How Do You Do It?

[🪦 Jason Fan ●]

:blink: Whoa..... I actually Like what you wrote Mike. I had to print it out so the screen ouldn\'t melt my eyes, but It had some really good points. That should be an article.

[🪦 Pugsly ●]

This hobby is a funny animal. On one end of the spectrum you have uber-collectors that have every piece ever made no matter the price and on the other end of the spectrum you have the teenager who only owns a rubies LF mask but loves it all the same. Then you have what I call specialists who have 16 myers masks or all the Don post calender masks or anything of a specific sub genre. Personally I\'m at the point now where I just don\'t have the room anymore. If I get a new mask I have to figure out where it will go, what will have to go into storage to accomidate it etc... As far as money goes I know I\'ve spent my fair share of it. But it really just comes down to saving and prioritizing. Sure I\'ve missed out on some pieces just simply because I didn\'t have the money, but that\'s also part of the game. When I first started I just wanted one good quality bust of each of the Icons (Freddy, Jason, bubba, Myers) and I pursued that tirelessly. Then once I was finished with that I expanded on it to include all of Jason\'s hockey masks and all of the bubba looks I thought were worthy and then an H2 to go with the H1 etc... From there I went to original higher end pieces. What I\'m trying to get at is that any true hobby/obsession will never be complete. I\'m at a stage in my collecting life where I don\'t have to buy everything that comes along. I can be selective about what gets included into the fold just for the simple fact that I have no more goals. I\'ve pretty much matched all the superficial goals I\'ve set for myself early on so everything now is gravy. I can sit back and wait for the next must have piece to come along and then kick myself for not having the disposable cash laying around for the week it\'s available LOL :thumbsup: What really needs to stressed is that a hobby is meant to be a relaxing escape, not a contest on who has the most pieces. Some of our members don\'t get that, but some do.There are two cardinal rules to mask collecting as far as I\'m concerned : never spend more than you make and never buy a piece just to buy a piece.

[post=\"154876\"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

I couldnt have said that any better. :thumbsup:

[🪦 mike ●]

:banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:

[🪦 TallDarkandDisfigured ●]

I\'ll toss my info in it.

I have a job, not a great paying job but better than Min. Wage.. Still I have 2 kids, just bought a house, have a student loan and car to pay off.
So I can never just buy something. I always sell something else to buy something new. For instance I sold a my favorite Lightsaber to get an SPFX mask(along with help from a bud). It killed me to do it, but it\'s the only way I can go.
I\'ve been saving for nearly a month but things keep coming up and I\'m back to $0 for my next mask.

Best bet, decide what you want and work towards it. I want a great version of each mask. Not 7-8 Myers masks. I have my list, I know which Myers I want, which Fred I want, and until I can get those, why bother getting a different one that isnt exactly what I want?

plan and do it! It\'s hard but if you really want it, you can pull it off.

[🪦 TallDarkandDisfigured ●]

Forgot to mention trades and fix ups.

Buy cheap and trade up. It\'s easy to do. Or buy a kit and finish it and sell for profit.

These both worked for me in my Star Wars collecting. I bought $25 kits and sold em finished for $up to $200. Just gotta find the right buyer.

[🪦 HERETIC ●]

For me, pretty much when my collection got too big, I stopped spending money. Basically every time I blow some dough on stuff I either ebay or sell stuff to make up the price difference. it also helps that I make a lot of my own masks, so I can make them to keep or sell.

[Andy]

I guess I throw my hat into the ring, and give some pointers........Hope that helps and this wasn\'t to long. I know it was...   :blink:    :blink:  :ermm:  <_< 
Mike

[post=\"154929\"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

Great post Mike, very informative and some great points made. Many thanks for taking the time to type all that and sharing your hard earned wisdom.

Oh and I always wanted a red leather MJ jacket but never did get one

[🪦 Ben_Forsaken ●]

**snatches MJ jacket off of $2.00 garage sale table**

Always wanted one huh? well it\'s a buyers market, $1000. and it\'s yours.

Hey this thing is vintage!

I try to stick to my list and all that. But I really love masks, so about once or twice a month I see a mask I want. Even if it\'s just to get a closer look at it and appreciate it in person. I\'ve gone through alot of masks that way. I get them just because I want a better look and to hold it, then I sell it, trade it, or give it to my sisters. I just love \'floppy art\' and that\'s how I think of masks. As floppy busts and sculptures. Way cooler imo then a stone or solid bust. I love em from cheap $30. half masks to $200. full head masks. Masks are just cool, damnit!

One of these days I\'ll snag a Casey Love piece.

and I still want to find the \'Incoming\' mask in my avatar.

[🪦 princeofdarknessMikeW ●]

I\'m glad you guys injoyed the small post haha... I hope it will help people out.

One thing I never touched base on is caring for your "Prized" mask/bust.

If its foam filled and taken care of it should out last you...

Something to remember... Always keep your mask out of direct sunlight...If you display them, keep them in a out of sunlight in a cool place. Not freezing but you dont want to put them by a fireplace or heater...You can dust them with a feather duster...Prized high cost peices should be in a glass box. Yeah they cost money but if you paid $300, $500 or so odd dollars you want them protected. Dont let a alot of people handle them..."LOOK but dont TOUCH". Oils from the body can break down latex in time...Foam filling always is a bonus, but one understands that you buy them to enjoy and some people want to wear them I dont, most of my stuff is full figure anyway, or converted that way. Or just display...If you wear them then make sure you are the only one doing so...

The shape of your mask is the most important...If you dont foam fill, then you can use mask stands, if thier to much money, then, wig heads. You can probably get them for nothing, if you go to a wig store, or big store like Sears ect. They might even give you one for free. You have to ask the manager, NOT an employee...

Offer them $5 to buy one odds are they sell you one. If thats not possible then newspaper, or plastic bags stuffed inside will work. YOU want that shape, because folds, or mask without filling, will bend, and crack over time. Usually the noses, or eyes go first, they seem to have the most stress. The slit in the back also from stress of putting it on and off...

If this does happen or your mask does start to go, then the "MASK DOC" Kelly Mann is your best bet. He is the best in the business and can do anything. Hes very very reasonable as far as price. Think of it as another investment to protect your investment...If you cant insure them, then insure them with his services TRUST ME! Would you buy a Corevett without an alarm?

Smoking...I SMOKE! But never around my mask, and not in my home, and Def not in my trophy room were my mask and props are...If anyone does smoke, I suggest you dont smoke around your mask, NOR have anyone smoke around your mask and stuff...One it smells, and theres nothing worse than a mask that smells of smoke. How many people who DONT smoke bought something off of someone or ebay and you pull it out the box and it smells of smoke or bad...

It will decrease your vaule and its just bad deal. The smoke itself will discolor the mask...NOT GOOD! I SMOKE, but like I said outside...NEED TO QUITE lol! :no: :ninja:

Anyway those are tips of careing for your mask. If you do then they will last you a life time...Learn what you can use and cant use on your mask for cleaning...

Thanks for the feedback...

Mike