I feel like a "Bottom Feeder"!!

Jack Francis · From: Queen Creek, Arizona, USA

I have made my "Bread & Butter" from being a SIGN PAINTER/ARTIST and a musician....
In ALL of those cases I feel like a "BOTTOM FEEDER"!!

Folks will spend $60,000 building a race car and call me a few days before their "EVENT" to get it lettered...then try and low ball me for the lettering cuz "Hell...We spent all our budget on that damned $40,000 engine"!

Playing music seems to get the same kinda respect..
"What did you say that you guys charge? Hell I can get a DJ for only $400!!
I feel like Rodney Dangerfield!!
Rolling Eyes

_________________
DESERT ROSE D-10 8/5...Joe Naylor "SteelSeat"...
Gallien-Krueger MB200 amplifier through an Alessis MicroVerb w/15'Peavey cab.
TELES & STRATS...
FENDER TWIN & SEYMOUR DUNCAN 50W tube amps...1-12" 2-12" & 4-12" cabs and a FENDER MUSTANG-3

Bob Hickish · From: Port Ludlow, Washington, USA, R.I.P.

Jack
Maybe you need to charge by the letter . if they don’t want to pay very much you could do like - Vana White -- Would you like to buy a vowel ?? Laughing

Any one that work with his hands !! IS NOT A Bottom Feeder - they just have clients that are A..-,.... Embarassed

Jack Francis · From: Queen Creek, Arizona, USA

When I am quoting a lettering job and they ask if I could do it for less....I usually say "SURE"...they then ask if I'm serious and I tell them that I'd be happy to do it for what they suggest..."OK...What part of the lettering do you want me to leave off??"

Or playing for their gig..."We can drop our price to $XXX...for only doing 2 hours!" Oh Well

_________________
DESERT ROSE D-10 8/5...Joe Naylor "SteelSeat"...
Gallien-Krueger MB200 amplifier through an Alessis MicroVerb w/15'Peavey cab.
TELES & STRATS...
FENDER TWIN & SEYMOUR DUNCAN 50W tube amps...1-12" 2-12" & 4-12" cabs and a FENDER MUSTANG-3

Jody Cameron · From: Angleton, TX,, USA

I know how you feel, Jack. It works on your self-esteem after a while. jc

Roger Miller · From: Cedar Falls, Ia.

Jack, everyday they talk about that on signs 101, your talent is worth something. Good cutter blades are costly, have them race without tires one time. Your playing is worth something and you should say the freebies are down the road.

Michael Robertson · From: Ventura, California. USA

Jack I think we have all been treated like that at one time or another.
When the customer says “You want how much to play!?”
“Can’t you just setup and play? It will be fun. Come on!”
I tell them the next time they want a plumber to come and fix their plumbing problem see if the plumber will come out and do it for nothing.
Relatives are the worst. “Can’t you just have your band come over and play for a while?”
I feel like Rodney Dangerfield!! No doubt.

Fred Justice · From: Mesa, Arizona

Hey my brother from another mother, the last time you were over to the shop here Jack, we both looked like bottom feeders. Laughing

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Email: azpedalman@gmail.com
Phone: 480-235-8797

Jack Francis · From: Queen Creek, Arizona, USA

Fred...thanx for the laugh...we don't miss to many opportunities to feed do we??? Embarassed

I gotta get over and see you soon Fred.
_________________
DESERT ROSE D-10 8/5...Joe Naylor "SteelSeat"...
Gallien-Krueger MB200 amplifier through an Alessis MicroVerb w/15'Peavey cab.
TELES & STRATS...
FENDER TWIN & SEYMOUR DUNCAN 50W tube amps...1-12" 2-12" & 4-12" cabs and a FENDER MUSTANG-3

Jack Francis · From: Queen Creek, Arizona, USA

Roger..Sounds like "YOU BEEN THERE!" Not familiar with Signs 101...I'll have to find it.

I used to hate cutting out vinyl...would rather use a brush...not no mo...if I never pick up a quill again it'll be too soon!
(HAH...I have a cool project coming up re-lettering a "Jet-Ski" with custom graphics that should be fun.)
Cool

_________________
DESERT ROSE D-10 8/5...Joe Naylor "SteelSeat"...
Gallien-Krueger MB200 amplifier through an Alessis MicroVerb w/15'Peavey cab.
TELES & STRATS...
FENDER TWIN & SEYMOUR DUNCAN 50W tube amps...1-12" 2-12" & 4-12" cabs and a FENDER MUSTANG-3

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

When I lived in London I enjoyed a reasonably lucrative studio career. Union rates were adhered to and sometimes - depending on circumstances - exceeded.

Once, though, a 'friend' of mine asked if I'd do him a favour and overdub some stuff for a project he was doing. I'd known him for years, yet never done studio work for him before. I did it for him and he was delighted with the results.

Then he called a few months later - same thing! "No budget..." I said 'yes' again but, when it happened a third time, I put my foot down and insisted on the right money. I didn't get the job! Some time later it got back to me that he apparently didn't like using me because I was 'obsessed with money and union rates...'

