Anyone
who lives in a city has ready access to an old standby
that's
always good for a daily income. In Los Angeles for
example,
it is not unusual to work about four hours, spend less
than
$3.00 for materials, and take home $50 - $100 for a day's
work
painting house numbers on curbs!
There
are almost never any rules for house numbers in residential
areas
-- some have large numbers on the door, others small
numbers
or names on their mail boxes, on the side of the house
(under
the ivy or behind the rosebush) and still others with no
markings
whatsoever.
If
you have even tried to find an address in a strange
neighborhood,
you have undoubtedly experienced the frustration of
looking
for a house number where there are none displayed. Most
people
understand this frustration, which is why it is not
difficult
to make money solving the problem.
To
get into the curb painting business, all you need a set of
number
stencils and a couple cans of fast drying spray paint.
Then
find a neighborhood that needs house numbers on the curbs
and
go to work!
The
procedure is to paint on the numbers first, then go up to the
house,
explain what you have done and ask if they would care to
contribute
a dollar or two towards your expenses and labor (leave
the
actual amount up to them). Since you are not charging for
your
service (only accepting donations), you will seldom if ever,
need
a license or permit (if in doubt, check with city hall or
the
county clerk's office). That is all there is to it!
Although
there are many variations, the system described here is
recommended
for beginners. You can always alter your procedure
after
you have a little experience under your belt. If you ask
the
people first you may do fewer numbers for nothing but you
will
also get fewer contributions.
Technically
you also will be contracting for service and
therefore
fall under many laws that don't apply to "volunteer"
work
and contributions. Asking the occupants first gives them the
opportunity
to say no.
Many
people that would not otherwise pay (renters, visitors,
people
in a bad mood, or those with something else on their minds
for
example) will feel obligated to contribute when you tell them
you
have already done something for them and would appreciate a
donation
if they think it was a good job.
A
psychologist would tell you that you have just switched the
question
from whether or not they want to pay to have their curb
painted
to whether or not you did a good job! It's very tempting
to
get into various styles and color combinations, but resist
that
temptation.
One
well-meaning but unsuccessful curb painter started out with a
can
of white latex (background) and dark green enamel for the
letters
and proceeded to ASK PEOPLE if they would like him to
paint
their number on their curb. He didn't do very well!
Color
options might be OK for those rare people who ASK for a
custom
job -- but the easiest, fastest, cheapest and smartest
ways
is to use black fast drying paint and metal or hard paper
standard
style stencils.
After
getting started, you can design your stencil holder so to
hold
4 or 5 numbers that can be slipped in and out rapidly. Your
holder
should also be engineered to place all the numbers about
the
same height from the street (and the top of the curb).
Other
extras may include a can of fast-dry cement colored paint
(you
might to mix the color yourself) to correct mistakes or
cover
curb blemished.
Also,
some making tape, edging paper and fast-dry white in case
someone
asks for a white background (in this case, you simply
white
over the already painted numbers, re-do them).
Note
that the fast-dry requirement is to allow you to move fast
--
to be able to change the numbers rapidly and make any
necessary
corrections without making a mess.
Of
course, it always helps to look presentable. Dress for the
area
you are working in so you won't frighten or alienate the
residents
that you want to contribute. You want them to see you
as
a nice guy who has just done them a favor and is performing
honest
work in exchange for volunteered payment.
All
of the number you paint should be the same size, style and
color,
and should be placed as close as possible to directly in
front
of the main entrance to the house. Most curb painters use 3
or
4 inch numbers (depending on curb sizes), plain block style,
and
a dull, fast dry black (or dark green) paint.
For
special orders, you can use fancier stencils, reverse image
(white
numbers on a black background) other colors, or even
florescent
paint. You can use paper or metal stencils that slide
into
a holder (you can make yourself), or get a set of brass
stencils
that interlock. Either can be put together fast and
easily
cleaned.
The
technical procedure is to first determine which numbers go
where,
something you can usually find out by looking around a
little.
Most
numbers advance by two's on each side of the street; odd
numbers
on one side; even on the other. When you are satisfied
that
you know the correct numbers, set up your stencils, "shoot"
the
street number, then go up to the house and ask if they would
like
to donate. Most will, but some won't -- or will not be home.
You
can do nothing about the ones who do not care to donate
without
causing more problems for yourself, so just smile and let
them
enjoy their freebie. They may be financially embarrassed,
just
visiting, or planning to move out the next day.
For
the ones that aren't home, have some small notices printed
that
explain what you did and tell them where to send their
donation.
You can type out several of these on a single sheet of
paper,
then have copies made and cut them into say 6 per sheet.
You
will soon find that painting X number of curbs will generally
yield
so many dollars in donations, so few "not homers" and a
couple
of refusals aren't going to ruin you. They correspond to
the
hot checks and bad debts other businesses have and are
considered
"part of the cost of doing business" -- except that at
least
yours don't cost you anything perhaps a penny's worth of
paint!
If
you do this very much, it might be a good idea to have some
inexpensive
business cards printed (see WALTER DRAKE, Sources),
and
place inexpensive ads in community papers.
Some
operators hire neighborhood kids to go up and down the
streets
the day before they plan to work, distributing "flyers"
that
say you will be there the next day or so paint on their
number,
that the service is free, but they are welcome to
contribute
-- and what to do if they prefer.
If
you use this system be sure and include what to do if they do
not
want their house number painted on the curb. This action
seems
to stimulate donations, and also lets people know what that
guy
out there is doing to their curb. These flyers can also
include
an offer to do custom work.
One
other alternative is to provide those who donate with a
"receipt"
that just happens to have your name and other services
you
offer.
In
this business, as with most others, your image is very
important.
You want to appear as an honest, hard working, but
commercial
individual (so do any people you hire), who is trying
to
earn extra money by providing a needed service. This is why a
rubber
stamped or inexpensive business card and home-made (and
copied)
flyers are fine.
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