There's Gold In Them Thar Merchants

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A GREEDY TREATISE REGARDING EASY LOOT by Cartoonist/Writer Carl Kohler . . . Author of that yet-to-be-written book, "1001 Dignified Ways To Pick Up Money On The Streets".

Everybody likes money. Everybody. I only knew one guy who didn't - and they wouldn't let him have anything sharp while he sat out his days on the bench in the funnyhouse.

Lemme ask you a question: While you're waiting for those cartoons to come back from LOOK and PLAYBOY, why don't you spend about four hours and earn yourself anywhere from $15 to $60 . . . or more?

It's easy. A snap. I've done it lots of times in the past, I'm doing it now and I'll probably be doing it (between batches sent to regular markets) for years to come. Unless you like to wash cars, mow lawns, set pins, drive cab, dig ditches or engage in any work but cartooning . . . there's no better nor simpler way to make money.

"HOW?" you ask? By drawing cartoons for both local and distant merchants, industries and business organizations. Cartoons, of course, which are heavily commercial in slant and tone. If you work hard enough at it (I did at one time) you can even support an entire family doing it.

The biggest advantage to this sort of cartooning is the breathtaking fact that you need only a few good gags. Got that? Only a few . . . good . . . gags. Gags which can be switched from one type of business to another. This saves both time and mental energy for more glorious - if not profitable - cartooning.

I'll show you what I mean. Two days ago, I sat down and drew three cartoons. The ideas were slanted to interest a Pest Control (termite exterminator, to you) outfit. Two of the drawings I left penciled. The third one I inked in. The inked cartoon showed a frantic guy (clutching himself in an overstuffed chair), peering down at a mob of termites who were carrying guy, chair and all out of the room. Gagline:

"Madge! For crying out loud, call the BEAR STATE PEST CONTROL people! "

You'll kindly notice I put the company's name in caps. I did the same on the typed gagline on the cartoon.

The next day I phoned the BEAR STATE PEST CONTROL office and asked the manager if he would like to see some slanted advertising cartoons which had been drawn exclusively for his company. I added he was under no obligation to buy. He agreed. So I merely went over there, let him look at the cartoons - and walked out, twenty minutes later, with a check for $45. He wanted all three cartoons and ordered the other two inked in . . . paying for all three on the spot.

Right now I'm preparing a set of three cartoons for an outfit whose specialty is getting rid of gophers. One of these cartoons shows a guy cowering in a lawn chair. Carrying the guy, chair and all are four or five gophers. Guy yells:

"Helen! Hurry with that call to the LONG BEACH GARDEN CONTROL people!"

What a racket! And it's ethical and legal, too.

Maybe I should tell you not to specify the manner in which the advertiser is supposed to use the cartoon. Some use them in newspapers, some use them on cards, others put 'em on blotters . . . and one guy (who bought $145 worth all in the same day) just hung them on the walls of his bar. DON'T GET YOUR CUSTOMER CONFUSED. UNLESS HE ASKS YOUR ADVICE - NEVER SUGGEST WHAT HE DOES WITH THE CARTOONS.

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