Hello everybody!
Since our digital print shop is pretty small, my duties during working time aside from prepress are to feed the machines with paper and toner as well as to do the finishing of the product, like binding or cutting. Actually I think it's not a bad thing, because like this one doesn't need to sit the entire day in front of a computer screen and damage his eyes.
But I'm curious if anyone here on the board is in the same situation and needs to do things aside from prepress, like cutting or folding the paper or operate the printing presses or other bindery equipment, during working time.
:homer:
did no one tell you that being in "Prepress" is in fact all of those duties plus:
Be the rececptionist
truck driver
folder operator
cutter operator
network specialist
scheduling guy
CSR
food delivery
cut the grass
sweep the floors
clean the bathroom
make the coffee
fry up some bacon
make drinks
too many to list actually.
You forgot the most important one - be the one to take the blame for everything that goes wrong.
Forgot forklift driver
I work for family so yeah I have to be able to do it all. I do bitch about it but that's becasue of one guy here that doesn't have the drive everyone else here does. (and it's not the boss). He actually told the boss one day "I'd work harder if you paid me more". Now when I have to help him out I'm downright nasty to him and give him shit. He's not a bad guy at heart, just confused how life really works.
I don't mind doing production work. It gives me a better sense of the entire scope of getting the work out. Fuck front office work. I detest that bullshit. The boss (brother) keeps trying to push me into it but it's not happening. He keeps telling me "quoting is easy" and I keep saying then go preflight a job.
Last week we had a discussion about talking to customers. While he can be professional he's really a dick at heart. While I'm far from professional for some reason all the customers love me and for most things that are not pricing, would rather talk to me than him. He still gives me "tips" about talking to customers. "what if I die tomorrow? You'll have to do this" I said bullshit, I'm hiring a salesman/CSR so I can concentrate on getting the work out.
One of the things that does piss me off is when I have a whole day set up where I want to spend it learning more about pitstop, prinergy or whatever I feel I need to get better with. He sees me sitting behind the computer and thinks I'm not doing anything and wants me to sweep the floor or work on one of his car/bike projects. I'm expanding my skillset here for this place. I already build racecars as a hobby, that doesn't mean I want to do it here. Also you refuse to listen to me when you ask advice.
TL;DR. I think everyone in prepress does for more than just prepress. Management fucked themselves during the film/CTP transfer by not knowing how to bill CTP. Now they are fucked. They need skilled operators but since we don't make them money as they see it we get to do everything so it looks like we earn our pay. Now try and get work through without skilled prepress operators and see how well that works out for you.
Possum mentioned the most important job of prepress. Give us files and nothing else and we are expected to be mind readers. Job run on matte goldenrod stock when the bag says white gloss, Prepress's fault. PMS 200 ends up in the fountain instead of 208, prepress's fault. Boss's wife left him because he was banging the baby-sitter, prepress's fault.
IMO, it is not a bad thing MadeInTaiwan
I used to be a prepress operator, but now I still am.
I also run the Xerox "Docutech" type copier, and a hundred other things (see david)
Also, I started years ago in shipping / receiving / bindery and I benefit from that experience and real-world finishing knowledge as a prepress person. Anyway, it all pays the same, so I shouldn't care if I am driving a van or polishing score wheels or wrestling a PDF.
Just prepress, man. A little CSR (mostly verbally abusing designers). One-man show, 2 big web presses and 2 Speedmasters. 100+ 8up plates per day is the norm, so I got my hands full with the prepress.
That said, I will jump on one of the forklifts any chance I get. The clamp-truck is great for picking up chicks. Literally. I can grab, like, 4 at a time. :cheesy:
No bindery, pressroom, or shipping here. Just prepress, IT (which is a full time job), web development, database development, CSR, and crash dummy.
Honestly I really, really wish we were so busy all I did was prepress. I long for the days of a rack full of work and nobody pestering me about how fast I can turn a job because the press isn't running. Having the press booked for a week used to be SOP, now it's a just a dream. I'd be able to learn the programs more, improve the workflow and stay sharp.
Now I have 3 sets of clothes here. One set to look "professional" while the boss walks around in a t shirt and shorts, one set for if I'm helping out on the production floor and a set for when he wants me to help with car work. There is a reason I only work on cars as a hobby now, I don't want to have to do it here with just some harbor freight tools. There is a reason I have a fully outfitted auto shop. Makes things a lot easier when you have the right tools... and 2 lifts.
Quote from: Ear on September 18, 2014, 10:28:28 AMJust prepress, man.
About the same here, and damned glad! I can operate the digital machines, within reason but we have 2 FT operators so that's rare. The little digital envelope press is about the only other thing we have to do in here. I don't cut, shrink, fold, spindle
or mutilate any more. Done it all before but I don't step into those areas at all cause I just don't see any reason to any more.
Shit, one of the 2nd shift press guys saw me cutting down Epson proofs one night on the Polar & was all surprised I knew how! Told "Him, you'd better fucking not tell anybody I know either!" and he laughed - he knows the drill.
Quote from: Slappy on September 18, 2014, 12:35:40 PMyou'd better fucking not tell anybody I know either
I hear that.
I stick with prepress these days but I started in bindery, then ran press, and evolved to prepress. I know how to run folders, stitchers, cutters and on up to presses. In a pinch, I will help set up the folder or set up a cut program, but I don't have the time nor desire to run any of them.
As a one-man show in a shop with 3 employees and an owner (and a part time accountant), you end up doing many tasks outside your comfort zone. On a daily basis I do all the IT/network stuff, run (and do basic calibration) the digital presses (we have 3), make plates (which includes processor maintenance), program stuff for the on-line store, maintain the on-line store, answer overflow on the phones, and general prepress area cleaning/janitorial stuff in addition to normal prepress duties. On occasion, I work in bindery and/or do deliveries.
Folders are voodoo to me but if I dicked with them long enough I think I'd get the hang of it. The bindery guy here barley remembers to breathe, doesn't know the difference between W/T, W/Tum or S/W yet can still get jobs through.
I ran a Heidi DI for a while, hated it but I got work off.
I can, after a while, learn damn near anything but I'd rather be fighting incoming files.
Women, that's the only thing I will never understand.
Folders are the devil. I started with Baum folders then moved to MBO. MBO folders are slick, as folders go.
Let's see... At my place, here's what I do, especially since I'm pretty much the only one in the front office aside from Da Boss and his wife, Mis(s) Management:
--Typesetting / layout
--Dealing with customers' artwork files
--Answering the phone / taking messages / running interference against bill collectors
--Keeping an eye on multiple email accounts
--Taking customer orders
--Waiting on customers
--Making plates on DTP system
--Maintaining / upkeep of DTP processor (a co-responsibility along with Da Boss)
--Running jobs on Xerox 700 "digital color press"
--Billing data entry
--Printing out UPS labels
--Occasionally delivering packages to UPS Store (Miss Management discovered we save money by not having UPS come by here to pick up packages every day...)
--Helping Da Boss and/or Miss Management out with computer issues / any other piss-ant thing that crosses their minds
--Taking the blame for everything that goes wrong in the place (which, to be fair, is often the case -- but considering how divided my focus and attention is, trying to do the jobs of three people, can ya blame me???! :angry:)
Cheers, John the Fontaholic :drunk3:
Oh, and even though this place has been going down the crapper for a good few years, Da Boss and Miss Management left today for a week's vacation in Disneyland (FL) with the grandkids.
