Anyone quit job to blow glass full time?

[CosmicGlassInc]

I was just wondering how many folks on the board here have gone from a regular paycheck and working for the man to blowing glass full time and working for yourself. :eek :D

Was wondering how it worked for other people, as I am considering this seriously, I am haveing a hard time doing both and know if I focused all my energy on glass I would be a better artist, with no insurance or 401k. :ohwell: If anyone feels like shareing, it might help me out hearing others thoughts and expieriences on this.



Throck

[Harry Paratesteez]

I did, .....worked for someone elese though. A pipeshop to be exact. I took a 25 cent an hour paycut, no paid vacation, no insurance........
Odly enough I got fired not long after I filled the dudes shelves for the holidays, about 2 months to be exact.
I'm back at my old job now, I make 1.50 more than I did when I left,I Am a supervisor now, I get paid vacation,I get medical and dental insurance,401k, long and short term disability....ect...


not gonna say dont do it but.......making pieces for a living has alot more to do w/ being a business man than it does spinning glass....

Piece,
MAtt

[CosmicGlassInc]

Yeah, maybe I should suck it up and quit bitchin.lol Im so ready to give it a shot though!

[glasshead]

I quit school to blow glass. I still work at a job doing asleep overnight shifts as a "direct support professional" 3-4 nights/week. Basically i get paid to sleep at a crazy dude's house from 11-9 and all i do is wake up and give him his meds. This way I have all day to blow glass and have fun. Right now glass makes up for about half my monthly income but once i start to earn enough its going to be strictly glass as a profession.

[IrieGuy05]

Save up mad loot so you don't have to worry about it for a year or so, at least 6 months worth of rent, materials, essentials. That way if you flop at first and don't make enougth money your ok. Plus you can make what you want to make and not worry about filling an order.

[IrieGuy05]

Oh yEAH I quit delivering pizza twice to blow glass. If I did 30-40 hour a week at glass I would have a lot of money. I would deliver pizza for $250-300 a week @ 30-40 hours a week.. The thing about being your own boss is you decide when to take breaks or if to work at all.. but hey at least no one is talking about hey What the Hell are you doing, We can't baby-sit you what is this, this is not a daycare center/// hahahaha

true story...

[skip]

Well reading these posts, I assume you will be keeping that job....LOL

[Harry Paratesteez]

better than makin wrap and rakes "for the man".........so far...........

[The Bigles]

I always had bullshit jobs. gas station, grocery store, chicken farm, another gas station....

Eventually it got to the point where I couldn't afford to go to my job because of the money I was losing by not being on the torch. I'm not sure I would recomend not having a job until you've really honed your glass skills though. Unless you've got a dependable income from taking cell phone calls and driving around to hang out with people. But that's actually something that you should get away from sooner than later anyway.




So, I would say it's good to have a bullshit job until you've gotten way past beginner status into the comfortable intermediate stage. Not too serious of a job though or you'll never get any torch time. Even if that job just covers your glass expenses and you pay for everything else with glass money. Or say you get a job that just covers your rent and you pay for everything else with glass, that works too. Just so long as you have at least a little gauranteed money every month.

'Cause the worst thing about being a pipemaker is dealing with people in the pipe industry. Forgetfullness, procrastination, poor money mangement....... sound familiar? You don't have to BE a pipemaker to exibit those qualities. Just INVOLVED with pipes somehow.

Yeah yeah, I know, not everyone in the pipe world is a crackhead I'm just trying to make a point. Until you've established a marketable production line with reliable accounts you'll occasionally find yourself with 1500 dollars worth in your cases with a 200 dollar bill to pay and no one will buy your shit. Until the bill is past due by a few days. or something. It's a shitty feeling knowing that you have more than enough to pay that bill but no way to convert your stock into currency.

hibbedy bibbedy this post is already long enough

[Brian Newman]

I haven't had a "job" since '93, and it is a continual struggle, but worth the effort. I say when I start work, when i quit, and when I take a "smoke" break. I am behind on my bills, but Christmas is coming and sales will take off soon. I would ramble more, if I hadn't just mentioned "smoke" break....

