Author Topic: The "Hi And A Bit About Myself" Thread  (Read 363083 times)

Offline ozipainter

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Re: The "Hi And A Bit About Myself" Thread
« Reply #105 on: May 31, 2008, 08:37:02 AM »
Hi all, been looking over the forums for a few weeks now, I'm from Australia and have been painting for 35 years, i archived my City and guilds papers after a 3 year apprenticeship in the UK, have pretty much been self employed ever since, i moved to Australia nearly 20 years ago, and i work on new residential homes , the variation in work and areas is so much different to working in the uk, i move around the city of Adelaide on a regular basis, unlike the uk where at one stage i worked on the same  site for 5 years, i have questions regarding the import of a Graco HVLP into aus, but i'll post that in the appropriate forum, nice to meet you guys,

     

Offline BrushJockey

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Re: The "Hi And A Bit About Myself" Thread
« Reply #106 on: May 31, 2008, 09:17:52 AM »
Welcome aboard Ozi-  It's always interesting to hear the stories from the trade around the world.
"It would be ludicrous to think I'm new to this, I know this, this is what I do"  ( Prince and Geo Clinton..)

Offline Jake

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Re: The "Hi And A Bit About Myself" Thread
« Reply #107 on: June 06, 2008, 12:49:39 PM »
Hello everyone! My name's Jake. What an awesome forum this is! I hope to be an active contributer here!

I live in Vegas, but I want to move back the the "bone cracking" cold of Minneapolis. Don't ask me why... Even I don't know! ;)

Cheers all!

Jake.
The only thing that separates Paint from Pain... Is a t.

Offline Frankie

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Re: The "Hi And A Bit About Myself" Thread
« Reply #108 on: June 28, 2008, 02:18:37 PM »
Hello everyone! My name's Jake. What an awesome forum this is! I hope to be an active contributer here!

I live in Vegas, but I want to move back the the "bone cracking" cold of Minneapolis. Don't ask me why... Even I don't know! ;)

Cheers all!

Jake.
I have heard before about 10 years ago that the painters suck in Vegas (not you) and if you were down there fron a major city like my home town Chicago you can get plenty of work....is that true? I almost moved down there in 98 I even went to casino school at night and got a degree in Blackjack and craps incase my mission failed...

Offline Jake

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Re: The "Hi And A Bit About Myself" Thread
« Reply #109 on: June 28, 2008, 04:32:23 PM »
Hey Frank,

I've only lived here in Vegas for 2 years. I would guess that 10 years ago that yeah.... You could show up here and rock.

Not so much like that now. Still TONS of work... Especialy if you can get a union gig without having to sign up at the hall and wait for 6-9 months.

BUT,

LV is feeling the HURT of the economy and the building slowdown.

I've noticed a slowdown for this summer.

Also yeah...It's true... Every painter here EXCEPT for me and my friends suck!!!!!

Why don't I have a corner on the market yet???  ;D
« Last Edit: June 28, 2008, 07:00:32 PM by Jake »
The only thing that separates Paint from Pain... Is a t.

Offline MattG

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Re: The "Hi And A Bit About Myself" Thread
« Reply #110 on: July 05, 2008, 09:18:03 PM »
Hey fellow painters!
My name is Matt. I live in Las Vegas. I have been a painter for 21 years and a paint company owner for about 18 years.

I started painting when my best friends, next door neighbor hired my friend and I for the summer, when we were about 16. (Los Angeles CA. 1985)  We spent about 2.5 years painting for him, and then started doing jobs for friends and family. I have been a full time painter, ever since.

I moved to Vegas 11.5 years ago...

It took a while for me to make some contacts and start making a living... but Now, I stay busy most of the year... and love what I do!

Matt
If it wont get up and walk away... I can paint it!

Offline Frankie

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Re: The "Hi And A Bit About Myself" Thread
« Reply #111 on: July 06, 2008, 02:21:49 PM »
Welcome MattG, maybe you or Jake could hire me because it just issn't happening here in SO KC. ???
moving down here has been the biggest mistake I have made in a while.
 my dream is to move west. either LV or California. (and work with Jared)if I could only just get some damn work in this crappy area I could get my funds back up and be out of here by the end of the summer.

