Here is a situation that has landed on me that sort of falls in "truth in advertising" catagory and what I have done. I am interested in your experiences if similar.
My client, a professional trick rider (acrobatics on horseback at high speed) will be performing at the NFR (National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas this month- a a really big deal!) and she will be riding a saddle and using gear I built for her. I have been building for her since she was a teenager. A production shop sent her some blingy glitzy (rhinestone studded stuff currently the rage) tack ( headstall and breast collar for horse). She thanked them on Facebook as she was raised right. What comes next is production shop trying to cash in by saying X uses Y's gear at NFR. I encountered a similar situation in the 90s where a silversmith friend was advertising that all these famous actors wore his buckles. Actually what he was doing was making and giving away buckles to the cast shooting western movies nearby. The same thing applies to the outfits that made saddles and belts for presidents Reagan and Bush ( found out unsolicited presidential gifts wind up in a basement storage place).
In my situation, I posted pictures of the saddle and gear I was commissioned to make for my client on Facebook to set the record straight with a bit of our history. The other instances I simply ignore.
How have you handled situations were an artist gifts then cashes in on celebrity owning their work?
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Richard, funny you should mention NFR today. I am thinking of going to the Cowboy Christmas fair tomorrow since I haven't had a show to go to in weeks and I need my fix. I know it isn't going to be like an art festival but they do have art and jewelry there. There are over 400 booths. If I get anything, it will be the first time in three days that when I took money out of my wallet it didn't vanish into a slot machine.
Vegas is overrun with guys in cowboy hats and it will get even more crowded tomorrow. It is quite the spectacle. This is a major deal to those in the rodeo business. A ten day rodeo and it is completely sold out for over 15 consecutive years.
Shucks Geri, I would have thought you all would have gone to Vegas just for the bull ridin'. LOL. The duration is too much for me, but people say I should do Cowboy Christmas show. No thanks. Enjoy. I would add it is a major deal for western life style not just rodeo folks.
geri a. wegner > Richard L. ShererDecember 8, 2013 at 2:40am
Barrel Racing. Those horses really move. I haven't seen so many guys wearing boots and cowboy hats since my days in Houston. You're right about the length of the show. I am surprised that they don't have it so you don't have to do the entire show. That has to be expensive.
I know of a photographer who sent some of his photographs to a number of art museums throughout the country. For every museum who didn't return the photograph, he listed them on his resume as his work being in that particular museum's collection.
The obvious best thing to do in this situation is to post a picture of the rider sitting on a horse with your gear. Pictures are always better than words. If you have to, hire a good photographer to get the picture for you, I'm sure that having a history with the rider, she'll be willing to pose for the shot.
Thanks Larry. I do that on Facebook when these gals post pictures of themselves performing. I comment "another one of my saddles in use". They comment about how much the like the saddle etc. and it brings in more business. I haven't forgotten about booth shots and art photos. I have simply been too busy to do anything but orders. Now it's holsters and custom case orders coming in and it is snowing outside.
Replies
Richard, funny you should mention NFR today. I am thinking of going to the Cowboy Christmas fair tomorrow since I haven't had a show to go to in weeks and I need my fix. I know it isn't going to be like an art festival but they do have art and jewelry there. There are over 400 booths. If I get anything, it will be the first time in three days that when I took money out of my wallet it didn't vanish into a slot machine.
Vegas is overrun with guys in cowboy hats and it will get even more crowded tomorrow. It is quite the spectacle. This is a major deal to those in the rodeo business. A ten day rodeo and it is completely sold out for over 15 consecutive years.
Barrel Racing. Those horses really move. I haven't seen so many guys wearing boots and cowboy hats since my days in Houston. You're right about the length of the show. I am surprised that they don't have it so you don't have to do the entire show. That has to be expensive.
Some amazing belt buckles.
I know of a photographer who sent some of his photographs to a number of art museums throughout the country. For every museum who didn't return the photograph, he listed them on his resume as his work being in that particular museum's collection.
The obvious best thing to do in this situation is to post a picture of the rider sitting on a horse with your gear. Pictures are always better than words. If you have to, hire a good photographer to get the picture for you, I'm sure that having a history with the rider, she'll be willing to pose for the shot.
Larry Berman
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100
Good answer.