[TheForge] RE: making a living

[Dan Tull]

On Sun, 14 Jul 2002 18:55:13 -0400 Ray Miller <debmiller@fuse.net>
writes:
> >Charge enough, Dan Tull's wife tells him when he thinks he is 
> charging enough 
> >to DOUBT it.

She used to say double it.
But I learn quick.ly


> 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,
 
I've even had them say "that's not enough".  10% of $1000 is more than 
10% of $800.  They have a handle on "selling"   and what the
 market will bear.



 >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.

I've studied Nol's teachings as a guideline.


> 
> 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.

If they are'nt sucking air when they write the check, you didn;t charge
enough. If you are going to do craft show stuff--- double your price
and lose half your customers. If you don't think well of your art,
then why should they?

>  Ray Miller
> Cincinnati
> 
> 

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