posted
It's been almost a month now..still looking. If something doesn't turn up in the next week or so, I'm gonna vanish off this site. (hahaha suppose everybody won't think that's a bad thing) Won't be anyplace to plug my computer into.
If any of you have any leads in this area...west coast of Florida...please pass them on to me. I don't have any relocation funds, so I'm kinda stuck here.
As far as picking up signwork here, I don't know how it is elsewhere, but in Florida ya can't just set out to sell signs. There's hoops to jump through, and avoiding those hoops can make for a huge hassle. (Snappers get hung by their toes in public exhibitions here! )If I'm wrong on that, and you live in Florida and know what you're talking about, let me know that, too. Please!
I totally wasted an entire week out of state, looking for work, and now, if it isn't obvious, I'm beginning to go into panic mode.
[ June 19, 2002, 06:19 PM: Message edited by: Don Coplen ]
posted
I can relate to your situation, I've been there many times, almost to the point where I wish I had learned a different trade like a electrican, carpenter, or a in a medical field, that way no matter where you go you can always find a job. I know many will say if you're good at what you do you should have no problem finding work, ahh....sounds good, but when a sign painter gets replaced by a computer, then that sign painter better learn how to use a computer or he will be limited it to the type of work he/she can do. I take that back I know a few good splash and wall dog people who do good. Ok so now that person learns how to use a computer program, but life in the sign world as we know is a roller coaster ride, sometimes we can make a "nice chunk of money" in a short time! Then we hit them times when we are kickin and scratchin for work just to keep our head above water. I know this isn't what you want to hear but my advice when times get rough, is to get out and beat the bushes, get the phone book make phone calls, keep a note pad jot down numbers of businesses that need your service. When I was in Florida, I drove around different cities as I was on my mission to my goal of Key West. Repaints was an easy way to make some quick bucks, call me a snapper or a low life sign dog, I really didn't care. I was on the road 3000 miles from home. Life wasn't so easy just cruzin around seeing this country (although it was fun and a great experience!) But the way I looked at it, if that sign was faded. Then it's been like that for sometime. So evidently no one really cared about it repainting it. Make a sweet deal to the customer to where it's a benefit to the both of you, and you got a deal! The good thing about it is while your working other customers might stop by and ask if you can take a look at their establishment. Ok so now that doesn't work, I guess that's why you posted looking for some kind of answer. They say it's a poor rat who only has one hole to run to. Don't let hat be your case. I grew up uneducated, no skills, no trade. Actually I lost and wasted lot of years of my life. but I learned one thing, always smile, and treat people like you want to be treated and it will open many doors for you. Communication is a big thing, no matter if you have to help build fences, climb trees and cut down branches, crawl underground assist in plumbing cutting pipes. From what I hear your a healthy size guy, if you can't use your mind then use the body, there are lot of places that need a strong dude to do lifting, or moving furniture, just to throw out a few ideas just to get you back on your feet till you can get back to what you really want to do. Shoot if I was a big dude I would even be a bouncer at a strip club if I had to make ends meet in other words don't limit yourself to just signs in hard times. These are just a few things I can think of right now, I think many brothers and sisters of the trade will extend some help or advice. That's it. The clock ran out of time, I have to go now, that will be $75 for consultation fees Be cool I wish you the best...Cisco
[ June 19, 2002, 10:32 PM: Message edited by: FranCisco Vargas ]
-------------------- aka:Cisco the "Traveling Millennium Sign Artist" http://www.franciscovargas.com Fresno, CA 93703 559 252-0935 "to live life, is to love life, a sign of no life, is a sign of no love"...Cisco 12'98 Posts: 3576 | From: Fresno, Ca, the great USA | Registered: Dec 1998
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I realize it would be a struggle in the beginning and you may have to work part-time elsewhere until you became established. But, I bet you could do it.
Tell it like it is dude! 'When times get tough, the tough get going!', ya just gotta do what ya gotta do...Sounds like ya worked yer way around. and yes, a simple smile goes along way...
Keep the attitude, if yer still alive you will survive!
I think it takes character to go out on yer own, ya gotta 'believe' in yourself and ya gotta 'want' to do for yourself.
'Build it and they will come...'
Cher.
-------------------- Co-Host: SANDCASTLE Panel Jam 'a Dixie Letterhead Reunion' Fort Myers, Florida
Cheryl Lucas a/k/a "Shag" on mIRC Vital Signs & Graphics, Etc. Cape Coral, Florida 239-574-4713 VSignsNgraphics@aol.com Posts: 987 | From: Cape Coral, FL USA | Registered: Aug 2000
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posted
Don...Glen and Cheryl have the answer..."Quit lookin and start doin"...sure it's not easy but what is?
If you did no more than walk down a busy buisness street and sell "Store Hours" on the front doors gather up all the jobs cut them at once and return the next day to apply and pick up the money...at $25.00 a pop you make $250. a day (less materials)Were you making that much where you were?
Years ago an old journeyman told me ..."Hell, go paint mailboxes...it's your choice do 20 a day for 5.00 each or 5 a day for 20.00 each, makes no diff. it pays the same, just depends on how hard you want to work."
Everyone that answers this post likes you buddy ...or they wouldn't take the time to answer it...and we wouldn't lie to ya.
Oh and one more little piece of "wisdom" never spend more in a day than you can makeand you'll never go broke.
There thats all you need to know to be in business...YOUR TURN
-------------------- "Werks fer me...it'll werk fer you"
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)If I'm wrong on that, and you live in Florida and know what you're talking about, let me know that, too. Please!
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in other words don't limit yourself to just signs in hard times. These are just a few things I can think of right now, I think many brothers and sisters of the trade will extend some help or advice. ![[Cool]](cool.gif)
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