Things are progressing well toward doing a "Tintype Parlor" at the major event at a local museum - 10,000 to 15,000 people over 4 days!
I'm just finishing off a portable darkroom (dark box), negotiations are under way with the museum board of directors (for space, electricity, and water), my Rockaloid chemicals arrived Friday, and I am trying to get the bugs (specks) out of my plate-painting process.
I have sort of figured out the logistics of handling "customer registrations" and keeping customers matched with their tintype.
Two issue remain to be resolved:
#1 - when to collect the money, and
#2 - where to find 4x5 "frames" with an oval mat and a folding cover
#1 - I am inclined to collect the money up front (I must be part Scottish!), but:
a) I am not thrilled about having to keep the money, give change, and worry about the security of the money while I am trying to take photos and process plates
b) Tintype (so far) seems less predictable than flim photography and I would HATE to have to give refunds (Scottish again!). If a shot doesn't turn out, there's no negative to try another print.
BUT
c) I sure don't want to get stuck with plates that aren't paid for and the customer never came back to claim them.
(The average visitor is from "away" and likely unknown to any of the locals. It would be easy to "forget" to pick up and pay for your tintype. Of the 10,000 to 15,000 visitors, I expect a number to be less than trustworthy as well!)
#2 - I have searched all over the Net and haven't yet found a nice "old-timey" tintype folding holder for 4x5. Anybody seen these for sale lately? (I really DON'T want to get into making frames as well!)
Thanks crew!!!
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