And my other full-time co-worker wonders why I don't bust my chops for this place like he does... :angry:
Cheers, John the Fontaholic :drunk3:
The only manual labor I do these days, and it is welcome, is loading the trays for the Platesetter. It runs its self but has 5 cassettes of various size plates. The Heatset web plates are 24"x38"ish, 12mil and 50 to a pack, which is around 50 pounds. Good to get out of the chair and lift some stuff.
We are a separate operation from the production plant where the presses, diecutters and gluers are located, and we are a long way from any large urban centres, so we have to be pretty self-sufficient here. Besides prepress work and proofing, we do everything else required from our own computer maintenance and office cleaning, to unloading plates and chemistry from the delivery truck.
packaging artwork, design, typesetting, layouy, scanning, color management, vdp programming, post office software expert, platemaker, color corrector, image manipulation, poster maker, post office software wizard, and advisor to all the tech lacking pre dementia old bastards who work here.
theres a lot more i do :drunk3: but :drunk3: its late and time :drunk3: to go to bed. to take on a whole lotta :drunk3: new crap tommorrow :drunk3:
:drunk3: oh, sorry, mentioned post office software expert 2X, its late, and :drunk3: :drunk3:, sorry
holy fuck you mean some of you only have one job? :whip: :whip: :whip: :whip: :whip: :whip: :whip:
Thanks for your response everybody, really glad to read that some of you are in the same situation as me. There are some good points that I can comfirm directly:
Quote from: david on September 18, 2014, 07:16:32 AMdid no one tell you that being in "Prepress" is in fact all of those duties plus:
Be the rececptionist --> small shop, no reception
truck driver --> yes, but our truck is a small scooter only, just enough to carry two A3-size boxes
folder operator --> my boss doesn't like to spend money, so folding is done by hand, luckily it's not a lot
cutter operator --> ditto
network specialist --> still trying to gain more knowledge about this
scheduling guy --> we are not too busy, so we don't have a schedule
CSR --> the most hated part of my job :shoots_self:
food delivery --> usually done by my boss and his wife
cut the grass --> only cement around our shop, nothing left to cut
sweep the floors --> mostly done by boss's wife
clean the bathroom --> see above
make the coffee --> no coffee drinkers in da house
fry up some bacon
make drinks --> go to 7-11 and buy
too many to list actually.
Quote from: Possum on September 18, 2014, 07:59:12 AMYou forgot the most important one - be the one to take the blame for everything that goes wrong.
--> Yeah, this is the most important part of my job, too. :banghead:
But I need to mention again, that I really don't mind doing things aside of prepress, though some things are bothering, like doing CSR crap. But sitting in front of the computer the entire day would let me become rusty. :old:
Taken as a whole, there are worse jobs out there, and after all I'm paid for working and not for playing with the computer or whatever. :drunk3:
"make the coffee --> no coffee drinkers in da house"
:huh:
You sure you work in prepress?
:toaster:
The coffee maker is 2 feet away from me just in case I have a flare and I can't walk. Like today.
I'm trying to get a Redbull case placed in one of the break rooms. I AM THE GREAT CORNHOLIO! :banana:
Quote from: Ear on September 19, 2014, 10:02:52 AMI'm trying to get a Redbull case placed in one of the break rooms. I AM THE GREAT CORNHOLIO! :banana:
No. I am.
(http://petercobley.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/tumblr_l72ocbI6fG1qcwtdzo1_400.jpg)
:lmao: that was perfect!
I used to know the rep for NNJ. He was one of my subaru shop customers. Not sure if he still works for them though.
He did drop off 2 cases the weekend we swapped the WRX driveline into my DD. Don't think it would have gotten done in a weekend without the bull.
Quote from: Farabomb on September 19, 2014, 09:27:23 AMYou sure you work in prepress?
:toaster:
The coffee maker is 2 feet away from me just in case I have a flare and I can't walk. Like today.
Ya, one part of my job is doing prepress, but I work in Taiwan, the vast majority of people here are tea drinkers. And if they are not drinking tea or water, they are brewing some nasty smelling healthy stuff. Since I'm addicted to Cola, I still stand out from the crowd.
Swapping the drivetrain sounds cool... Have been auto tech myself many moons ago, during a time, that I didn't know Taiwan and prepress even exists. I know the WRX, it's a nice piece of a car, but what's a DD?
DD is shorthand for daily driver. I took a modified WRX motor and driveline and swapped it in. Went from a 160 hp grandma car to a 300+ transmission destroyer. My side job is working on subarus and racing them. Sadly that last time that car was out we spun out the motor so it now has to be rebuilt.
Now the coffee thing makes sense. I only do a cup of coffee a day normally. No need to be too amped up here as most of the time it's hurry up and wait.
Subaru's are the best. I've got a 200,000+ miles 1996 outback that is one helluva lady. And the old lady just got a new Impreza. Gotta have the AWD and they're a lot of fun to drive.
Also, how did you come upon the job in Taiwan? Is there a board for overseas prepress jobs? My family just moved to Thailand, and would love to get over there myself one day.
To make sure my post doesn't derail the topic...I've just been asked to make slideshows/videos for our "Welcome" display TV. And just loaded 20 something pallets onto a truck headed down to Tracy, CA.
Quote from: zacgil on September 22, 2014, 12:41:07 PMSubaru's are the best. I've got a 200,000+ miles 1996 outback that is one helluva lady. And the old lady just got a new Impreza. Gotta have the AWD and they're a lot of fun to drive.
Also, how did you come upon the job in Taiwan? Is there a board for overseas prepress jobs? My family just moved to Thailand, and would love to get over there myself one day.
To make sure my post doesn't derail the topic...I've just been asked to make slideshows/videos for our "Welcome" display TV. And just loaded 20 something pallets onto a truck headed down to Tracy, CA.
:offtopic: Just kidding; we all threadjack
Tracy, CA isn't that far from here. Stockton is about 40 minutes and it's in the neighborhood.
The new forum quoting is different.
It's past one page, it's jackbait.
I have a LONG history with Subaru. We are very involved with the scene here, know quite a few people in SoA headquarters.
If you need parts just click on the link in my sig. We will dropship to you.
Awesome, I plan on keeping my old Subaru for as long as she'll have me. So I'll definitely keep that in mind next time she wants a break.
So Digi, are you close to Wesco Graphics?
Quote from: Farabomb on September 22, 2014, 07:35:35 AMDD is shorthand for daily driver. I took a modified WRX motor and driveline and swapped it in. Went from a 160 hp grandma car to a 300+ transmission destroyer. My side job is working on subarus and racing them. Sadly that last time that car was out we spun out the motor so it now has to be rebuilt.
Now the coffee thing makes sense. I only do a cup of coffee a day normally. No need to be too amped up here as most of the time it's hurry up and wait.
That's pretty cool... But don't change the outside of that car, coz in that case, people will feel surprised that Granny's car can be all that fast. Do you have spare parts for that motor? Although it's some nasty extra work, but on the other hand, you can check the motor for other damages inside, this might keep you from repairing those things afterwards. I tend to say that a well rebuilt motor is as good as a new one.
