The Artist-Patron Relationship

J

Jay Fisher

Joined
Feb 6, 2000
Messages
45
What's it all about?
After seeing some of the atrocious ways patrons are treated in some of the threads of this forum, I'm amazed these guys are still in business. But I notice their work has shifted from artist-maker to manager...
A very influential patron once asked me, "You want to make a million bucks?"
I told him I was listening...
He said, "Buy five more grinders, hire and train some (foreign)laborors, automate, and think volume.
He was aghast when I told him I'd quit first, because chasing the almight buck isn't why I make.

Don't get me wrong. I've dispersed my bladed children to the four winds, and some have been marked up over ten times their original price. And the maker is the least expensive place to obtain original works.

But I make to see my patrons smile, to make them proud of me and my art, proud to show their investment in me to friends, and NOTHING is better then seeing them gasp at the finished piece.
You can see their proud statements on my site...

There is no excuse for extremely long production waits. NONE. If a maker can't finish the piece in a reasonable amount of time, he shouldn't take the order. And taking money up front for modest (under $1000) knives is absurd.

There are plenty of fine makers out there but few with the longevity, vision, and consideration for their patrons that translates to "World Class"

Time to step it up a few notches, boys...

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Read, Study, Learn, Grow
-DO-
Jay
www.gilanet.com/JayFisher/index.htm
 
Jay,
You have a fine philosophy. As I have transitioned from admirer to collector to maker (in training) I have become more acutely aware of makers and their attitudes toward their customers and their work. I understand if someone has a somewhat reserved or introverted personality (no people skills), but I have approached makers at shows about their work and have been ignored, grunted at, or just plain dismissed. My question is, "Why are you at this show?" The community ranges from makers of true, reliable working blades to artists that create museum quality pieces of art. Whether I could afford it or not, I will not purchase from the sour puss, even if that individual was the Picasso of knifemaking. Luckily, the custom knife community is a very friendly place to be.

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"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."
George Orwell
 
Jay,
You are gonna have to retype that one. I'm not at all sure I understand what you are saying. I read it slow, several times.
 
Thank you Bob, for you hint about the link listing, there are so many different formats for these forums...
Shows are a public place to see your favorite (or not so favorite) maker at his finest. I've seen some pretty unusual things go on, like the guy who wears an obscent tee shirt and goofy hat and wonders why someone doesn't take his work seriously. Or the knife I saw once with the broken drill bit still stuck in the wood handle, just finished over like it was a pin... sigh.
A long time ago, there was a surge in Professionalism in the field, and some of us took the reins and tried to form the "Professional Knifemakers Association." It was a good try, I served as the first vice president, wrote a lot of bylaws and polled many of the makers about what they'd like to see in the organization. Truth is, they couldn't even define "full-time" maker, and the organization wasn't willing to address the legal concerns I raised about insurance, safety, show financial responsibilty, etc... I really don't know what they're doing now, other than a show...
I wish them well and have a lot of respect for any maker willing to look into the "professional" aspect of knifemaking, but another show is just another show.
I would like to see in my lifetime knifemaking recognized as a true profession. Things like group insurance, local authorities recognizing making as a business, regulation of product quality, and assurances of safe practices. Hell, how can you get insurance without standards? How can you proudly wear the badge of an organization if it doesn't mean quality through and through?
Why do some makers not want anyone to know they make and sell knives? (other than the IRS)
I have many professional concerns.
Do you?

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Read, Study, Learn, Grow
-DO-
Jay
www.gilanet.com/JayFisher/index.htm
 
Okay, I can understand that.
Yep.
Working as a one man knifemaker in a one man shop with no laser cutting, sometimes they just don't get delivered when I wish they were. I don't take deposits so I can handle it. Not but so many hours in a day/week.

Does peeing a customer off for missing a delivery date make me a non professional knifemaker? This isn't brain surgery and is non life threatening. He has the option.
 
yep, tenacity is fine, just clear it up a bit.
responsibility, i agree with but as the license plate says...**** happens. dilivery times should be kept as well as one can but things do happen unexpectedly.
i try to treat my patrons very well here, but wait til you see how we treat the makers
biggrin.gif


tim
 
I run an open shop. Any client can come in anytime and see my list on the board. It allows them to see where they are on the ladder, and that calms their haste. The only stipulation I have to present is this: My military clients get first in line.
God Bless America.


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Read, Study, Learn, Grow
-DO-
Jay
www.gilanet.com/JayFisher/index.htm
 
Jay, why don't you make 5061 Forumites happy and donate a knife to given away in a contest here in the forums. Talk about customer relations!!!

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<A HREF="http://www.nebsnow.com/L6steel
"Always" TARGET=_blank>http://www.nebsnow.com/L6steel
"Always</A> think of your fellow knife makers as partners in the search for the perfect blade, not as people trying to compete with you and your work!"
 
Jay,
For what it's worth, I spent over 20 recent years in the US Army and my military customers come first. That's what screws my list up.
I think my normal customers understand this so for me it's a non problem.
If it's a problem for them, I'm more than happy to take them off the list. Most don't have a problem with that, either. They understand.

Professional? Yep, I figure I am.
 
Excuse me if I step on anyones toes. We all are passionate about our work.
FYI, (Mary?) I just donated over 4k worth of custom made military knives to USAF Pararescue Team Teir One.

They didn't even ask...

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Read, Study, Learn, Grow
-DO-
Jay
www.gilanet.com/JayFisher/index.htm
 
Guess that means you're too concerned about maiking the Forumites happy huh, Jay.
 
Nope, I'm not an evil maker. I just try to make my customers happy, hard as that is.
And yes, I do consider myself a professional knifemaker.
Hang in there, Jay.
 
Re: Mary. I think Jay was reading the profile on the member information box...Mary from Esther, Fl instead of Mary Esther, FL.

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"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."
George Orwell
 
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