Hard time finding studio!$#@%

[JGglassproductions]

I have been searching for a new studio for the past three months like it's my job, and can not seem to find anything. I am in the metro-west Boston area. I have contacted mills, industrial spaces and garages. I keep running into the issue of the property owner getting scared when I have to mention anything about gas. I had three rental properties that were possibilities, all great for a flameworking studio, and all three fell through because of this only reason. It is so frustrating when I have been a glassblower and flameworker for over ten years, yet the owner gets freaked out because they do not understand my trade. I understand how they feel when someone states they are going to melt glass on their property, but they don't understand that I know what I am doing and use lots of safety. I do not own a property and it seems unless you do, you are always going to run into this issue. I am at my wits end with searching and getting turned away.

I recently went to the Flameworking conference at Salem Community College in southern NJ (where I went to school) to network about this issue and everyone I talked to said, "Don't tell owner what you are doing!" or "Say as little as possible as to what you will be doing." This advice came from not only other fellow flameworkers, but from the best flameworkers like Paul Stankard and Milon Townsend.

So what do I do?? I want to have a safe, in the public's eye type of studio, and in order to do that it seems I have to either own my own land and property. I thought about seeking out another flameworker to share studio with, but there are not that many around where I live. Meanwhile, I can not make any $$ because my full time job is a flameworker!! I own JG Glass Productions and I don't know what I am going to do if I do not find a studio by June. I have art shows from June till Xmas, an online store, and custom orders to fill and NO STUDIO!!!

Any advice?? I am seriously thinking of moving towards western Mass where it's more rural. I feel like so many flameworkers work in not so safe studios, yet they have one! I am safe, do everything by the book, yet things are not happening for me...what's the deal! :bangHead:

[Black Fire]

Insurance! Tell them that you're ready to insure the hell out of the place and follow through. Contact an insurer (State Farm is who i've had great luck with) and get it all lined up.

If they give you the freak, immediately school them in the exact policy style, even pull out the card of the agent that can answer their questions and it'll soothe their nerves. It won't be that pricey, maybe $500/yr.

[Husky]

move a little west.. i live in fitchburg and work at SandAndFire studios with AWhiskeyDrunk on here. Weather is warming up its going to be a good year

[JGglassproductions]

HAHA...sandandfire! I believe I spoke with you on FB. I work with a friend of yours at Global Fitness in Stow!

[JGglassproductions]

Black Fire -

That's what I have been researching lately. Thanks, totally agree.

[BK]

lol at the salem advice ahahahahahaha

[3musesglass]

Most people really don't get it. Try putting it in terms that they understand. Ask if they have a barbeque grill before you say anything about the tanks. Do they feel safe grilling steaks? The gas tanks are the same tanks they have (just bigger maybe). If they balk at bigger tanks, work with bbq tanks. Tell them about the extra safety measures like flashback arrestors that you have and they don't. Ask if they have a toaster or toaster oven. Kiln? Same thing, just bigger. Assure them that you don't have a glory hole or anything that will have an open flame at any time you're not there. People hear glass and see a chihuly special on TV with hot glass dripping all over. And hell to the yes on renters insurance.
Hopefully then they'll get it. Good luck.

[gambitglass]

I'd be willing to share a space with you if would would consider setting up near Methuen. I'd love to have a bigger and better operation and am running into similar issues. I know of a wharehouse space near my house that probably would rent to us. Other than that the Western Ave studios in Lowell ma have flameworkers in them. Space is hard to come by there though and you have to wait on a list for awhile to even get in the door. I'm serious though, I was going to move my operation to my Moms basement but I'm second guessing the move because her neighbors/inspectors will likely freak out when a liquid o2 tank arrives. Ill look into spaces around me if you are serious, which it sounds like you are. I know of two possibilities off the top of my head.

[Dom]

Very simple.. do not mention the tanks or anything of that nature. They are completely legal to have and use so there is no reason for the disclaimer. Pay your rent on time and the landlord should buzz off.

[FredLight]

I'm finding that people have boundary issues lately and meddling is becoming quite common.

Dom is right, absolutely right.

What is legal-speak for "none-of-your-business"?

[Hazeey]

^^ my sentiments exactly.

You pay bills = they no worry ;)

[Black Fire]

No offense to Dom and Fred, but going straight to the middle-finger-in-your-face approach seems to me to be likely to result in the pissed, snoopy, and eager-to-evict landlord syndrome. If that syndrome occurs there is a high likelihood or recurring headaches, possible legal battles, invasive inspections, and maybe being kicked back to square one in the end, plus losing some $$$.

I personally have always had better luck building positive, trusting relationships with reasonable landlords, who after all are just looking to cover their own ass.

A little more on the insurance thought: we're talking specifically about *business liability insurance*. Also, not to sound like a commercial, but I've been through the rounds and I've had *absurdly* better luck with State Farm.

[FredLight]

No offense taken John.

I don't mean "middle-finger-mind-your-own-business". I definitely get it.

That's why I asked what the legal term for it is. I should've asked what the polite term was.

[Tzonis]

Why not just get inspected by your local fire inspector as well? That plus insurance and you should be all set I would think. Then again I have only setup studios in boston/sommerville.

[Jestr]

That's funny. I viewed this thread just a second ago and only the OP showed up, so I sent a message to AWhiskeyDrunk knowing he was out there. Then I come back to find I'm three hours late to actually make that helpful cuz Sand and Fire already said Hi to the OP. Ha! Whatever, I tried.

[JGglassproductions]

Thanks everyone for your responses. I really appreciate it. I have been in New England now for four years and really don't know too many flameworkers in the area. If anyone is from the metro-west/Boston area you should hit me up.

