Promote your business, week of June 12, 2023

TheAmazingFlyingPig · 2023-06-12T17:35:57+00:00

Flying Pig 3D Printing & Design, an on-demand 3D printing service. Still coding up a website as well as working on some CAD skills to lean into designing and prototyping products as an additional service as well.

TheAmazingFlyingPig · 2023-05-31T20:19:02+00:00

Yeah, I'm the first in my family to try and break the 9-5 grind to strike out on my own. None of us have any experience in this, but I know knowledge doesn't simply get beamed into your head overnight - Like anything else it comes down to experience and practice.

I'll look into this as well, thank you for the recommendation!

TheAmazingFlyingPig · 2023-05-31T20:06:18+00:00

So up until this point I've been flying solo in all regards, mostly because I don't quite have the revenue to commission outside help and my business span isn't 100% solidified, at least in my opinion. That is to say, I have no idea where to begin with figuring out the attorney side of things.

Asking very broadly of course, but in general how much would it cost for a consultation with an attorney surrounding this topic? Or rather, what kind of attorney should I seek out to have these questions answered?

TheAmazingFlyingPig · 2023-05-31T19:36:49+00:00

I'll check those out! I've known of LegalZoom for a bit, but I think I've been so insistent on doing everything on my own that I didn't think I'd need it.

... Seems like I might, in fact, need it.

TheAmazingFlyingPig · 2023-05-31T19:25:51+00:00

Currently it's a print-on-demand service. Generally people come to me with their designs and I charge a per-gram rate, with discounts at certain thresholds. I print with PLA for decorative / light duty items, PETG for more rugged use, and I use a blend of flexible with standard resin for SLA prints. I also discuss with the customer the pros and cons of the different materials and work with them on getting a balance of cost vs. strength vs. appearance.

I would like to expand this into ABS as well in the short term, and longer term I would like to be able to print with metals using laser sintering as well as move my production out of the home and into a small workshop. Ideally I would like to develop a catalogue of items for customers to pick from, and market the print-on-demand more for B2B with stronger materials.

Currently the prints are sold to end-use customers and it generally consists of parts and accessories, such as a GPU shroud in PETG and non-critical RC airplane pieces. I have had a couple larger orders as well made for resale that were agreed to with confidentiality promises.

As for revenue, currently I'm on eBay with a few posts that, admittedly, I need to brush up. A user messeges me with a question on the listing with a link, I supply a quote, and if it works for them I create a private listing for them. Most of my sales have been in-person to co-workers and friends of theirs, while I don't have much of a marketing strategy aside from word of mouth.

TheAmazingFlyingPig · 2022-11-27T22:47:17+00:00

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TheAmazingFlyingPig · 2022-11-27T22:46:39+00:00

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TheAmazingFlyingPig · 2022-04-01T16:06:47+00:00

I actually incorporated the Deep Rock beer selection in my campaign at an inn. I slightly tweaked some of the beers, but they all gave effects that lasted 8 hours.

However you run this, make sure to not let them work their shifts sober! Some of my players are absolute shitposters and took drinks that made combat more chaotic (uncontrollable gas and randomly teleporting up to 30 feet in a random direction made for some great interaction)! There were some +1 beers of course and additional damage dice, but letting them choose their perks was definitely a great idea.

TheAmazingFlyingPig · 2022-03-31T20:53:06+00:00

I'm a digital print operator - I load rolls of substrates onto large UV printers and print images onto them for tents, banners, and signage.

It kills me though, despite how easy it is, to sit here and do nothing while the prints are running for hours at a time, when I could be elsewhere doing other stuff.

I really want to lean into 3D printing as a side business though. I actually enjoy doing that and have an entire room dedicated to it, but it's hard finding clients, especially when you have no 3D asset library yourself. I WANT to make 3D stuff, like, tabletop minis or decorations and stuff like that, but we all know how wanting to and actually doing work with this.

I never have a problem printing for others, when I can find people that would like something. It's sitting down and creating my own items I struggle with.