[brettodie]

yup quit my day job 10 yrs ago next month :) not an easy path though takes alot of work and dedication to run your own buisness and can become all consuming unless your careful with your time. i enjoy the freedom i have,i dont enjoy when im broke. no insurance sux ass,i missed 4 mnths of work with a shoulder/neck injury,still revovering finanicaly from that over a year later. just plan out what you want out of your job,and weather or not you want glass to be pure fun or work thats fun most of the time.good luck enjoy your path.im off to work before sunday football starts :) and ill be back at it tonight after the simpsons, no rest for the weary. peace brett

[Chris Juedemann]

I quit my job first, I was a NOC tech for a phone company. Paid vacations, stock options, all that, even wore a tie. Lissa sold her shop a few months later - Choco Shop (http://www.chocolatefetish.com) . We had enough to get basic equipment (torches, kiln) and bills paid up for a month or two. We started making beads. Lots of beads. We figured we had to get really good really quick ;-) You would have an advantage, having actually been on a torch.

We have always paid insurance, mortgage, had food (I drink cheap beer now though) but money is a constant worry. On the plus side, we actually get to see each other, and now with the kid.. well, its worth it (except no more free chocolate).

I think the big question is if you can force yourself to work when, tecnically, you don't have to. Its easy to slack for a day, and then the next.. Can you be the toughest boss you've ever had?

chris

[wildrokproductions]

i left my job in feb 05 after spending 2 yrs learning on the torch and working in a shop , finally it just came to the point where i had to choose glass or the career that i chased for the last 7 yrs.well i chose glass and have not been happier ever!! but i have worked more hrs per week now than ever before.but in this market i think you have to in order to compete with everyone else , i know i like everything that comes out of my kiln to be sold . especially when my wife and 3 kids are on the line $$$$$$ counts. so anyway theres my sunday morning 2 cents :pimp:

[Micah Evans]

I was on the torch for 3 months and I quit my job, that was 5 years ago! It was a great choice at the time, it allowed me to blow full time and improve my skills rather quickly doing low end to medium end production. Now I am much more interested in the fine art side of things and could care less about the production, so i'm applying for day jobs this week. Its been fun, but all the time I spend on prodo robs me of creative motivation to do the shit I really want to.

good luck,

me

oh yeah, and the industry does lick goat scroat from time to time.

[rustyglass]

That sounds like the right route. When glass becomes "work" it definitely demotivates me creatively. Having a job that just covers bills would make it alot easier to get on the torch. Or, like Bigles said, you could deal with the people that run pipe shops and the headache that comes with them.

The biggest problem for me will be breaking the routine I have of waking up and playing with glass! :smokin: I keep saying..."Im gonna get a job tomorrow...tomorrow.... tomorrow....tomorrow....tomorrow....tomorrow....to morrow....tomorrow....tomorrow....tomorrow....tomo rrow....tomorrow....tomorrow....tomorrow....tomorr ow....tomorrow....tomorrow....tomorrow....tomorrow ....tomorrow....tomorrow....

Maybe tomorrow is finally coming.

[fumalicious]

making pieces for a living has alot more to do w/ being a business man than it does spinning glass.... WORD... this is the wisest thing stated in this thread. It matters NOT what you can make... what matters is what you can SELL. I thought in the beginning since people seemed impressed with my skills and learning curve that I'd of course do well.... hasn't worked out that way so far... I guess it's only been 8 yrs.. so in some repects that's not very long.

I'd seriously suggest studying up on business/ finance before jumping into glass full time IF you are like me and it doesn't come naturally to you. Some people seem to know how to run business like they take a shit- no thought required. For me it's like a person who isn't good at math trying to learn calculus (wierd to say... I was teaching myself calculus for a while :lol).

I'll save the details of my floundering to myself... but it hasn't been easy to say the least. Just like Chris said- are you willing to be the toughest boss you've ever had?

Hmmmm.... speaking of which, I guess my "boss" thinks I should get off my computer and go blow glass and run my business! :lol

[longbeach glass]

there you go man make your self work if u have to I quite my job about 5 years ago and never plan on getting what some would call a (real job) but screw them cause i work hard if u put in the hours and take care of your shit u can make it sure its hard to be your own boss but if u love glass it shouldnt be to hard

[FosterFire]

I quit my job working for Wells Fargo Bank as a Local Area Network Analyst, with credentials of 20 years experience, associates degree and certification of MCNE - that's a Master Certified Network Engineer. There's aren't many of those and very few are wowen. I got very sick of watching and sometimes helping my MALE co-workers get promoted past me. Repeatedly. With no college and no certification and myabe 2 years experience.

