Beadwork magazine

Huh? Kandice a beyotch!?! Scratching head wondering where that one came from....outta left field I know but geez.....

And you all say Bitch like it's a bad thing!

Bitch =

B (eader) I (n) T (otal) C (ontrol) H (ere)

I always smile and take it as a compliment! Really diffuses an insult when you agree.

Later,

Helen C

"And you all say Bitch like it's a bad thing!"

love it!!!!!!!!!! my oldest daughter and I saw a similar statement on a bumper sticker the other day!!! I had a boyfriend call me a bitch one time- I just smiled and said- that ain't gonna change any time soon..... he found someone else real fast........

but I do really like your description .....

Bitch =

B (eader) I (n) T (otal) C (ontrol) H (ere)

-- somehow it seems nicer....

susie gibson snipped-for-privacy@reachone.com

I always smile and take it as a compliment! Really diffuses an insult when you agree.

Later,

Helen C

? LOL

Hahahaha!!! I love this!! Okay, I totally claim my Bitchiness.

Remember when you pissed off a bunch of people on WC by telling them the truth? What was it... I think you said that people usually get high bids consistently because they work hard, make good beads, do their research, and do a good job of presenting themselves. THE NERVE! (LOL!)

-Kalera

Kandice Seeber wrote:

ROFL - yeah, sometimes the bitch in me just has to come out. :D Heh heh heh

I always think it's funny how generally speaking, some people will get really mad if you say that someone else has worked hard and deserves their success.

It's not the same as saying that the rich deserve to be rich and the poor deserve to be poor. It's just saying that most beadmakers who are very successful got to be recognizable, marketable sellers through hard work and diligence. How is that wrong? Yet, if I recall, you got jumped on.

-Kalera

Kandice Seeber wrote:

I think because some people resist the idea of hard work = success. They feel that it has more to do with name recognition and advertising. That's part of it - but behind name recognition is always hard work and talent. At least in this industry. :) And of course there is a lot of jealousy out there. I get jealous too sometimes, but I still acknowledge all the hard work that famous beadmakers have to do to *get famous*. :)

Yeah, I guess that's the missing link. Yes, some sellers get a lot more hits and bids because they have recognizable names and a large following... but the question people need to be asking themselves is, how did Kim Neely become a recognizable name in the first place? Kim Miles? Corina Tettinger? Was it from putting up a bunch of OK sets in spurts, and an occasionaly outstanding one, three sets here, a focal there, none next month, and then sixteen at a time? No way. It was from producing high-quality work on a regular schedule and having it available consistently. Furthermore, once they've raised the bar on themselves, they can never let it slide back... there is no "coasting" for the "name" artists. I see people saying "I can make better beads than that!" on a regular basis, and I want to ask them, "Well, DO you? Do you make better beads than that every week, and offer them for sale? How about several times a week? Is every single set you make up to that standard?"

When it comes to selling beads, no one just "appoints" you name recognition... and starting out rich doesn't really give you an edge, unlike some industries. Someday I'd love to be a "name" beadmaker, but I've only been selling beads full-time for a year... it takes a bit more than that, methinks!

-Kalera

Kandice Seeber wrote: > I think because some people resist the idea of hard work = success. They > feel that it has more to do with name recognition and advertising. That's > part of it - but behind name recognition is always hard work and talent. At > least in this industry. :) And of course there is a lot of jealousy out > there. I get jealous too sometimes, but I still acknowledge all the hard > work that famous beadmakers have to do to *get famous*. :) >

I completely agree. :) It takes years of hard work, consistency and talent to become a name beadmaker. Someday.... :D

Kandice, the following is not directed at you...it's discussion of the subject (which I think you'll know anyway).......... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When I started my stamp company, I had what I thought was a realllllly good idea of what it would be like -- at least, how much work it would be. I'd been working for other stamp companies for about TEN YEARS, doing an extended, self-imposed internship.

But I still had no idea how much work it would be. I found this out after I was deep inside my own company. I knew in an abstract way -- and in a solid, but on-the-outside, way, too. But knowing it and KNOWING it are two different things, in every aspect of life. You can watch every Lamaze video you want, read every book you want, but birthing your own baby is another thing entirely, for instance.

