The Psyche of GID & Marketing

[Finetooth]

We as artists who specialize in GID are, most of the time, approaching the marketing of our business with the same ideas and techniques as any other typical business. Let's face it, GID is not your typical medium when it comes to "art". I don't know about you all out there, but I'm gettin kinda sick and tired of people looking at me like I'm an immature little geek when I tell them that I paint GID ceiling murals. If I hear one more person say to me, "Oh yeah, I put some of those glow in the dark stickers in my kid's room," or "I wouldn't mind having it for my kid's room if I had the extra money to spend on something extravagant like that." I'm gonna reach over and.... Anyway, I've come to the conclusion that we as GID artists must go about our marketing in a different angle. Somehow we have got to instill into our potential clients that same little, tingly feeling we who are into the glow thing get whenever we get around the stuff. I'm asking you to search your psyches out there.(Hummmmm...) Try and put into words what is it about the glow stuff that gives you that warm, fuzzy feeling. I think if you can convey that to your prospects, you could be onto something big and make more money doing the thing that you love to do. So what do you all think? Let's hear your views about what it is about the glow thing that makes you think that this is such a cool little thrill.

[Abbeytoo]

I really don't think it is possible for someone to 'imagine' what the ceiling would look like. Really. We can, because we have seen it and do it and know how fabulous it is. It is a very visual art form and if you don't have something to show them, I don't think any sales pitch is going to convince them. Its one of those things you just have to see. Once they see it the WOW's start and they are amazed. Its just too hard to visualize especially because of those damn stars people used to stick on the walls. The average person likes the glow paint from home depot or Michaels. They just dont know how really crappy it is because they haven't seen the good stuff. Its also difficult for them to visualize the ceiling being 'black' and only the stars showing. Ive had people ask me 'do you have to paint the ceiling black?' they dont 'get it'
You need to have a white poster with stars on it and show it to them in the dark, and thats just weird. I made my hairdresser get in the broom closet to see it, but she is my friend. No stranger is going to want to get into a dark space with someone yapping about how magic the glow is. just my take on it

[Skylighter]

The other problem is that even if you convince people to go into a dark place after being in a well lit area, it takes about 10 minutes for their eyes to dark adjust. The difference in the perceived brightness using dark adjusted and non-adjusted eyes is massive.

I liked a previous posters idea of painting eye doctor's exam rooms as a form of advertising. I thought that was ingenious.

A word of caution. If Abbey asks you to get in a dark closet with her, it probably does not have much to do with stars.

[David P]

Speaking as someone who was pitched a $2500 price tag for my 3 kids rooms for a simple "star scape" that I would also NOT be allowed to watch being made. They also claimed "Every star is placed by hand" I think you need to differentiate services.

There are some people who's work I have seen posted on here who are "muralists" who create some serious works of art that would be worthy of that price tag or more.

Then there are people who fling paint at a ceiling with a brush and use a syringe and charge $8-$10 a square foot.

I realize this will be inflamatory to some but to be honest, it took me, a novice, about 10 seconds to cover about 5 square feet with background stars and about a minute to use a syringe to put up 3 patterns or stars.

I think the "paint flingers" charging ridiculous sums for their work need to come down to earth on their pricing and realize that you can get more customers by not ripping them off and thus more profits. Yes it will take more work but consider how much more you stand to make.

The muralists I have no gripe with but after reading how its done on here and trying it myself I see why the folks that quoted me won't let me watch. I would be PISSED to see how little effort actually goes in to creating their brand of "art".

Again I apologize to those who charge reasonable prices but if you thing raking your fingers over a brush and pushing a syring dot on the ceiling is worth $10 a square foot then you are NUTS. Just because someone does not realize what they are paying for, and you will not let them see doesn't make it right.

[Abbeytoo]

Most people here do not charge $10 a sq ft to 'fling paint' This is not one of those scammy places that charge 2500 and keep everything secret. I don't know of anyone, personally, that charges $10 sq ft. We dont do hokey UTube videos with annoying music, either.

This particular forum thread came together with people who were appalled at the prices and the secrecy. We have learned together and share our techniques, good and bad, freely with each other, and it is, for the most part, available to anyone who wants to take the time to read. You will see posts about techniques that suck and ones that rock. There are no secrets or hidden agendas.

So, please dont come in with an attitude and 'flinging' criticism toward the nice people here. I suggest you read Westends toolbox, and you will get the feel for the people here, as well as valuable painting tips.

Oh, and welcome to the forum!

ab

[Abbeytoo]

Originally Posted by Skylighter

I liked a previous posters idea of painting eye doctor's exam rooms as a form of advertising. I thought that was ingenious.