Here's the part you're interested in:
I got determined to quit 4 years ago and started my own company. Took business classes at the community college. Paid off as many bills as I could. Got myself a cozy emergency fund. I have a back up plan in case I fall on my face or the economy takes a nosedive. I am selling to a few galleries and building up a client base. When I started the company (FosterFire) we tried selling glass but that didn't go very well and we ended up focusing on manufacturing bead release. The bead release generally fills in the occasional gaps in selling glass beads, jewelry made from my beads and whatever else.

[slinger]

thank god for phish in 97... because of how easy it was in the lot back in the nineties, i was able to quit my job after about 2-3 months on the torch and sell phishheads 10$ onies, spoons and hitters until i actually learned what glassblowing was really all about..... ahhhh the glory days. I can't believe its my "career" now!
the three main lessons ive learned in making this a "career" is to
1) always keep building your skills and honing the craft. I think prodo is good for this, even if its boring or "unispiring". All a more complicated piece is is lots of simpler forms put together.

2) Be CREATIVE, not just when you are going off making one of a kind work, but even in your money-making production work. If you are competing in the bead world, or pipe world, or marble world, be conscious of the market and fill gaps and niches that have yet to be filled instead of making work that looks like lots of other peoples and hence forcing you to compete with all similar styles. Talk to lots of non glass workers and see what catches there eye, wacth what styles and colours sell. Which brings me to

3) BUSINESS. you are not a businessman, you are a BUSINESS man! so you have to treat it like that and build business relationships, learn marketing, book keeping, etc etc.... like kevin and some others stated, this is usually most of our weak points, we all wanna be creative and make stuff, but selling the stuff, its the boring part. You might have to devote as much time to marketing and selling as you do producing work, so take that into account.

thats my .02
goodluck.

[darv]

Glass is my full time job and I love it. I don't make pipes, so I have no idea about that side of the business. If you price your work correctly and balance avenues to sell it( wholesale galleries, art shows, trade shows, and web site) you can make a great living and enjoy yourself. If you price your work at $60 an hour and work 40 hours a week thats 120,000 a year. Glass can be profitable, and if you want to do it, and feel like you can, go for it. Never rely on other peoples experiences. If it's what you want to do, there is always a way to do it. This business is just like any other, %90 of the poeple that undertake it fail. Don't let this scare you away and persue your goals.

derek

[skip]

If you price your work at $60 an hour and work 40 hours a week thats 120,000 a year.

Using this quote let's start with the first business lesson.

Net income is WAY less than mutiplying ($60 an hourX 40 hours a week) x 52....

[Stagger Lee]

If you price your work at $60 an hour and work 40 hours a week thats 120,000 a year.


Easier said than done. That's your GROSS income now add up your exspensive, taxes (if your gonna be legit) and BS hours. Then your income is like a third. Which isn't a bad incone for some but I couldn't live on it.

I own a landscaping biz and blow glass partime. Being self-employed is the most OVER RATED thing ever. It sound all good but it's really tough. I find myself getting into ruts and then there no one to pull me out. I thank my wife for her job with the benifits. It would be even tougher if we didn't have insurance for the 2 kids and my accident prone self.

[rumplephorskin]

I couldn't imagine having a full time job other than glass. It gives me the ability to be a stay at home single dad. My son is 12; hopefully by the time that he is a bit older I'll be able to get a warehouse space. When I started working with glass in 96 the market was absolutely raging. Slowly but surely it became more glutted with newbies and demand started falling, so did prices for finished product. I got to a point where I wasn't sure if I was making the right move by continuing in the biz after losing a large studio I had in north Seattle. Fortunantely; a pep talk by a few good friends and relatives encouraged me to continue on. My dad reminded me that there are a ton of things to make out of glass that don't have anything to do with pipe making. Sometimes I used to lose sight of that. Depending on stoners and greedy smoke shop owners is definitely no way to live.

These days I try to spend half my time doing prodo pieces to pay the bills and the other half into making high end craft like vases and jewelry and ornaments etc.... I enjoy having some stuff to sell to the other 95% of our population that doesnt give 2 shits about how headdy my bubblers are. In time I hope to cut out pipes completely. My bills are always a little late but they do get paid. I own my own house and the fridge is full of food and beer. Life is good and being a glass person takes a good thing and makes it better. I used to want to be a ""baller"" and run shit and this and that; but these days I am more than happy to be king of my own castle and chill with my friends and family.