I don't think most people give a decade to deep study of their chosen field of endeavor, unless they're studying to be doctors of some sort. Certainly people don't approach lampwork that way (not usually, anyhow). From what I observe, too, some people jump into it with absolutely no thought whatsoever! (We all know, by looking, which people those are....lopsided beads, sharps holes, bead release left in there, etc.) It seems they think it'll lead to Corina-sized prices per auction, magically.

Or they are more reasonable than that. But still sort of unrealistic. What I'm getting at here in my circuitous way is this: There's a lot of sour grapes out there. It's not jealousy, it's unreasonable expectations. Some folks think it's easier than it is, and they don't want to be disillusioned. So they become bitter, and envious.

They like their dream of Being An Artist. They hate their regular working lives. They've approached it from the disadvantage of fantasy -- not nuts and bolts reality. They may love the work, but they love the dream more. And who wipes butts in dreams (to use a metaphor)?

So they blame their lack of ascension in their chosen craft on others' "name recognition" and cult status. I think it's bitterness--- and the convoluted, complicated psychology of the people who complain about other people's fame being the reason they get good prices. It's unreasonable and petty. ~~ Sooz To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong. ~~Joseph Chilton Pearce

YEAH. ~~ Sooz To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong. ~~Joseph Chilton Pearce

Good points, all. I have to reply to this last part and say that the saddest part is, they're stunting their own professional growth by refusing to take a long hard look at reality and say "If I want those prices, what do I have to do to get there?"

In order to improve in lampwork, as in ANY area of life, you first have to be able to recognize that there is room for improvement, and identify the exact ways in which you want to improve.

There are other options... not everyone WANTS to be a Corina or a Kim Miles, or a Michael Barley or a James Smircich! But getting rid of the sour grapes and identifying where you WANT to be is crucial when it comes to being happy with where you are.

-Kalera

Dr. Sooz wrote:

-snip-

easier than it is, and they don't want to be disillusioned. So they become bitter, and envious.<

VERY well put, Sooz!!

Carol in SLC Some of my stuff:

They need a muse like Sean Connery in 'The Untouchables', dragging them along and whispering hoarsely 'What are you prepared to do!'

I don't look much like Sean, but I do the dragging along and locking in the SHED bit nicely.

I showed Mike this discussion and he was completely in agreement. Wanting to succeed is one thing, working to succeed is something else.

-Su

I think one of the biggest things about "being a name" is consistent quality and output. Kalera and Kandace have both mentioned this, but it deserves even more emphasis. There are sites that always have beads available and are of consistent high quality. I always know that the beads will be well shaped, the detailing will be precise, the colors will have the clarity I desire. I might not always prefer the color or shape or style, but I know what quality I will find. There's never a thing about the bead being almost right. These beadmakers never offer something for auction with a caveat, because they know it might end up at a price that doesn't would cause the buyer to regret the price. If it's less than, it goes BIN as a less than.

The people with "a name" might even make plain beads, like Brendan Blake. I have never gotten beads from her that weren't as beautiful or more so than her photos, and they are well shaped and sized.

Another funny thing about prices, and often names, has to do with return on time spent. There are some great beaders who can whip out perfect florals and ironically they are some of the least expensive florals. Like Heather Davis of Bliss. 4 or 5 perfect little beads for $20. And then someone else will come along, put in a great deal more time and effort, on a lesser bead, and charge a whole lot more. I had bought some single florals from 4 lampworkers. Prices varied, $4, $5, $7, $8, $10. I was happy with all of them, but the best beads were the middle range. They were the cleanest, crispest, best made beads. Someone with excellent skills can make those beads fast and profitably, whereas a lesser bead maker often charges more because of the time they put in and gives a lesser product.

The point there being, I guess, that the name product can also be a very economical choice. And maybe part of this observation too, is that there are lots of well made, pretty beads. We bead buyers aren't always looking for dramatic art, and there are great bead makers with a consistent followings getting consistently well paid. You don't have to be a Corina to have good name recognition.

Tina

LOL! Somehow I think I might be too fragile to have you as my Muse. Not that I'm a delicate flower... far from it... just that I'm scared.

-Kalera

Su/Cutworks wrote:

I wasn't famililar with Brendan Blake, so I did a search... wow! Thanks for bringing her to my attention!

-Kalera