We were lucky to catch up with Shane Harris recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Shane thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

It was 2023, I had been Sign Painting for roughly 8 to 9 years at that point. I worked out of a 12’x16′ shed I had converted into a little sign studio. I spent every night In there chipping away at sign work. At the time I worked full time as an in house graphic designer for a Beer Brewery in Frederick MD. I had known for several years that I needed to quit and go full time with my sign business, but having just had my daughter (3 at the time) and recently purchased a house, leaving the salary was terrifying. It was a great job, I had no “business model” or projected revenue, just a gut feeling I was supposed to do it. Long story short, I finally put my two weeks notice in, and less then a week after that, an all hands deck meeting was called at the brewery, and it was announced that the company was being purchased, and was ceasing as a business. I just remember sitting there and thinking, “I heard that one universe”. Crazy stuff!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

After I got out of the Marine Corp in 2009, and spending several years roaming around and blowing all the money I had saved up when I was in, I decided to attend Shepherd University for graphic design using my GI Bill. I think it was my Sophomore year I had been introduced to a friend of my Wife’s and I, who turnes out to be an incredible sign painter and pinstriper named Travis. Goes by “Tuki”. He had this really cool little studio in his auto body shop in Martinsburg and after seeing his work, I was immediately hooked. It was like magic how he could do what he did. I came home, and got a piece of glass I would tape alphabets onto the back of and some paint and a brush, and I would just sit in our apartment and practice. Must have been thousands of hours over the first few years. I just got obsessed, I would find old sign painting books, and just work through each one all night. the whole Sign Painting trade just became all consuming. At the time, I didn’t really own a cell phone, and ended up getting one and using Instagram to find other sign painters (which I didn’t know these people existed) and post about what I was working on. It just grew from there. I worked several graphic design jobs during this period, but every free second was dedicated to painting signs. Eventually people started reaching out for work, and it just snowballed from there.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I really look up to Traditional Sign Painters of the past, as well as living and working old timers in the trade. Ive always had the goal of earning their respect, and carrying on the trade in a respectable way. I didn’t know at the time, but there are not many people who still do this. The barrier to entry is thousands of hours of practice. You almost have to fall into love with it, to get through the frustration of becoming proficient. You cant really fake it. I could win the lottery today, and I would be in my studio tomorrow painting signs.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

I have a little sign that i hang above my easel that says “The best business model is quality”. Ive always pushed myself to produce the best work for myself and my trade and that simply trickles down to my clients. The progress in my ability, always leads to larger and more complex jobs. I think people and businesses see this through my instagram and website, and its a natural growth financially for my business. Word of mouth is king in my opinion when you want to take your work in the direction you desire and not have that vision be dictated by some marketing strategy based on sheer prospecting.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.theotherplacesigns.com
• Instagram: the_otherplace_signs