The link in your signature doesn't work for me, by the way. Shows me "Error 403 - Forbidden" only.
Quote from: zacgil on September 22, 2014, 12:41:07 PMSubaru's are the best. I've got a 200,000+ miles 1996 outback that is one helluva lady. And the old lady just got a new Impreza. Gotta have the AWD and they're a lot of fun to drive.
Also, how did you come upon the job in Taiwan? Is there a board for overseas prepress jobs? My family just moved to Thailand, and would love to get over there myself one day.
To make sure my post doesn't derail the topic...I've just been asked to make slideshows/videos for our "Welcome" display TV. And just loaded 20 something pallets onto a truck headed down to Tracy, CA.
I don't know if there's any board for overseas prepress jobs, actually I don't think so. Here in Taiwan we have some websites for job search, don't know how about Thailand.
Some years ago, I met my girlfriend on the internet. After we have been contacting by e-mail and Skype for a long while (during that time we could visit each other only once in a while, so most of the time we used the internet to communicate), I got fed up of this "far distance relationship" and decided to make the move to Taiwan. After arriving here, I attended some Chinese language classes first since here is very little English spoken and I didn't have a work permit either. Later we got married and I received an unlimited work permit, which means, that I am not limited to any job or company, unlike most expats. That's the short version of my story. Actually it's longer but who wants to know.
Thailand has a huge printing industry, some websites are stating, that Thailand is the printing country No. 1 in Asia. Depends largely on your work experience what kinda visa you'll get, and if you might be able to find a prepress job. Though my advice is to always learn the language first. It'll help a lot. Oh ya, and say bye bye to your high salary, Asian salaries for "normal" jobs are pretty low and in Thailand you might end up with as low as 250-500 US$/month. Although the living costs are low here, you will still not be able to save money.
Zacgil, just in case if you are more interested in working abroad instead of working with prepress: Most of the Asian countries welcome native English speakers to teach English. Work permits are easy to get, all you need is a university or college degree and a school that is willing to hire you. Salaries might vary, but here in Taiwan foreign English teachers make around 2,000-3,000+US$/month plus additional benefits. Even if you decide to work part-time only, you'll still earn more than enough money to survive.
If there are any questions about working abroad, just PM me, I'll share my experiences.
Link works for me. Just google AZPinstalls and it should come up.
We rebuild motors in house for our own cars. Take it out, tear it down and see what needs to be replaced and what should be upgraded so it doesn't happen again. My DD now is a 2000 RS. Just because it has a wing, everyone wants to race. The other car was a 4door basic model and nobody looked at it twice. If you did you would notice the roll hoop in the car making the back seats useless. It was disturbingly fast and had a nice appetite for gearboxes. I went through 4 of them before I stopped being cheap and put in a nice, expensive trans.
On one occasion I managed to get out of prepress I worked at a brake company. Owner was Taiwanese and would only get his printing done in Taiwan. The quality was shit but you could never convince him otherwise. Loud american that voices his opinion didn't last long there.
Quote from: andyfest on September 18, 2014, 01:35:48 PMWe are a separate operation from the production plant where the presses, diecutters and gluers are located, and we are a long way from any large urban centres, so we have to be pretty self-sufficient here. Besides prepress work and proofing, we do everything else required from our own computer maintenance and office cleaning, to unloading plates and chemistry from the delivery truck.
Sounds like my place. All of the corporate offices are in one place along with pre-press, then we have an offset facility and a digital facility. We tried having a production facility here where I do the pre-press but we ended up taking work away from the already established production facility, so they closed that earlier this year.
I am a premedia technician for a family owned company (over 75 years in business). Since nobody but me and one other guy have a clue about how to do prepress, we are looked to as the experts. I am primarily responsible for all things that pertain to prepress, the step between customer care and press. I do sometimes find myself outside the department, but less and less since they emptied the place of any production equipment. I do have to make some plates on occasion as we are trying to use up the remaining plates from before they shut everything down. Been with the place 20 years in October, but am at a point in my career that I may have to run like hell from this place because things haven't been in the black for some time now. This latest down sizing is the third since I have been here. The younger of the family are all about going digital, but the older generation is jaded towards putting any REAL capital towards it because of a previous multi-million dollar investment that went sour. Since the economy SUCKS so bad now, most of the time we are just taking work in order to have the crews have something to do. Barely any profit is there, so even a small mistake swallows up the profit quick. I find myself being a fireman half the time, putting out fires and talking people off the ledge.
Yo PCF, long time no see!
Hey Born, glad to see your still doing what you were "born" to do ;) I still really like what I do, but am finding that it alone isn't paying the bills. In the process of picking up a 3rd shift stocking job to supplement the income. It has been and continues to be a daily struggle to make ends meet and with a wife and 2 daughters it isn't gonna get any better.
You are correct, PCF... wife and daughters do not become less expensive with time.
Quote from: zacgil on September 22, 2014, 04:06:44 PMAwesome, I plan on keeping my old Subaru for as long as she'll have me. So I'll definitely keep that in mind next time she wants a break.
So Digi, are you close to Wesco Graphics?
Nope. Though within 5 miles, there's Graphic Center (closed for good), Fruitridge Printing, Dome Printing, Fong & Fong, CSUS Reprographics, Cornerstone Copy and a few other small print shops. I guess I work in the Print District.
I have heard of Fong and Fong, but not sure why :cheesy:
Quote from: PrepressCrapFixer on September 23, 2014, 10:03:49 AMQuote from: andyfest on September 18, 2014, 01:35:48 PMWe are a separate operation from the production plant where the presses, diecutters and gluers are located, and we are a long way from any large urban centres, so we have to be pretty self-sufficient here. Besides prepress work and proofing, we do everything else required from our own computer maintenance and office cleaning, to unloading plates and chemistry from the delivery truck.
Sounds like my place. All of the corporate offices are in one place along with pre-press, then we have an offset facility and a digital facility. We tried having a production facility here where I do the pre-press but we ended up taking work away from the already established production facility, so they closed that earlier this year.
I am a premedia technician for a family owned company (over 75 years in business). Since nobody but me and one other guy have a clue about how to do prepress, we are looked to as the experts. I am primarily responsible for all things that pertain to prepress, the step between customer care and press. I do sometimes find myself outside the department, but less and less since they emptied the place of any production equipment. I do have to make some plates on occasion as we are trying to use up the remaining plates from before they shut everything down. Been with the place 20 years in October, but am at a point in my career that I may have to run like hell from this place because things haven't been in the black for some time now. This latest down sizing is the third since I have been here. The younger of the family are all about going digital, but the older generation is jaded towards putting any REAL capital towards it because of a previous multi-million dollar investment that went sour. Since the economy SUCKS so bad now, most of the time we are just taking work in order to have the crews have something to do. Barely any profit is there, so even a small mistake swallows up the profit quick. I find myself being a fireman half the time, putting out fires and talking people off the ledge.
Sad to hear about this. 20 years in one company - that is quite a number.
