Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Brain freeze and a chance of a lifetime . . .

I've been working on the same 3 paintings for weeks - the same 3 - they all 3 are to match - I'm actually on my 7th run with them! Seven times people! That means 4 times I've literally scrapped 4 canvases! Currently, I have the background & sides painted of all 3 - that's it - I refuse to trash another canvas so, I'm staring at these - waiting for the mojo to flow - I've been working on others that have come after them, but now have left before them! I feel bad - but my mind is frozen! I know what I want to do - but the colors don't look right - it's killing me! Since I have had them for so long - I'm going to have to stop working on any others till I finish these! Once I get going, it shouldn't take me {at the most} 3 days to finish them. That's it! No more than 3 stinkin' days! Uhhh!

But on to some funny business. I got an email yesterday - it was an "advertising offer" - you know, one of those gigs where you can put your logo down the side of some well known blogs - their viewers can click on the logo and come see "me"?! Great idea - I actually almost bought into it with another blog - but the more I thought about it - the more it just didn't sound like a good idea. The total cost for that one was 120 bucks a month. I thought I might do it for 1 month just to see how it would pay off - BUT like I said, decided against it!

Back to this email last night - it stated that my logo button would be on 4 blogs - ladies, you look at least 3 of these on a daily basis! I'll give you a hint - I've had the honor of being featured on 2 of them! But that is all the hints I'm going to give you - you will have to figure it out on your own! Let's just get down to the business of it - for 1 month = $600 bucks!!! You read that right 600 stinkin' dollars!!! It went up to a 12 month package = $86,000 for the year. Is that a bargain!! Would someone REALLY pay that? For real?! It took everything in my power to not email this person back - let me admit something - I did type out this incredibly, hysterical email to respond to her offer - but then I thought she wouldn't find it so funny - actually, she would probably get offended, so I didn't send it.

But I did save it- hehe

Hello -----,

I'm so glad you contacted me with your media invitation. But at this time, I'm going to have to say no. As much as I would love to be linked on all of these wonderful blogs, I'm just not quite rich enough. Apparently, my good looks will only get me so far and I hate that you wasted your time sending me your eloquently written email.

You obviously don't read my blog, or you would have realized that I am drowning in orders and I do not really think any kind of advertising would be a wise choice for me at the moment. Not only that, but I have 4 small children - a 3 year old, 2 22 month olds and a 5 month old - and they are all in diapers. Do to inflation, this recession {that everyone seems to blame on President Bush & the Republicans}, the cost of gas as well as the cost of these diapers - I'm actually in the hole every month when I set down and do my budget. Nor did you look at my site or you would have seen that I'm priced for regular people to buy my art - not the rich and famous! I do this small business to help generate money to feed my children, since the government doesn't go out of their way to pay their soldiers a fat monthly check - don't get me wrong, the pay isn't bad mind you - but it's not quite the 86,000 bucks that you see per {yearly} ad/per person.

Now, I'm sure the full amount doesn't see the inside of your pockets - but I'm sure I chunk does. And actually, if you only make a small percentage of one yearly add sell of 86,000 smacks, {only after someone actually thought this was a good idea and did it} - YOU just made more than I did during one good, year of painting. That is Amazing! And if you are really good at this, you could probably be in Forbes top 100 highest paid women - right up there with Oprah! Man, I'm beginning to think I'm in the wrong business!!

Again, as I stated above - I appreciate the opportunity. But it just isn't right of me to go in that direction. I wish you the best of luck with your campaign and hope that you can actually get some folks to buy into this {I believe you already have, as I've seen several {many} ads on these blogs you are referring to} - It really would be great if you could generate more money through our hurting economy. But as for me, I'm too busy buying diapers, stride-rite shoes and saving for college educations.

Sincerely,

Kim Tate Wheeler


86,000 - good lawd - that is just nutso! Or is it just me? Some of you out there might think it is worth it - But I couldn't paint enough paintings to pay the 600 monthly fee! This is one crazy world we are living in . . .

. . . hello - starving kids in China!

As tacky as this sounds - I should come up with a label that says, "bend over" - this post would definitely fit!

16 comments:

JoAnneBNA said...

hmmm, that is alot. wow. i think you're getting pretty good traffic on your own, and from people who actually read your blog! -j.

Anonymous said...

Just curious...isn't $600 x 12 = $7,200/year...? How does the $86,000 fit in? Is the $600 just a one month promotional fee?

Kelli from Michigan

Swan Family said...

Wow! That is amazing...but hello they should of offered you more! HA! I agree with Joanne's comment...you seem to be great on your own. Love the paintings and good luck on melting that brain freeze I know you can do it!!!!

Free Art Printables said...

wow....that's more than people make in a year.. Jen R

Rachel Spence said...

Uhhhh yeah you told me $18,000 and I thought THAT was TOO much! $86,000?!!!! Are you kidding me....wow man they sure think alot of their media kit and I don't even see any other perks. What a rip! Ridiculous! oh but shhh don't tell whoever has done it already..... =)

Megan L Hutchings said...

$86,000.00...WOW! I think you get really good business through your blog and word of mouth ;)! Thanks for bringing me my painting...I LOVE IT!

Jenna said...

Oh my word, that is insane! And you email = HILARIOUS. :)

Dana D said...

$600/month is more than my husband pays for his construction company's ad in the Yellow Pages! That is beyond ridiculous!!!

Cheri said...

All I gonna say is...you should have sent your email, too funny.

Anonymous said...

I love your letter. Preach it sister, love it!

Unknown said...

Wowza! That is crazy!

BTW I emailed you and dumb little me forgot to tell you it was from me though I mention this trainwreck of a mouth I have so it shouldnt be hard to figure it out!HA!

Tara said...

$86,000????!?!! Thats insane. Did they mean $8,600??

Kim Hancock said...

I hope that person doesn't work for a company that drug tests. Oh...wait...just one taker on that offer a year and they may not need to work.

I'm sure there are plenty of people who would put your logo button on their blog for free or in trade.

People are crazy!!!

pve design said...

I believe in word of mouth and giving -
That works for me....

melissa said...

Hey Kim, I don't know if you are familiar with Jerry's Artarama in Antioch by Outback, but they have the canvas with no staples on the sides in 2 packs in 5 different sizes ranging from 11x14 to 18x24, I think, for between $3.20 to $7 something through this weekend. I don't know what brand you use, but I have used these for a while and they do pretty well for me. Just FYI. :) Good luck with the brain freeze-I know they will be fab-u-lous when you get them done!

Anonymous said...

That is more than a print ad in parenting magazine!!!