Jack

[broken glass]

lots o good posts here. I think I am on a path back to prodo myself Depressing. It is hard to spend your energy and creativity on a piece, only to go out to hte stores to get beat down to the point where you don't even want to sell. What i really want is a store so that I can make nice pieces and just buy prodo crap from the undercutting rats .
"depending on stoners and greedy shop owners is definitely no way to live"
Word up !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rumplephorskin]

prodo can mean a lot of different things tho; it doesnt have to be crap to be mass produced. if you can make a nice product and take a few shortcuts along the way to up your productivity it seems to make it almost barable to do for a few days at a time.hell; you can always save time by leaving some unpaterned sections on your pieces and calling it negative space and pushing them off as art;)

[boxfan willy]

Quit my job as a fiber optics engineer in '99. Haven't had a job since then. I've done tons of prodo, literally tons. I still love blowing glass. Being self-employed for 6 years has been challenging but I am a better person for it. More self-control, better money management, better marketing skills. I went to school for business and didn't learn half as much as I have on my own. My father has been self-employed bootmaker for 30 years. He is very dedicated and wouldn't think of doing anything else. He raised 3 kids doing his thing.

If you love it, you'll figure it out. If you don't, then it is a very rewarding hobby.

boxfan

[smutboy420]

I've got the totally exact opisit thing going on right now. instead of quiting a job to blow glass I'm going to be taking a job so i can still keep blowing glass.
But it will be nice for a change to have the $ to make what i want and not have to worry about how fast can i sell this for.
but its going to be weird I haven't worked for any one else but my self sence like 1993 or so.
and its weird filling out a job app with no job refrances or any thing in the last decade tho.

[loydb]

I've been self-employed since 1993 doing computer consulting gigs. I've been doing glass for a little over 4 years now, and am actually finally making some decent money doing beads and jewelry (I only make pipes for friends).

I've found that after being my own boss for so long, I'm tempermentally unsuited for full-time 9-5 in-a-cubicle work. Sometimes I get clients where I *have* to be on-site for a few weeks (the longest stretches have been 2-3 months), and it absolutely drives me bugfuck crazy.

It's all about the hustle, whether you're slinging code or slinging glass. About 50% of my work finds me - I have to go out and find the other 50%. Having a wife with a real job for the slow times is nice too. She's a teacher, so we don't get rich from it, but it means we can keep the house if I have a dry spell.

loyd

[borealisglass]

Andy has been blowing glass full time since 98....I quit my job to raise my kids and now I work twice as hard trying to keep up with the glass business...who knew? Wish we had medical though and dental....and paid vacation, well kinda have that.

[michaelangeloglass]

LOL, A Job!

[VinE]

Quit!

[HippyJayM]

I currently work a full time retail job;35-40 hours a week, benifits, paid time off. I am in the process of switching to a differnet full time job. I was offered a job at a jewlery store. That will give me better pay and optons to go back to school for bussiness (on their dime). I will still have the same amount of time on the torch (about 25- 30 hours a week). I know some day I will phase a 'job' out to work in the glass industry full time (teaching, supplies, running a shop) but that is not for the time being.

[jedi glassworks]

I agreee with the comment above...the hardest part of doing this for a full time job is the motivtion..so, if you really want to do this...then spend ALL your time doing it right...then hopefully your time will work itself out. I was an electrician for a few years before i decided to stop commuting and do this full time. After almost 10 years I finally have set hours to work 5 days a week with a certain amount that i have to make, and i live pretty well in santa cruz and take care of my family, so it can be done

[smutboy420]

I'm stoked I got a call about a job from a relative yesterday. I got a good chance to get a job installing armor on humvies. I hope I get it. There in charge of hiring and doing the piss tests(AWESOME!!)
Its $16 per hour to start with as much over time as I want to work or as little time as I want to work I can pick and choose what hours and days I want from as little as 2 days to as many as 7 days.
the Co. is owned by gorge bushs uncle no less and has a nice cushy contract to install the armor on all the humvies. plus its located at the Watervliet arsenal. witch is awesome cause im so close to the arsenal my street ends at there gate 2 blocks away from my house. I'm so close I hear revelly played in the morning and taps at 10. So its so close I would never need to drive there. I can see it from my front porch. So who of thunk They would see smutboy working a nice easy federal job for gorge bushs uncle to get me by the slow times in my pipe making career? lol lol hee hee I always thought the bushs should compensate me for my earnings loss if I stop making pipes. I guess they just might be after all if every thing goes right. I actually WANT to take this job if I can get it. its too good to pass up. Its not highly skilled labor but its good pay good benys and in a small way I guess I could even be a bit proud if I wanted to be. One more guy working is that much more faster our guys can be riding in the pimp armored humvies.

