Junkin’ Pro Tips

Before you go dive into the American underbelly of graphic treasures, consider these simple junkin’ pro tips. There’s been no shortage of kids who hit me up to tell me how they went and saw my show, then went junking and got in some hot water! There are unwritten rules to this shit. If you are going to find, shoot and post dead stuff, here are a few tips we’d like to share before you go apeshit and piss off some gang of old bluehairs in an antique mall, and much worse, start sucking up people’s bandwidth on their phones.

Junkin’ Pro Tip No. 01

Plunder
At Will

Everything is fair game. But you gotta be discreet when getting the shot. Don’t thrash around. Be silent-but-deadly when collecting stuff. Turn your phone to “silent” so the “camera sound” doesn’t announce to the world you are pilfering images in some posted “no photo” zone. And for fuck’s sake, turn off your flash and learn how to use the natural light around you.

Junkin’ Pro Tip No. 02

Size Up Yer Surroundings

It’s good to have a plan of attack. If I start at the entrance, I’m careful to note where I entered and the direction I start off in, simply so I don’t miss anything.

Junkin’ Pro Tip No. 03

Gen’l Behavior
Out and About

The last five words you want to hear at a flea market are, “Get out of my booth.” I’ve seen it go down many times. Never good. When plodding around some junk store, antique mall, garage sale or estate sale, BE NICE. Snooty proprietors will easily take offense when you are snapping shots of everything under the sun. Turn the volume down on your phone. And remember, the moment you enter an antique mall, you are “on camera” so junk accordingly.

Junkin’ Pro Tip No. 04

Photos
Are Free

Nothing sucks more than running smack dab into shit that’s severely overpriced. Happens all the time. I mean, one whiff of some over-ly expensive item and my whole outlook changes. Not feeling the price? Take a photo of it.

Junkin’ Pro Tip No. 05

Search and
Decoy

If the bluehairs are hounding you, break up your party and institute a “juknin’ decoy.” Find a little saucer plate that’s a buck or something in a dark corner and drop the thing on the cement. The WHOLE PLACE will hear that break and instantly come scurrying in the direction of the break. As they all descend upon the incident, that frees up space everywhere else to quickly snap shots of goodies you won’t pop for, you cheap turd. Saw Evan Rose do this one in Astoria and the staff freaked out! And I was up front shooting the shit I just had to have a shot of.

Junkin’ Pro Tip No. 06

Permission
Ploy

If the bluehairs are eyeballing you in said store, ASK PERMISSION to snap some shots. Being kind goes a long way. Now if you insist on going incognito, get busted and they freak out when snapping a shot, simply say, “Oh, my dad collects so-and-so; do you mind if I send him this shot to see if he wants me to purchase it for him?” And ten out of ten times, those money-hungry beasts will allow you to shoot away. Remember, they have A LOT of time of their hands while waiting to die, houndogging those live security video feeds. They’ll come after you, and will fuck you up.

Junkin’ Pro Tip No. 07

Dickering
On Price

Be careful with this one. If you see that dreaded “Prices Firm” sign, tread lightly. Some folks will POUNCE at even the slightest suggestion you are going to ask for a deal. I always do the amiable, time-tested, “Can you work on the price a bit?’ And nine times out of then, they'’ll quickly make you an offer. If they balk, don’t push it.

Junkin’ Pro Tip No. 08

Getting
Change

Sometimes, it’s just better to let them “keep the change.’ I mean, before you seize up at this suggestion, take a look at the proprietor’s shoes. If they are sketchy, it’s all you need to know. Cut the person some slack. You make enough. They are scrapping for every dollar. Let ’em keep the change and keep moving.

Junkin’ Pro Tip No. 09

Prime Time

When posting stuff, don’t just slop it up there. Take the time to straight the images, sharpen the edges and juice up the color. Exhibit a little craft, will ya?

Junkin’ Pro Tip No. 10

Bandwidth Abuse

And be mindful of people’s bandwidth. There’s a fine line between showing things to delight folks and boring them to death with 47 predictable-ass posts. Don’t abuse the privilege of having someone’s attention online.