That taught me a lesson.
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Roger Rettig: Emmons D10, B-bender Teles and Martins - and, at last, a Gibson Super 400!
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Ken Byng · From: Southampton, England

Roger - the downside of doing favours for people outside of your immediate circle of friends is that mostly they are never reciprocated. This is especially true in the entertainment business. Treat everything as a business and everyone knows where they stand.
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Show Pro D10 - amber (8+6), MSA D10 Legend XL Signature - redburst (9+6), Sho-Bud Pro 111 Custom (8+6), Emmons black Push-Pull D10 (8+5), Zum D10 (8x8), Hudson pedal resonator. Telonics TCA-500, Webb 614-E,

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

Quite, Ken. That was the lesson I learned....
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Roger Rettig: Emmons D10, B-bender Teles and Martins - and, at last, a Gibson Super 400!
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Chuck Hall · From: Warner Robins, Ga, USA

My band (having played for over 25 years) plays for free so we have no problem giving a quote. However, we do charge for packing up loading unloading setting up and doing it all again when we get ready to go home. That usually shuts people up real fast.

We play at least 2-3 Saturday nights a month and if we play elsewhere we have to

pack it up
load it up
bring it home then next play date
reload it tale it to the gig
unload
unpack
set it up
play the gig then

do it all over again for the next time.

You all know about that but when you go to explain how much moving equipment is involved in playing a gig, sometimes it helps folks understand why we charge for playing.
Very Happy

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Chuck
MCI D10 8/4 Nashville 400 and a Profex.

Elton Smith · From: Texas, USA

Chuck, you are so right.Which reminds me.I need to rest up a while then start loading.It's Sat. night.
_________________
Gibson Les Paul
Reverend Avenger
Paul Reed Smith
Fender Telecaster
MSA S10 Classic
ShoBud
Old Peavy Amps

Roger Miller · From: Cedar Falls, Ia.

Ken, you are so correct. I have 50 albums here that I played on and never got paid. But I might call on a few guys and studios for favors and they better pull thru. I should be able to record anywhere here for free, but I'm not going to expect that. I will pay people who I didn't do favors for. As far as a bottome feeder, you got to know when to fold em'........ well you know.
But if I'm asked to go out of my way, I always have to ask for expense money or I'll stay home.

Roger Miller · From: Cedar Falls, Ia.

Jack, Jack, Clean Cut Blade, say this with me Clean Cut Blade is your best buy for just about any cutter. Tell them I sent you, not a big discount, order 5 though.

Jack Francis · From: Queen Creek, Arizona, USA

Thanx Roger I will order some 'preciate your advice!!
I'm presently using blades that get dull way too quickly it seems!! Mad

_________________
DESERT ROSE D-10 8/5...Joe Naylor "SteelSeat"...
Gallien-Krueger MB200 amplifier through an Alessis MicroVerb w/15'Peavey cab.
TELES & STRATS...
FENDER TWIN & SEYMOUR DUNCAN 50W tube amps...1-12" 2-12" & 4-12" cabs and a FENDER MUSTANG-3

Chip Fossa · From: Monson, MA, USA (deceased)

Quick answer.

My eyes got weepy.

I'm a plumber. If some fool doesn't want my bid or price, and starts moaning - KMA. This work is tough-enuff.

Forget these idiots.
_________________
Chip
Williams U-12 8X5; Keyless; Natural Blonde Laquer.

Brett Lanier · From: Madison, TN

Did you know Woody Guthrie did the same thing? He'd ride a freight train into some town, look for signs that needed repainting during the day, and play and sing for tips in the bars at night.

Larry Lorows · From: Zephyrhills,Florida, USA

Hey Jack, Go back to the quill and One Shot paint. It's a lot more fun than cutting vinyl all day, except for small lettering of course. ha ha Larry
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U12 Williams keyless 400
Vegas 400, Nashville 112, Line 6 pod xt

Jack Francis · From: Queen Creek, Arizona, USA

I didn't know that Woody was a signpainter...Jazz guitar great Tal Farlow was also.
_________________
DESERT ROSE D-10 8/5...Joe Naylor "SteelSeat"...
Gallien-Krueger MB200 amplifier through an Alessis MicroVerb w/15'Peavey cab.
TELES & STRATS...
FENDER TWIN & SEYMOUR DUNCAN 50W tube amps...1-12" 2-12" & 4-12" cabs and a FENDER MUSTANG-3

Jack Francis · From: Queen Creek, Arizona, USA

Larry I still letter with a brush from time to time..about as much as I feel the need to be "Creative"!

World's Fastest Model "T"(1927 engine-166 MPH at Bonneville last year...going for 200 MPH this year.)
_________________
DESERT ROSE D-10 8/5...Joe Naylor "SteelSeat"...
Gallien-Krueger MB200 amplifier through an Alessis MicroVerb w/15'Peavey cab.
TELES & STRATS...
FENDER TWIN & SEYMOUR DUNCAN 50W tube amps...1-12" 2-12" & 4-12" cabs and a FENDER MUSTANG-3

Roger Miller · From: Cedar Falls, Ia.

You could also say, "even the illegal aliens get paid, how about me? How are you setting on lettuce right now?"

Danny Bates · From: Fresno, CA. USA

Jack, you are a true artist. Now you know why so many statues have the heads and arms chopped off.

Tell the cheapskates... "The money I discount, is directly proportional to the size of my name and phone number underneath my lettering." Smile

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