So this week I sat down with my image consultant and he had some harsh words for me: “You need a ‘thing’ to set you apart from other woodworking bloggers, podcasters and television personalities.”
I asked: “A thing?”
“Yeah. Charles Brock has that patchwork hat. Roy Underhill has his hat and suspenders. Scott Phillips has his similar hat and suspenders. Norm Abram – tool belt. David Mark has tattoos. Tommy Mac has his muscle shirts., and….”
I say: “I have a beard.”
“Sorry,” he said. “Unless your beard is equal to or greater than Peter Follansbee’s, then it’s just hardscrabble. Plus, he has cornered the market on the tie-dye T-shirt and shorts thing. So don’t even bring those up”
“Ugh,” I said. “What do you recommend?”
“You could wear a cape,” he suggested. “Maybe array tools on the interior?”
I countered. “What if it gets caught in the jointer or the table saw? That could be dangerous.” I paused. “Look, I don’t like to have my face appear on the blog or on video, what about a mask? Like a luchador?”
The consultant had a good point: “In this day and age, dressing like a Mexican wrestler will get you excoriated by the liberals or deported by the conservatives.”
We locked eyes.
“Fancy wristwatches?”
“Mario Rodriguez.”
“Unusual fingernails?”
“David Charlesworth”
“A vicious temper?”
“I’m not touching that.”
“Large mammaries?”
“Look, I already said I’m not touching those.”
“Copious body hair?”
“Hmmm. How much body hair do you have?” the consultant asked. “Do you have to shave your back?”
“No. I pluck three hairs from my right shoulder,” I said. “Two from my left.”
“A huge afro?”
“Bob Ross.”
“Bob Ross is dead!”
“But Bob Ross’s afro is so awesome it has been retired.”
And that’s where my time was up with the image consultant. His recommendation: Mount a Kickstarter campaign to raise enough money to perform a statistically significant survey of what my gimmick should be.
Maybe a huge rodeo belt with a pterodactyl holding a carving gouge….
— Christopher Schwarz
A giant belt buckle with a built in tallow dispenser.
All you man!
How about a snaggle toothed shop assistant (maybe also and eyepatch) who scurries around your feet with a bench brush and dust pan?
Whatever you decide on it should include glitter.
I say, look to the the Bandito for your image! Mustachio + Sombrero, and maybe a sleeveless T-shirt.
Dude… you have an image consultant? I think that alone sets you apart from the others on the list.
Um. No. This is satire. I don’t even know if “image consultant” is a real job.
Crap. I just updated my indeed profile.
Not only is it a real thing, they have their own association: http://www.aici.org/
Tattoo on your forearm of the compass from the Lost Art Press logo.
Or an actual compass, surgically implanted under the skin!
I was thinking divider and said compass, doh.
How about a Roubo wig?
You already have two things: rubbing your nipples and “absolutely.” You’re set.
Mic drop.
I just had a mental picture of Chris rubbing his nipples….and threw up in my mouth…thanks
You have way too much time time on your hands to post this
Nah, he’s probably at that whiskey bar…
Show me the way
To the next whisky bar
Oh, don’t ask why
Oh, don’t ask why
For if we don’t find
The next whisky bar
I tell you we must die
I am an image consultant. My advice, as the genie said, “beeee yourself”!
Oh, you already do that. You’re fine, no problem.
Just in time to have a beer!
Don’t you you already have a bottle opener belt buckle that apparently other men are not welcome to use without *cough* permission?
In case you ever need a copyeditor. Statically should be statisically.
Then I misspell statistically. Dude. I suck.
How about eyeglasses with rhinestones around the rims. Nope. Alternative Medicine guru Depak Chopra,M.D. has those. Really Chris, you are already one of a kind and very recognizable to woodworkers of all types. You do not need any devices. Seriously.
Cheers,
Mike O’Brien
Eyeglasses with rhinestones is Dame Edna Everidge aka comedian Barry Humphries, since the 1970’s. Look it up if you dare.
I think the hair flick and the furtive nose pick are (TM) Schwarz video mannerisms.
An arcane publishing company, welded to your ass? Nobody’s got that.
Your signature is your stare towards the ceiling when talking to people
Having a woodworking schtick just sounds weird. I don’t know about this consultant of yours…
Ethan
Website: http://www.thekiltedwoodworker.com
IG: @thekiltedwoodworker
Twitter: builtinakilt
I have explained time and time again, and even offered to let you have this gimmick free of cost, but since you’re reaching out to an image consultant, I’m going to have to charge you if you use it. Your schtick could be….
… Getting progressively more drunk on quality liquor during the span of a book or video.
Tell your people to get in touch with my people.
Apart from your VERY distinctive voice and cadence, your signature is being the Anarchist. I think that persona alone sets you apart. Of course, you could always get the symbol tattooed on your forearm, or face (ala Mike Tyson).
You could also take up a habit of wearing funny t-shirts with quirky woodworking slogans: Don’t hide from hide glue . . . etc.
distinctive voice and cadence?
I don’t think so — that is classic Tom Brokaw
So the large mammaries ship has sailed?
After all the food I’m going to eat this weekend during the Lie-Nielsen Event, I might not need that Wonderbra I’ve been eyeing.
I think you mean a “Bro” or maybe it was “Man-ssiere…”
Two words Chris: man bun.
Or a top knot.
Sorry, Tom Fidgen’s got the man bun already.
