Your best shot would be with something that has meaningful content and executed with great technique.

Although, there are a lot that are lacking in either (or both) of those departments so I don't know what to tell you, haha.

It's all voodoo.

peater's right. Black magic and witchcraft.

I've looked at your designs, dude... trust me, you've already "won". You've got some great stuff. Don't worry about "winning" here. Just worry about creating new and interesting designs and the other stuff will happen.

It reminds me when I was into slam poetry. People used to worry about the points and winning and try to write poems designed to get the most points. It was some of the worse, most pandering poetry ever: a lot of stuff about dying fathers and what's wrong with the world and half-thought out anti-government stuff from people still filing for student loans. And if they didn't win they'd get all pissy and complain about the judges and blah blah blah. Till someone came up with the key phrase: "The points aren't the point, the point is poetry."

So don't worry so much about "winning". You've got good stuff. That's what's important

that would be nice. i'm also at a loss for words sometimes when people get printed, whether it's for better or worse.

There is an insane amount of luck involved too. There are many many talented artists and submissions. It's really what they pick over there.

bribery with doughnuts & beer

i would like to know, too.

skafiend I didn't know you did slam poetry... our scene is full of pandering too, or at least when people do certain topics they do great (usually sexuality goes over well since there's a huge lesbian population in the area).

generally, humor is the best received.

I'm way off topic. In order to win at threadless... oh what do I know, I haven't won :P

Everyone loves your newest sub, J-Ray! You might have a print on your hands.

The key is a good variety of mixed nuts.

Many artists find that to be truly successful, your mixed nuts should contain less than 50% peanuts, usually measured in weight. In fact, it is recommended that you advertize this fact clearly.

Cashews run a little more on the expensive side, but it's worth it to be able to throw a few in.

To truly win at threadless, you should have AT LEAST the following: Almonds, Brazil Nuts, Peanuts, Hazelnuts, Cashews, and Pecans.

Coconuts

V&V: I assume you mean "I Blame Albania"... we'll see :)

the way to win is not to expect to win and have fun doing it. well, that's how i would roll with it.

agreed w/ gravy

Secret handshake.

Yeah, J-Ray. Someone of the pink writing commented! That's a good sign!!

i think winning is unexpected. some days, you may think it is a great idea and no one else likes it, other days, you may make something you are skeptical about and everyone adores it. Either way, threadless likes to wait a while before telling you that you've won.

and yes, if some of the staff comments on your design, then it is a very good sign

Throw enough shit at the wall, and some will stick.

haha, nice one fatheed.

skafiend I didn't know you did slam poetry...

Yeah, for a few years. I was on a couple of Chicago teams that went to the nationals in Minneapols and here in Chi... But yeah, that's one of the reasons I stopped doing it. It stopped being fun. People were so super-competitive, with all of these strategy theories and backroom accusations, and blah blah blah...it stopped being fun. I wrote a lot of humous stuff but hopefully with a point, got a few things printed in our local paper, got interviewed on the radio a few times, hosted a poetry radio show for a while, sold a few books (much to my surprise). Got invited to read in New York, Minneapolis, and, yes, Kalamazoo, Michigan!!!

Anyway, doing that slam stuff tought me that when people start worrying about points and winning, the quality of their work goes down. Everybody hear should remember they're artists first and Threadless competitors second.

Sounds like my history a bit.. now I do puppets and people keep asking me to do things that I think is "selling out".... oh well. good times.

Yeah I'm just gonna keep designing what I want, even if it means paying the price with low scores and nasty comments. --- I thought I'd have gotten more of those by now on the Hitler Cow sub, though.

Yeah I'm just gonna keep designing what I want, even if it means paying the price with low scores and nasty comments.

You got it. Sure it's nice to be the big star and get all the rewards, but at the end of the day, if you know you did something that wasn't really you, created some art just to try and score some points, it sticks in your mind. I did that a couple of times with poetry and I felt like chump. I stopped writing poetry and started writing plays and short stories... well at least trying to.

How come you don't have any info in your profile? I'd like to go check out other stuff you do.

I don't really have any stuff on line... I think. That's just me being paranoid about putting info on line. Tell you want, maybe I'll post something here for people to read. Then they can rip it to shred to get back at me for criticizing their stuff.

I'll bet "Poop" is licking his lips over that one...

The designer of the "Poop" shirt?

Yeah also if you post your writing online, you're bound to get plagiarized.

The designer of the "Poop" shirt?

Well, I kinda ripped him, so I be that if I post any of my poetry stuff, he'd love to reciprocate

Yeah also if you post your writing online, you're bound to get plagiarized.

Nah, I'm not that worried about being plagerized. If anybody wants my crap that badly, go for it!

haha (plagiarized)

Yeah i can't believe that lasted past the 1.5 rule... everyone must have been giving him sarcastic votes, but it backfired.

Thanks for the comments and suggestions. No worries, I don't take the let down to heart, though getting that BBH arcade would have been quite amazing. I kinda agree with Fatheed on just producing and producing - but there is a common style throughout threadless. I'll either figure it out, or go into threadless retirement, to maybe come back out like jordan or jay-z, only to retire once again.