These few years a lot of printing companies got in financial trouble, some found a way out of it by specializing on something or going digital, others just didn't make it. Although going digital doesn't necessarily mean you'll make more profit, it really depends on your area and on your clients' demand. And most important, if your boss burned his fingers on a large investment before, he'll be thinking twice before doing this again - but actually... don't know about your current printing presses, but for the price of a used offset press you can buy a whole bunch of KM C7000 (for example) or an Indigo, so there would not be too much risk.
Are you gonna stick with them to the end? Coz maybe things will change in a good way and you might regret to have left the company earlier. Just my two cents...
Quote from: Farabomb on September 23, 2014, 08:27:52 AMLink works for me. Just google AZPinstalls and it should come up.
We rebuild motors in house for our own cars. Take it out, tear it down and see what needs to be replaced and what should be upgraded so it doesn't happen again. My DD now is a 2000 RS. Just because it has a wing, everyone wants to race. The other car was a 4door basic model and nobody looked at it twice. If you did you would notice the roll hoop in the car making the back seats useless. It was disturbingly fast and had a nice appetite for gearboxes. I went through 4 of them before I stopped being cheap and put in a nice, expensive trans.
On one occasion I managed to get out of prepress I worked at a brake company. Owner was Taiwanese and would only get his printing done in Taiwan. The quality was shit but you could never convince him otherwise. Loud american that voices his opinion didn't last long there.
How did you get 4 transmissions junked? Did you replace only the motor but keep the gearbox as is?
Tried to visit your website via Google, both Chrome and IE keep throwing this 403-error at me. Taiwan seems to be banned by Hostgator...
Though some companies to a decent job in printing, the majority of companies prints like crap, but cheap (see my 5%-spot color thread - the final result was, by the way, that they got everything printed, but it looks like the Magenta plate was shifted to the side coz all elements containing M had a small M "drop shadow").
The major reason for the crappy quality might be that lots of companies treat their employees like shit, so that's what the employees produce. Most of the staff in those companies only work there until they find a new job in a better company or until they have saved enough money to open their own small business, like selling clothes or food. Because of this, there is not much work experience around here. People like PrepressCrapFixer, who works 20 years with the same company, are the small minority, maybe 1 in 10,000. Another thing is, that people don't even try to get better, because they know already, that they want do this job for very limited time only and not treat is as a career.
Quote from: Made in Taiwan on September 23, 2014, 09:29:23 PMQuote from: PrepressCrapFixer on September 23, 2014, 10:03:49 AMQuote from: andyfest on September 18, 2014, 01:35:48 PMWe are a separate operation from the production plant where the presses, diecutters and gluers are located, and we are a long way from any large urban centres, so we have to be pretty self-sufficient here. Besides prepress work and proofing, we do everything else required from our own computer maintenance and office cleaning, to unloading plates and chemistry from the delivery truck.
Sounds like my place. All of the corporate offices are in one place along with pre-press, then we have an offset facility and a digital facility. We tried having a production facility here where I do the pre-press but we ended up taking work away from the already established production facility, so they closed that earlier this year.
I am a premedia technician for a family owned company (over 75 years in business). Since nobody but me and one other guy have a clue about how to do prepress, we are looked to as the experts. I am primarily responsible for all things that pertain to prepress, the step between customer care and press. I do sometimes find myself outside the department, but less and less since they emptied the place of any production equipment. I do have to make some plates on occasion as we are trying to use up the remaining plates from before they shut everything down. Been with the place 20 years in October, but am at a point in my career that I may have to run like hell from this place because things haven't been in the black for some time now. This latest down sizing is the third since I have been here. The younger of the family are all about going digital, but the older generation is jaded towards putting any REAL capital towards it because of a previous multi-million dollar investment that went sour. Since the economy SUCKS so bad now, most of the time we are just taking work in order to have the crews have something to do. Barely any profit is there, so even a small mistake swallows up the profit quick. I find myself being a fireman half the time, putting out fires and talking people off the ledge.
Sad to hear about this. 20 years in one company - that is quite a number.
These few years a lot of printing companies got in financial trouble, some found a way out of it by specializing on something or going digital, others just didn't make it. Although going digital doesn't necessarily mean you'll make more profit, it really depends on your area and on your clients' demand. And most important, if your boss burned his fingers on a large investment before, he'll be thinking twice before doing this again - but actually... don't know about your current printing presses, but for the price of a used offset press you can buy a whole bunch of KM C7000 (for example) or an Indigo, so there would not be too much risk.
Are you gonna stick with them to the end? Coz maybe things will change in a good way and you might regret to have left the company earlier. Just my two cents...
Quote from: Farabomb on September 23, 2014, 08:27:52 AMLink works for me. Just google AZPinstalls and it should come up.
We rebuild motors in house for our own cars. Take it out, tear it down and see what needs to be replaced and what should be upgraded so it doesn't happen again. My DD now is a 2000 RS. Just because it has a wing, everyone wants to race. The other car was a 4door basic model and nobody looked at it twice. If you did you would notice the roll hoop in the car making the back seats useless. It was disturbingly fast and had a nice appetite for gearboxes. I went through 4 of them before I stopped being cheap and put in a nice, expensive trans.
On one occasion I managed to get out of prepress I worked at a brake company. Owner was Taiwanese and would only get his printing done in Taiwan. The quality was shit but you could never convince him otherwise. Loud american that voices his opinion didn't last long there.
How did you get 4 transmissions junked? Did you replace only the motor but keep the gearbox as is?
Tried to visit your website via Google, both Chrome and IE keep throwing this 403-error at me. Taiwan seems to be banned by Hostgator...
Though some companies to a decent job in printing, the majority of companies prints like crap, but cheap (see my 5%-spot color thread - the final result was, by the way, that they got everything printed, but it looks like the Magenta plate was shifted to the side coz all elements containing M had a small M "drop shadow").
The major reason for the crappy quality might be that lots of companies treat their employees like shit, so that's what the employees produce. Most of the staff in those companies only work there until they find a new job in a better company or until they have saved enough money to open their own small business, like selling clothes or food. Because of this, there is not much work experience around here. People like PrepressCrapFixer, who works 20 years with the same company, are the small minority, maybe 1 in 10,000. Another thing is, that people don't even try to get better, because they know already, that they want do this job for very limited time only and not treat is as a career.
If it were you wouldn't be seeing this forum as it is also on Hostgator.
Weird... Maybe they make a difference between "normal" websites and forums? Really no clue. Also tried our oldest computer with Firefox, no chance.
Pushing 300+ hp to all 4 wheels with a strong clutch means something is going to break. I was also doing 2 day track events every other weekend and I drive the car on a daily basis. I beat the shit out of it.
The only time I've seen an issue like that is when the DNS server the ISP is using isn't updating correctly. Try using Google's public DNS servers.
I only do Prepress work. But that is a BROAD statement, as said before.
Recently expanded to include plate room CSI work? :police:
Goddamn, I hate making plates. I hate putting proofs together as well. All I have done for 2 solid weeks. Plus output, tours, answering stupid questions... they say there is no such thing as a stupid question. I beg to differ.
You still "make" plates? You need an auto loader, yo. Makes life awesome.
Quote from: Ear on September 24, 2014, 11:12:27 AMYou still "make" plates? You need an auto loader, yo. Makes life awesome.
