The Laser Lounge Podcast at Pate Ranch

"Welcome to today's episode of The Laser Lounge Podcast! I'm thrilled to have a special guest joining us — Jeff Stockton, an expert in the art of firearm engraving. With years of experience, Jeff has mastered the craft of transforming firearms into true works of art, blending precision, creativity, and tradition in every piece he engraves. Today, we'll dive deep into the world of firearm engraving, exploring the techniques, challenges, and stories behind his incredible work. Whether you're a seasoned engraver, a laser enthusiast, or just curious about this unique art form, you're in for a treat. Let's get started!"

Welcome to "Targeting Success: Strategies to Win Over Your Next Client" with James Pate! In this session, we'll dive deep into the art of client acquisition. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out, this livestream is designed to equip you with proven techniques and fresh insights to help you identify, attract, and secure your ideal clients. Together, we’ll explore targeted strategies that go beyond generic marketing, ensuring you can confidently connect with the right clients, build lasting relationships, and ultimately drive your business forward.

We're excited to have a special guest from the woodworking and laser community. Amanda Schwarz, recently added a UV galvo laser to her workshop, and we're here to dive into her journey with it. We'll explore how this addition has impacted her workflow, efficiency, and ultimately, her bottom line. Whether you're a seasoned maker or just starting out, you won't want to miss her insights and experiences. Join us as we discuss the transformative power of innovation in the workshop!

Mae Armstrong and I will be interviewing Erik Engström from FlowPaper. If you are not familiar with this tool it is excellent. Mae and I are both using this feature with our B2B clients. This is something you will want to see and a new great way to communicate with your client your shop offerings. You are going to want to watch this one lizards. https://flowpaper.com/ https://flowpaper.com/demo/#brochure

Excited to announce a live working session with Mae Armstrong tomorrow! She's a total rocktstar and whipped up a FREE Adobe Express template specifically for us laser enthusiasts (no need to reinvent the wheel!). We'll be diving deep into creating a killer catalog from scratch, then taking it to the next level with a special Flowpaper add-on. This is a hands-on project, so get ready to learn and create something awesome together! Want to unlock even more features sing Flow Paper? Erik from Flow Paper just dropped a sweet deal for Laser Lounge members – 40% off a subscription! Just complete your online order, shoot them an email, and they'll give you a refund after the purchase. Easy peasy! See you all tomorrow for the laser catalog extravaganza!

Welcome to 'Glowing Creativity: Crafting Neon Laser Signs' Join us as we delve into the craft of making laser engraved neon signs. In this episode, we're thrilled to have Jenna Musgrave, a seasoned artisan in neon sign making, sharing her expertise with us. From design concepts to the delicate balance of art and technology, Jenna will guide us through the intricate process of bringing visions to life through laser engraving techniques. Whether you're a seasoned creator or an aspiring enthusiast, get ready to ignite your passion for neon sign making with Jenna Musgrave on 'Glowing Creativity: Crafting Neon Laser Signs'.

We will have as special guests two hat guru's and talk about the do's and don'ts for making a perfect hat. We will also talk about the upcoming trends in materials and hat selection. This is a great opportunity to listen in and hear some useful tips from two successful hat companies. You don't want to miss this one.

Come listen to Mae Armstrong and I chat about what material and uses we like for each different laser. We will cover the 2D UV, 3D UV, Fiber and both CO2's (Galvo and Gantry). We will dive into some of the differences and what we both like or dislike about each for certain materials. Leather, wood, glass, metal, acrylic etc.. Neither one of us are affiliates for these companies and we will not be talking about the brands themselves. We will be talking about the technology behind them.

James and I talk about our learnings of adding a new tool to our shop. We currently run 8 lasers and we recently added a CNC. We talk about some of the learning and buying process. Come take a listen. https://www.phantomcncsystems.com/pate-ranch

Howdy Lizards. We will have Michelle Mortman on a livestream on Friday to talk about working with influencers to highlight your products. She will highlight how to engage them, package your products for them to unbox and much more. Michelle has over 24 years of professional experience in strategic change management and also as a thought leader who helps clients achieve their goals and vision. She also has many years of running her own side business and a lot of experience working with influencers. Let's welcome her in the lounge and see what she has to share.

