Prodo or customs?

[ReLo442]

Would you say the majority of your sales come from production or customs? Im talking dollar wise not number of sales (obvioulsy prodo would win that).

Just wondering how others run their shit.

I am getting more and more into production as my consistancy increases and Im wondering if others are the same. I recently went to a guys shop who had the opinion that basically "if you cant duplicate something exactly over and over you suck at glass". I definatly agree that practicing, repeating actions, and learning a process can greatly increase your productivity and id like to hear your opinions.

Obviously practice makes perfect, but do you really gotta make 25 a day for 6 months to not suck?

[gambitglass]

I feel from the people I've met that they do one or the other or a bit of both. I dont get a lot of custom requests, I'm not in the scene as much and dont have people flocking to be involved in my glassblowing aura or mojo. I have seen it happen though and being talented and creative and artistic will draw people to request your stuff custom. If your name is well branded also draws the custom orders. But, doing some good prodo for awhile will help the lesser talented polish there skills and learn more about the glass, the color alchemy, welds, etc.

I wouldn't make a 10 section piece before I am good at making nice spoons I suppose is what I'm saying. Prodo can be a path to the heady. You can get stuck in prodo mode as well because it is consistant and safe. With prodo work you wont risk losing time and money on trying things you haven't tried b4.

I would say to try and make prodo that goes a few extra steps with added milli's, marbles, bridges, horns, worked carbs or whatever else to feel out the custom-type procedures without having to stretch too far out of your current skill set. This way you can work your way up and when those custom orders come in as your name recognition grows you can cash in on your experience behind the torch.

[hashmasta-kut]

Obviously practice makes perfect, but do you really gotta make 25 a day for 6 months to not suck?


i think so. at least that much. but they dont all have to be the same, you just have to put the hours in in concentrated study and work to achieve more than mediocrity. people can be great at making spoons all the same, but they might not be able to make good goblets or animal figures, if all they practice is spoons, so i think diversifying would give one a broader palette of abilities to work with, rather than learning strictly by being a prodo monkey, although that has its benefits.

[brettodie]

production makes you better. cant tell you how many times i have seen or fixed poorly crafted several hundred dollar pieces. nothing wrong with pushing your limits but glass has decades of learning to achieve a true understanding of it.it took me over a decade of 40+ a week just to feel competent. took me over 5 yrs just to fully realize and use my torch to its capabilities. there's so much to learn and practice just keep at it.oh and store owners are the worst to listen to about quality of work and what to do in all honesty they rarely have any idea what they're talking about.

[Julian]

I have always done something in between. I don't create large or extravagant pieces often, but I never try to make a bunch of the exact same thing.

[B-Rye-oNeR]

prodo pays

[ReLo442]

wow thanks guys. I guess im on the right track then.

I whole heartily agree with the diversifying. People always ask me what I make and I tell them I make ALOT of stuff because I feel like I need to be ready for any situation when im at a festival taking custom orders. I do make a lot of prodo spoons, been cranking out bubblers like they going outta style, and tons of pendants most of which are requests. My buddy was telling me to make a line of products, say 5 pipes, all the same every time, but with 5 distinct styles, like sherlock, layback, standup bubblers, sidecar.....

I will definatly be shifting my attention more towards prodo. The ups and downs of customs is getting to me and I need to even out my cashflow a little bit. Im thinking 5 days a week of prodo and 1 or 2 customs (or a day off).

[p.j.]

prodo doesn't have to be schwag...i sell alot of $100 and up prodo. production just means the same thing over and over. not just $5 spoons.

[Aaron Ellis]

I personally like "one of a kind" even if it's a spoon. On the other hand a lot of potential custys don't know any better, and are looking for reasonably priced glass. So it's easy to get stuck in the cash-flow vortex of prodo. My prodo is all different some similarity but dif shape, pattern, or horn/spike placement.

[STROKER]

prodo doesn't have to be schwag...i sell alot of $100 and up prodo. production just means the same thing over and over. not just $5 spoons.

Well said. My thoughts too.

[rockstar glassworks]

Tons and tons of prodo...

Just remember, it takes about 10,000 hours to get good at your job. I'm just about to hit the 10 year mark and it's been tons and tons of prodo.

It all started with little spoons, but it's moved up. Now I've got a full range of prodo from $10-$75....

then again, everyone is different as a glassblower and as a person. I went the full time route, married a non-glassblower, and have to keep the bills paid.

Getting stuck in the cash flow vortex.....yup. I do art/craft shows as well, keeps my output varied and my interest level high.

[Original Glow]

Prodo has paid for two houses one in Cali and one in Florida. I have no car payments as I was able to pay for everything in cash ( I do pay taxes on my income to avoid any problems ). With that being said I'm proud to have been able to support my family based on production work. Now for the ego part. After 27 years of Lampworking I cant say that at times I don't admire or get envious of all the cool work that I see by such great artists and want to just put the orders aside and bust something cool out. The most important thing to remember is you are doing something that you love. Share in everyones success and be thankful you don't have to do the corporate grind. Take care......Jason

[bildo]

I am glad this post came up. I am not an artist by nature so prodo is the obvious answer for me. I hate custom orders, but it is because my confidence is low. I make all sorts of prodo. Bowls spoons chillums oil apparatus bubblers pokers and I do them in diff styles and I feel like I get better everyday. I am now thinking of individualizing my prodo to increase sales. I have noticed that most ISO spoons look the same, they all sell but I think I can get my numbers up with some individuality.