Interesting side not about the watervliet arsenal. Its where they make all large naval guns for IOWA-class battleships. like the new jersey and Missouri. Its where the design for the way a GTT torch looks came from. Will and his brother drive past the arsenal when they go skiing and out side they have 3 big guns on display and will said thats where they got the ideal for the shape of the gtt.
http://www.navy.mil/palib/ships/battleships/newjersey/nj-1984beirut.gif just look at that flame!!!!

[VinE]

I hope you get it jj.
if things are slow for you i could give you the # of a couple galleries/bead shops up here who would BUY your work. let me know if you need any help.
p.s. do you do tube blanks? if so I will order 20+ today.

[natehussey]

i guess i have the best of both worlds somewhat. i am the GM for a small string of discount lumber yards, and work about 45 yrs a week. i take roughly a 50k salary. my wife and i have 7 kids between us between 18mo and 12 yrs. simply walking away from that security would take bigger balls than i have. i blow glass 20-25 yrs a week, and thank god every day for the fact that i have a very business savvy wife who takes care of all the books,(being legit is important to me)does all the ordering of my glass supplies,AND if that wasn't enough, goes out and deals with all the pain in the ass shop owners. funny part is... she will sell 50-75% more glass than me to the same shop owners. i guess that has do do with the fact that she is cute, bubble and outgoing. where as i am big, ugly, tattooed and grumpy.

bottom line is this:

MY HAT IS OFF TO ANY OF YOU THAT CAN DO IT ALL ALONE. because without my wife i wouldn't be able to, and i know how to run a business.

[burnoutboy]

dude, the, glass is like a job, man, a sweet one

[CosmicGlassInc]

Thanks for all the comments folks,

I need to work long enough to get my generator and then I think I can retire this job, It gets old working for the man! Insurance cost to me is like a $100 A WEEK. 400 a month thats frickin crazy and they say the costs are going higher, just got the memo today.

Been at this new job since the begining of the summer, but worked up here since 98. ANyone want to work in the oilfield and make big cash, I can tell you where to go. Its not fun, but what job is? If you can handle the -50 weather, your tits!

I think the only way to do it is to jump in with both feet and work 6am-6pm 5 days a week.

All the posts have helped me out, I was ready to walk away last week, but I think I just had a bad day, helped me refocus my goals a little bit more. There is light at the end of the tunnel, I just need to stick it out for like 3 more months and should be ready to give it a shot. Been back stocking glass and color all summer, money in the bank, when I get the gen paid off I can quit. Hopefully, last time I quit I had 4 weeks off between jobs and this place sucked me back in, couldnt pass up the BBD.

Anyway, thanks for all the insight.

Throck

[loydb]

A quick note on insurance -- if you don't mind getting a policy with a high deductible (mine is $2000), it can be had for $100-$150/month via Unicare. I have to pretty much pay for my own meds & doctor visits if I get the flu, etc., but I'm not worried about the flu -- the insurance is to deal with something major like cancer, heart attacks, etc. Mine was $140/month until I turned 40, then went to $175/month.

loyd

[3 rip min]

all i can say at this point is that working alone sucks!!! but on the other hand working for someone sucks more... lol....

[smutboy420]

Been at this new job since the begining of the summer, but worked up here since 98. ANyone want to work in the oilfield and make big cash, I can tell you where to go. Its not fun, but what job is? If you can handle the -50 weather, your tits!

Whats the work schedual like? The guy that lives down the road from my shop works out on oil rigs and he works for 6 weeks then is off for 6 weeks. and they pay his traval expenses
I'd be down for something like that.

[eternalfrost]

Anyone in here make a living off of anything besides pipes??? Seems like all people take about in here is pipes pipes pipes lol. Any 'legit' glass artists in here?? just kidding :contempla

by the way, you pipe guys, where do you all live? Im from NY the laws here are quite strict. you cant even really have 'headshops' around here. so where do you guys sell ur stuff? are rules less strict around where you live or what?

