The editor from a major motorcycle mag is coming to my shop tomorrow to do a feature article story and photoshoot on one of my custom creations and to do a tech article on a product I developed.

Will be a fun day for sure, but playing in the big leagues has its draw backs, such as if the "real me" gets out you can bet it will be articles of a different type in all the bike mags and news....yikes! I hate to even think of it!

Gotta try real hard not to slip into my natural girl mannerisms that do seem to be getting stronger lately, and people often look at me funny when the girl voice sorta comes out when I'm talking about designs and things I'm passionate about.

so yes...now my sisters here have an idea of what I do...check out a news stand near you in a couple months

It sounds like you have a awesome job girl!

Good luck to you Michelle G.  You will have to be very careful not to say or do something that makes you seem feminine.  Will you need to bind your chest? Good luck and let us know how everything workout for you.

I am wondering if it would be a disaster if you were suspected of being a gay man that is the worst case scenario. I doubt very seriously that you would be perceived as being trans.

Quote from: UCBerkeleyPostop on July 10, 2012, 12:13:15 AM
I am wondering if it would be a disaster if you were suspected of being a gay man that is the worst case scenario. I doubt very seriously that you would be perceived as being trans.

Being gay doesn't really even raise eyebrows anymore does it? I swear coming out as a girl in such a male dominated business like motorcycles would be much worse...and dummy me when I started this company 4 years ago I used my male name in the company name, the aircraft repair biz I used to own just had a a discriptive type name.
I have customers all over the US, some in Canada and I do consulting work for some shops in the UK. But it's the US deep south and Texas that worries me! I'm afraid I would have to give this up to be "out" much more at all.

But...you can bet that tomorrow I will be wearing my sexiest, lacy, hot pink things under the boring boy clothes

Oh, btw...some years ago I did a bunch of work for the nice "Dykes on Bikes" ladies up in Seattle, they actually treated me very well I suppose I could look up the California chapter for some business.

Quote from: mm on July 09, 2012, 11:05:18 PM
Good luck to you Michelle G.  You will have to be very careful not to say or do something that makes you seem feminine.  Will you need to bind your chest? Good luck and let us know how everything workout for you.

Jeez you are sorta right, I do have really pokie long nips that I catch people staring at, it's going to be quite hot but I better wear something appropriate....thanx

Oh ->-bleeped-<-e! Girl you got yourself set-up in one hot-spot. Like the 'Cat on a hot tin roof'?

How about some all new "Trans-Dykes-On-Bikes" as a theme.
Maybe do some market research beforehand though.

I do NOT envy you, good luck,
Axélle

Quote from: Axélle on July 10, 2012, 01:51:55 AM
Oh ->-bleeped-<-e! Girl you got yourself set-up in one hot-spot. Like the 'Cat on a hot tin roof'?

How about some all new "Trans-Dykes-On-Bikes" as a theme.
Maybe do some market research beforehand though.

I do NOT envy you, good luck,
Axélle

Thanx
It's been a while since I've had to concentrate on being in deep cover guy mode!

I enjoy just being myself and the friends and few customers that do come to the shop just see a guy (ugh) with a creative artistic "flair" and a touch of the stereotypical "temperamental artist" that dresses a bit on the gender neutral side, but with my hair getting longer and other almost obvious female traits it's getting harder to hide!

This "Genie" is not going back in the bottle and she is enjoying being in 3D more and more

First of all congrats for the article!

Good luck getting through the day

You have quite a dilemma here. If you become convincingly female, outing yourself could be beneficial to your business, just think of all the publicity. OTOH you would lose the ability to ever go stealth unless maybe you did the equivalent of joining "the witness protection program." 

Oh...I have thought of the witness protection plan many many times over the years!   how nice to just dissapear with a new name, new look, new credentials and no "searches" could trace the old you!!

Good gawd! how nice would that be!

well, the guys are on their way to the shop right now...will check in later

Congratulations on the article.

Quote from: Michelle G on July 09, 2012, 09:49:34 PM
....yikes! I hate to even think of it!

Scary. I hope you will be prepared when the time actually comes!