[AdamCotter]

Say you make jewelry and leave it at that. For me it's easyer because I make a lot of jewelry and beads, and I work with sterling and gold, I have found no one balks at silvermiths, they think of Offhand glass blowing when they hear hot glass.

I had the same problem when i lost my space, i got around it by showing videos of clean small bead making shops. Hope that helps. Also Bring your smallest torch and show him. Use a tiny oxy cylinder and a camping propane bottle to demonstrate. I had a huge set iup in an apartment for years, when the landlord came I hid the oxy and big bottles and all they saw was the mini set up. Hope this helps.

[JGglassproductions]

AdamCotter-

That crossed my mind, but there would be no way to really hide the fact that I have three very large oxygen tanks tucked in the corner. Plus I am tired of the anxiety. I would rather be legal and less stressed out about it. I know this will make it harder for me to find a property owner that will allow me in their building, but I will just have to keep looking and asking and looking and asking....

[Greymatter Glass]

I hear about these problems from time to time....

The important thing is how you present yourself and your business... don't tell them you're going to have high pressure gas and open flames, tell them you're opening a glass art studio AND LEAVE IT AT THAT FOR NOW. They'll think stained glass or something crafty... let them think what they want - don't lie, don't play games, don't BS them - just give them the minimum required information for them to decide.

Are you a hippy? do you have dreads? do you wear beat up ratty clothes? do you bathe / groom yourself? Are you stoned all the time? - I'm not passing judgement, but you can be damn sure property owners will.

Next is the zoning/code issue. I know out here to have a business with an open flame in a process you have to be zoned M1 - Light manufacturing. Otherwise you cannot get occupancy permits or insurance.

Try to find unattached properties where you're not in the same building as other businesses, of if not that at least units with a fire rated masonry wall between you and other units. Don't ask, just know what to look for. Look for ease of access for delivery trucks for oxygen. Look for ease of ventilation access.

Once you find someone willing to work with you, then ease them into it. Ask what they would need for you to put holes in the roof for ventilation. Tell them you have equipment that needs ventilation - don't say it's for a torch, just refer to it all as equipment. If they ask for specifics give them specifics, within reason - tell them "burners" not "torches"... never compare it to a welding shop, welding torches are not fixed to a bench, glass torches are much safer.


I looked at about 5 spaces before I settled on where I'm at... the first 3 would have been baller, but not really suited for a glass shop, the 4th was decent but a bad location, and finally where I am now... the owner had no problem with us once she saw what we were doing, since we'd paid 2 months rent and didn't set anything on fire, got $2m in insurance, and had proper contractors do the build-out work. last eprson you'd ever expect too...she was a former state prosecutor for the DEA, loved the pipes, hated putting kids in jail for smoking pot, and quit her job to take over the family construction/real estate business.

[AdamCotter]

well, I laid mine down and covered with a blanket when they came to look, and only showed the little torch. But I get you. I have found that once they see the way our operation actually works they feel better about it. At least you aren't using liquid dewars, those really freak out landlords because they continuously vent gas! Try to rush thru the phone interview by being vauge, then show pics of a nice clean studio in person. It also helps to look responsible, dress in a shirt and tie to the interview, explaining that you just returned from a gallery or marketing trip. Land lords want to feel comfortable around fire workers, that helps, I cut my dreads and shaved, changed my world. Not always for the better, but it opened new doors. Good Luck! Finding space is hard, and painful, but it will lead to something better long term, For me I couldnt find space so enrolled in Salem and now everything is awesome. You will find a space, just remember that what they are imagining when they here glass blowing, is huge furnaces and 6 foot long steel poles dripping burning glass everywhere, you absolutely have to show what lampworking is then you should be cool. It was constant stress for me trying to hide it, and I had a small fire (Sweater on the Kiln) that could have ruined my life. I applaud your honesty.

What Greymatter says it right!

[JGglassproductions]

Also an instructor, (Corning, Diablo, Worcester Craft Center) I always feel like it's my responsibility to inform whoever I am trying to rent space from so they are aware of what I will be doing on their property. I of course, try to talk in a way that they can relate and try not to scare the crap out of them. I know this sets me back and makes it harder to find something, but I feel at my place in my career as a Flameworker, I shouLd be more la-git about everything and not hide it.

As far as looks and impressions go...I think I am ok there. You probably wouldn't know I am a glassblower by looking at me. I try to be as professional as possible when it comes to my trade, after all it is my full time job. Since I started flameworking/glassblowing I never really cared to get into the pipe biz, it just isn't for me. I create home decor items and jewelry mostly. I do make pipes for me and friends when I/they need one though! So as far as the hippie scene goes, I have no problem with landlords taking me seriously.

The insurance guy FINALLY called me back this morning!! The funny thing is the ins. guy is the ins. guy for this artist mill I am trying to get into as well!! He was very cool and told me everything should be ok for me to be in the building. He told me that I would also be covered if I taught private lessons as well! My overhead will be more, but I always want to have a public gallery and place for private lessons of my own.

Husky-

I am still totally coming out today. Hopefully I am not talking too soon and this space doesn't fall through. I really want to meet you guys still and show you the hardware that I have. I used to run a flame shop with six torches and have that splitter sitting in the garage with some other hardware you might be able to use. I do have hose but need to check to see how long it is again. I should be out there later to meet you.

[Super Phunk]

move someplace where people are cool, problem solved.

[JGglassproductions]

lol..sure thing.

[JGglassproductions]

yelp ladies and gents....I finally got a space!

Going to be in the basement of the Bradford Mills in W. Concord, MA
More in the public's eye, but can always lock the door if I want to work.:)

[smolder holder]

Congrats on the work space!