[borealisglass]

If I were you I would be careful stereotyping glassblowers as legit or not legit. Especially when you are asked for design help and people are going out of their ways to try to explain tubing techs to you. I am personally not offended, but others maybe.

There are a wide variety of people on this board and most make a variety of things...speaking for us...Andy has been blowing glass for 8 years and for 8 years has been doing nothing but glass.

[jacee30]

My wife and I have lived off of our glass for the past 5 years.

Some times I do think of getting a "job", then I slap myself and get back to work on my torch.

Jay and Anna

[CitizenNot]

ask me again in a year or so

[smutboy420]

I make all kinds of other stuff. But Geting someone to pay there hard earned money for it is a whole nother story tho. So pipes tend to be a lot of pepoles $ maker that pays for the other stuff. So you might not just allways see some one talking about making just pipes. But if they are talking about making something AND bringing in a cash flow from the items. Its likly going to be pipes a lot of the time. For A lot of pepole Pipes keep the bills paid.

Plus this board started out from the old board that used to be a place for the pipemakers and other cool glass blowers to hang out. Back when we where all to good for the bead places to even allow pipe makers to join.

[Din]

Pipes aren't legit glass? You mean I've been blowing plastic all this time? Damn, and just when I thought I was getting good at this...

I'd quit my job if I didn't like it so much. Not to mention I'm probably the only guy on the continent making a decent wage on a farm.

Pipemaking may not be the be-all and end-all of lampworking, but it sure has brought a lot to the table.

[eternalfrost]

I didnt mean it wasnt a legit artform guys!! i ment in the legal view heh was ment to be a joke anyways :(

for the record, I am totally blown away by the talent of people in here

[eternalfrost]

From dictionary.com :-P

le·git·i·mate Pronunciation Key (l-jt-mt)
adj.

1. Being in compliance with the law; lawful: a legitimate business.

Just thought i'd throw that out there.... no hard feelings guys

[borealisglass]

Like I said I wasn't offended....but I know that others might get offended so I was just giving you the heads up. Personally I do consider my business legit...we have only had one legal snafu and we won so I guess the judge thought we were legit too.

[Kalera]

I was a retail slave until I quit to do beads almost 3 years ago... I love what I do, and one nice thing is that since I get more hours on the torch than I did I've improved more in the last three years than I did in the whole previous ten.

I hate the bookkeeping, taxes, etc. and I lose about 2/3 of my income to expenses and taxes, but it's worth it for the freedom.

[IF-Designs]

I know several pipemakers and bead makers that have done just this. A close friend of mine if in dire need can work out 750-1000 of product in a week. Its possible you haveto be very dedicated be in the shop every day and know where to sell and how to move your stuff.

[Mr. Smiley]

This is all I do. I wouldn't have it any other way. Our bills are paid and that's all I have to say about that. :D

[smutboy420]

Pipe making is legit as hell where I'm at(don't even want to side track in this thread to that tho)
But I got to say I really really wish I was making some thing more forfilling with glass AND getting paid enought to pay the bills. I still do enought pipes here and there for the bread and butter and to kep a few reg customers needs forfilled. But thats what let me do my "Fun Glass" the stuff I can do for the fun or pure art or it. the Price tag comes later. Where as a pipe some times the price tag is on it before its even in the flame. luckely my "other stuff" can wait to sell to the right person. From the small amounts of pipes I do make. Latly Meghan has took on about 95% of the pipe biz and lets me work on what I want and lets me explore new stuff with out any worry I'm not pulling my share.
I do pull most of her points tho and keep every thing in the shop running and do any bings that have to be done on the lathe. But I can say I'm happier making stuff because its cool to make rather then because I have to sell it.
If I had my way I would make vessals all day on the lathe. Pipes have alleways been my least fav thing to make and vases and jars my most favrite. but it always worked out where I was making and selling a lot more pipes then I ever have made jars. Its a lot easier on the art part when the glass and shop are paid for already.

