I want to start a mini painting club in NJ, any tips or suggestions?

[uglybug]

Hello, like many of you I really enjoy this miniature painting hobby and would love to meet, hangout, and learn with like minded people. Currently there are a couple of gaming groups that I plan to approach to find some members. I went to a local ipms show but that group is really interested in planes, tanks, and cars. At the show I counted 140 tables, 1 table had both 54 mm and larger and 54 mm and smaller single miniature figure category, as you can see not much in attendance.

Do any of you belong to a local club? Do you meet at a store or a members home? How often do you meet? If you had a free night would you rather go to a painting group or a gaming group? How do you work out the paints and brushes. What would entice you to join and continue going to this type of club?

I was thinking I could host at my own home to start, I don't mind sharing my space I have plenty of room for parking, and a nice size workshop that I can transform into a meeting place too, once I upgrade my lighting. Most hobby stores don't have great lighting for painting. And if they do have a
painting desk it fits only 1 person.
Thank you for your input.

 

[Dragonsreach]

Do any of you belong to a local club? Not as such, but several people do arrange to do a painting get together now and again.
Do you meet at a store or a members home? Both, but now that Bolton has an Independant Gaming store there might be a few more meetings on a Sunday.
How often do you meet? See above.
If you had a free night would you rather go to a painting group or a gaming group? Personally at night I'd rather have me feet up. I prefer to paint during the day and not feel too tired.
How do you work out the paints and brushes. Good Question. I'd suggest that you don't have group brushes but get everyone to bring their own. Group ownership would mean that you'd have share and some people may not like the brushes you like.
What would entice you to join and continue going to this type of club? Get someone well known in the painting sphere to do painting demo's. Run competitions and have 'head to head' challenges using the same mini's.

I was thinking I could host at my own home to start, I don't mind sharing my space I have plenty of room for parking, and a nice size workshop that I can transform into a meeting place too, once I upgrade my lighting.Thank you for your input.

Using your own home sounds OK, but check your home insurance to make sure you have enough liability cover in case of accidents.

 

[wiccanpony]

it might be a good idea to have a simple "meet and greet" first before, maybe at a pub or fast food place ...talk about painting etc. and if you all can get along ........ said She who has been in a few D&D games with a few creepy inmates

 

[Scherdy]

I think it sounds awesome.

I'll just throw my ideas out there about the last question you asked:

Don't get frustrated or disheartened if numbers fluctuate wildly (some days trying to find space for everyone and others just even a single person showing up). Make yourself consistently available on a predictable schedule. People will be able to plug their group painting session more easily if they can keep track of what day/time it usually is.

Have something in the background - a movie, music. Open it up for other people to give recommendations or be the video/music dj for the evening. Maybe even have a painting tutorial from one of the DVD's available or find some key parts to watch as a group. (if nobody has any of the videos, give people the option to chip in a dollar or two in a tip jar with the intention of it being used for a video possibly or some other thing for everyone to benefit from: lights, chairs, palettes)

If you can get someone notable in the painting community to come by that's awesome! But don't forget to use the local talent, just the regulars who show up. If you see someone does something particularly well or an interesting technique (metallics, blending, cloth, OSL, blood effects) ask them to do a 15 minute tutorial for an upcoming week. Should help them feel some ownership as well and hook them in
Set up an easy communication system to give them reminders of what is coming up. It's too easy to forget and then have that moment where you remember it was painting night and now have something else scheduled on top of it.

Don't give up on it. I think people have great intentions for stuff like this and when it's slow to grow into what they expected, or they see people dropping off temporarily (we all have seasons when we just need a break to do other things right?) they scrap the whole thing. Even if it's just you and one other person, keep reminding people and inviting others.

Oh, also - maybe in your reminders snap a few nice pictures from the end of the session of work people did and throw them into the email. May inspire people to show up. Also food. If you are making your space available I don't think it's too much to ask at some people for people to bring something to share. Would love to hear how this goes for you though if you give it a try!

 

[Dragonsreach]

........ said She who has been in a few D&D games with a few creepy inmates

Yeah but I'll bet you had them under control in no time at all.

A quick Hi-jacking for humour aside, Scherdy has made good points.
Benefits of sleeping after replying to a post is that you think of so many clever replies.
Other things to consider is that not everyone has the same taste in miniatures (thankfully) so having people do a "show and tell" about their favourite manufacturers mightn't hurt.
General "house rules" ie............
Ok YOU might think its "Utter Sh*te", but the guy who painted it thinks it wonderful. Constructive Criticism works far better than mockery.
Use of Soap, Water and Deoderant isn't mandatory but, is nicer for other people.