Do you want to hear how to make better social media posts - Insta & TikTok. Posts that resonates more with the younger gen? We will have Reagan in the house to show some things that grabs the viewers. She has also been explaining some new apps and tools to make your posts easier. She stays more on trend with what is happening in this space so while she is home for the holidays we are going to get her on the podcast and see what she has to say.

James and I talk about how we have transitioned our business from a sales based model to more of a business development based model with other companies.  We talk about the definitions of each, what we have done and the pros and cons for us.  Take a listen and I hope it gives you more insight to another option for other clients in your laser business.

The laser engraving industry offers a dazzling array of possibilities, from personalized gifts to industrial applications. As a laser engraving professional, you possess a unique skill set that deserves to be showcased to potential clients. A well-designed digital portfolio can be your beacon in the vast sea of creative artisans, allowing you to highlight your expertise, creativity, and the stunning results of your craft. In this blog, we will explore the essential steps to create a compelling digital portfolio that not only showcases your laser engraving talents but also entices clients to choose you for their projects.  Absolutely, having a readily accessible and up-to-date digital portfolio is essential for any professional, freelancer, or business owner. It allows you to showcase your skills, expertise, and previous work to potential clients or employers at a moment's notice.

Please Join Mae and I as we speak with James about finding your target market or you "Who". Finding your target market can be critical to your business taking off and keeping continual clients. Lets spend the lunch house with James and learn more about how YOU can determine your target market or your WHO. A target market is a group of potential customers that you identify to sell products or services to.

Come join us as we start our "Company Spotlights" with two companies in the laser industry. We will chat with the team from Hydbond - your new adhesive for leather, embroidered, and PVC patches. Trust us, this stuff sticks. They have a GREAT product that is catching fire with many hat makers. https://hydbond.com/

"Why" are you running your business?  Have you ever asked yourself?  Well you should.  Also, sometimes you need to slow down to speed up.  Slow down and identify your "Wastes" in your shop.  Fix them and be more productive.   James Pate talks with us today on how and why we should find our "Why" and also what "Wastes" exist in business and how can you take those and start looking in your own shop where your wastes are.   https://www.facebook.com/groups/laserlounge1

Enjoy this Podcast as Mae Armstrong shows us the new trends in Graphic Design for 2023. Mae will be bringing her knowledge and expertise as an Adobe Brand Ambassador. We always learn new things from her. We will step through illustrative examples and be taking questions. LInk to Firefly: https://firefly.adobe.com Feel free to join us on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@PateRanchCreations or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/laserlounge1

This is a great conversation video with Jason Dorie, Owner and Creator of Lightburn. Join us as we get to know who he is, how he started, and what the next plans are for Lightburn. https://lightburnsoftware.com/ We also have a great online community so please join us. https://www.facebook.com/groups/laserlounge1

Come join us Monday at lunch time where Mae Armstrong and I will have a chat with a active real estate agent in the south Houston area. Melanie Mikulenka. We are going to ask her all the things you would want to ask a agent to start getting their business. We will also ask her what closing gifts she thinks work best from a home purchaser perspective. How is the market doing right now from her perspective of the Houston area. What might be the best way to approach a agent if we wanted to grab their business. How about holiday ornaments and things they give out at the end of the year, what works best. Feel free to drop your questions in the post or online when we are live and we will do our best to get them answered. We can't wait for this one. https://poplme.co/melmik?fbclid=IwAR1XNdN2Si4kl5mGKtfZWNzWYTOl2rOkUksR3pPPJU1GjPFx_34d5-yVXxY

Come join us Monday the 6th as Mae Armstrong and I chat with Grant Burrage (Sales Manager) from Thunder Laser USA. We are going to talk about where Thunder Laser USA sees the laser industry going over the next few years. We will ask them if they will be growing more into the galvo space. They recently released the Thunder Aurora 8 fiber machine, and we will expand on that a bit more. We will also get into specific differences in their product lines (Aurora vs Nova vs Odin machines). We will talk about their new facility that they just expanded into in Quitman, Texas. There will be a live chat as well where we will field questions. Please join us for a great lunch time (~30 min) livestream chat with Grant from Thunder Laser USA. https://www.thunderlaserusa.com