[LTD]

since '97 the job has been glass, I have taken a job here and there in the lean times..
Ran another guys prodo shop for like 14 months, that really blew. Same piece over and over till you don't know if it is #3 or #43. Doing that much prodo really solidifys the techs.
At this point I don't know how to do anything else, but how many people love to go to work? I do.
A carpenter friend of mine(same building) told me his favorite part of being self employed was working 1/2 days, his least favorite was deciding which 12 hours.
Grab the cold end

[Kalera]

One thing to keep in mind when looking at the financial aspect of doing glass for a living is that it's about 1/3 making glass and 2/3 running your business; you have to sell and pack and ship your work, keep the books, buy supplies, and learn new ways to make your shit better. The only way you can be at the bench 40 hours a week and still run your business is by having someone who takes care of other stuff for you, so don't go getting too excited about the idea of making $120,000 a year yet!

[nickglassdood]

anyone quit blowing glass to job full time????

[Kalera]

A carpenter friend of mine(same building) told me his favorite part of being self employed was working 1/2 days, his least favorite was deciding which 12 hours.


That is one of the most quotable quotes ever. I think I might have to borrow it sometime!

[LTD]

Feel free, I am pretty sure he was quoting some one else any how.

[flamebob]

One thing to keep in mind when looking at the financial aspect of doing glass for a living is that it's about 1/3 making glass and 2/3 running your business; you have to sell and pack and ship your work, keep the books, buy supplies, and learn new ways to make your shit better. The only way you can be at the bench 40 hours a week and still run your business is by having someone who takes care of other stuff for you, so don't go getting too excited about the idea of making $120,000 a year yet!


And see this is where i think i fit in a little better than most. I'm just starting out in the shop doing small mandrel beads and experimenting and such, but most of my experience, which isn't too much because I'm only 23, is in business. My mom was hard up on the be your own boss so you can enjoy life, which translated into educating me in small business and entrepreneurship.
How many people here do everything( the business aspect) either with a partner who is a lampworker as well, by themselves, or have someone else manage their business?

[Jones Art Glass]

I was a corporate trave agent for three years before I touched glass. I was tired of breaking pipes and had a nice bonus check coincide with two weeks off so I paid for a pipe makers apprenticeship and never looked back... That was in the spring of 2000. Now six years later I've transistioned from a pipemaker to house artist for a big ass stupid pipeshop to junking that and hitting the road on the bead show circuit and trying to make it. I'm a single dad with a 5 year old and I'm happy to say that when I filed my taxes for 2005 less than half of my income came from pipes. Beads and teaching kept me going and I pray that 2006 brings even more other and less pipes. Not because I don't like pipes or whatever...I just don't enjoy doing anything I wouldn't want my son doing... But I'm blessed to be able to pay bills and still go to the zoo or chaperone a school party. So here's to anyone that makes anything: Pipes, beads, weights,...whatever because they want to and are interested in it. And a double shot for anyone that understands that it doesn't matter how nice or "headie" it is if it doesn't sell. Business skills account for so much that to neglect them is like forgetting to fill your oxy... If your serious about suceeding stay on the grind... If not please...please...please don't quit your day job. Starting your own business is not a quick easy way too fame or fortune its basically just buying yourself a job.

[j sin sux]

I used to work as a waiter in between failing out of college. I still take classes, just to pick up chics, and now i go to my old job to dine in their facility. It's tough sometimes blowing glass fulltime, especially since i taught myself almost everything i know. It takes some skill in negotiations to get what you want for your work, and i have to find a happy medium between production and headies so i don't spend too much time and money on color while still making something i can be proud of. I ONLY make pipes, fuck anything else, there is no point, YOU CAN"T DO SHIT BUT LOOK AT BEADS. I mean, i might as well just stare at my trash can full of broken shards, it's just as colorfull. Pipes are useful, and no matter what they sell. Soomeone ALWAYS wants a pipe, but i can't move some bs "art". SAY, lets put together a glass assassin squad and we can go to foreign countries where those sweat shops are making all those crappy pieces and blow them up and kill all the glass blowers so we can make shit tons of cash back here in the states and the stores won't have any choice but to pay what the fuck we tell them. Oh, and u gotta run your mouth hard core when ur selling your shit. Go to jail once or twice and just learn how to spit game there, thats how i got my whole business plan set up. I made $1400 the first WEEK in February, and now i have my BRAND NEW CARLISLE!!!! Course, i only made like 6 or 7 hundred since then, but HEY! Maybe next week will be back on track..... :evilLaugh

[blazeoffire]

Anyone in here make a living off of anything besides pipes??? Seems like all people take about in here is pipes pipes pipes lol. Any 'legit' glass artists in here?? just kidding :contempla

by the way, you pipe guys, where do you all live? Im from NY the laws here are quite strict. you cant even really have 'headshops' around here. so where do you guys sell ur stuff? are rules less strict around where you live or what?


