Are Taxidermists as "dumb" as they (make us) look?

[gab]

I answered the poll under the wrong category,so yes,I'm pretty dumb,I guess.

[ryan rhodes]

I had one class left before an associates in law enforcement. Never finished.  I worked one summer for a local police department and pretty much hated it.  I've been doing all phases of construction since I was 15, with emphasis on finish/custom carpentry.  I've operated my own taxidermy business for the last 5 years.  I'm not quite full time, but I'm working hard to build my business the way I want to.  I don't have an MBA but I do charge more than $500 for a deer.

A coule years ago I was at a taxidermy convention and met a taxidermist whom I consider myself to be good friends with.  He's well established with national and world titles, I won't mention his name.  But he said something to a group of us at a table one morning before a seminar that I'll never forget.  He said, "most people are taxidermist because they are too stupid to do anything else."  We laughed and that was that.  That was 3 years ago, and the more I think about it, the more I realize he's right for about 90% of taxidermists.  There are lots of great taxidermists out there that lack any business skills.  Is this what he meant?  I'm not sure but that's how I interpret it.  I like to think I'm good at running a business, maybe better than my taxidermy.  I'm not great by any means but I feel I do very nice commercial work and I always strive to be better.  There will always be the argument of who's better, who charges more, and why you should do this and not that.  But if you're happy being a genius rocket scientist who fell into taxidermy than that's all that matters, right?  I'm not getting rich, none of us will with taxidermy but at the end of the day when I finsih a piece and the customer loves it, I'm a happy stupid taxidermist with a little money in my pocket.

[elkevo]

congratulations Ryan J. Rhodes for being the stupid taxidermist you are. Now go set them prices right up there as high as you can and when the people come in to complain about them, tell them you are still 5 years into learning about this business and the work you do is as the Professional Artist like in other and you want to paid just like anyone else who works. Tell the people if they want from you what you have learned then you still are cheaper than there car mechanic, doctor, dentist, lawyer, and just about everything else we need from another for our pleasure and needs. Tell them money still hasn't begin to grow on any trees you won yet and until then, this is what I need for all the hard work that you do. You can go do anything you want in this world and if the hobby or job suits you and makes one happy then that is all that matters. They say people will change jobs about 7 times in there lifetime, before they are finally happy with the final one. I have been a surveyor, draftsman, Home builder which covers many different trades to finish, and I am about finished, but now as a hunter I want more mounted heads so I would like to be a stupid taxidermist also. Haha Maybe, or maybe not, but I have seen what it takes looking at this forum for more than 5 months now and the profession is not easy I know that. I do think taxidermist are very much as any other Artist and as professional as any business. You either make it or you don't.



Steve

[ryan rhodes]

Sorry Steve, I must be stupid but I'm having a hard time reading what you wrote.  Sentences running together, and just not making any sense at all. Congratulations, take an English class.
So because I've been doing taxidermy for 5 short years means I don't know anything about business?  It means I can't charge top prices? Or is it because I'm 28 and you're intimidated by me?  You have no idea what my taxidermy knowledge is.  Yeah I'm young and have a lot to learn.  Like I said, I don't know it all and never will.  Any taxidermist who does is kidding themselves.  But I have no qualms with charging good prices for good work, sorry if you can't do that.  We'll see who makes it in the end.  I don't work for free.  I make $20 an hour as a carpenter on the books with benefits.  It's not great money, but it pays the bills.  Why would I quit that job to make $10 an hour doing a deer for less than $500?  With no benefits or retirement unless I provide it myself?  You can try to make me feel guilty for being high priced, but it isn't gonna happen.  Taxidermy is a luxury no matter how you slice it.  I love the customers who roll up in a brand new F-350 diesel, with a $1000 matthews bow, and all the greatest gear and gadgets, while sucking a pack of cigarettes down in my driveway who bitch at me for charging $550 for a deer.  Here's the number to five guys within an hour of me doing them for less than $400.  Good luck, I'll sleep fine tonight.

[Riverdale Taxidermy]

I must be stupid but I'm having a hard time reading what you wrote.  Sentences running together, and just not making any sense at all. Congratulations, take an English class.

you might take a few yourself and reread it. He supported raising your prices accordingly.

