[Colin_Partridge]

Hi gang,
It seems to me that every one these days is asking for a donation to charity. I think that I am approached every week to donate a carving to some charity. I already have donated five this year and I was asked again yesterday to donate another. I am too soft hearted I think because I have a hard job saying no. The only problem it is getting out of hand. Do any of you have the same problem and if you do what do you do about it?
Colin

[carver6]

Colin,
I'm certainly no authority and am not accomplished enough in carving to have the problem you have. Don't know if that's good or bad. However, a person can only be expected to give so much, there has to be a cut off at some point. I think, if it were me, I'd try to pick the charitable organizations I felt closest to and make annual donations to them and explain to the others requesting donations, that you were booked for the year and just did not have the time required at this time. If they can't accept that, maybe you don't need to be involved with them in the first place. Give them a date for you to be notified by next year for your consideration to make a donation. That way you can gently refuse this year and have left it open for the future, which shouldn't cause any hard feelings. IMHO and my 2 cents worth.
Garon (Carver6)

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

How about "I gave at the office?" lol

[rick-in-seattle]

Colin,
That is a tough situation; being in business, I am often contacted for donations.
We make several donations each year, but I rarely create a special carving for a charity.
It can be very difficult to say no, but the requests will only continue to increase if you dont.

If I were in your position, I would choose a favorite charity or two and limit my donations to them. Most others will understand once they know that.

[squbrigg]

I wish I could tell/suggest you what to do Colin, but I'm afraid I'm not a good one to listen to! Too much an "easy mark" for these things, I say "sure I will" too often, and the result are that some folks take advantage of that. No more.....! It takes me too long to create something for it to be given away to someone who doesn't appreciate it for what it is. I have learned that lesson this winter. Just have to learn to say "No"! It is a difficult thing for me to learn to do, and I believe it will be difficult for you as well, you have a very generous nature my friend, but it is a skill we need more than ever these days. There are so many worthy causes, and others not so scrupleous (sp?), we need to choose which we can support very carefully. Wish I could offer more helpful advice.....but there it is.

Bob

[BasketballJones]

Colin,


The local carving club, which is comprised of mostly seniors who are accomplished carvers, does an annual group project. They have picked their organization and they stipulate that the proceeds for carvings raffled off go strictly to purchase toys for needy kids at Christmas. The carvers tell the petitioners this when they are approached.

[Paul_Guraedy]

Along the same line, how do you deal with long-time friends who, "just want to have one of YOUR carvings". The recipients are sincerely appreciative; and, would pay whatever I asked. But, I have a rough time asking old friends to pay what I get for a carving. I have been purchasing caricature roughouts (I seldom do caricature anymore) and doing those. But, even these cost about $20 and take a couple of days to carve (just can't whack one out rather than carve it well). I have thought of scaling back the price; but, do not think it would be a good idea to establish a two tier pricing system.

[Just Carving]

I haven't done this yet but I was thinking of setting a price, put a sticker or tag on the piece for that price, and when someone ask for the piece, you look at the price and say what the price is, and then, "...but for you I'll knock off..." what ever percentage you feel you want to reduce the price by--whether it be for charity, friend, relative, etc. Now if you're smart you'll up the original price like most merchants do and knock off accordingly--even if you reduce the price all the time for everyone but a little more for friends, and even more for relatives. This way you have the flexibilitiy of doing what you want and getting what you want.

Bottom line, it's your hard work and you should get what you want for it.

Hope this helps some.

Bob

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

the problem with human nature, when something is a gift or free, then it tends not to have value, and then not cared for, several things, specifically prints I have given have been damaged or destroyed by carelessness, and naturally they wanted another......I don't think so! As for price, one friend wanted something and I did an intriquet (spel?)carving because it was for a special occasion, once received, never even heard if the recipient liked it? But they did come up with other things they wanted "cheap".....so I just try very hard to avoid the whole, mess...when someone asks what I sell them for, I tell them the truth, I really don't know, I don't sell them very often!! Actually, I just carve and save them up, stack them all over the house so the kids will have something to do when I am gone !

[BobD]

Or do what my wife decided "We" were going to do this year--give them the carving as a holiday/birthday present. She was very generous--because I get to do all the work.In the same vein, I really admire one of my former college professor's paintings...and I wouldn't think of just asking for one--even at a reduced rate. Part of me feels like the artist has set their price fairly--based on what they put into it. I'm not necessarily talking just about the time they spent creating it--but the tiny essense of themselves that they put into the carving. Even when I'm writing something--I give a little bit of myself up to each story. Sorry if this sounds melodramatic but I think we sometimes lose sight of the fact that we are not just putting time into each item we create. Think about it this way: the time we spend carving we could be spending wiht our loved ones. In a way, it doesn't matter that we are doing something we love--all art is a sacrifice in one way or another--we put a piece of ourselves into everything we create.

Even those caricacture roughouts you carve Bob...You said yourself that you can't just HACK them out...You are investing yourself in each chip that flies off the carving.

The professor I spoke about above made a gift of three of her sketches to me when I won a prestigious award--and they mean that much more to me because of that! I'd love one of her paintings, but I can't afford one--and I'd never think of trying to talk her down!

Bob