Custom Painting Jobs

[Dennis7450]

In article <344C31...@onramp.net>, David Tunbo <home...@onramp.net>
writes:

>How exactly does one go about getting custom painting jobs? I can do a
>pretty decent paint and decal freight car job. But I do not belong to a
>club, and I do not spend half the day shooting the breeze at the hobby
>shop. I can't afford to run an ad in a national magazine. So, without
>"knowing someone," or a lot of contacts, how do I get customers? Can
>someone who has actually done this give me some clues?

1st, let it be known the you do painting, etc. at al of your local model
stores.
Make up some cards and take a couple of samples around with you.

Maybe one of the shops will start referring people to you. Particularly if you
make it worth their while. Offer to custom paint a boxcar for them with their
logo on it, or some other incentive.

Ads in the local model RR flyers, etc. are very cheap to free, so you can start
advertising in those.

You could always do a few examples and set up a small table at a local train
show to show them off. Print out some rate sheets with your name address,
etc., and hand them out to everyone that passes your booth. Possibly offer your
services to paint and letter one car as a door prize or something similar.

You may have to do a few, for free or cheap, to get the word out about your
work.

Anyway, if you are any good, and have reasonable prices and turnaround times,
the word will get around pretty fast.

Hope this helps to get you started,

Dennis Conway
Los Angeles
NASG, TTOS