Signwriting Information

[Acclaimed VS]

I am currently considering taking up a signwriting apprenticeship and I was wondering if anyone involved or who knows someone involved in the industry could offer any information regaridng how they started their apprenticeship, What kind of work they did throughout their apprenticeshipe, what the average wage is throughout the apprenticeship, How many hours are worked and just any genral information. Any help advice and knowlege would be very valuable to me as I have only very recently looked into it as a possible career choice so I don't know much. Thanks.

[DANNY8]

I got offered a job as a graphic designer...not quiet the same title, but the work is similar, and it was only a casual position, not an apprenticeship. I've only played around with photoshop for a few years doing numerous things, some things including banners and flyers for car clubs, even some interstate. A new sign place opened up here about a year ago. I decided to start taking my stickers there to be cut, and flyers for the clubs I'm involved with to be printed a few months back, and the owner offered me a job as she was impressed with my work (and they were about to advertise for a graphic designer due to the huge increase in work). I went in for an interview, and we agreed to start me on $18 an hour as I wasn't qualified. The owner was pleased with my work, but I ended up turning the job offer down after my trial coz being stuck in a room all day looking at the computer was doing my head in. I regret it now tho, I wish I tried it for a while longer to see if I'd adapt to it, but awe well.....no use in worrying about it now.

If you've got a keen eye for detail, and know wat colours go with wat, I'd say go for it. Coz it's not hard work and generally good money (not sure how good on an apprenticeship). I used Illustrator while doing my trial. It was the first time I had used it, and I got the hang of the basic functions pretty quick. I know use Illustrator at home. And instead of me making a vinyl sticker in photoshop, then emailing it to my old boss to be cut, I now just make them in Illustrator and email them to her to be cut....I get it quicker and it works out cheaper coz she doesn't have to remake it.