I Sell my stuff in head shops in NY. THERE ARE I THINK 5 HEAD SHOPS WITH IN TWENTY MINUTES OF MY SHOP. ALSO IT IS "LEGIT", SO DON'T TALK SMACK UNLESS YOU KNOW THE LAWS!!! AND IF YOU ARE ASKING YOU HAVEN'T READ THE LAWS ,WHICH SHOULD BE THE FIRST THING YOU SHOULD DO WE CONSIDERING PIPE MANUFACTURING AND SALES. OR ANYTHING FOR THAT MATTER.

JUST TRYING TO OPEN YOUR EYES NOT TRYING TO HARP ON YA. :bouncy:

[smutboy420]

(Originally Posted by eternalfrost) NY the laws here are quite strict I din't catch the part about NY till I re read your past
I can tell you of all places NY is the pretty Cool as far as pipes and bongs go. They don't become illegal items I NY till some one uses it for illegal use. Or if a place sugests its for illlegl use. But if itsa a clean pcs and its only for "tobacco use only" They are hands down 100% legal in ny. Thats why you don't even need to go to a head shop you can find glass everywere. Gas stations, quikie marts hall mark stores. They don't have to hide them at all and have them right by the register. We have one gas station We deal with thats pretty busy and the local police have there gas contract with them. But We will allways be there selling glass while pipgs are coming and going at the place. and paying for there gas. They always have to make wise cracks and shit but other then that they don't even look twice inless they see a pcs they like. as one cop said last week when we where busting out some bings for the kid that works at the gas station. and a cop that was in line waiting to pay for his gas. He says "WOW YOU GOT BONGS NOW TOO COOOL? "You guys" don't miss an opertunity Do you. to the kid at the gas station. I think by "you guys" he meant peep of brown skin.

SO eternalfrost I'm wondering if you are from some odd coner of NY like out in the westren part maybe. Or have moved some where else and hasen't seen what the scean was like for the last 5-10 years or so. or just not in to pipes and just never noticed they are every were? I'm just curious thats all. cause its rare to find some one that does not know they are perfectly legal in ny.
But if you are in NY in a place with no head shops at all around you. maybe there is a wide opertunity where you are at to open the areas first pipe shop.

[eternalfrost]

smutboy420 - are u from NYC?? I am from upstate, just out side of Rochester, pretty much dead between buffalo and syaracuse. personally, i have NEVER seen a pipe anywhere for sale in my life in upstate. especially not at normal places like gas stations. Im very interested to hear more on this

last year i went up to quebec and pipes are in literaly eveerryyy single store.

[smutboy420]

I was starting to wonder if you where in the werstren part of the state. much more sparse out that way.
I'm on the east side of the state right by albany. So its a lot more city situation going on. its weird NY is such a big state that it can be so difent in one part to the next. To me buffalo feels like its in a whole nother state almost.

I know there are a few places out rechester way and utica. But you ARE in the less active part of the state.

[eternalfrost]

thats really interesting to hear... i guess i better get blowin and strike up some business in this neck of the woods haha.

do your pieces have carbs? how did you start your selling relationships with the gas stations, just walk up with a case of glass and say 'hey wanna buy these?' lol id assume you would have to talk to a manager person and not just the attendant there.

[smutboy420]

We have a speshial sales tech for gas stations. esp the ones that already have imports. we front them on of 2 of our pcs on the condishion that if they don't sell we'll take them back. and then they start to see why a higher quality pcs is worth a lil bit more then we got them.

[SteppingRazor]

Hey don't beat on Buffalo!!
~Joe

[SHOOBS]

I blew glass for 7 years as my job and 2 years ago i got a day job, insurance, 401k is hard to beat now i make what i want when i want and i have money to buy all the toys i want. The only down side is when i get to start blowing glass its on top of an already 50 hour work week. I guess im saying if you want to blow glass more you will make the time job or not, i love not making pipes anymore i still blow glass 20 hours a week on top of a full time job, but i love it so even if im tired from work i still get out there and do it, not to mention i can afford to hold out on price; i sell things for exactly what i want for them, turns out having a job has made my glass more profitable then it ever has been i stock pile and sell everything retail price at craft shows and things :devil1:
Shawn