Quote from: Michelle G on July 10, 2012, 01:35:04 AM
Being gay doesn't really even raise eyebrows anymore does it? I swear coming out as a girl in such a male dominated business like motorcycles would be much worse...and dummy me when I started this company 4 years ago I used my male name in the company name, the aircraft repair biz I used to own just had a a discriptive type name.
I have customers all over the US, some in Canada and I do consulting work for some shops in the UK. But it's the US deep south and Texas that worries me! I'm afraid I would have to give this up to be "out" much more at all.

But...you can bet that tomorrow I will be wearing my sexiest, lacy, hot pink things under the boring boy clothes

Oh, btw...some years ago I did a bunch of work for the nice "Dykes on Bikes" ladies up in Seattle, they actually treated me very well I suppose I could look up the California chapter for some business.

Just slip into a sparkly bikini and be your own bike model

Quote from: Cyndigurl45 on July 10, 2012, 10:52:24 AM
Just slip into a sparkly bikini and be your own bike model

Cyndi dear....you just know I'm gonna do that!!

Well it all went just fine, the editor and bike owner just left

He got lots of great shots of the bike and one of my custom product installs for a feature article and a tech/install article which should be in the January issue of "Hotbike" magazine as well as in their sister mags by the same publisher.

I pulled off the boy mode thing ok I hope... cargo shorts and a white t-shirt seemed safe to wear of course, but my silky smooth legs and clear toenail polish was a bit obvious, but I think lots of "metrosexual" California guys these days sport that look, lol

Now tomorrow I have a crew coming to the house to install a complete new HVAC system...so its boy mode all over again grrrr

this is the bike they did the photoshoot on, it has quite a few unique things on it that no other bike has which was one of the reasons for the article.



and another bike I built early last year to give you an idea of my style,

LOL I knew you would

Ditch the boy mode, the HVAC guys will just have to drool at your sexyness LOL

And those bikes are awesome, my style also.......

Quote from: Cyndigurl45 on July 10, 2012, 03:00:44 PM
LOL I knew you would

Ditch the boy mode, the HVAC guys will just have to drool at your sexyness LOL

And those bikes are awesome, my style also.......

Now Cyndi...If I was to float around topless in the pool with hot pink bikini bottoms do you really think I would get a quality HVAC install job?
Living in the country with no neighbors is nice as that is my swimwear of choice

Girl with the guys over y'll have to put your top on sweetie

so today the HVAC crew is here, they have the old system all removed and the new one is going in, I feel bad for those poor guys, its mid 90's temps outside and its gotta be 130+ up in the attic!!

I put a big cooler full of water out for them which should help!

it figures the system would go out just when the hot weather hits...but its 18 yrs old and was on borrowed time! the only thing keeping it running was its a top brand.

now the bad part...the NEW system is $10K   (insert crying icon here)

no pool today, i have to much work to do

Quote from: Michelle G on July 10, 2012, 02:50:25 PM
Cyndi dear....you just know I'm gonna do that!!

Well it all went just fine, the editor and bike owner just left

He got lots of great shots of the bike and one of my custom product installs for a feature article and a tech/install article which should be in the January issue of "Hotbike" magazine as well as in their sister mags by the same publisher.

I pulled off the boy mode thing ok I hope... cargo shorts and a white t-shirt seemed safe to wear of course, but my silky smooth legs and clear toenail polish was a bit obvious, but I think lots of "metrosexual" California guys these days sport that look, lol

Now tomorrow I have a crew coming to the house to install a complete new HVAC system...so its boy mode all over again grrrr

this is the bike they did the photoshoot on, it has quite a few unique things on it that no other bike has which was one of the reasons for the article.



and another bike I built early last year to give you an idea of my style,

YOU LUCKY   UMMMMM   j/k nice bikes I wish I had the cash I would be in school for it right now if I could. Congrats an the magazine shoot glad it went well

Good luck and Congrats Michelle!!

I was in full boy mode the other day.........  kind of disturbing.  I feel your pain!

Anyway, keep up the good work!  Just another step towards the goal!  remember, when you do good work, people won't care what you look like, where your shop is, or sometimes, even how much it costs.  Good custom work is hard to find.

I suspect that you'll be more accepted than you think.