Preparations for a career in glass

[Squirrel]

Hey I was wondering if you're going to make prodo on a torch (pipes, beads, marbles, jars, etc..) as a main source of income, how should you prepare for this career? Would it help to go to some kind of college/post secondary education, or would your money be better invested in personal classes/apprenticeship?

[LFC]

learn how to live poor, at least in th beginning, its not easy at first.

[β]

start off with a day job, maybe part time, and do glass every other waking moment.

[mer]

if you're any good at sales it might be good to learn business, that way you could keep the middle cut of your work and maybe even represent other lampers. i suck at sales so all my work goes through distributers. as for lamping, prodo is a good way to pay for your habit while working on your skills to make things that you won't be sick of in a couple years. preparing for prodo isn't a long term goal imo.

[Mac Maestro]

The faster you learn proper technique and how to make a prodo line, the faster you'll learn to make a living from it. Classes and equipment are great investments.

You need to know there is a ceiling with pipes, marbles, etc... That is, you will get to a certain point where you can no longer advance your monetary status unless you either move into a new market, or work yourself into the ground.

Think long term. While learning the ins and outs of the glass trade, learn other skills like business skillls and experience other trades. Grow those along side your glass knowledge, because you don't want to look at yourself one day and wish you had other skills because your market just collapsed.

[petto]

because you don't want to look at yourself one day and wish you had other skills because your market just collapsed.

Thats for sure!!!! I have had it happen like three times, a distrubator just goes out of business or the whole OPD thing. Thas why I am in nuursing school. 2 more years and I will have my BSN, no more prodo for me. I love to blow glass but basing your long term life goals on prodo won't work out for you. Like Maestro said expand yourself as much as possible. Prodo is a good jumping point because you can start to make some $$ pretty quick to help pay the bills. I have been doing prodo since 99' and I am burnt out on it. The only reason I still do it is because for now it pays the bills and being in school doesn't afford me the luxary of switching direction at this time. When I graduate then I can focus on more art forms and do it for the love instead of the $$$. Diversity is the key. Get a good line of pc's and get multiple accounts in case one falls thru you have the others to pick up the slack.

[Pilgrim]

listen to beta and mermonkey . 100% dont quit your day job!!!!!!

[misled youth]

LOL, i got into glass cause i wanted to make color changing pipes!!!
i love my job, i love making pipes. I FUKING HATE PRODO!!!

[Meerkat]

get a sugar mommy/daddy

[Super Phunk]

I got into glass because I wanted to make headpieces, now all I make is production, mostly.

[somberbear]

EVERY BODY does prodo.... all of them have a production line of things.....

get used to it. it can suck ass. but look for new things your trying to master. and repeat till there auto pilot. prodo can help develop skills.

and yea dont quit your day job it take a lot of work and time. eather have a year or two worth of equipment and glass and money for bills or keep your day job and take classes and practice/work when you can.

rob

[susheke]

I think college courses in business would be fantastic. Yes, being good at glass is important but that's the fun part. You should know how to do your books, how to price fairly, how to market your work, how to handle employees if you get them and how to set up a business plan.
In today's world you will not be making pipes for the rest of your life. We change too much. Get a business education now when you are young and it is the easiest time of your life to do it. You won't regret the money and time spent.

[Chase Designs]

I second what Suzy says. Business, accounting, marketing, sales, computers, and photography are all skills you can use in this business. You won't regret those classes where ever you go in the future. An AA in business might be the way to go, while taking individual classes in glass.

[menty666]

My day job pays for glass and the occasional class. Of course I spend most of my time dreaming of spending more time with glass, but hey, gotta pay the bills.

Here's how NOT to handle employees :-)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070516/ap_on_re_us/forced_labor;_ylt=AtynDOB0PriEHKUFH_wQB8YDW7oF

[vetropod]

Here's how NOT to handle employees :-)

Wow. THAT is unreal!

[SteppingRazor]

mr. simpson bio is sort of inspirational for the aspiring artist. he did however marry an astronaught, so i'm sure if his sales suddenly dropped he would'nt fear gonig tottaly broke.

http://joshsimpson.com/site/index.php?page=timeline

if you gunna become self employed keep in mind that you might be giving up a secure 9-5 shift for an erratic 24/7 shift. also unless you planned ahead if you become injured, or if equipment is stolen, breaks, you could be out of a paycheck for awhile.
even a minor sprain or even break on your hand, wrist, arm could put you outta work for awhile.
~joe

[newmexicomagma]

well u have to be a good saleman and put yourself out where the people are all the time. i would say have a part time job in the beginning. i quit my day job after 2 months of making w/r and sold those for about 3 months. during that time i would practice my io work. then for about a year i sold an even amount of w/r and io. now i effin hate makin w/r but all i sell is IO. so im still makin prodo but i like them alot better than w/r. for my prodo lines i like to always change it up. i like to explore new techs i can use for my prodo lines. it keeps me guessing. u just have to practice practice practice. and like LFC said learn to live poor.