I have an auto-Loader. Kodak keeps sending me palettes that are busted, off balance and skewed. It's been an ongoing thing. I have bitched up a fucking hurricane to them and STILL I get palettes I have to use press shims to balance and level out. It is fucking ridiculous.
I made a bunch of plates the last few weeks, as opposed to usual, and it was a bit of a Zen experience. In fact, i reckon it is the easiest job in our shop.
Oh man, messed up plates are a bitch. I like to just load the sucker up and let it run.
Mine come in packs of 50, so I still have to load the cassettes. I can put 100 per cassette and have 5 cassettes in the loader. 500 plates lasts me most of a week, so it's not too bad having to load it. The only thing that could cause a problem is if a pack gets dinged by a forklift, which is rare.
It's monkey work. I have a monkey to do it, but he was on vacation. I get to fill in.
Quote from: DigitalCrapShoveler on September 24, 2014, 11:22:06 AMIt's monkey work. I have a monkey to do it, but he was on vacation. I get to fill in.
What's monkey work? loading the platesetter once or twice per week? it is 10 minutes of lifting... I consider it a welcome bit of exercise in my otherwise chair-locked day. Don't forget, monkeys can rip doors off cars and other feats of strength. Don't be a weenie.
Quote from: Ear on September 24, 2014, 11:21:04 AMOh man, messed up plates are a bitch. I like to just load the sucker up and let it run.
Mine come in packs of 50, so I still have to load the cassettes. I can put 100 per cassette and have 5 cassettes in the loader. 500 plates lasts me most of a week, so it's not too bad having to load it. The only thing that could cause a problem is if a pack gets dinged by a forklift, which is rare.
I keep two palettes on the floor. 600 per, and I go through a palette a week, sometimes more. It's easy as shit to load, but when the palettes are dinked, it is a fucking chore and a half. Mainly slip-sheet jams and plates not being picked up. It will run 10, then jam, 5 then jam, 1 then jam and I have to constantly clear it. I've had 3 different techs out here and even wrote to management about the problem... still happens. I'm about ready to drive to Rochester and put the hurt on Mr. Kodak.
Quote from: Ear on September 24, 2014, 11:25:13 AMQuote from: DigitalCrapShoveler on September 24, 2014, 11:22:06 AMIt's monkey work. I have a monkey to do it, but he was on vacation. I get to fill in.
What's monkey work? loading the platesetter once or twice per week? it is 10 minutes of lifting... I consider it a welcome bit of exercise in my otherwise chair-locked day. Don't forget, monkeys can rip doors off cars and other feats of strength. Don't be a weenie.
I was talking to Born, simian-boy. MAKING PLATES IS MONKEY WORK. I could find a bum to do it for a bologne sandwich or a pint of ripple.
Quote from: DigitalCrapShoveler on September 24, 2014, 11:16:47 AMQuote from: Ear on September 24, 2014, 11:12:27 AMYou still "make" plates? You need an auto loader, yo. Makes life awesome.
I have an auto-Loader. Kodak keeps sending me palettes that are busted, off balance and skewed. It's been an ongoing thing. I have bitched up a fucking hurricane to them and STILL I get palettes I have to use press shims to balance and level out. It is fucking ridiculous.
The Chinese don't care.
Ok, in that case I agree... making plates is monkey work.
And yea, slipsheet jams are the most nerverackin'.
Beyond. You know what else is nerve racking? Having the same dumb-ass Sales Puke come in here 5 times in one hour to ask the same fucking question in 5 different ways. I told him next time he comes in, I'm taking a finger.
Kodak loves you.
That's why I threw those motherfuckers out of our shop.
I like Kodak, but whoever throws these palettes together needs to be fucking executed.
Quote from: DigitalCrapShoveler on September 24, 2014, 11:46:43 AMI like Kodak, but whoever throws these palettes together needs to be fucking executed.
Seeing as how they live in China there is probably a decent chance they will.
Quote from: Joe on September 24, 2014, 11:49:12 AMQuote from: DigitalCrapShoveler on September 24, 2014, 11:46:43 AMI like Kodak, but whoever throws these palettes together needs to be fucking executed.
Seeing as how they live in China there is probably a decent chance they will.
I wish them god-speed and a painful death.
We have the same issues with Fuji.
They are not supposed to stack too many plates per pallette, so what do they do? They double-stack entire skids.
Then our receiving genius lifts them upstairs that way...
Um, we still haven't figured out how to get a forklift up the stairs so would you be so kind as to help break this down? again? just like the last 43fuckingthousand times?
"thanks"
Never had that problem. Most boxes of plates I've ordered was 5.
Quote from: Farabomb on September 24, 2014, 11:59:14 AMNever had that problem. Most boxes of plates I've ordered was 5.
We do some "bulk-skid-pack" type of thing, which is fine, except they can't even follow their own rules.
Quote from: born2print on September 24, 2014, 11:56:54 AMWe have the same issues with Fuji.
They are not supposed to stack too many plates per pallette, so what do they do? They double-stack entire skids.
Then our receiving genius lifts them upstairs that way...
Um, we still haven't figured out how to get a forklift up the stairs so would you be so kind as to help break this down? again? just like the last 43fuckingthousand times?
"thanks"
KOdak is supposed to do the same thing. As a matter of fact, this "new" palette configuration is supposed to be an improvement. I can take a level, and rock it back and forth about a good two inches they are bowed so bad. I sent pictures several times and supposedly I have people concerned at Kodakistan. Whatever.
I hate handling our plates. The biggest ones are 49 by 58 and if we have to manually load them (because the autoloader is )&#$#%& up again) just imagine trying to manipulate a huge piece of sharp metal in a closet.
Quote from: Joe on September 24, 2014, 12:02:31 PMI hate handling our plates. The biggest ones are 49 by 58 and if we have to manually load them (because the autoloader is )&#$#%& up again) just imagine trying to manipulate a huge piece of sharp metal in a closet.
One of my favorite things to do.
Quote from: DigitalCrapShoveler on September 24, 2014, 12:05:16 PMQuote from: Joe on September 24, 2014, 12:02:31 PMI hate handling our plates. The biggest ones are 49 by 58 and if we have to manually load them (because the autoloader is )&#$#%& up again) just imagine trying to manipulate a huge piece of sharp metal in a closet.
One of my favorite things to do.
Right, but I think your machete is thicker than .012"
I fucking hated GTO plates. 008. Four sided razor blades, those things.
Quote from: Farabomb on September 24, 2014, 12:54:51 PMI fucking hated GTO plates. 008. Four sided razor blades, those things.
We have to do AB Dick plates for a customer... those things could slice through just about anything. I cut myself almost every time.
Indeed. We use .012 for the heatset but our news web uses .008 plates that are the size of 4-up gto plate (23x36). They suck because not only are they sharp, they are noodly... especially after the notches are punched in them. Fortunately, with auto load and stack, I don't handle them anymore. The press crew gets cut regularly but who cares. :evil:
Quote from: Ear on September 24, 2014, 01:01:08 PMIndeed. We use .012 for the heatset but our news web uses .008 plates that are the size of 4-up gto plate (23x36). They suck because not only are they sharp, they are noodly... especially after the notches are punched in them. Fortunately, with auto load and stack, I don't handle them anymore. The press crew gets cut regularly but who cares. :evil:
Word.
