Making money from your hobby?

[RadicalLarry]

When I show friends a prop or costume piece I've made a lot of them say; "Hey- you could totally sell this stuff." And it got me thinking.

Is this a realistic goal for a noob building laser guns in his garage or a bit of a pipe dream? I've been researching ways I could make this a reality but have stumbled upon a few things that have set me back. Last year I discovered Pepakura and it changed how I looked at building helmets and masks (which I used to struggle planning). After building a few I got some pretty good feedback and people suggested that I started selling them on ebay or set up my own website and sell them from there.

But I never did. Partly because I was a little afraid of asking for real life currency for something I built and partly because technically; I didn't really design these helmets. I found all the files either on here or through google searches and didn't want to get in any trouble with whoever created the files.

So what I'm trying to ask is; What's the protocol with selling props/costume bits made from shared Pepakura files?

Any insight on how I could do this would be much appreciated and hopefully I can uphold my little fantasy of being a prop builder.

Cheers.

 

[Kevin Gossett]

First and foremost, talk with the creator. If they're willing to let you sell, go for it. If not, walk away.

 

[RadicalLarry]

Hey, Thanks for the reply and the advice. Is this a common thing that people do? I've seen that a lot of prop builders who sell Halo helmets for example start off with a Pepakura shell. I'm guessing they all create their files themselves? It's hard to keep track on who created what when there are sometimes a hundred different versions of the same helmet floating around the net.

 

[Moviefreak]

Just avoid the headaches and ask the creators as suggested
If you don't, you could be in for constant battles.

As for making a business of the hobby... Possible...but do not count in it! :lol
Do it for fun and for extra spending cash.

 

[RadicalLarry]

Ok cool- I know the score now. This forum for me has been a holy grail of knowledge- the last thing I wan't to do is annoy anyone or rip anyone's work off. I have no delusions of starting a business but I'd be psyched if I could earn a few extra coins doing something I loved.
Thanks for the replies guys.

 

[Dart]

My take on this is that you'd have to really dedicate yourself to just making props with the goal of doing them for film and television. But you'd have to build up a lot of props before you'd be able to do this full-time.

Now, if you found a prop or a need that hasn't been filled by other prop makers, you could go all in and be the go-to guy for that particular prop. It wouldn't be a full-time gig, but if you kept your operation tight and honest, you could stand to make a bit of dough.

 

[RadicalLarry]

Man- the times I thought I was building something nobody else had ever done and they really had... :') As soon as a trailer comes out for something people are all over it (Guardians of the Galaxy) . I see where you're coming from though- thanks man.

 

[whitetiger187]

My question is how do you go about "Asking permission from the creator"? I have a hard time thinking that anyone can ask permission from someone like George Lukas.

 

[RadicalLarry]

"The creator" as in whoever unfolded the file from a 3D image. I think that's how it works?

 

[Moviefreak]

My question is how do you go about "Asking permission from the creator"? I have a hard time thinking that anyone can ask permission from someone like George Lukas.

"The creator" as in whoever unfolded the file from a 3D image. I think that's how it works?

Yep, the artist who made it is who you would ask, not the IP owner.
The artist put a lot of time and probable did it to share for free with the community. Then if you take their work and profit off it, that is frowned upon by the community.
Now if you were going to make a business out if this, then sure you would need to pay for the license from the IP holder like Lucas. And then you are talking paying out thousands for those rights. Sure you can do it without the license, but if you start getting to big then you risk getting shut down or worse.

 

[dropshipbob]

RPf member Matsuo did this. He started out making things for himself and friends, then making replica weapons for WWII reenactors and while I don't know all the details, he ended up making weapons for the Battlestar Galactica reboot.

I *think* he now works for a museum making and fixing replicas for their displays.

 

[midnightblu]

Think outside the box. My wife and I love costuming and prop making, we also love going to renaissance fairs so we ended up becoming vendors making kids medieval outfits wooden swords and shields and foam and pleather armor we are now up to 10 fairs during the summer including pirate festivals, Renaissance fairs and we will be doing our first Steampunk fair in August. We have a great time at the fairs make some money that pays for materials and tools and it keeps us busy coming up with new ideas for new and different items to sell in our booth. This is our sixth year doing this and we have just finished doing 5 fairs in 4 weeks and made enough this month to buy the embroidery machine my wife wants and a 3d printer for me and we still have five more fairs to do this summer. There are also comic cons,larping groups and anime cons you could try. Try making accessories to go with the outfits instead of the main pieces like the helmets,easier to design cheaper and quicker to make. We designed a sword holder out of one two inch strip of pleather takes seconds for me to cut and seconds for my wife to sew together but we sell hundreds of them a year. Hope this helps and good luck.