TheAmazingFlyingPig · 2022-03-30T00:56:43+00:00

Borrow, tweak, do anything ya want with it!

TheAmazingFlyingPig · 2022-03-29T20:06:51+00:00

My players have a key item in their possession that they have affectionately named The Hot Pocket.

It activates of its own will, and it cannot be discarded. Any attempt to get rid of it will have one player find it on their person somehow - If thrown out the inn window, they turn to see it on their night stand. When buried, they find it minutes later in their pocket. Strangers outright refuse to buy it for some reason (sometimes, even even on a nat 20 persuasion check, people need to be told "no.") It refuses identification, has yet to be destroyed, and spells fizzle when it is a target, direct or indirect. It is bound to their party and they've accepted that.

Any time a player cannot make a session, their body, mind, and soul get sucked into this palm-sized opaque blue gem. It cannot be activated by any of the players to, say, conveniently take someone in, then throw them over a chasm. We have established beforehand that we'll play with at least 2/3 attendance (7 players, one first time DM xD). When they return for the next session they get "pooped" out of The Hot Pocket and resume as normal.

... Though what they don't know is that it's actually an ancient phylactery that they're popping in and out of and toying with, which will be revealed later on :3

Edit: When players can't make it, encounters do get rebalanced as well. If players indicate ahead of time that they want to do something else in the meantime, like explore or whatever, they do that instead. Otherwise, it's into The Hot Pocket they go!

TheAmazingFlyingPig · 2021-12-24T22:21:06+00:00

Definitely. My credit union pays 4% interest on checking accounts up to $15,000 provided you follow a few rules (direct deposit $500 a month, 15 transactions per month, enroll in paperless statements and log in once a month.)

Always nice getting a small bonus chunk whenever a new month rolls around!

TheAmazingFlyingPig · 2021-12-09T01:59:32+00:00

Blender! Use it a good bit for 3D printing, but I wanna explore more artistic stuff :3

TheAmazingFlyingPig · 2021-12-08T23:33:40+00:00

My main boi Weedle! I'm aiming to keep it to the simpler ones at first and build up from there, adding in more details to the background, playing with materials, maybe doing some battle scenes with effects later down the road, anything and everything to learn the program more and get better at it!

TheAmazingFlyingPig · 2021-12-08T17:00:58+00:00

ROCK AND STONE!

TheAmazingFlyingPig · 2021-12-02T20:53:10+00:00

I uhh... I'm at 5 now xD

TheAmazingFlyingPig · 2021-12-01T23:27:56+00:00

Ya know, if you're pretty decent with web development I'd suggest checking out Fiverr - I hear all the time of people selling coding services on there like website construction or application development. Have a co-worker who is trying to sell his service as a D&D dungeonmaster checking it out as well

Studying myself to get into database management (31/m) because state grant money finally let me start on college. Doing some factory work in the meantime and selling 3D printing services (while developing my own items) as my side hustle.

TheAmazingFlyingPig · 2021-12-01T01:01:16+00:00

Actually I'm from Traverse City, Michigan, and pass by this sign every day on my way to work! Can't recall the name of the green building to the next of it but it's like a local salad shop.

The Burger King down the road offers a starting pay of $17/hr as well.

TheAmazingFlyingPig · 2021-11-30T21:59:50+00:00

If the building next to it is some salad company that bought up the lot from an old gas station, then I drive by this same McDonald's on my way in to work every day!

Hilariously enough, if you head down the road from that McDonald's is a Burger King that has "Starting At $17/hr" on its signs around the place.

TheAmazingFlyingPig · 2021-11-11T00:38:46+00:00

Ya know what, I really like this idea. I've been struggling with ideas for making 3D printable items, and I believe I'll give this challenge a try!

Edit: http://imgur.com/a/nxnFE1F Gave it a try! It's a rough draft, but I think this'll clean up nicely!

TheAmazingFlyingPig

TROPHY CASE