MAN CHILD PHOTO
9th Year No. 2
Skater's Edge
TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 1989.
Sticker Study Stuns Skateboard Enthusiasts
by Bonnie Blouin
My studies indicate that many of you are
clueless about some of the basic theories of
Stickerology-the acquisition, collecting,
trading, use and abuse of skate stickers.
Skaters often take them for granted and even
throw some stickers away. However, there are
some hardcore collectors out there who
would pay top dollar for a rare Dewey/Weber
decal. Let's review the unwritten laws and
etiquette of stickermanship.
ACQUISITION
First and foremost, never pay cash for a
sticker. As skaters we are not "companies"
and we benefit in no way by paying them to
advertise their own products. What a scam.
It is in direct violation of the law which states,
"Nothing is free. Pay your dues, but never
pay in cash." Second, never beg for a sticker.
It's okay to ask for stickers. Asking is cool.
Begging is lame. This is asking: "Yo, dude,
can you spare a few of those?" This is beg-
ging: "I wanna sticker. Gimme stickers."
Now let's consider the options. "Sticker
tosses" are the most profitable situations.
With a little aggression you can provide
yourself with a hefty, long lasting supply of
FREE "advertising adhesives." Thus, you've
paid your dues, maybe heavily.
Another positive way to obtain stickers is
to write to your fave skate company. Send
a short letter telling them why you enjoy their
product and why you admire "Joe Shred."
Then ask for stickers. Don't expect anything
if you write, "Send me stickers" and sign
your name. Of course, enclosing a self-
addressed stamped envelope with your letter
helps a lot.
Gaining sponsorship or having friends that
are sponsored is the best way to ensure a
constant flow. Also, keep an eye out for all
of those easily accessible non-skate stickers.
Many a board has been enhanced by a
butcher shop "boneless" or a "Do Not Play
On Or Around" sticker. The basic "flam-
mable" or "explosive" will add pizazz to your
adhesive scheme as well..
MAKE YOUR OWN
Making your own stickers is fun, too. Here
are a couple of easy, inexpensive methods.
First you need to find some sticker-like paper.
Thin sheets of shelf paper or blank label
stickers from Mom or Dad's office work well.
You can always call a print shop and ask if
they have any damaged sticker paper stock
or excess trimmage. Get a quote on making
28
a thousand while you're at it-maybe you
can get into the sticker business yourself.
The next step is your artwork. You have
the option of either making a stencil or
photocopying your pattern or logo. Hand
drawing with permanent markers works too,
but try to make more than 20 stickers and
you'll probably go crazy. If you make a sten-
cil, just place it over your sticker paper and
spray paint that baby. Use more than one
stencil for multi-color stickers. To photocopy
your stickers, draw your logo on a piece of
white paper and photocopy it until you have
enough logos to fill an 8%2x11" sheet of
paper. Use this as your "master shoet." Then
feed your shelf paper, or whatever you're
using, through the copier. Instant stickers.
Just cut 'em out.
THE COLLECTORS
Most every skater I know has a shoe box
full of skate stickers. Usually the box contains
four types: "bunk," "good," "killer" and
"collector's items."
Bunk stickers portray a skate shop, com-
pany or product with a bad logo or a bad
reputation. You'd hardly consider slappin'
that crap on anything you own, so you shove
it into the box.
Good stickers don't usually end up in your
shoe box. These are the ones you either peel
and slap immediately or stick in your skate
bag for near future use. These stickers get
plastered on everything you own, from your
board to your toothbrush, and freely
distributed around town if you have a whole
shitload. Good stickers are the rulers. They
have many practical uses. You can seal
envelopes, hang posters, wrap presents and
attach notes to a friend's door if he/she's not
home. They are also extremely handy in
emergency skate situations...like if your
shorts rip in an undesired location or if you
left your duct tape in someone else's car. No
problem. Just sticker the toes of your shoes
(three layers will usually do it). If you're hav
ing recap wobbles, a few high quality stickers
will temporarily take care of the problem.
Killer stickers are from special events,
limited editions or die-cut in some way as to
make them extra cool. They are for decor-
ative purposes only. You would not slap al
killer sticker on the wall in the men's room
or on your cat for momentary entertainment.
No, these babies are saved for placing on
your new board, your car or some other im-
portant object. One way to ensure their
longevity and proper viewing is to make a
sticker collage for your room. Buy a piece
of poster board from the drug store and apply
your stickers, along with a few cool photos.
Kind of a rainy day thing.
Collector's items are generally never
peeled at all. These are the bizarre misprints
and the products of long defunct companies
and bulldozed skateparks. Some companies.
just stopped issuing certain designs or
colors. The round Independent "Suspen-
sion" iron cross is a coveted find, or an
Ameron sticker from the fabled pipe makers.
THE ART OF STICKERING
There are several ways of applying stickers
to surfaces. The neat, centered and smooth.
(no air bubbles) method is used on your hot-
rod, low rider, tool box, or front door. The
"peel and slap" method is the most widely
practiced. I've heard of slappage on No Left
Turn signs from the driver's seat (while mak-
ing a left), bridge toll booths, airplanes (a 747
while boarding)
cops, store win-
dows, skateboards (during a head-high.
backside air), even inside a toilet bowl below
high tide level.
My favorite pastime for ridding my shoe
box of lowly stickers is called "people graf-
fiti." This requires stealth, skill and a steady
hand, as well as a fast mouth. Heavy verbal
repercussions and even physical abuse have
been known to result from such pranks.
Several techniques are used by people
graffiti pros. The "ho-wa-ya" back slap is
most prevalent, but don't forget the delicate
lay-down from the tip of one finger. An inno-
vative new method currently on the rise is
the "throw." Lay a pre-peeled sticker gum
side up in your palm and literally throw it on
somebody's back. Make sure you stop your
hand before impact. Then watch as the
sticker rests in place, hopefully in peace.
A cache of stickers can offer you the op-
portunity to partake in the "slice and dice"
treatment, also known as "selective re-
arrangement." With an X-acto blade and a
little bit of creativity, you can make whatever
artistic statement you choose.
One of the best ideas, however, was devel
oped by my friends Brandon and Kenny, who
dubbed their undesirables "Grind Master
Tape. This was very popular in my town for
some time. You get the last laugh every time
by placing unwanted stickers on your trucks
or coping and grinding the shit out of them.
What a great feeling. Remember, keep your
skate spots tidy-pick up your peelings.
Skate long and strong.
NOT H
1989
CEO
STREET THING 10" X 30"
RED KROSS 10.25" x 30.25"
THUMB HEAD 31" x 10.25")
LUCERO LTD. 4401 SOQUEL DRIVE, SOQUEL, CA. 95073
(408) 475-9434