Alright, I’m curious about something. As mentioned before, a lot of the bigger clothing companies are on emptees so I’ve been wondering this.
How do you manage to design and work with t-shirts full time? I’ve been making my own stuff for about 5 or 6 years now and can’t really afford to not have a job. I know that it takes time and all but what else could you do to supplement your income other than take orders from someone?
I know a lot of you design for bands and stuff. A lot of you design for other companies too. How do you really get your foot in the door to do something like that?
2009-06-17T13:05:06-04:00
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2007-11-01T00:51:10-04:00
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Full time?
2009-11-21T06:20:39-05:00
523
i did an interview with absolutepunk awhile ago that answers a bunch of questions… http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=90487
as for making it work full time, it is hard, i lived with my parents until i was 24, that helped save bills. that situation isn’t ideal for everyone, but it worked for me since they were the most supportive people i know. my dad thinks i make millions.
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2007-11-01T06:32:27-04:00
2692
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2007-12-31T14:34:16-05:00
Everyone thinks im a whack job when it comes to this. Id rather work for someone with direction then work freelance…
I worked at a shitty bagel shop for about 5 years, Id get up at 2:30am work until 11 or 1. go home and design until midnight with no nap and repeated that every day
I honestly dont want to do freelance as my job. I think of it as this, ok, Im 24 im cool with this now, but am I going to be wanted for work, or even be into the kind of work when im what 35-40? my kids will think im insane. I rather work for a company who does what I love ( like i <span class="caps">DO NOW</span>) and freelance still. Now I basically design from 8am-2am…
i know you didnt ask for my life story, but my advice is this
keep your job, theres nothing like security. If and when your designs or your tshirts takes off. then fuck the job and have the time of your life. Id say the dude from rockett is doing fairly well. But do you honestly think that companies like full bleed (sorry rob) and rockett and the heartcores are going to pan out when were in our 30s and 40s relying on having our kids to tell us whats cool in order to keep up with industry? highly doubtful. right now I would say Keep your job, do your thing. Youre going to have to take orders from someone your whole life. cuz well… thats life?
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2007-11-01T08:28:00-04:00
2696
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2007-12-31T14:34:16-05:00
Yeah im 24, ive mentioned that in like 3 other threads I think. But I chose to work fulltime (9-6) at http://www.tubatomic.com , a web design firm. I’m married and the benefits of a steady paycheck and insurance are great. My first love is print, and tubatomic is 100% web, so it kind of works out, b/c i can pour all my creativity in 2 different directions, instead of getting burnt out on print or web. I do my own stuff on the weekends and at night when I have the time.
On getting your foot in the door with bigger companies and bands, it just takes time. Build up your personal clients, and you’ll start getting knocks at the door. I’ve done work for Lifehouse, As I Lay Dying, and a few other big ones, I’ve had to turn some down too b/c I just didn’t have the time to do it by when they needed it.
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2007-11-01T09:29:00-04:00
2701
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2007-12-31T14:34:17-05:00
if you keep putting yourself out there, it will definitely happen for you. 99% of our business is word of mouth. keep making the connections by reaching out to your audience, and it <span class="caps">WILL</span> happen.
if you are into the entertainment industry market, i’d always be in touch with managers, other design studios, labels and up and coming bands the most. Making yourself known is just as important as doing good work.
For example, <a href="http://www.emptees.com/people/285-conor">Conor</a> found us on Myspace- probably just looking for design work in Orlando, FL (where he had just moved to). That was over two years ago and he’s one of the most important members of our team at <a href="http://www.aktenterprises.com" target="_blank"><span class="caps">AKT</span> Enterprises</a> from day one.
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2007-11-01T09:49:00-04:00
2708
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2007-12-31T14:34:17-05:00
This is one of my biggest concerns, actually. I always think “Is this something I can see myself doing in 20 or so years?”
I know I’ll always be creative but is putting all my experience into this and not doing something different while it’s still easy to learn them the best idea?
