[!! SPAM] [TheForge] Re:Starving Artist

[Jerry Frost]

From: "Ekaterina Harrison" <ekaterina at wildblue.net>


> Hi Frosty,
>
>
> As I said earlier, I built much of my shop and 
> equipment out of this  stuff. I take a walk through 
> there from time to time to see what else  I may 
> discover, get ideas from and use. There really is 
> quite a  variety of stuff there. It is an old 
> homestead that also had a sawmill  on it with much 
> heavy equipment. There are dozer tracks, huge saw 
> blades, farm equipment (all the way back from horse 
> drawn to tractor  driven), antique cars, roller 
> chain,gears, pipe, a big bunch of wood  and a whole 
> lot more.  Really cool stuff! It does have a few draw 
> backs though. The "junk" is scattered through out the 
> whole property  and is a bit of an eyesore overall. 
> It is going to take a long time to  clean it up and 
> sort out the "good junk" from the garbage. So, I 
> wouldn't complain about a clean bush, tree and moose 
> infested  property. Afterall, beauty does wonders for 
> the soul. I would really  like to see this property 
> regain its natural beauty.
>

You'd think all the trees, bushes and moose are 
beautiful till you try forging, raising, welding, 
etc.ing some into a saleable piece. <grin>

>
>
> I have struggled for quite a long time with making 
> bids and trying to  figure out just how long a 
> project would take. As almost every time I  am trying 
> something new, most of the time I can at best do a 
> calculated guess.  Of course, often it is way of the 
> mark because I  missed unknown details or simply 
> overlooked some details. Then one day  it was 
> suggested to me that I simply tell my clients that I 
> work on  time and materials, as so many contractors 
> do.  This is what I did and  continue to do. Working 
> this way I make better money then I ever have  and I 
> feel more freedom as I am not constantly worrying 
> about  underbidding or overcharging. I was worried 
> about doing this in the  first place as I ASSUMED 
> that my clients would demand a firm bid.  However, 
> after working with my clients, I realized that my 
> clients  want to have a unique piece of art or 
> functional art that works for  them specifically. 
> From my experience, I find that in this kind of  work 
> fluidity is very important and often includes changes 
> and  improvisations in mid-project. This of course 
> makes bidding even  harder. I simply let my clients 
> know that because there are so many  unknown 
> variables, for me to do a bid I would either have to 
> seriously  overbid to make sure I don't undermine 
> myself or run a huge risk of  loosing on my side. I 
> let them know that in my opinion working on time  and 
> materials is most honest to both parties. Usually I 
> provide a  general estimate and work out the details 
> of the design with my  clients to best suit their 
> budget and desires and we continue to  communicate as 
> the project unfolds.
>
> Ekaterina
>


I still don't know what you make, except it's good 
enough people are willing to pay you time and materials 
to make it for them. That's a hard to beat business 
plan you know. Profitable bidding is one of the hardest 
craft to learn there is. the bigger the job, the more 
likely you're betting the whole shooting match on one 
bid.

Maybe just send me a couple pics of what you make and 
I'll let you be.

Then again, maybe not. <grin>

Frosty
-------------------------------
If it ain't forged
it ain't real.
Wrought iron is.
The FrostWorks

Meadow Lakes, AK.