Offline MattG

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Re: The "Hi And A Bit About Myself" Thread
« Reply #112 on: July 08, 2008, 06:47:18 PM »
Welcome MattG, maybe you or Jake could hire me because it just issn't happening here in SO KC. ???
moving down here has been the biggest mistake I have made in a while.
 my dream is to move west. either LV or California. (and work with Jared)if I could only just get some damn work in this crappy area I could get my funds back up and be out of here by the end of the summer.


Hey Frankie!
If I could assure you of full time work... I would say, lets do it. However... There is a ton of compitition here, and work is kinda "feast or famine".

Alot of the time.... I have lots of work. But there are still times were I start to get worried because the phone has not been ringing. I have more than a few buddies in Vegas in the painting biz... and all of us seem to have that issue.
It will be super busy... and then nothing for a while. All in all, I do pretty well... but I would be lying if I said that there is never a time I get worried about my money.

Matt
If it wont get up and walk away... I can paint it!

Offline malauba

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Re: The "Hi And A Bit About Myself" Thread
« Reply #113 on: July 24, 2008, 07:59:12 AM »
Hi, my name is Lauren.  I have been painting for 5 years.  I love what I do.  My problem here recently was losing my butt on a bid for a job.  >:(  After I payed workers, took out expenses, paid gas and taxes, I think bring home was under 300.  I wanted to literally puke!  Looking for help on better organizing my business and being successful with my bids.  I read alot last night.  I think this forum is going to be really helpful. MY prayer last night,  HELP me help myself!

Offline MattG

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Re: The "Hi And A Bit About Myself" Thread
« Reply #114 on: July 24, 2008, 07:33:31 PM »
Hi Lauren. Welcome aboard...

I doubt there is one of us who cant relate to your loss. I have been doing this a very long time, and still screw up a bid occasionally, and lose my ass.
It always hurts... but I chalk it up to experience, and try to be more accurate on the next one.

The worst one ever was in 1996.
I was painting a strip club (seriously) in N. Holywood CA. (my home town) and after all was said and done... I ended up making about $600.00 for 3 weeks of work. Literally... I had 120+ hours into the job.
My guys got paid, and the materials got paid for... but the good ol' owner (me) made $600.00!
I seriously considered getting out of the painting business at the end of that job. But...

I took some time off and examined where I went wrong on that job... The next gig, I did just fine.

I suppose Im not the smartest business man in the world... but I make a decent living. I just need to be more detailed in my estimating.

Anyway... good luck... and dont get discouraged. We all screw up sometimes!

Matt
If it wont get up and walk away... I can paint it!

Offline Frankie

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Re: The "Hi And A Bit About Myself" Thread
« Reply #115 on: July 24, 2008, 10:05:33 PM »
Painting is one of the hardest jobs to bid it's never cut and dry (no pun intended) you will always run into time consuming situations. if you are just starting out on your own I would take on small jobs, nobody else really wants to do them most of the time. this way you can learn how to bid by doing one two and three day jobs. material cost is low, and if you screw up you won't be stuck there losing money for weeks at a time. as you move on you will get better.
hang in there :D

Offline ProWallGuy

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Re: The "Hi And A Bit About Myself" Thread
« Reply #116 on: August 04, 2008, 10:06:53 AM »
Crap! I just realized I never posted here and introduced myself. Does anybody care, or can I remain anonymous for a bit longer?  ;D

Offline chrisn

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Re: The "Hi And A Bit About Myself" Thread
« Reply #117 on: August 04, 2008, 03:28:02 PM »
Crap! I just realized I never posted here and introduced myself. Does anybody care, or can I remain anonymous for a bit longer? 

Don't think I ever did either,must be a paper hanger thing.

Offline Full House Painting Inc.

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Re: The "Hi And A Bit About Myself" Thread
« Reply #118 on: August 05, 2008, 11:32:04 PM »
hey hey my my, rock and roll will never die

Offline chrisn

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Re: The "Hi And A Bit About Myself" Thread
« Reply #119 on: August 06, 2008, 04:32:02 AM »
The thing about my music is, there really is no point. ( quote from NY)