- There's always jobs that I'm happy with, but I really like it when the client is happy.

Like a restaurant could be building out their space for two years and then once I do some simple lettering on the window, that's when their business comes together that they've been like working on.

They're like, "Oh, my name's up now."

And then it hits them and then you're like, "Cool."

(country music) My name's Alan Giberson.

I run Old Soul Sign Co.

I specialize in hand paint signs and gold leaf lettering in Cleveland, Ohio.

Cleveland just worked out for me 'cause I'm from here and there wasn't anyone doing sign painting at the time when I got into it, so that was definitely a plus.

Cleveland's just like perfect size small and you know, no competition here and I just love the city.

The only jobs I've had are restaurant jobs.

Just worked in kitchen jobs around here and I always wanted to just work for myself.

I just wanted do my own thing, make my own hours, and all that.

And after coming into sign painting I saw I was really popular in California, so I thought it could work out and it did, yeah.

I'd say most of my work is like on site, like I do a lot of windows and brick walls that have to be painted.

Most signs you see nowadays are vinyl or made on the computer.

I do strictly painting.

I'll do the design full size on paper, transfer the design from paper onto the wall with chalk and perforated dots and then paint it.

(country music) This is a sign for a tattoo shop in Lakewood called Lakewood Electrics Tattoo.

I like doing signs for tattoo shops because they're also artists that they understand designing according to someone else's specs.

They know I'm the sign painter and that's what I do.

So they're just like, let me roll with it, you know.

I've done a water tower, like the whole water tower before.

Really high up on stages that are just attached by strings.

You know, you go there at nine in the morning and you're all like coffee shaky, but then by like noon you're kind of just hanging off the lip, you know?

(country music) I couldn't be any happier working for myself.

I guess it's just having the freedom to do what you want.

A lot of the stuff you see in the shop, I've done it on my own time.

They're not jobs, but they do kind of bring the space alive and it doesn't always have to be like work, work, work.

(country music) - [Narrator] Idea Stream Public Media receive support from PNC Bank, which has made a home in the heart of Cleveland by investing in businesses, communities, and people.

Focusing on giving back is part of an ongoing commitment to the communities that PNC serves.

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