[Zed]

Learn to REALLY like Ramen.

[vetropod]

Learn to REALLY like Ramen.

I had a roommate in college who ate only ramen. I think it definitely started to affect him psychologically after a while... :devilish:

[Headchange]

Sry to be the dissenting opinion.. but .. If everyone just does prodo for the money.. umm where is the love for the customers and the pieces..

THIS ISNT EVERYONES EASY MONEY..

I LOVE PIPES! Dont sell out and make pipes just cuz you think your gonna get lucky slingin them to some ppl to further your ambitions. If its not your thing .. DONT make them! make a dradle.. a hummmingbird.. a goblet.. what the hell ever you want but stop saying "I just do this for the money; one day I'll be doing something different" .. how crappy is that. and it is still 8k a month so w/e if you think there is a ceiling on income.. demand goes up so does price.. that is how it works..

If you are gonna do prodo.. pick a style and dont ever duplicate your pattern.. love it and plan for a bad week.. they are inevitable but also very easy to plan for.. Definitely get lessons.. your time cant be replaced.. your money can

[bc]

hell, I'd rather make prodo everyday than a.) MAKE BEADS

[bc]

b.) rather work for someone else

those beads broads gotta get real board of making them everyday.

ps not a hater of bead broads, just making beads everyday.

[ShttrdSpctrm]

i dont like doin anything, prodo, repetative all day. i get burned out on any one thing pretty quick.

[Phoenix]

b.) rather work for someone else

those beads broads gotta get real board of making them everyday.

ps not a hater of bead broads, just making beads everyday.

I think the beads are like anything else- it depends on your temperament. I make beads because I need to melt glass and I don't have the room or money for a full hot shop in my house. I couldn't make sets or special orders or anything that meant I would need to plan my bead making ahead. I make focal beads 1.5-2 inches long (big for a bead) in most cases.

For me, each one needs to be a true one of a kind to keep me interested. Some bead makers have terribly organized minds and thrive on making a lot with one pattern or taking orders for beads they know they are great at.

I think knowing your temperament is a good idea before you go into the glass business in any way - pipes, beads sculptures, vessels - know if you prefer big or small work - know if you prefer routine or managed chaos - know if you prefer security of a static line or the adventure of ooks

[susheke]

b.) rather work for someone else

those beads broads gotta get real board of making them everyday.

ps not a hater of bead broads, just making beads everyday.

Not in the least. Like pipes, the shape may be similar each time but the design is the fun part..

[Chase Designs]

There is art in beads!

Here:
http://www.chase-designs.com/images/020206dragon1web.jpg

Sure you can make production in any glass form you choose....or you can choose to NOT do production.

Greg (hubby) makes marbles and rarely makes the same one twice. There are a few designs he runs with, but I would bet he has never done the exact same piece more than 4 or 5 times ever. He just makes what he wants all the time.

Yes our sole income is off of glass

[paintingwithglass]

b.) rather work for someone else

those beads broads gotta get real board of making them everyday.

ps not a hater of bead broads, just making beads everyday.

everyone finds their glass niche...

heck...I get bored real easy and could not do the prodo boro work ya'll do.

I have a hard enough time making 20 beads that are in the same series...but that is me. Just like in production boro, sometimes you just need to make money to pay your bills...and if production is the way to go for a bit then that's what needs to be done. :)

Most of us beadbroads need to balance the production with challenging art beads.

[beadaddicts]

Nevermind.

[Udai Hussien]

Learn the quickest way to get the little silk rose into the glass tube

[Jerry Gash]

I'm selling currently selling prodo well enough where i only work a reg. job part time. I feel im making enough to where i need to start reporting to the gov of my earnings. I went down tot he local business center and they recommended some cheap accountants. This way i can pay in my taxes and be able to deduct things like my vehicle, mileage, business trips, equipment, materials, ect, ect ect. Plus i don't have to worry about the IRS coming and taking everything i own and charging me with tax evasion.

[Mac Maestro]

Jerry... That'll put your mind at ease. Plus you'll show a loss pretty much every year for the first couple - few years. (No payments) Put everything on a debit card and your bank statement will be compilled records of most everything you need.