No, I thought it was ingenious, you copied my thought.

A word of caution. If Abbey asks you to get in a dark closet with her, it probably does not have much to do with stars.

Correct. Dark closets are where I stuff people into my Magic Bullet Blender and pulverize them so I can add them to things I make with resin and glow powder! You only taught me about the dark closet, where else are you supposed to do it?

[David P]

Abbey,

If you rean the full post it said that I do not intend insult to the muralists and reasonable people. Only people who rip-off.

I have learned a lot here and appreciate that.

My advice as a potential consumer was to "set yourselves apart" or "differentiate" yourselves from the rip off artists.

I also want to add that when I said "Paint Flingers" it was in reference to the samples we were shown. It was clear that the "Each star is applied by hand" line was B.S. and they were using the brush technique. Something I learned from here.

[Spacehead]

David p. by the fact you landed on this forum shows you are doing your homework before shelling out your $. That is awesome! If you find someone who will make your ceilings glow the way you would like at the price you like or if you end up doing the job your self in the end you should end up a happy camper. I just wish more people would take the time to look into what they are buying before disaster strikes there wallets!

Originally Posted by Abbeytoo

We dont do hokey UTube videos with annoying music, either.

Speak for your self Abby
Heat n Glow
And
Frosty Tee



As far as the psyche of glow art.....I find it a very challenging medium due to the super specific conditions you need to appreciate it in it's fullest glory. As a society obsessed with safety, finding a public place that is both brightly lit and then plunged into darkness is not easy. Of course a movie theatre comes to mind.The optometrist office is a good one! Rock and Bowl is good for black light as is Cosmic Skating. Maybe some day we can have a "lights out" or a blacklight only show! I worked for an art space that would have a performance show once a year called Afterdark where the performers and audience were left in complete darkness while various sketches and readings and even musical performances would take place on an un lit stage.

[Finetooth]

You're always gonna have people out there trying to rip you off no matter what the product is. You just have to use good common sense. Sure, you can learn how to do it yourself, but there really is more to it than just putting dots on the ceiling with glow paint. I've been a fine artist for over 25 years now, and I quickly found that there is a real skill to doing the ceiling murals right. It's just like any other art. Anybody can do something if you give them the materials, there's just a few that can do it really good. This medium is not easy to work with,(like doing a painting using Elmer's glue) but I love the challenge of figuring it out. That's why this forum is popular amongst fellow GID artists. Anywho...this isn't the reason why I started this thread. The purpose of the thread is to get those who are seriously doing work for income to share some ideas as to how to get your foot in the door and to be taken more seriously as a legitimate art form. I totally agree with Skylighter:

The other problem is that even if you convince people to go into a dark place after being in a well lit area, it takes about 10 minutes for their eyes to dark adjust. The difference in the perceived brightness using dark adjusted and non-adjusted eyes is massive.

From my experience, this is where it becomes difficult to explain this to a potential client. It's not that they don't believe me, they just don't want to sit around for ten minutes with their eyes closed. This blows the 30 second elevator pitch out of the water. And like Abbeytoo says, getting into a dark room and showing a stranger your glowing board is weird, let alone telling them to close their eyes for a few seconds to "get the full effect" So this is where the challenge is. There's got to be a way to sell this without the weirdness involved.

[Abbeytoo]

I believe it is Grangerglo that has hit the craft circuit. He sets up a booth and curtains off the back half. In the curtained section he has either painted a ceiling or has posters with a black light set up. And of course, literature and other things to draw people to his booth in the first place. They can step into the curtained section and see it first hand. Granted they arent going to get the full effect by closing their eyes, but they get a better idea of it than someone trying to explain it or shown pictures.

Doing those craft fairs or whatever, is pretty demanding if you want to be serious about it. Travel. Gear to lug around. Early set up hours. long hours. I don't know how successful he was or if he even got any business from doing it, but it is an idea. Maybe school carnival things. Kids would love it and drag their parental units to the booth and whine until Mom and Dad said ok.

I think any pitching/selling would require an organized event, rather than off the cuff type marketing. It wouldnt be so weird asking people to get into the darkend area that way.

I cant think of anyway that would work in casual situations like getting off the elevator. It has to be seen. I guess you could sneak in and paint an elevator and when it is full of people you hit the light switch and quickly tell people to look up. You'd have to be quick, like, before they all started screaming. On second thought, not a good plan.

The eye doctor plan should receive an award. Do the ceiling for free, and kick back a $20 or some token to the Dr for every paint job you get. The lights are out long enough to get the whole effect. Of course, it may take longer for the exam if the patient is oogling the ceiling.