Rush Posts: 1192 | From: Washington, NJ | Registered: Feb 1999
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I always use an ol'saying which is 'He who hesitates is lost' On one occasion I decided to build what I considered the ultimate portable work kart, the rest is history. Persons who have them consider the KillerKart just that.
Do whats in your heart, do it precise, correct, but do it!
I use alot of tools to accomplish what it is I do in my field. I feel each person is different yet wanting the same outcome in the end. I specialize in perfection and not production but yet may change my tune if I had to stripe 250 cars in 1 day. I think your style of striping with magnetics was good some years back before auto manufacturers started putting more and more composits into body parts as it is today.
Regarding your video, if you feel there is a market which I sure alot of straight-laced Letterheads would think so, then go for it! You never know in advance until you do it.
One other thing, keep your brother out of Letterville!
Have a nice day
-------------------- HotLines Joey Madden - pinstriping since 1952 'Perfection, its what I look for and what I live for'
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WOW!...Thanks for the responses.I'll adress some of the input.As far as magnets go, I'm not dependent on them, I can also work off of tape.
The expense of the video, is a good point, as well as marketing. Sign Craft offerd to market my design book. Really I don't think their is much of a market as far as making alot of money, I would really just like to help those who have the desire to learn the trade.I'm sure Joey will attest to the fact that with out a mentor it's a hard row to hoe.
Work shops...Ilove the idea, the problem is location location location.
As far as showing my stuff at a meeting...I'll be at the Showdown in Cowtown.I've striped enough tiny cars to give one to everybody,I think!I want to see Alton,and Shep as well as the other talent in action.
Hey Joey my brother loves you too!haha
-------------------- Stephen Michael Robinson Steve's Pinstriping Houston, Texas Posts: 71 | From: Spring, Texas USA | Registered: Aug 2001
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Wrong guy Don. It was Steve and his original article in SignCraft that fueled my initial interest in Houston style striping.
It was unfortunate, but we never did get to see Steve when we were in Houston. He was working up near Austin and we just never got together.
We spent a couple days with Robert and Joanna Nouris of Lazerlines. Robert took a couple hours to demonstrate the Houston method. It's very fast, very profitable and they claim anyone can learn it if they are willing to invest the time.
This is production striping. It involves a couple stripes up the side of the vehicle and some simple designs. Dealors use it as a tool to close deals on their new cars. In the Houston area, almost all new cars are striped. It's a huge market.
I'm not certain how a video would sell. Like many of you, I have looked at all the books offered in trade mags and wondered how well they sold. My understanding is that books and videos are not selling as well as they used to. It's a shame, because there are some great new books and other resources out there looking for a publisher.
You have to follow your dream Steve. There is no way anyone's ship is going to come in if it never leaves the dock. This style of striping has to be murder on the body over a period of time. Age has a way of catching up with all of us. I applaud your efforts in planning something for the future.
-------------------- Steve Shortreed 144 Hill St., E. Fergus, Ontario Canada N1M 1G9 519-787-2673
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eskimoes can sell huskie droppings if they market it right.
I would try to make a cd or video set if that was my dream. I buy training aids like this all the time.
curtis
-------------------- 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: 5274 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
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posted
Great article Steve, real important for wann-bes like me ... just think they should have included some finished projects (eye candy) to tie the article up and add excitment ... kind of, practice this to achive that.
As far as the video, I see an already saturated market, if your marketing skill are as plentiful as your striping then you may have something. I'd start calling around to people that have done it and see if it was worth it for them.
-------------------- Compulsive, Neurotic, Anti-social and Paranoid ... but basically Happy Posts: 2677 | From: Rochester, NY, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Hey Steve, Dan kind of hit the nail on the head. I have two tapes on carving that I produced in 98 and 99. I made them to use at my USSC workshops in Atlantic City. (How do you teach 30 people how to carve in 4 hrs ?)Video was the only answer. Up front costs were a concern so I called the video dept. at the local high school and they gave me the name of a local guy with some experience and I went for it. We shot both of them "camera edited", meaning if I blew a shot, it was ERASED and shot again....no editing later! Cost $400 for two days...and they came out pretty good. I also did all the title stuff for him to shoot ahead of time. That is pretty economical production. Reproducing them is cheap! But now it's marketing time...you can spend a bundle on ads and booths at trade shows and meets. Best example is "Mr.J". He's workin hard on marketing his brushes and tapes and it takes some time and money...and I assume it works, cause he's been doin it for 6 or 7 years. Personally, I don't have the energy or time to do all that. But I do carry them with me to meets and offer em to folks who show an interest. I usually sell a few and it helps pay the tolls. I also feel good about helping folks to learn the craft. Personally, thats the best part! Got a lot to think about here...check around for production options...decide how much $ and time you want to devote to marketing...then wait a week before you decide.... I wish you the best with this project but keep on stripin!!!! Joe, Makin Chips and Havin Fun!
-------------------- Joe Cieslowski Connecticut Woodcarvers Gallery P.O.Box 368 East Canaan CT 06024 jcieslowski@snet.net 860-824-0883 Posts: 2345 | From: East Canaan CT 06024 | Registered: Nov 2001
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Steve -- you need to follow your dream. Will doing the video charge you up to do other work? if so, do it. maybe it won't sell, but you'll still be charged up.
as others have said, making the video is easy -- selling it is hard. do you want to spend your time selling videos or striping cars? (maybe you've striped enough cars for a few years and hawking tapes would be a good break).
it is your teaching abiltity, not your exceptional striping talent, that will make the tape a success. (after all, you are teaching talented painters -- you're trying to teach "ordinary" folks how to stripe like you do).
if you DO decide to go for it, here are some suggestions for marketing it: 1. do a "low end" video for the car show crowd. that would be the McDonalds hamburger. $29.95 and "you can pinstripe your car like a pro". (Peterson Publications did quite well on arm-chair mechanics -- you can sell a lot of videos to armchair pinheads -- the guys who will never pick up a brush, but will enjoy knowing "how its done"). if you really want to market it, you'll have to hit the car show circuit. "I'll stripe your car for $89, or you can buy my tape and do it yourself and save!" (he he) 2. bundle the video with a brush. maybe Mack Brushes would be interested in it. 3. do a higher-end video ($50) on the market/sales potential of the work, and find one of the franchise operations to pick it up (Sign-A-Rama, FastSigns, etc).
-------------------- :: Scooter Marriner :: :: Coyote Signs :: :: Oakland, CA :: :: still a beginner :: :: Posts: 1356 | From: Oakland (and San Francisco) | Registered: Mar 2001
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