signstop

I can't comment on the bureaucratics of the industry, or on the "association" (which I didn't know existed, sounds elitist, don't see a reason to ever join..) But as for new blood entering the lighted sign market, your pretty accurate, I've been on other message boards, and whenever I try to post a question about anything lighted, I get that same arms folded mentality - instead of help, I get responses that try to convince me I shouldn't be in this market.. Haven’t enough experience. I have seen the same thing happen to other posters as well, which is why I appreciate this board so much. I think some of the older sign guys are reluctant to help because they are intimidated by this younger generation of the sign industry. Possibly it has something to do with the advent of the digital market (wide format printing seems to be easily embraced by the younger generations of the industry which tend to be more familiar with computers) which the older guys are a bit more reluctant to get in to (wraps and such). Of course I'm not trying to generalize here - I also see this push towards LED as a way to grab some of the less informed market who are just getting into lighted signs...I could be wrong though.