[ryan rhodes]

That's why I said I can't understand his point.  The way it's worded is confusing to me, if that's the case than I'm sorry for jumping his S#$t and being stupid     It came off as sarcastic to me, if not, again I apologize to elkevo. Otherwise, I stand my ground.

[Marc]

other than the title of this posting,I read nothing of this thread what-so-ever. Just the one I posted about professionalism and P.R.........................but here is my answer to this posts question...YES!
 Or are we speaking on an individual basis here?

[Pelletiers Taxidermy]

Whenever people discover that I am a taxidermist, I get the "ohhh, how morbid" look without them even realizing that I am a college graduate and a lover of the wilds of nature. Heyyy, anyone that can follow directions can skin a mule, but very few can take a tanned hide and make it look alive again. Hmmm, now thats art, and I really don't give a rat what people think...

[elkevo]

OK I am sorry if my English was as bad as BG tonight OK, I was in a hurry and did not do the edit thingy here. I was joking with you about what a life of a taxidermist is all about, Sorry but you took this all wrong, it was not intended towards you as a bad thing, but how others think of it as such, read again and see the humor I was trying to spread about. Yes I kind of got droopy headed on this one. I think the stupid taxidermist was a funny comment someone before me started and I was just filling in some more of the humor is all. You can charge all you want, the customer decides if they will pay or not. I want something bad enough, I will pay for it. Have fun and keep an open mind, sometimes I do slip also. Micahel P has helped me on that one many times already  Ha Ha


Steve

[elkevo]

ryan; in your early post you had mentioned that some people think Taxidermist are stupid ok, that's what I was adding to the thread, just an addition to what you had already said, Read back and try to understand my dry humor ok. I am sorry if I had made this sound only directed towards you. I will watch the wording next time and no jokes as such like what I did ok.


Steve

[Bonnie ( Allistair )]

I'm currently trying to finish up my BFA in the Arts.  I spent two years at UMass studying Biology.  Even if it's all for naught (my biggest source of income is currently waitressing and it gets the bills paid), I still loved my classes and learning and I don't regret a penny (plus I'm lucky to be enrolled in the country's only state funded art school, so the tuition is actually managable for what I make).  I have studied biology, anatomy and physiology, welding, zoology, molding and casting, foundry, sculpture....  I admit I'm unsure of my future, everything I've invested in taxidermy I've done because I love it. 

As for wondering why people might have a poor opinion of taxidermists.. well, look no further:

You still come across as dumb as ever. Agnostic? Is that like an undecided non committed voter? Fence sitter? Go with the flow type of guy? Kind of like water going downstream; the easy way is best?  Or a person who is to dumb to have an opinion or ideals or a faith  that can stand up to any scrutiny or challenge?   Wishy washy antagonist? Yes thats fits you perfect! You will have a very hard time making it solely in the taxidermist business because strong commitment is essential to long term success. "I do whatever is paying that day" I hear hookers do well working with that attitude, intelligence and mind set; have you tried that yet?

I remember visiting Jame's site and being floored by his work, I absolutely loved the art... but then I see a comment like that, and it just ruins it all for me.  Beautiful work or not.... what an ugly comment.

Anyway, I've banned myself from visiting the current events section.  Fine, there might be a lot of people with opinions drastically differently from myself, but wow... some still go about arguing in such ugly ways.

-Bonnie

[*]

I just voted I'm in the 13%  <
I quit to go out into the real world.
Some regrets, but not enough to dwell on........
BTW  RDA I have a Masters in that BFD.

[James Marsico]

You know, you are right. I am sorry to everyone and esp. pws for the unnecessary negative comments. I will erase my post. We all have bad days and some of PWS's posts have irritated me more than they should of are the only excuses I can think of.

[Becky P]

High school grad, top 10%, and I planned to go to college (for marine biology) but life got in the way (married/kid), but now I wouldn't change it. I do go take classes to improve my taxidermy - does that count?

[*]

Nah that doesn't count.
They mean REAL SCHOOL