That's an interesting way of looking at things but it doesn't quite add up like that. If it did I would think a lot of us would be a lot richer!
I get $120/hr for doing custom jewelry work but I just can't do it at 11:30 at night at home. As a result the labor on my Fett costume is free.Don't get me wrong- I make great money but I'm on a VERY tight budget. I don't eat out, I go to maybe one movie a year, etc. I just don't have any disposable income. Working extra hours isn't an option for me- I need to spend time with my family. I only work on my hobby after my son has gone to bed and after I've spent time with my wife.
A couple of years ago when my son was four months old he was hospitalized as a victim of shaken baby syndrome :cry (some RPF members might remember this)- it's a long ugly story that I really don't want to get into right now- he's fine now, social services declared us exceptional parents, etc. I never thought I had the capacity to harm another person but if I ever find the person that did it I'll bury them so deep in the ground that the heat from the earth's core will incinerate their body.
As a result of this my wife quit her job (which paid over $60k/year) to work from home to be with our son and we tightened our belts- i.e. no disposable income. Even if I made more money it would be accounted for.
Which means that if I want to make a Fett costume I have to get creative. I have to scrounge for materials and make every dollar count. I added up everything that I used to make my costume (and granted it's still not finished but I do have most all the materials to finish it- except the boots)
and even if I HAD bought everything I still wouldn't have spent over $200.
Because I was able to reuse materials, scrounge, etc. I only spent $20 this Halloween. And the total time I have into construction of my Fett costume so far isn't more than two weeks.
Sorry to be throwing down the gauntlet here but when someone asks for help and all they get is save your money, forget it, shift funds around, etc. INSTEAD of creative ideas to help them make their dream happen it kind of dissapoints me.
Don't get me wrong- I LOVE it when someone takes the time, money, care and patience necessary to make a perfect movie replica. That kind of work gives me something to shoot for. Just because I can't buy a Ferrari doesn't mean I don't like reading about it.......
But not everyone here is trying to make a pefect replica- some of us are just trying to make something that looks good and that we can be proud to say we made ourselves- and do it on a limited budget.
I now know it can be done and it's probably the most fun I've had in some time.
I think this is my first rant!
Jerome
