Previous Fauxcademy attendees- how has it affected your Biz

[angelc]

I attended Fauxcademy 02 in Key West. I had been faux finishing for a couple of years with an Aqua Finishing foundations portfolio ( no offense but basic). I had just finihsed the DW-1 class @ FFI two weeks before 02 Fauxcademy. There was so much information, sharing of ideas and knowledge. I had also just moved to a new location so I was basically starting my biz in a new area. I can honestly say I came home with great ideas and inspiration that affected the success of my biz. And, I missed the Mastermind sessions due to too much Partying the night before! I had to miss 04 due to an illness in my family. I think the cost of Fauxcademy seems high on paper but to the professional finishers, its a MUST in my opinion! Anybody have comments on how its afffected your biz????

Hi Angel- My wife and I were there with you in Key West and also got to go to FC in Vegas. We had awesome times at both. 02 was smaller and more intimate, it seemed to us, which lent itself to making closer friends and networking better. We still stay in contact with some and bounce things off of each other once and a while. In 02 there was a seminar on how to make a mini cd of your work( and website design) to send to designers etc. and that alone was responsible for getting our largest job ( at that time) which helped us break from the 1-2 k jobs to the 10 and better jobs. I think well worth the price of admition. In 02 they had some hands on sample making, in 04 the instructors did the work and you observed. Which I think is better mainly because most there have enough experience to figure it out, but just are interested in technique, tricks and tips to make it faster thus more profitable. Plus you arent so tired you cant enjoy yourself afterwards. It is a vacation afterall. I personally think both trips were well worth the price. We were fortunate to win a few awards in 02 and that will never hurt your portfolio. And how often do you get to meet and greet with the likes of Graham Rust. Need i say more? Brian

[angelc]

I'm really interested in the details of this fauxcademy. You mentioned the mini dvd, is it a couple of minutes in length? give me some details if you don't mind. sounds interesting! angel

[sasslass]

JUST the masterminds sessions alone at Fauxcademy are worth the price of admission .... to have access to the minds of all these creative people coming together and brainstorming on ideas .. well you just have to be a part of it to appreciate the sheer force of it. The newtworking is INvaluable because throughout the year there are things that come up in your business that others you've met can help you with or inspire you to get thru. The adventures at Fauxcademy are fun too so it is like a working vacation! ITs the best of both worlds! AND tax deductable too! Sass

Angel, The mini cd idea is pretty cool because you can burn pics of your samples or pics of your work, on a disc that looks like a business card and hand them out to prospective clients. We had a showroom for a while and it worked great when a wife came in and the husband was'nt able. Just send one home with them so they can watch it at their conveinence. You compose it on your PC, then burn it, label it then stick it in a envelop or sleeve and all for about 0.50 a copy. If you want more specifics I would be glad to email you. If you don't feel comfortable giving your address here, I understand, maybe we have a common friend who can pass it on to me. Lets try Sassy Lassy to start . Shes the Kevin Bacon of Faux Finishing, everyone whose anyone has worked, been in a class or has somehow hooked up with her in the past. She's the best. Brian

[Keren]

Hi everyone!
I'm new to the forum, but old when it comes to Fauxcademy!(and my age is getting up there as well! ) I started my career as a Fauxfinisher at ...been doing it for 11 years! The best 11 of my life, in terms of jobs.

The 1st Fauxcademy was fun, intellectual, full of information, full of stimulation, and somewhat muggy, due to the weather! I came back, full of pep, a little brown from the sunny beach scene, and with several bruises, from climbing up a banyan tree, while in a long dress, and jumping off a 12 ft. wall into the outstretched hands of two very young, very good looking gay men (thank God they were gay because they saw everything!) I came home renewed in spirit and abilities! Oh yes, two Awards. Theres' a good ego booster! Everyone was a winner in terms of fun and comraderrie!

Enter Fauxcademy 2004....Bigger, better, you bet! More expensive, yes, but what isn't these days! And let me say, The seminar with speaker Mark Victor Hansen (co-author of Chicken Soup For The Soul books) was aw-inspiring! His entire being was on fire and the glow of success was contagious! I came back and spent the next year working toward a goal and have since seen my dream come to fruition! That alone, was well worth the entire trip and every dime I spent. (almost every dime- there is that $700.00 outfit that Ann Snipes talked me into buying at Neiman Marcus one hour before the Ball! I can't even get it to close anymore!) The crowd was bigger, making for more diverse groups of people, and getting to know so many in the same field was amazing. I didn't win this time....too bad! Wait, yes I did. I won new friendships, I won knowledge (so much out there!), I won acknowledgement from my peers, and I won some pretty uplifting stares as I waltzed thru the hotel in that $700.00 ballgown!
I can hardly wait for this years extravaganza. For those out there on other forums wondering if it's worth it, everyone has different needs, different tastes and different goals. We pick and choose what we need and want and savor all the extras that come home with us! Kelly King had a vision, still has a vision and for the sheer purpose of loving the industry and wanting all to succeed as he has, created the Fauxcademy. The experts he invites aren't there just to show you how to Faux, they give you years of wisdom, business accumen and spiritual guidance that have helped them become who they are. Thank you Kelly!
I remember every minute, even the second when Kelly "fell" into the pool. Unforgettable memories and great fun, invaluble knowledge from experts in many fields, and a chance to become....whatever we want to become!

Keren Andra Navarro

[angelc]

Keren- in one of the photos in the 2002 fauxcademy group you and I are sitting side by side in a class, I'm wearing a black short sleeved shirt in the picture and my hair was short. Maybe that will help you remember me. I'm also the maybe just a little bit drunk girl in the promo 2004 fauxcademy saying "fauxcademy Rocks". Kelly seems to have liked that as there is still references to that in the 06 DVD promo. Angel

[Keren]

I remember you Angel! What an Angel!
Hi Sass.Miss you. Call me.
I'm in Salt Lake City right now, working on a CASTLE....Really big home with multiple turrets. Doing faux and concrete staining on the walls. Maybe I'll use it for the Fauxcademy. It's going in the Parade of homes here in Salt Lake. OOh, too much snow this week. It's so cold some of the finishes are having a rough time doing what I ask of them! My client has loads of houses and we just keep going from one to the next...Iwannagohome!

[angelc]

Keren, take pictures of the work you're doing sounds awesome

angel