Two more words: skinny jeans. Nothing strikes fear in the hearts of your children like adopting their fashion trends.
Perusing the internet for images of Christopher Schwarz; a significant number show you in an Oxford collar dress shirt, mostly blue but some white. This is already YOU, it just needs to be reinforced by repetition. Sleeves rolled up or buttoned… your option. Satire or no satire it’s still YOUR image…
DUDE… a kilt
Sent from Mail for Windows 10
Nope. The Kilted Woodworker (Ethan) already has that.
Yeah, bro, don’t harsh my mellow!
😉😁
I’d recommend LC King “Pointer Brand” dungarees, Redwing boots, French blue oxford dress shirts with button down collars not quite properly ironed, and, to keep them guessing, a different color of socks each day.
Given your Le Laboreur jacket is “so comfortable that it has become my new bathrobe. I wear it while editing, cooking, reading, whatever.”, I would say that is your ‘thing’.
This may be your best blogpost ever. Laughter pushing out tears. And then the comments… the guy who corrects you on the spelling of “statistically” and then misspelled it, Fitz… as always, and, also, it’s official, tell your girls they can never call you uncool. Why? Because you used the mask from Mr. Robot in a blogpost!
I agree with David Misita. You’re the Anarchist. The punk rocker of the woodworking world. You don’t need to be concerned with image. You’re too punk rock for that.
That’s two good belly laugh’s you’ve gotten out of me today, thank you!
(This was the first, the second was your disco moves at the end of the ‘No Fear Chairmaking’ video which I finished watching today).
fsociety?
How about an eye patch or monacile? You could switch it from sides from time to time and see f anyone notices.
A puffy shirt.
Thick round solid gold pirates earring in octagonal cross section! Goes great with the beard, and should be sufficient to cover distant future funeral expenses.
What about something more Gandalf like – maybe a staff! And a catch phrase, maybe – “Fly you tools”.
You fotgot the Tom Fidgen blue and white in your list.
blue and white striped shirt
Maybe your thing should be wearing lifts, that way EVERYONE will see you.
I think your gimmick should be anti-gimmick. It’s so meta. You could craft a large wooden mallet or hammer, give it a catchy name like “Sledge-O-Gimmick” and go around smashing all gimmicks in sight.
Wait a sec…. maybe Gallagher already did this. (And I think his brother even stole that gimmick from him.)
Oh well, back to the drawing board.
You have your baritone voice, its enough. –
To quote a movie (typical), “How do you measure yourself against other golfers (wood guys).
Answer: By Height”
I have a teenage daughter so I don’t need an “Image Consultant”.
Your new look:
No shirt at all. Shirts are just one more decision to make – its a trap, don’t fall in.
A brown apron. Suede if possible. Bonus points for Kudu.
And $300 Japanese selvedge denim jeans. Roll ONE leg up into a cuff. Let the other one break down.
Hair: use a dab of A. Daughter Soft Wax to mold up an Alfalfa coiffure; parted in the middle (but no cowlick – that was far too provocative).
Shoes: replace those somewhat disreputable old black shoes with some British Tricker’s (Roberts in black with the double sole would work for you). Tricker’s Outlet has seconds for $260 USD (best value in new shoes in the world, possibly).
Bonus points for a “R.I.P. Rainy” henna tattoo on your right shoulder.
Face tattoo.
You already have a gimmick, you’re that “Divider Guy”
After years of asking ‘how much for the dividers?” at flea markets and getting blank stares, I gave up and call them ‘compasses’.
Last year at one of my frequent haunts, I asked “how much for the compass?”, the guy tartly replied “those are dividers”. I distinctly remember hearing a rim shot. Anyway, that person is now forever ‘the divider guy’ when I see him at the flea market. Thanks for the memory trip.
Hard to beat a cassock for a gimmick……
Parrot (or small monkey).
Embrace Roman woodworking, toga and sandals!
your “image consultant” needs to retire, you already have a gimmick and a distinctive face. and Enda says “NO Capes!”
be well
Try having honeybees give you your ‘Wax’ for finishing all your projects with ?? That would Bee a sweet deal , fresh bee’s wax on a fresh project ! Not to mention all the joy you wood bring your watchers from your getting stung ! And honey for all the coffee drank in the work shop ,too.
Chris, your image to me is not some guy with a beard or glasses – but a guy that loves classical woodworking, and helps spread that love for all to experience. Who says f**k the norm of publishing: cheap bindings, cheap paper, harsh deadlines for contributors, and topics that are selected merely based on increased revenue streams. The guy that sweated it out hand-planing some thick cherry for the perfect roubo bench. Your image will forever be as the man that spawned renewed interest in classical woodworking!
As a millennial (as much as I don’t like the term) I can say that we love to question the status quo. Why do we do what we do – and specifically when it comes to woodworking. Is it merely to enjoy the end product, or can we perhaps enjoy the experience as well as the end product of our labors. Sure I can break out the plunge router and crank out a mortise, but there’s something about grabbing the marking knife, chisel and mallet that is tranquil. Through your labors with LAP books like the Woodworker Series, and Essential Woodworker has transformed my life to enjoy the process in everything I do now. Thanks.
How about a 38″ high workbench?…..
I suggest you look to the Koteka worn by the men of certain New Guinea tribes. I guarantee it’ll set you apart from other woodworkers. But you might have to modify your workbench.