 

[NightFallArts]

what part of NJ are you in...

 

[uglybug]

Nightfall, - I am in Franklin lakes, Bergen county. How about you?

Sherdy and Dragonsreach - Thanks for the words of encouragement and the ideas. I already have a couple of dvd's and have been downloading stuff from miniature mentor. I plan on setting up either a website or use something like yahoo groups or facebook to set up a set schedule and project themes for each month. The IPMS group near me would have a simple theme like green or wheels as there monthly theme, although everyone would keep bringing in airplane models that had nothing to do with the theme then the guest speaker would talk about his time in the military. I kept thinking to myself "when are we going to talk about making and painting models?"
I would like to encourage all sorts of model figures, fantasy to historical to sci-fi, 28mm, 54mm and larger busts, and maybe even traditional plastic models. From my limited experience I find that jumping around with different size and types really makes you learn more tricks and tools.
I like the idea of friendly competitions or head to heads. Even speed painting.
I dont wont to ask for club dues so i like the idea of asking people to bring food and such. And early on I'm willing to offer up my paints unless you think its a bad idea.
Any more ideas or people in the area please post.
@wiccanpony- I think any time a female enters a d&d group, gaming, or a mini group she will attract weirdos or bring out the inner weirdo in men, lucky for me my woman likes this hobby too.

I was wondering would it be uncool to search for people from new jersey in the forum list and send them an email asking to join the group when i get it up and running?

 

[CrookedEye]

There used to be a NY/NJ painters group that had a lot of momentum but a lot of people moved out of the hobby or geographically out of the region. I would suggest something close enough to NYC that people taking mass transit from the city could come, but I suppose it depends on what your goals are. the Yahoo group still exists but hasn't had a post in years.

Unless you're catering to beginners most people would have their own brushes and paints, and would probably prefer to use their own stuff anyway. Having a movie or alternate form of entertainment is a good idea though.

Using a space in a store is a good idea too. It gives people something else to do (browse) and buy new things, try out new paints, pick up supplies. Kind of like killing two birds with one stone.

Hope that helps.
Zach
www.crookedeye.net

 

[NightFallArts]

I live in nothern Jersey - Jersey City-Hudson County
Where do you game uglybug....

Crooked Eye very nice work

 

[uglybug]

crooked eye - awsome work. I nominate you for president of the New jersey miniature painting club. lol. I saw your knight of the empire at games day last year i was in aw at the barding on the horse. The way you painted it i thought the quilting was more 3 dimesional until i changed my viewing angle. As good as your photo is on the site it doesnt do it justice once you see it in person. I checked out the HQ club link you had on your site. Did they recently disband? Do you still play and where?

Nightfall - I play Malifaux at Mighty titans right now which is 40 min west of me in Landing NJ. I have been to time warp comics in cedar grove. And gamers gambit in fair lawn. I am still pretty new so im willing to travel and check out other new stores too. Not many places play Malifaux on a regular bases, so i will be working on a vampire counts or skaven army soon. Where do you play and what stores are near you?

Are either of you going to http://www.mfcashow.com/ April 30th? Its no games day but some nice work worth checking out. I will try to get some of my malifaux stuff posted soon.

 

[CrookedEye]

Haha, thanks guys. I wish I had the time to run something like that. Before I had the two kids and started the house renovation I did help with running the old group but now it's beyond my free time limit. If you do get something going I would love to try and make some of the meetings though.

I think HQ was in the process of disbanding actually. I need to check and make sure, and update the link if they're gone. If so it's too bad, they were a good group.

I am going to try to go to MFCA on the Friday. Maybe I'll see you there.

Zach
www.crookedeye.net

 

[uglybug]

I was going to go Saturday, I went Friday last year and not everyone had arrived to put there work on display yet more show up Saturday from what I was told. If the guy from time machine miniatures is there you need to check out his diorama of The Teutoburger Wald. It has easily 50+ figures and took 1,300 hours to make.

 

[NightFallArts]

I will be attending the MFCA in PA hopefully I will be able to pick up a couple of historical minis while there.
I am thinking of entering a piece in the painting comp.

Crooked - I am right there along side you when you talk about family... I have 1 little one and another on the way.... Luckily the new home we moved into has a basement which has become my little haven of horror when it comes to miniatures and painting...