[Albino Sasquatch]

i think so. at least that much. but they dont all have to be the same, you just have to put the hours in in concentrated study and work to achieve more than mediocrity. people can be great at making spoons all the same, but they might not be able to make good goblets or animal figures, if all they practice is spoons, so i think diversifying would give one a broader palette of abilities to work with, rather than learning strictly by being a prodo monkey, although that has its benefits.

spoken by the man who makes one thing..:dieslaugh

[hashmasta-kut]

i have never seen you look in my kiln ever, you have no idea what i make. and regardless, what i say still stands, it would be no different if all i did was just make sandwiches and nothing else.

[Albino Sasquatch]

i just thought you made sandwiches........ my bad

[hashmasta-kut]

kilns make good pizza too, but lest we stray off topic, its all in the hours. and its not just practice that makes perfect, its perfect practice.

[Jake C]

If you go the Prodo route, it's all about switching things up so your constantly learning new techs..making the same thing over and over will only get you so far...but switching up your designs and challenging yourself, even with Prodo, will make you a better and happier person..the goal (at least for me)was to make enough Prodo to pay bills, them spend every other waking second on my torch experimenting and doing new stuff...i haven't made a piece I consider Prodo for quite a while..and that is what it's all abou in my mind...creating glass however you wish, and being able to sell it for what u want...thats what I always wanted, and it is very possible...hard work and a couple good ideas can be amazing..but no one can do it except yourself..that's the only real hard part.

[Campy]

Well said Jake!

[ReLo442]

Thanks for all the tips/motivational posts guys!!! I got a few bugs I gotta work out in my studio in the next 2 days (new vent fan - mine went out yesterday, new prop reg - mine went out yesterday too...., and gotta get the big kiln going again) and then ill get to cranking out some prodo. Oh got a few "customs" i gotta get outta the way first too

[funksizzle]

Everytime I think I'll make a bunch of prodo something bad happens! Or I will feel guilty as a artist, even though you need (or think you need) a little bit of money so you can sort of relax.

I am a rookie but I do drink from a saucer. I have noticed the difference between planned pieces and random.

Even when you don't get what you planned, you try harder than if you hadn't had a plan.

Or in other words, you'll do whatever it takes to fix a mistake.

SHOW OFF, SHOW OFF, SHOW OFF!

The real issue with prodo vs. masterpiece is self confidence, esteem, worth, value, prestige which comes from.....................

-Well deserved credit for hard work, drive, determiness, hustler of year awards
-Self confidence comes from results, improving, sacrifice, rising up to challenges, meeting and exceeding expectations, promises, and most importantly "1 More"

Do show off your money or your soul?

Ever been jealous of someone's soul before? I sure have. I realize it, crack a joke, and remember to improve my soul.

I was supposed to's add up quick, and eventually you forget.

Ask your self, "Am I improving in everything I do?"

The 1 more can be that "1 more extra fine detail, that extra joke you got in there, that last page, that pause before you make a impulse purchase, that last one, one last variation, option, thought, aa aa.

"Fudge, I blew it with the last 1, but you know, at least I went for the gold"

"Are you just another mushroom pendant hustler with knifecombs on the side?"

Would you like that plain or saucy? Sometimes your plain, when you feel that you got time your saucy.

By the way, there's plenty of time to strive for excellence and only the strong survive.

You have to work for that extra jolt, but you can still be happy.

There are many types of happiness, humbility, and stimuli including laughter as a major one. Damn my life is good.

Blue, you still there?

[ReLo442]

I think i get ya funk.... i think

[LunacyMountain]

LOL I sure don't

[hashmasta-kut]

im surprised, with your handle LunacyMountain, you should be right at home with teh funksizzlah!

[Aaron Ellis]

I think I get you too. I think. Your out there bro. But I don't think you got the brown blotter. I gotta come meet you on my way back from my road trip man.

[AdamCotter]

Prodo can be a path to the heady. .

yup.

[Lyle Lanley]

prodo pay...

I recently have been developing more of a high end prodo line. price ranges from 75 to 200 dollars.. something fun to make all the while easy to reproduce clean and similar every time. Although i would love to just make headdies all day the 20 to 50 prodo sells the best in almost every shop people buy spoons and small nice drys all day long


I've taken to the 3 days prod 3 days pushing my limits whatever that is.. lately goblets and fully worked mini tubes (lately i realize i am getting stagnant) im hoping this schedule will help find new items to add to my "production" line

[Cow'N]

prodo and customs... I change my prodo stuff on a regular to keep it interesting, fun and to keep the growing/learning process up!

[dustyg]

I used to try to do everything "custom" when I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do. Hard to say whether I do prodo or a very limited range of customs, now. Always the same techs and colors, always different in the details. If I'm not exploring, it's not fun, but I'm usually content exploring my one little acre, pushing the boundaries vertical instead of horizontal.

[Dan Kooper]

I don't ever do prodo. I do nothing but customs.

This is how my career went.
0-2 years - small prodo making whatever I could make
2-4 years - prodo hard
4-6 years - prodo hard with customs
6-now - customs like crazy.

A lot if artist won't do customs I hear. Fb has me stacked with orders. I stopped posting on fb as much. Trying to catch up.


I can't get away from customs. I'll post a custom online and get two more orders for one like that but different colors.

[3-H]

This is how my career went.
0-2 years - small prodo making whatever I could make
2-4 years - prodo hard
4-6 years - prodo hard with customs
6-now - customs like crazy.

A lot if artist won't do customs I hear. Fb has me stacked with orders. I stopped posting on fb as much. Trying to catch up.
.Seems like what my timeline for my career is looking like as well!

[ReLo442]

blast from the past!!! but still relavent I guess. My work has shifted a lil since I made this thread. I now to prodo hard with customs and am starting to do more customs than prodo. Last week I did 350 in customs and only 300 in prodo....sorta a slow week but Ive been working the J.O.B. quite a bit and trying to finish of my accounting/finance degree by december.