For people who have to handle sharp metal plates on a regular basis -- I wonder if those "chainmail fine mesh gloves" I see meat cutters / preppers at Chipotle wearing when they cut the meat with sharp knives would help any...?
Cheers,
John the Fontaholic :drunk3:
Not a bad idea John.
What WAS a bad idea was that they were trying to say we all need to wear those whenever we cut anything, and only to use spring-loaded-auto-retracting box cutters...
I fought like Della Reese over a piece of chicken and convinced them that prepress are skilled artisans and needed an exemption.
We do not have the gloves and we may use any exacto, olfa, etc... as we see fit.
I guess that was my little victory for the decade.
I have a feeling plates would slip right out of your hand. I haven't had an issue in years. I take my time and I have to handload plates.
Yeah, but a fly could land on those plates and ding them. Couldn't imagine what chain-mail would do.
Reddot autolock with black olfa blades here. Have to hide it, every time the boss uses it he can't figure out how to snap a blade so he ends up wrecking a new blade.
He does pay for them though.
Maybe kevlar gloves?
Kevlar might work but it will eventually slice through. It's tough but you can still cut it. I've gone through 3 kevlar hot sleeves working on cars.
Quote from: Farabomb on September 24, 2014, 02:13:40 PMI have a feeling plates would slip right out of your hand. I haven't had an issue in years. I take my time and I have to handload plates.
I rarely output plates but when I do I always get cut. I suppose if one does them a lot you learn how to avoid it. I output 9 plates last night and have 3 cuts. :sad:
If I may be so bold, part of the issue may be our aging / thinning skin :-[
But I'm only 12.
I get cut more by that damn Spinjet paper than plates.
I usually get cut from the paper boxes for the digital press more than plates. They always want to separate when you're carrying them from the offset pressroom to the digital press.
Quote from: Joe on September 24, 2014, 02:43:23 PMQuote from: Farabomb on September 24, 2014, 02:13:40 PMI have a feeling plates would slip right out of your hand. I haven't had an issue in years. I take my time and I have to handload plates.
I rarely output plates but when I do I always get cut.
Who do ya think you are - the Most Interesting Man in the World? :lmao:
Good one! :cheesy:
:lmao:
Quote from: Slappy on September 24, 2014, 04:33:03 PMQuote from: Joe on September 24, 2014, 02:43:23 PMQuote from: Farabomb on September 24, 2014, 02:13:40 PMI have a feeling plates would slip right out of your hand. I haven't had an issue in years. I take my time and I have to handload plates.
I rarely output plates but when I do I always get cut.
Who do ya think you are - the Most Interesting Man in the World? :lmao:
:lmao:
Well I didn't think I was but I guess that shows otherwise. :sarcasm:
The worst cut I got was from a shipsheet. Three times in one day, right across my upper lip.
Quote from: Slappy on September 24, 2014, 04:33:03 PMQuote from: Joe on September 24, 2014, 02:43:23 PMQuote from: Farabomb on September 24, 2014, 02:13:40 PMI have a feeling plates would slip right out of your hand. I haven't had an issue in years. I take my time and I have to handload plates.
I rarely output plates but when I do I always get cut.
Who do ya think you are - the Most Interesting Man in the World? :lmao:
Beautiful. :D
Quote from: DigitalCrapShoveler on September 24, 2014, 11:08:12 AMGoddamn, I hate making plates. I hate putting proofs together as well. All I have done for 2 solid weeks. Plus output, tours, answering stupid questions... they say there is no such thing as a stupid question. I beg to differ.
Tours? They have YOU doing TOURS? Inconceivable!
Quote from: Possum on September 25, 2014, 09:03:43 AMQuote from: DigitalCrapShoveler on September 24, 2014, 11:08:12 AMGoddamn, I hate making plates. I hate putting proofs together as well. All I have done for 2 solid weeks. Plus output, tours, answering stupid questions... they say there is no such thing as a stupid question. I beg to differ.
Tours? They have YOU doing TOURS? Inconceivable!
I'm actually quite charming.
It's best to keep me far, far away from everyone. Much safer that way.
Quote from: Farabomb on September 25, 2014, 09:23:08 AMIt's best to keep me far, far away from everyone. Much safer that way.
Giving a tour and putting a Sales Puke in place are too totally different situations. To explain... showing a bunch of kids the printing process and giving them tips on finding a new line of work is my small way of contributing to not only their lives, but my job. If I can change one of them, just one into taking the other path not down printing, I have done a service.
Customers are a little different. I use the time to talk shit, albeit in a humorous tone, about how Prepress is a thankless job and most customers, not them, of course :sarcasm: are complete idiots and make us do their work. They all nod, and chuckle, but I KNOW they think about what I said. I deliver it well and make my presence something they remember. My department in general reflects my outer voice, so in essence, giving tours can be very beneficial to me if seen from a certain perspective.
Any other time, I make you seriously consider stepping into my domain. Is it important enough to walk through my door and confront me on it? If you have a valid reason for interrupting me and imposing yourself ahead of others that respect the time I have, or just their place in line, I will be somewhat respectful. However, if you don't have a valid reason, you will feel like you just got hit upside the head with a brick. It's a choice, and a very important one you need to make. I WILL make you pay.
I hadn't thought of kids. I was thinking more of the Rotary Club coming off an open-bar lunch. I've given a few tours myself. Unfortunately, one school class picked our brains on screen printing and then started doing the screen printing for their school, so that was a tour that lost us business. We haven't done one since.
Quote from: Possum on September 25, 2014, 09:57:37 AMI hadn't thought of kids. I was thinking more of the Rotary Club coming off an open-bar lunch. I've given a few tours myself. Unfortunately, one school class picked our brains on screen printing and then started doing the screen printing for their school, so that was a tour that lost us business. We haven't done one since.
I don't reveal trade secrets... EVER. It is what keeps me one step ahead and employed. I will give advice, and/or answer commonly asked questions... but NEVER the total process. For one, it's a tour, not a training seminar and two, I don't have the time nor the patience to do it. I can handle about 30 minutes of human interaction and then I need to vomit.
Printing is like making sausage.... never show them how it is made.
There are so many variables in screen printing that it's unreal, so it didn't seem to present a danger. Just watching what's being done doesn't tell you how to coat a screen, how to expose it, or all the minutiae of the press. However.... almost any one can get a little training from a materials supplier in that trade, and if you aren't picky about how it looks, almost anyone can put out a one-color print on a manual press with a little practice. I guess they bought their own equipment and got some training. Have no idea what their products look like, but I can imagine.
Hey, hey, :drunk3: I got a new one.
Setting up addresses files for printing envelopes.
Then assisting in the printing of said envelopes.
:drunk3:
The prepress umbrella just keeps expanding.
We're so dead I'd love some prepress work. I've been sorting and cleaning backups and doing updates for over a week. When my brain breaks from that I try and learn more about pitstop.
Of course the job that was sitting for 3 weeks showed up yesterday... at 8PM. I love sitting for 8 hours just waiting to go home just to have to work form home. Added bonus was the email in the morning at 7:30 asking when to 2 lots of 30k W/T will be done. Your PO said PM, not AM ya lying bastards.
Quote from: pspdfppdfx on December 02, 2014, 12:50:52 PMHey, hey, :drunk3: I got a new one.