 

[IceTea1983]

Excellent advice, Midnightblu

 

[whitetiger187]

I really needed this thread, lol

Lately I have focusing on what I wanted to do in making a go in prop building or at least getting into a creative field, to find a place to get a start.

I have been trying to get into some community theatres in my area, but with no avail. I would also like to find indie filmmakers to build props for.

For now I will just keep on making props and putting them on the internet as I build my "resume." of prop building

 

[Funky]

I've been buying and selling props for almost 20 years. My advice is this: Don't quit your day job. I have yet to see anybody build/make and sell props for a living and be successful. Now, you can do it to bring in a little extra cash but it barely equates to a minimum wage part-time job. Now, if you get a steady job as a prop master/builder with a major studion on a big gig, then you could make a living but you will never get rich. There are several professional prop builders in the industry here on the RPF that can attest to this.
Sorry, I'm sure it's not what you wanted to hear but I'm a realist. I have seen too many people make rash decisions regarding their job and money in hopes of making a living making props.
In case I haven't crushed your dreams, this should do it! :lol You're talking about making laser guns in your garage. Sure, your friends think they're cool and that you should sell them! Hell, you can make a full time job out of this! People will line up for your stuff!
No...no they won't.
How many of your buddies have paid you top dollar for any of your builds?
Sure, from THEIR point of view it seems like a way to make real money when in fact they have zero idea what they're talking about and what it takes to make money in this hobby. Unknowingly, they are giving you false hope.
The cold, hard truth is that it is difficult enough to sell "real" props (as in something easily recognizable, quality work, licensed from a major motion picture). Take a look at how many prop companies have gone under and the few left are struggling.
Now, take a guy building laser guns in his garage. How much money will HE make?
See where I'm going with this?
Sure, many will tell you that ole' Funky doesn't know what he's talking about! You should follow your dreams because it's all unicorns and rainbows!
:lol Don't quit your day job. This is a hobby. Keep it that way.

 

[bookface]

Well, I haven't responded to this so far because the initial question was one I didn't really feel qualified to answer, not being a user of pepakura.

However I do like contradicting ole' Funky.

For the most part what he says is right, it's a tough old industry to make work as a full time job, but it can be done. They key is doing as much different stuff as possible. And I do mean wildly different. If you can make say, an oversized coffee pot display for a local coffee shop then you will get more and varied work (and more money) than if all you can do is make stormtrooper helmets. The key is to start out small, and build up from there. And yeah, really don't quit your day job until things are going really well and you've decided you want to make a go at being your own boss.

If someone tells you it can't be done, it's usually because they've never tried to do it. As someone who has done it I can tell you that it can be done, but it is tough, will result in you doing a stupid amount of work, and will not result in you getting rich. You will however enjoy your job. For me, that was worth it.

 

[PeopleintheTree]

Having just started a side business making props and costumes recently, I have this to say. If you shoot for the stars you'll at least hit the moon haha. I never thought I would even have as much success in it as I do now. One day, months and months ago, I decided that I would do my best to end up working a a big movie sometime in the future. Built my skills, made a portfolio out of build pictures, and now I can't put more than 2-4 items up for sale in my shop because they sell before I can finish more. It won't support me, but it's a damn good start. One day I just woke up completely obsessed with my former side hobby, and from that point I've wanted it so badly, I can hardly get a good nights sleep anymore because I wake up with ideas and newfound motivation. And it was around THAT time, my stuff started selling. So my advice is, when you want it; no, NEED it as badly as you need to breathe, you will succeed. Okay I'm done. *steps off soapbox*

 

[tripoli]

"Yep, the artist who made it is who you would ask, not the IP owner."

Know legally, the IP Intellectual property OWNER is the OWNER and to not ask is to face possible future legal action.

 

[Matt Kaz]

Selling props and things you've made yourself is always hard, as if it's not an original design, things like copyright and needing licenses can get in the way. I'm not sure whether unlicensed props can be sold? I don't know the ins and outs of it.

As for making a career of it however, that's even harder. I've done quite a bit of work prop making professionally, but most of those jobs were spontaneous, drop everything and start tomorrow affairs. And it came down to the fact I knew people working at studios who I could contact. That's not to say it's impossible. Building up a portfolio is always a great idea. Being able to show a wide variety of work, techniques and skills, is the most important thing you can do. Then networking, theres no harm in contacting big studios and prop shops, email them a CV, the worst they can say is no. If you don't dream big, whats the point of dreaming.

 

[rsabian]

Hi, I see some good props here. I'm trying to understand this site's rules. Am I allowed to PM a propbuilder to ask to build something for me?
thx
Erik