Here's a couple of more pennies for your thoughts. For those of you like myself who create props, there's a couple of protocols to follow to minimize recasting threats to your items:
1. NEVER sell anything on eBay, especially to ANYONE in the Orient. It is the rip off capital of the world, bar none. If you sell stuff on eBay, you're going to get recasted, plain and simple.
2. Like Dave said, when you sell to someone, ask them to inform you if they ever decide to get rid of your item, so that you have the option of buying it back from them first. If you don't buy it back, ask the person in question to not put it up on eBay (for obvious reasons) and sell it only to reputable Lair members. I hate to differentiate amongst the members, but there are people who sign up "to get in and get out" ----just long enough to acquire somebody's work to recast and sell as their own. Then there are the others who lurk in the background to see what's available and then email artists with "You don't know me, but I want to buy your stuff." This is why I don't like selling to newbies. Sorry to have to lump honest, good intentioned pred fans with the bad apples, but they screw it up for everybody else.
Following these rules means that you won't be making a lucrative fortune off of selling pred props, which brings me to the central point. The Lair is here for the love of the predator and the costume building inspired by him. If you're in this to make a fast buck, the Lair isn't the place for you. Knocking off Gucci handbags or Tiffany lamps might be a better vocation for you. God knows the profit margin's a lot higher.
So, fellow artists, if you live by these rules you won't maximize your profits, but you will minimize your threats. There are no absolutes, but that doesn't mean you have to go sticking your head in the lion's mouth either.
Ghost in the Shell----post up a photo of that neighbor of yours' head affixed to a pike when you get a chance. Other than that I have no strong feelings on the matter.
1. NEVER sell anything on eBay, especially to ANYONE in the Orient. It is the rip off capital of the world, bar none. If you sell stuff on eBay, you're going to get recasted, plain and simple.
2. Like Dave said, when you sell to someone, ask them to inform you if they ever decide to get rid of your item, so that you have the option of buying it back from them first. If you don't buy it back, ask the person in question to not put it up on eBay (for obvious reasons) and sell it only to reputable Lair members. I hate to differentiate amongst the members, but there are people who sign up "to get in and get out" ----just long enough to acquire somebody's work to recast and sell as their own. Then there are the others who lurk in the background to see what's available and then email artists with "You don't know me, but I want to buy your stuff." This is why I don't like selling to newbies. Sorry to have to lump honest, good intentioned pred fans with the bad apples, but they screw it up for everybody else.
Following these rules means that you won't be making a lucrative fortune off of selling pred props, which brings me to the central point. The Lair is here for the love of the predator and the costume building inspired by him. If you're in this to make a fast buck, the Lair isn't the place for you. Knocking off Gucci handbags or Tiffany lamps might be a better vocation for you. God knows the profit margin's a lot higher.
So, fellow artists, if you live by these rules you won't maximize your profits, but you will minimize your threats. There are no absolutes, but that doesn't mean you have to go sticking your head in the lion's mouth either.
Ghost in the Shell----post up a photo of that neighbor of yours' head affixed to a pike when you get a chance. Other than that I have no strong feelings on the matter.