Setting up addresses files for printing envelopes.
Then assisting in the printing of said envelopes.
:drunk3:
On a crappy digital "press" like the one we got I bet! They're a treat - enjoy. :shoots_self:
:drunk3: hell no, a crappy inkjet circa about 15 years ago. DOS interface on the software but no transparency issues :drunk3:
Resurrecting this thread, at least for one post....
Starting in July, I've taken over all production scheduling. We're a medium sized shop of less than 30 people. But, it's a lot of work keeping up with the schedule on top of all my prepress and non-prepress duties.
My question is, are many of you doing the scheduling? Or who in the shop is doing the scheduling?
What I'm really getting at is how much of a raise would y'all expect(hope/want may be a better words for it) from taking on the scheduling for your shop?
I do all of the prepress scheduling, but the production scheduling for presses, die cutters and gluers is done by a full time scheduler at our production facility, which is a separate building from prepress.
The guy that does the scheduling here drinks monsters like they are water. Has the attention span of a ferret on a double expresso and the memory of a goldfish.
Goes about as well as you'd expect.
I am the backup to the full time scheduler.
a raise? you must be joking. More work for the same money, corp world, gotta love it.
Hey, soon McDonalds fry guys will be making $15 an hour. It might be a little pay cut but dropping a basket and waiting for a timer can't be as bad as prepress.
In prepress I do the normal, set jobs for print, make plates, maintain our ctp, print digital (Xerox Versant 2100), maintain our digital unit or deal with service, maintain/print on our Epson 9900, do design work, sometimes bindery, every now and then I will even load paper for the press. I also maintain and keep all the network and tech in the building going and updated when needed. I do deliveries now and then as well. It is all a nice change and we are never busy enough that I could keep going through the entire day just doing the standard pre press work.
Yup, sounds like the same deal I have, just add in fixing motorcycles, cars and trucks. All while getting into arguments with the boss because he knows more because he fixed one truck.
I was a professional mechanic and presently crew chief of a spec 96 cup car. What the hell do I know about cars. ???
Quote from: Farabomb on August 11, 2015, 07:26:21 AMHey, soon McDonalds fry guys will be making $15 an hour. It might be a little pay cut but dropping a basket and waiting for a timer can't be as bad as prepress.
Pay cut heck. That would be a big raise for me. I wouldn't have to cut my hours for fear of losing welfare, either.
I would ask for a raise, more responsibility, more stress, more money!!
well you gotta ask!
even if you get turned down, at least you told them your worth more.
Whatever you do...ask for twice the amount that you really want. Then maybe you will get half of what you wanted.
Agreed. You took on more responsibility so you deserve more compensation.
Deserve and receive are 2 different things. Too bad you don't have a huge bribing lobbying group behind you or you'd be making $15/hr for pushing buttons with the pictures of food on it and refusing to give extra ketchup packets.
And Joe's idea is brilliant. At least you might end up with a little trifle of a raise.
... or do away with the stress and just do Pro Bono Prepress.
Pro Bono?!!!! Hush yo' mouf!
:lmao:
In the days b4 CTP, when I worked in the Stripping Dept., I told people I was a Pro Bono Stripper.
What, not even tips?
Here's a tip, don't get into printing.
Quote from: Possum on August 11, 2015, 12:58:51 PMWhat, not even tips?
It's all about the tips, baby. :cool:
What did the leper say to the prostitute?
Spoiler
Keep the tip.
ewwwww thicko
And sometimes the Tip is all you need....
I'm definitely going to ask for a raise, and I may need to use Joe's method. I'm just beginning to think that compensation for a lot of added work/stress was never in the plans. At our shop it's never been a non-managerial task. Which means everyone who's done it has made much more than I do.
Well anyways, hopefully I don't have to do any of these things to get it... :strangle: :kissass: :tantrum2:
Quote from: Ear on August 11, 2015, 12:44:32 PM... or do away with the stress and just do Pro Bono Prepress.
I've always been a lot more Pro Cher than Pro Bono...
Cheers,
John the Fontaholic :drunk3:
Joe's right about asking for more, It's always their way to get everything cheaper.
It's in their blood, they gotta feel like their getting a deal :laugh:
At my place, I do just about everything except run the presses, cut the paper and do estimates.
As my prepress duties have declined, I've been obliged to do stuff outside of my normal purview.
Cheers,
John the Fontaholic :drunk3:
Quote from: zacgil on August 11, 2015, 01:16:52 PMAnd sometimes the Tip is all you need....
I'm definitely going to ask for a raise, and I may need to use Joe's method. I'm just beginning to think that compensation for a lot of added work/stress was never in the plans. At our shop it's never been a non-managerial task. Which means everyone who's done it has made much more than I do.
Well anyways, hopefully I don't have to do any of these things to get it... :strangle: :kissass: :tantrum2:
I was just up in your neck-o-the-woods for the weekend. Played River Ridge golf course while I was there. Got some VooDoo donuts and a Sizzle Pie too. Daughter just moved to Eugene, so I think I'll be up more often.
:hello:
Rogue's voodoo donut beers aren't horrible. Great breakfast beers.
Awesome, you'll have to let me know when you are in town sometime so we can grab a beer. My golf game is non-existent so I don't think I'd be a good golf partner. Unless it's the kind where you just drive around and drink... that I may be good at.
Heck yeah.
And FB, I've tried a lot of Rogue beers (easy to come by, living in the Rogue Valley) but have not tried their Voodoo donut beer.
Voodoo donuts is a wacky place. If it is edible, they have made a donut out of it. And the best part about eating a Sizzle Pie is, they play the thrash music loud, so you can take obnoxious children with and no one notices.
Holy shit, that almost looks like real pizza. Looks like my kinda place.
not only this, you have to fix the machine if it's broken ;D
Quote from: yellowprinting.com on August 27, 2015, 06:12:34 AMnot only this, you have to fix the machine if it's broken ;D
Hello yellow, welcome!
Same here, glad you got past the nonexistant firewall.
Wearing so many hats here recently, it's crazy.
Had a lump develop on the back of my neck recently, doctor says its a harmless gelatinous mass but I think it's just my brain expanding with all the new knowledge I've had to cram into my head. Like a extra hard drive or a usb lump-stick.
Quote from: pspdfppdfx on September 16, 2015, 04:59:58 AMWearing so many hats here recently, it's crazy.
Had a lump develop on the back of my neck recently, doctor says its a harmless gelatinous mass but I think it's just my brain expanding with all the new knowledge I've had to cram into my head. Like a extra hard drive or a usb lump-stick.
v
"Harmless gelatinous mass"?
I think you've just described me in a nutshell...
Cheers,
John the Fontaholic :drunk3:
Yes there is nothing like discovering a gelatinous mass on the back of one's neck.
:drunk3:
I think I'd get a 2nd opinion.
Wait a year or 2 and you can get an opinion from Kuato.
Quote from: Joe on September 16, 2015, 08:43:07 AMI think I'd get a 2nd opinion.
For sure - any lump on the neck is probably worth getting a second or even third opinion on. Your neck is home to a lot of lymph nodes.
And your spine.
unless you're in sales, then that's not a problem.
