[Hans C Stoll]

Great post, great perspective, and I am glad to know that there are some firms like yours still around. A bright point in a bleak year. Thanks.

[Hans C Stoll]

Not easily outsourced? Try again….. China and India and other countries in which 20 bucks-per-day is “good” are becoming a common source for just this sort of work. Owner or Manager does some sketch and then some CAD monkey in some third-world country cranks it out in the wee hours for peanuts and does the quick turn-around back to the US. No insurance, no US taxes, no holiday pay just dirt cheap labor without a degree or registration.

A very sad fact today.

[Hans C Stoll]

Damn Russ……. I hope you are wrong about “add a decade to that”. Hell, my hair may be gray or GONE by that time if true.

I do however agree with you about the end of the “rainmaker with an army of CAD monkeys”. That is good. Always hated that particular biz model. There are still guys out there who want to slap something onto a piece of trace and ‘hand-it-off’. Newest trend is dirt-cheap offshore labor to hand it off to. Sad. Our field has lost a bit of dignity since 1999 by my observation.

Hang in there Russ, this too shall pass.

[Hans C Stoll]

Nope.

Laid-off 6 weeks ago. Watched a 29 person firm wither to 4 guys at half-pay (yes, you read that right…. half pay). Now the remaining get 75% pay because of my being pushed over-board to lighten the lifeboat.

14+ months at 50% pay teaches you how to survive on next-to-nothing in prep for being unemployed. 8 resume’s out so far…. not a peep yet. Arizona is in trouble.

[Hans C Stoll]

Thanks alland, I was about to respond to Rick that in Arizona Landscape Architecture is a required professional service for new-build (just about everything but S.F. residential).

Not at all “caviar”, but a necessary part of a new project municipal submittal and approval process. As necessary here as civil or structural in fact.

Certainly not a “Royal service”, although these days it is city minimum that gets asked for IF something is being reviewed (fewer projects = fewer doc reviews and permits obviously).

[Hans C Stoll]

Two of the most recent posts; (1) mac salesman back in 84 and (2) typewriter paper salesman……. both are perhaps better analogies. Mac was an out-of-favor product until later. Typewriter may come-and-go but the paper remains the same and is now used by printers instead.

I would accept either scenario over what it too often seems like within our industry, which at this time feels like selling a product (in our case a service) that few are “buying”.

I know I know…. it is cyclical, and we are bound to other professions that are ‘down and out’ as well.

Providing a detour here: Any old-timers within our profession that can recall periods of professional Armageddon like this in the past recessions? I know 1979 was ugly, as was 1988 (S&L Crisis), 1990’s I am told had some long periods of drought and famine as well apparently.

How does this one compare? Similarities? What ultimately was the catalyst that got things rolling again?

((and thanks to everyone who add 2 cents to a tongue-in-cheek topic)) – Hans

[Hans C Stoll]

Yes. And less work = fewer actual positions, shrinking firms, fewer firms, shrinking salaries for those who have positions at a firm.

What once felt like a valued and important occupation now feels like the “stepchild”. Trust me Architects and even Civil’s are feeling this too.

Point specifically was that the title “Landscape Architect” in AZ at least is starting to feel like “typewriter repairman” in 1995 (when word-processors made typewriters a thing of the past).

Trying to determine what the local or national CATALYST might be to turn this whole thing back onto the road and out of the ditch.

The other thread (conversation about the state of our occupation) confirmed so much of what I have observed; That the carnage is deep and widespread and indiscriminate. Very good read (but very depressing conclusions).

I tell myself and my friends that “this too shall pass”.

BTW; Frank V. ‘s description of what we do is excellent. It conveys very simply and accurately the important service we provide.

[Hans C Stoll]

Tempted….. Could I get a root-canal instead maybe?

🙂

Hope all is well w/ you Russ.

[Hans C Stoll]

(elaboration: Trying to sell a service or product that few people feel they want or need at this time)

Not sure who has the word-processor yet. Have one friend who is an RLA and has decided to chase Pharamcy as a career instead. Another RLA is becoming a teacher. Odd trend, ditching Landscape Architecture for something 100% un-related.

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