Airbrush Stories: Flea Market War

[@STICKYArt]

So cool to hear your experiences from back in the day! I can’t believe it got so competitive that people were selling custom shirts for eight bucks! I totally understand the competition but from an artistic perspective you got to have respect for yourself and other artists!

[@MikesBrush]

I totally agree!

[@cookingwithsamontheblackst3282]

I loved doing artshows on the week end airbrushing 33 years

[@StevenLeahyArt]

You nailed it. I don't know any company that has succeeded by focusing on putting their competition out of business ahead of taking care of customers.

[@MikesBrush]

Yup I learned to focus on the customer and let everything else go.

[@StevenLeahyArt]

@@MikesBrush I don't get why people /companies do that. The moment anyone says 'My product is half the price of X product but is the same.', immediately makes me go look up X product :D

[@jahsehwrld2184]

It funny when i watch this video so i get ideas for my airbrush i got for christmas my dad said watch u end of in a flea market it funny bc i never knew it can be that hard

[@MikesBrush]

It can be alot of work, used to wake up at 4am to load up and be in the lot by 7. Some days I would be there until 7pm without breakfast or lunch, in 100 degree weather, dealing with kids and drunk adults. Painting, taking orders, pressing shirts, bagging and watching them go. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.

[@jf6720]

I used to to woodworking. The worst part for me was always worrying about the weather (I live in the Midwest.) Any rain or excessive wind could make me lose $100's of dollars. Fortunately I stopped doing it a few years ago, but thanks for bringing up some bad memories :)

[@MikesBrush]

Great point!

[@timminer5774]

Thanks so much for this video. It gives great insight and your perspective from probably madhouse days at times.

[@MikesBrush]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@mikeszczutkowski3066]

You seem like a good honest man and I respect that 💯 keep up the great work. I really love your videos .

[@MikesBrush]

Thank you, I will

[@karlbecker8775]

Thanks for sharing, Mike. Love the truth.

[@MikesBrush]

My pleasure!

[@420dragon79]

Always love your videos thank you

[@MikesBrush]

Glad you like them!

[@johnsearcy5438]

I've been there before. The most other airbrush artist I've ever had at an event was 1 or 2. As long as my work stood out as high quality, I didn't too much worry. But just like you, when other airbrush artist came in, they would try to undercut the prices & some people would come & tell me. It was a war but hey, competition is another way to MAKE you get better.

[@rigobertomowchue2029]

Thank you Mike for your insight Wich I feel are real arriba

[@jimhalcrow7874]

Yeah the organiser of the flea market should have intervened, even though it was a big market, if I was there with help I would have said pop over and see if Mike needs anything, but that's just me, I'd never put another airbrusher down we all have our own styles 😉

[@michaelkeymont501]

The same b.s. takes place at huge events like CES, between multi-billion dollar companies. Air shows. Trade shows. Same crap.

[@MikesBrush]

lol

[@dragonairart4347]

Great story... thanks for sharing.

[@MikesBrush]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@CheeseGrits_and_Nyquil]

I used to work markets with my mom when I was a kid. That’s a hard road lol. We sold bras and underwear. Old ladies would go crazy over it lol. My moms Ex boyfriend wild the same but just across the way and he would do horrible things towards my moms business. Hats off to all the market workers that work with honor and dignity.

[@ChrisGarcia-pd2lj]

Thanks for sharing primo!! It was actually the fault of the venue host, allowing them in and taking you business away!

[@jf6720]

I agree, I used to do woodworking, and I had shows where they would assign the booth next to me to another woodworker selling the same thing. Very lazy and unorganized. That's when you can tell all a show wants is money instead of having a good show with a large variety of vendors.

[@justice13ful]

[@scoffman30]

💀☠️💀☠️ Squad!!!

[@cliffg4975]

I love the story. So Mike would have any tips to help get into the business of t shirts. I am in the UK, I have not seen anyone doing this any where near me. I have not been airbrushing for long but I would hope I could improve quick if I got customers.

[@MikesBrush]

I would personally love to try it out at a market in the UK for a weekend just to see peoples reactions. Best advice is get out there and try it!

[@cliffg4975]

@@MikesBrush thanks Mike

[@DanJR0422]

Hi Mike

[@hand4letters851]

Do you think the airbrush competition today is the same as back in the day? seems like more n more artist are on the tattoo bandwagon you hardly hear anyone airbrushing nowadays