so... I have been wanting to write for a while but things have been very busy. I had so much fun at art-a-whirl and it was really successful show! I sold all but one of the paintings on display.... that was a first for me. thanks to everyone that came out and to the people that bought paintings... I would've loved to say thanks in person but this will have to do. thanks also grumpy's for inviting me to share your walls with some really talented folks. (and for buying the grumpy's painting... I have a secret hope it will be hanging behind the bar the next time I come in)...
after the whirl of art I experienced the week before and the weekend of art a whirl... I spent an entire week working on print materials at work for our annual pilgrimage to the International Trumpet Guild Festival... this year the show is in Michiga.n... I am hoping we get to take the Ferry to Grand Rapids... it's something I've wanted to do for a long time and this is the perfect excuse. This is definitely going to be the biggest year ever for us at the Festival. I still remember the first year we went... people laughed at us... isn't it funny how people always think innovation is goofy... why buy an automobile when you could just ride a horse. Two years ago the festival was in Minneapolis and we were invited to present... and this year they're doing a write up on us in the journal... some of the best trumpet players on the planet perform on our instruments... and we have a strict... no endorsements policy... which means we don't buy ANY of our clients... even the ones that could get us big business.. because you know what... they can afford to buy them... anyway tomorrow we're hosting an open house... our first in 2 years... and things are really coming together for that. It's sort of a send off before we head out to Michigan the week after next. After nearly 15 years of building a business... I feel I can say that things are finally coming together.. but... I have said that many times before... whenever a new it hit a new plateau... but... leaving today I realized... we have a real shop space filled with tools, employees, dealers, fans, friends and one giant lovely business that has caused years of hair pulling hard work and fun... happy to be where we are today... it's been a long long long and bumpy road.... and worth every second.
if you read this and don't really know what I do... then I guess I should say that I am a partner in a custom trumpet company. one of the only of it's kind on the planet. now I get to use my art, design, networking and marketing skills... the ones I went to school for long ago... and the things I really enjoy.... when I first started... I literally worked in a closet... I have done every single task that was needed in a small business... EVERY TASK... if you've ever had a small business... then you will understand... I have spent more hours on the phone with "help desks" and "customer service" than I want to think about... I used to dumpster dive for boxes and packing peanuts... I know everyone at my hometown post office by their first names... and I would bring them brownies... our first camera equipment was held together with duct tape... and we took all of our photographs in a bathtub... because that's where the best light was. I have seen this business through more tragedies and small wins than I could ever tell you about. there has been fire, flood, mockery, naysaying, fights, theft, carbon monoxide poisoning, broken heaters and often times... no money. this was a business built solely on faith and sweat... and a love of one thing... music. I guess the reason I am saying all of this right now is that I am really proud of what I've helped to build with my own two hands... you'd be surprised how hard it is to keep going when it seems everything is working against you... or maybe that's just the magic of it... maybe that's what makes it easy... looking NO in the face until you finally get a YES. maybe I just love a challenge.
after the whirl of art I experienced the week before and the weekend of art a whirl... I spent an entire week working on print materials at work for our annual pilgrimage to the International Trumpet Guild Festival... this year the show is in Michiga.n... I am hoping we get to take the Ferry to Grand Rapids... it's something I've wanted to do for a long time and this is the perfect excuse. This is definitely going to be the biggest year ever for us at the Festival. I still remember the first year we went... people laughed at us... isn't it funny how people always think innovation is goofy... why buy an automobile when you could just ride a horse. Two years ago the festival was in Minneapolis and we were invited to present... and this year they're doing a write up on us in the journal... some of the best trumpet players on the planet perform on our instruments... and we have a strict... no endorsements policy... which means we don't buy ANY of our clients... even the ones that could get us big business.. because you know what... they can afford to buy them... anyway tomorrow we're hosting an open house... our first in 2 years... and things are really coming together for that. It's sort of a send off before we head out to Michigan the week after next. After nearly 15 years of building a business... I feel I can say that things are finally coming together.. but... I have said that many times before... whenever a new it hit a new plateau... but... leaving today I realized... we have a real shop space filled with tools, employees, dealers, fans, friends and one giant lovely business that has caused years of hair pulling hard work and fun... happy to be where we are today... it's been a long long long and bumpy road.... and worth every second.
if you read this and don't really know what I do... then I guess I should say that I am a partner in a custom trumpet company. one of the only of it's kind on the planet. now I get to use my art, design, networking and marketing skills... the ones I went to school for long ago... and the things I really enjoy.... when I first started... I literally worked in a closet... I have done every single task that was needed in a small business... EVERY TASK... if you've ever had a small business... then you will understand... I have spent more hours on the phone with "help desks" and "customer service" than I want to think about... I used to dumpster dive for boxes and packing peanuts... I know everyone at my hometown post office by their first names... and I would bring them brownies... our first camera equipment was held together with duct tape... and we took all of our photographs in a bathtub... because that's where the best light was. I have seen this business through more tragedies and small wins than I could ever tell you about. there has been fire, flood, mockery, naysaying, fights, theft, carbon monoxide poisoning, broken heaters and often times... no money. this was a business built solely on faith and sweat... and a love of one thing... music. I guess the reason I am saying all of this right now is that I am really proud of what I've helped to build with my own two hands... you'd be surprised how hard it is to keep going when it seems everything is working against you... or maybe that's just the magic of it... maybe that's what makes it easy... looking NO in the face until you finally get a YES. maybe I just love a challenge.
You probably won't be surprised to find out I also keep a Harrelson Trumpets blog... if you're interested in attending the open house tomorrow or listening to more ranting on my part... you can do so here: http://whyharrelson.weebly.com/jens-blog.html
after the push for the printing for the open house and the trumpet festival... I left town for vegas! I had a really great time... it was fun to revisit some places I used to know well and discover a whole set of new ones... I never get over how beautiful it is to be above the clouds....
after the push for the printing for the open house and the trumpet festival... I left town for vegas! I had a really great time... it was fun to revisit some places I used to know well and discover a whole set of new ones... I never get over how beautiful it is to be above the clouds....
after the trip it was back to art and back to work.... today was the big push for tomorrow's open house... but I would like to mention that as soon as tomorrow is over... I am going to begin a new campaign for booking art shows over the summer and fall. I have so much I want to do and it's been a long time since I've given my solitude the attention it deserves.
and, last but not least... I have started listing paintings for sale right here on my website.... you can watch the inventory grow here: http://www.jenniferdsandquist.com/buy-art.html when I have a chance to breathe... and today I discovered a great source for cheap/fast/easy prints... so those will be coming soon too... I guess it turns out hard work really does pay off.
and, last but not least... I have started listing paintings for sale right here on my website.... you can watch the inventory grow here: http://www.jenniferdsandquist.com/buy-art.html when I have a chance to breathe... and today I discovered a great source for cheap/fast/easy prints... so those will be coming soon too... I guess it turns out hard work really does pay off.
“Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if
you work really hard, and you’re kind, amazing things will happen.”
— Conan O’Brien
you work really hard, and you’re kind, amazing things will happen.”
— Conan O’Brien
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