[TheForge] RE: making a living

[Ray Miller]

>
>
>Charge enough, Dan Tull's wife tells him when he thinks he is charging enough 
>to DOUBT it.
>

Isn't that, DOUBLE it!! That's exactly what my wife says, too,

Another great outlet for us metal mongers is the functional art world. I 
have interior  decorators and art galleries commissioning me for 
original pieces all the time. And no matter what I quote them, they are 
never taken aback, and they all mark everything up 50% some of them 
double my price and still get it, so don't be shy. I remember something 
I read on theforge years ago. I think it was Nol Putnum said it,
"Figure out how much you want to make a year, how many hours a year you 
want to work, and estimate what your shop costs are per hour. Your rate 
is the income you want to make a year divided by thenumber of hours you 
want to work plus your shop costs." Sounded outrageous to me at first, 
but as time goes on it makes more and more sense.

If you are getting what you think your time is worth you make the extra 
effort, your clients are no trouble and you are doing what you want to 
do and enjoying it. Look at Albert Paley, or Bob Irwin, or Alexander 
Calder or David Smith in the art world. Im sure Albert Paley never 
worries about what he charges.

Ray Miller
Cincinnati



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>Mike Ivey            NOMMA      Alex Bealer
>Savannah River Forge
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