Quote from: Farabomb on September 16, 2015, 09:23:40 AMWait a year or 2 and you can get an opinion from Kuato.
Freeee your minnnnnd Quaaaiiiiiid...
:lmao:
Quote from: pspdfppdfx on September 16, 2015, 04:59:58 AMWearing so many hats here recently, it's crazy.
Had a lump develop on the back of my neck recently, doctor says its a harmless gelatinous mass but I think it's just my brain expanding with all the new knowledge I've had to cram into my head. Like a extra hard drive or a usb lump-stick.
I just used all the shit I "technically" did to secure a State job... Looks like I'm going to get it too. Here's the really fucking sad part... I'll be auditing alcohol and drug clinics and making sure they spend money where they say they're spending money... and to start, I'll be making about $10k more a year.... and within a year's time I'll be making close to $22k more a year than I did in prepress... with full benefits (I've never had that before). Fucking A.
Good luck man. I hope it works out very well for you, you deserve it.
Also realize that state jobs aren't as rosy as they appear to be. There is a lot of bullshit politics so make sure you keep the right friends.
Just be sure to save all the bitching for when you're at home. Never with co-workers even after work. You never know who might be a secret tattletale. It's a good rule at any job, but with gov't jobs, even more so.
Very good advice.
Working for family makes this... interesting.
Not a thing to talk about around the Thanksgiving table, then, huh?
:rotf: @ possum
Quote from: DigiCorn on September 20, 2015, 11:14:04 PMI just used all the shit I "technically" did to secure a State job... Looks like I'm going to get it too. Here's the really fucking sad part... I'll be auditing alcohol and drug clinics and making sure they spend money where they say they're spending money... and to start, I'll be making about $10k more a year.... and within a year's time I'll be making close to $22k more a year than I did in prepress... with full benefits (I've never had that before). Fucking A.
Kickass! Always good to see another one leave The Fold, and not on even a stretcher.
Quote from: Possum on September 21, 2015, 03:17:09 PMNot a thing to talk about around the Thanksgiving table, then, huh?
There is the advantage that his memory is so short that he forgets about work before he leaves the lot. I do bitch about him but he and I can really separate work and family. We've never had a work issue outside the shop. Any outside the shop issues are totally family related. Hell, I go on vacation at least 2x a year with him and his family. His wife and I just use the time to poke him with a stick.
Quote from: Farabomb on September 21, 2015, 06:19:00 AMGood luck man. I hope it works out very well for you, you deserve it.
Also realize that state jobs aren't as rosy as they appear to be. There is a lot of bullshit politics so make sure you keep the right friends.
2nd interview is tomorrow. The guy that called me to set it up was a guy I played on the HS volleyball team with in 1988. I know it was being recorded/monitored so it was hard to not crack up on the phone while he was acting all professional. The team interviewing me also includes and second, different guy I went to high school with. The crazy thing is, high school was over 25 years ago for me, and over 160 miles away. Based on the info I was provided with as an insider, I have a 50% chance of securing the job so long as I don't fuck up the 2nd interview.
On the 1st, I was so nervous, I actually was stupid enough to arrive an hour early, and go to a nearby bar and have a few drinks before the interview (no joke). Luckily, I made it through.
You played volleyball in high school? :rotf: :lipsrsealed:
Quiet, I did to. I was a band fag too.
I hung out under the stairwell smoking ciggys...
Well I was drum line so it wasn't tobacco.
I was drum line too. And Bass. But I drew the line at cheerleading and volleyball.
Yeah, you'd end up with VD on your hand if you were a cheerleader.
:lmao:
Or you'd get the job of collecting the class rings after they did the splits.
WHOA! :rotf:
We used to get in a car and pound warm Budweiser from cans in the trunk.. and other stuff.
We had block schedule, 3 classes a day for 2 hrs each but with 12 min. passing periods.
12 minutes is a long time ;D
We had 9 forty minute periods with about 3 minutes in between. 3 Minutes is long enough to get in trouble I can tell you that. :rotf:
Quote from: born2print on September 24, 2015, 10:46:01 AMWHOA! :rotf:
We used to get in a car and pound warm Budweiser from cans in the trunk.. and other stuff.
We had block schedule, 3 classes a day for 2 hrs each but with 12 min. passing periods.
12 minutes is a long time ;D
:rotf: Yeah, that escalated quickly. :shocked:
We would do the "other stuff" at break and lunch too. One of the other drummers had an old flat-nose ford van, exactly like the Mystery Machine. He put up curtains and pimped the inside with shag carpet. We would hotbox the shit out of it.
Budweiser? Damn rich kids... ours was typically Hamms or Ole... could get a case for $7.99, in the late 80s. :drunk3:
Quote from: Ear on September 24, 2015, 11:00:18 AMOne of the other drummers had an old flat-nose ford van, exactly like the Mystery Machine. He put up curtains and pimped the inside with shag carpet. We would hotbox the shit out of it.
DUDE! You sure it wasn't a bass player named Dustin?!?!
Holy crap!
:rotf:
:rotf: He was a drummer named Norm. His dad was a mechanic and helped him fix up this old Sears delivery van. Green shag carpet. We called it the Shaggin' Wagon.
Looked like this
(http://i.ytimg.com/vi/jy2GSUhZQBM/hqdefault.jpg)
Quote from: Ear on September 24, 2015, 08:06:43 AMYou played volleyball in high school? :rotf: :lipsrsealed:
I played volleyball, too. Well, let me rephrase that - I was on the team, but played very little. Back then (1987), if you showed up for tryouts you made the team because so few people played men's volleyball. The plus side is there was no JV, so I got my varsity letter as a freshman.
I grew up in the boonies, and they didn't have boys' volleyball, so this is foreign to me. I have nothing against it, just didn't know they had boys' teams in high school. :-[
The girl's team isn't bad.
(http://i.imgur.com/jflVLWv.jpg)
Exactly. Love that college volleyball.
I'm hoping it's college. :o
"Service!"
Quote from: Farabomb on September 24, 2015, 01:03:37 PMI'm hoping it's college. :o
Even if it isn't, it is... as far as we are concerned. Plausible deniability.
could be a dude
No
I dunno, you ever see male volleyball players?
:sarcasm:
:rotf: Nope
At least never from that angle.
After further review, not a guy. I can tell by the pixels.
more like lack of pixels :naughty:
2 DPI :D
Quote from: born2print on September 24, 2015, 01:39:44 PMI dunno, you ever see male volleyball players?
:sarcasm:
that's the baby squirrel/pigeon arguement
Quote from: DigiCorn on September 26, 2015, 01:51:12 PMQuote from: born2print on September 24, 2015, 01:39:44 PMI dunno, you ever see male volleyball players?
:sarcasm:
that's the baby squirrel/pigeon arguement
Man... so many directions I can go with this...
Quote from: Ear on September 28, 2015, 02:39:54 PMQuote from: DigiCorn on September 26, 2015, 01:51:12 PMQuote from: born2print on September 24, 2015, 01:39:44 PMI dunno, you ever see male volleyball players?
:sarcasm:
that's the baby squirrel/pigeon arguement
Man... so many directions I can go with this...
It's almost like I left the garage door open, (big enough for a Sasquatch to walk through since you're too big for a traditional door).