Max Riffner
The Parlor
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Networking
It never fails… if someone asks what you do for a living, and you answer “I’m a graphic designer,” it will inevitably be followed with an “Oh? That’s funny! I have a logo I need done,” from the person you are conversing with.
This of course happened to me last night, while at a bourbon tasting of all things. I guess fine bourbon makes networking easier. Whatever the case, working, or the acquiring of work, was about the furthest thing from my mind at that point. So when asked for a business card, I responded that I didn’t have any. Thankfully he didn’t press the issue, because I’ve just spent a considerable amount of time clearing my plate of design freelance to get back into my comic work. Trying to explain that to someone is not only slightly embarrassing to me, but I’d imagine also for the inquiring party, since a blank stare with mouth slightly agape is neither flattering nor smacking of intelligence, and certainly not the reaction I’d like to receive over explaining my passions, financially unfruitful they may be. I am also dually thankful that only one other person overheard I was a graphic designer and also asked for my business card for their project. Sometimes it becomes a deluge of gonzo business (the use of the word ‘gonzo’ directly implied from its use by the good Doctor ).
Two inquiries I can handle on a stomach load of bourbon, but any more than that could have been lethal. I can go to any number of trade association meetings to network, as can anyone else. That alone makes me suspicious of a job: the context in which it is pitched. If you want good design work, there are a lot of good listings in the phone book if you are shy, or call the local AIGA association for recommendations. Be sure to ask for samples no matter what, and be prepared to pay. If you want Kmart prices, you’re going to get Kmart quality nine times out of ten.
Sorry for the rant, but I’ve had a legion of such inquiries over the last few months in situations where I just wanted to forget working. I know that people mean well and have good intentions, but sometimes you should just leave work at work.
Last night, I wanted to relax and learn about bourbon (with samples and bar-b-que, of course). That was it. No more, and certainly no less.
Ooo! Creepshow, I can barely remember that book… I do know the comic existed. Just a cursory glance at Amazon brought this up, and the product reviews describe it as a comic, illustrated by the fabulous Bernie Wrightson.
As far as the comparison between Creepshow and my header graphic, I can only reply … “sweeeeet.” Not what I was going for (I thought it was ‘fun’ versus ‘creepy’), but I’ll certainly take the compliment! Besides, people should see what they want to.
Was the Cigar Store Indian in CS1 or CS2? That was lamely creepy…
I like your occupation deflection technique, sir. I was a parking lot custodian for a bank at one time, so I’ll be using that in forthcoming conversations.
Oh man, I forgot about that sequence. I believe the Cigar Store indian (which eventually comes to life and goes on a killing spree, not surprising for a King story) was in the Creepshow sequel.
Lame, as you mentioned, but effectively creepy. Still, to this day, whenever I pass by one of those wooden indians standing in front of storefronts I casually walk a good distance away from the statue.
As for your header image, it is fun, but it does faintly remind me of that King spookfest. Which reminds me, I need to research Creepshow and do a write-up on kartooner.
It won’t be the first time I’ve gone off topic, which now that I think of it, I really don’t think kartooner.com adheres to any specific theme. It’s a personal site, so it features things that I find interesting.
I just added Random Entries yesterday, so now it rotates older articles from the database. A great feature to make sure my past entries don’t become stale.
I think something similar would be beneficial to this blog. :)
Hey…
Are you a graphic designer? I need a logo. Do you have any business cards? Do you use your graphic design powers for good or for awesome? Did I mention I need a logo? Somebody told me I need a logo, and they told me graphic designers love to make logos. Do I need a logo? I have a business. Do I need a logo for my business or a business for my logo?
Write back soon because my baby’s daddy needs a logo.
I think something similar would be beneficial to this blog.
Damn! Called out! Alrighty, I’ll work on that. Sounds like a good idea to me.
Back to the header, I wanted the Parlor to look different from the rest of the site, and to have it be more personal, similar to your reasoning behind Kartooner.com. That’s why I went with an abstract narrative sequence since it was more comic related, something near and dear to me. I wasn’t thinking of Creepshow when I did it, more like a combination of Frank Kozik and Paul Pope, actually. I was always a big fan of the EC Horror books which Creepshow was based off of, so that might have subconciously played into it. I would have never seen it that way if you hadn’t said something about it. Now I’m pretty damn impressed with myself! :)
Sorry to clash your worlds again.. But, the next time someone asks what you do – just tell them you’re a comic book artist.. then they won’t bug you. Well, unless they need some CD art.
I know how you feel though – just one of these times I’d like to take someone up on their request for my band to play their niece’s wedding without explaining that we don’t know “La Bamba” OR “Twist & Shout” and that if we DID know one of them, we’d know the other because they’re the same song…
That would be an excellent shirt!
And sadly, that is what the job was like. I won’t go into details of what I picked up; but one of my parking lots was next door to a bar, which made Sunday mornings always interesting, especially on holiday weekends. Apparently, the parking lot was for after hours car partying.
Yuk!
Yeah, you know the drill… you probably had it worse than I did.
The worst was the people who dumped their ashtrays in the parking lot. ATM slips were plentiful, but at least they were not gross.
And then, the aforementioned holiday weekend clean-up… ugh… double gloves those days.
It was a kick-ass job in high school, though. Set my own hours, didn’t see anyone ever. I even got paid a whole buck more than minimum wage (at that time).
You can also browse through the Parlor archives.
Recent Articles
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- October 30, 2009
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Jun 4, 09:16 AM
Completely off-topic here, but, your skeleton smoking the cigar creeps me out, but in that “creeps-me-out-in-a-good-way” sense.
Reminds me of something from Creepshow. Which, by the way, would you know where I could pick up the graphic novel for Creepshow? I saw it on display at Borders several years ago and lost track of it, sadly.
In regards to your article, I’ve had similar inquiries. At which point, if I’m not in the market to pick up new business, my answer to their occupational question is that I’m in the janitorial business (I was actually a janitor at one point in my life).
Unless they are interested in getting their toilet cleaned, the conversation will typically cease.