I’d be pretty happy working for some design firm, preferably web, but I’d also really like to be my own boss and do my own thing when I feel like it.
<blockquote><cite>IamEZ said:</cite>But do you honestly think that companies like full bleed (sorry rob) and rockett and the heartcores are going to pan out when were in our 30s and 40s relying on having our kids to tell us whats cool in order to keep up with industry? highly doubtful. right now I would say Keep your job, do your thing. Youre going to have to take orders from someone your whole life. cuz well… thats life? </blockquote>
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2007-11-01T13:45:39-04:00
2806
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2007-12-31T14:34:17-05:00
That’s pretty much my goal – being happy with what I’m doing.
I’d prefer it to be doing my own thing but I’m not going to rule out doing someone else’s thing.
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2007-11-01T14:07:54-04:00
2817
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2007-12-31T14:34:17-05:00
yeah, you always gotta have a backup plan too. i always have side projects on the backburner, the wife and i are working on children’s booka! i can’t write for shit, but she is a teacher so it kinda comes naturally that we’d collaborate. i’ll keep pumping out my tees as long as i humanly can though. like jimmy said, the majority of the kids i cater to are normal looking peeps.
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2007-11-01T14:27:54-04:00
2819
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2007-12-31T14:34:17-05:00
<blockquote><cite>quixotic said:</cite> This is one of my biggest concerns, actually. I always think “Is this something I can see myself doing in 20 or so years?”
</blockquote>
I'm also concerned about this sort of thing. Although things are picking up right now for LF, it's unlikely that I could possibly run this kind of enterprise (with its current style, anyways), beyond 35. (And even that's a stretch)
I think the way I've approached this problem is as the companies from the 50's and 60's did when marketing to Baby Boomers. As I age, I'll refine the look of my products and market them both to my aging demographic and also to their kids.
(PS: I know this is an ancient thread, but I was poking through the archives and found it to be a really interesting discussion!)
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2008-07-06T15:09:31-04:00
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2008-07-06T15:09:31-04:00
This is a good read from all of you. Lots of good help and advice in here. bump - for sure.
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2009-06-17T09:46:00-04:00
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2009-06-17T09:46:00-04:00
Even though this is an old thread it is probably one of the best I've read here. The interesting thing is several people mentioning age. Even though I don't sell to a specific scene and am really too much of a nerd to know everything that is a popular fad, I really don't think there is an age limit on how long you can be a designer or t-shirt company. I know it doesn't seem like that when you are young and you think 30 or 40 is an ancient age but trust me, that attitude changes as the years pass. You are going to find out that everything gets better with age because you discover what is important in life and how to really enjoy it.
I never even got ink on my hands until my mid 30s but that was 8 years ago when I went full time. Admittedly, the majority of my customers have been college aged people but I really don't target a specific demo. I operate on the simple idea that if I would wear it, someone else probably would want to also and buy it. I'm pretty confident that I'll still be selling t-shirts as long as I feel like it and still love it.
It's a personal decision but if you are more comfortable having someone tell you what to do in exchange for a feeling of security that might be just a feeling you need to do that and do what you love on the side. Nothing wrong with thatif you put in your best effort.
On the other hand, if you really want to earn a living from something and create your own lifestyle and opportunities it requires 120% effort like many have mentioned already. It takes drive and ambition. You might have to pass on some fruitless luxuries when times are lean or you want to take your business to the next level. In other words you might have to sacrifice from time to time, but if it's your only focus it'll never seem like sacrificing to you, it will just be necessity. In the end if you are able to have the passion to take this route, you will find out that the rewards far outweigh anything you can imagine.
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2009-06-17T12:53:47-04:00
1219691
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2009-06-17T12:53:47-04:00
I'm glad someone brought this thread back to life. It's very personally informative, rather than just the usual technical informative.
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2009-06-17T13:05:06-04:00
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