Advocates & Critics

Hi David,

It's a valid question. I'll jump in early:

In the earlier portion of a knifemaker's career, the maker themselves has to be their biggest advocate. (And quite possibly the spouses and loved ones). For the early years they have to believe in themselves and work extra hard at lesser wages. Comes a point of critical mass to move to the next level.

Once established, their exposure to the larger audience may be supported by dealers, may be shown through presence at shows (promoter), may be shown/published in a magazine, book, or simply on the net (photographer). Collectors REALLY turn up the heat when they are good.

For each maker their greatest advocate may be someone different than another's.

One cannot underestimate the power of the press. Editors have a MAJOR impact on the buzz.

Clarify the term Critic in your title.

Coop
 
Hi 2Knife:

Advocate? Depends on the maker and their position in the market.

Critic: Without a doubt...the person who can do the most damage to their knife making career....the knife maker.
 
Les has a good point. While unhappy customers will do a lot of damage, most customers don't get to be unhappy on their own, unless they are jerks, scammers or the hypersensitive type and those guys are pretty easy to spot.
 
Hi David,

I asked for clarity, as your opening postonly mentioned the benefits of an advocate. The title sugested a critic, but I wanted your outline. :)

Crystal clear? ;)

Coop
 
Hi David,

JDM is spot on.

Once you start selling a product...like it or not it becomes a business.

Subsequently, at some point, customer service will become a necessity.

The maker will be responsible for everything he/she does...good, bad or indifferent.

Almost without exception the biggest problem between maker and client is lack of communication.

I read post after post about makers not answering emails or returning phone calls.

This gets posted on the Internet and slowly erodes (unless numerous others join in) the maker's reputation.

Then there are the makers who take deposits or full payment and don't make the knives.

This is not to say that this is always the makers fault. However, it is their name or their business's name on the knife.

I have seen countess makers over the 25 years who have ruined their business because they were an "Artist" (the arrogant mentality...not the gifted craftsman), the jealous maker, the maker who always complains "it's not fair", the maker who only does it "their way" (the fact that they are making a "custom" knife seems to be lost on them), etc.

The opposite to this is would be the knife maker being their own advocate. A perfect example would be Jerry Fisk.

As well makers should view Jerry's story as a cautionary tale.
 
hey Les, I'm not familiar with the cautionary tale of which you speak. Would you elaborate on it please?
 
I'll drop you a line:thumbup:
 
Les Robertson said:
The opposite to this is would be the knife maker being their own advocate. A perfect example would be Jerry Fisk.

As well makers should view Jerry's story as a cautionary tale.
Click to expand...

Les, you and I have always had a pleasant relationship and I hope that continues forever.

I completely agree with your post regarding the part deleted from and for the quote.

If your cautionary tale is public knowledge in the general sense, then I have no problem, but as stated and the follow up posts by other members seeking additional "private" communication causes me to wonder if a line is dangerously close to being crossed.

This creates suspicion by innuendo

This post is a minor derail, but it is by virtue of the preceding posts something which now, I think, should be addressed, if even in a another thread.

Paul
 
Hi Paul,

Numerous people on this forum are familiar with what I am talking about.

It is common knowledge.

I am essentially censoring myself to keep me from getting the soap box out.

Last post from me on this issue.

I would like to continue this thread as I believe that makers can learn a lot from it.
 
Jerry Fisk is so successful at what he does and has such a fine mind for business that other makers and a specific organization have decided that he is "too" successful, and have done their best to treat him like a "red-headed stepchild".

Basically, jealousy and an unwillingness to embrace new concepts and ideas has made those envious of Jerry's reaping the rewards of his hard work to conspire against him.

This isn't innuendo, it isn't "I think this is happening". It happened, and continues to. Those wanting specific examples are free to contact Les offline...they'll probably not be posted here, and shouldn't be.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Les Robertson said:
The opposite to this is would be the knife maker being their own advocate. A perfect example would be Jerry Fisk.

As well makers should view Jerry's story as a cautionary tale.
Click to expand...


Les Robertson said:
Hi Lorien,

We can talk off line. My objective is not to derail this thread.
Click to expand...

Les, if you are not willing to expand on your above statement then perhaps you should not have posted it.
However, thank you for the " BIG belly laugh" I received from your recent hesitance to take a thread off topic. ;) :D :D :D
 
Hi Kevin,

You know exactly what I am talking about. It appears that perhaps your "alliances" have switched. If you feel so inclined then expound and expand the topic or better yet start a new thread.

I too find it humorous when you make comments about others not derailing a thread.

How about putting this one back on track.
 
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