Ramblez Rant....

[RamblezMarblez]

Yo...what's up with those Phish dicro images? They printed on the glass wrong imo....When I make a dicro image that must read Phish and not hsihp I expect that the company printing the dicro would keep the glassblower in mind...All they would need to do is flip the image on the computer and print it backwards...Then instead of adding a gob of clear over the raw dicro, I could skip that step and just add a glob of opaque color melt in cool and done. Come on now...

Also I will be vending during PHISH at Lees Campground selling glass pipes under a 10x10 tent with a small standup glass display case ...I never really sold at shakedown like this before...just walked around with a foam gun case full of chillums in the past...Any advise to selling during shakedown at SPAC Saratoga Springs NY? Anyone going to be thar?

So who got what kind of prize at the Corning Glass Flameoff? I know there was 8 prizes total...hmm

How would I go about making a glass percolating coffee maker that percolates enough coffee for a group of hippies? If you had to make a glass hot dog roller, how would you design it?

I need to work with other glassblowers out thar...I have a Mirage with enough experience to make awesome colorful or quick silver fumed prodo pipes...I'm not big on colabs or making monster pipes (b/c I get pissed the F*ck off when shit checks) My color combos on my pipes seem to be original enough to keep making spoons...However I would seriously like to watch some new techniques with only a blizzy invested. Can I crash on your couch...I don't drink more than 2 beers typically and that's once a month. I would like to watch someone do a vac-stack!:o:

[Greymatter Glass]

you can get them made backwards.... it's a good idea.

[BORO]

First off don't take anything I say the wrong way.

I have seen phish live , over 250? times , my 100th show was in 98'

I live 10 mins from S.P.A.C. If you are going to lee's, than you don't need a couch to sleep on.
Lee's will sell out before the first night. If you want to camp there,or be in there at all. Get there early.No police at lee's so it is crazy.

you will get pulled over in a s10 with a shot head light.

You can sell glass on lot at spac , where the other vendors are. If you have a case in the state park , or by some random cars , you will catch shit from the cops ,or the n-con on horses/ atv's

You can not sell stuff on phish lot , that says "phish" . They have peps that walk around looking for t-shirts and the like, that have there name on it, not to say you will have isues with phish pipes , but it is known as a no-no .

If you get there early , before 2 , and the gates are closed , pull your car up to the lot across the bridge ,across rt 50. from the main gate. Tell home boy that you are vending . you don't need a permit or anything. They will let you in to go park with the other vendors.

Vac stacks are super easy. just do it . If you are unsure , start by melting the color lines onto a tube , then stick that into blank , seal the one end , vack and melt down . chase the air out. No one does there vac stack the same as the next guy. What works for me may not work for you . you can cut and mount whole sticks of color , then add the two blanks and a rubberband , and ,and....... baby steps first. Try to vac over a 25mm blank with some color melted on to the outside first.

There is a "a rock art exhibition" show at the hilton hotel in saratoga." Phan art pete" is putting it on. This is the first year they want glass there. No stuff that says "phish" but pipes are in. You could find out more by looking it up.

I don't know what a "blizzy" is.

I have my shop , Its real close to spac. But I am the "local" for this show. I have 25+ peps coming into town, I will be on this tour , I will not have time to show you the ways of the force . I am waiting for the kiln to get back up to temp, so I can make this monster check master right now.

[RamblezMarblez]

Cool beanz...
I fix the light....didn't realize each light had two bulbs...lol...I kept changing the good one...

[Liquidsand]

Hey, can anyone weigh in on how the market is for glass on tour (Phish/Furthur) these days? What I'm really wondering; is it a big gamble to try to sell to a saturated market, and is there any chance of confiscation (at Lee's/SPAC)? It has been a while since I've seen some shows- but I can't really afford the time away from the torch + tickets unless I can do some selling at the same time. Are the folks at shows and festivals looking for wholesale pricing due to the proliferation? And any other insight on the scene at Lee's in general? I'm trying to make up my mind whether to cut the umbilical from the bench...

[kq9ak]

Their was a lot import crap at SPAC last year.

[BORO]

........Phish tour is great , less luck on further .( But I did whole further tours on just glass ) If you have nice stuff ,at a touch under retail , you sell out super fast at phish. Now thanks to slinger's movie , this may ring more true .
.........There is a large amount of people who only want to buy there glass on "lot" , Its cheaper , It's from the maker , you get that personal touch that is nice. And they get too say...." I got that piece at phish "( I know It may not mean much to you, however I hear that all the time .)
..........Some of my best ( I sell online ) repeat clients , Are people I met at phish. It is not work , to sell glass and party before the show . S.P.A.C. Is fine with glass , as long as you are with the vendors . A case open , in the state park is a no no , you would need permits . ( spac is in a state park , the front lots are not.) Also , a case open at some random cars is a no no , The only person I know who got his case taken by the man . Was walking car to car , thinking it would be more $ faster. ( be sneaky if this is your deal. ) There is a no booze/beer/glass bottles law at spac , so drink from a cup , and even then they may check , so be aware.
.......... If you whole sale most of the time , its a no brains decision .
.......... I was on sts9 tour this spring , and god dam did every third person at the show have a g-pen , almost no pipes anywhere. Oil rigs of any kind will be the jam this summer , I promise .

I saw almost no import last summer at spac , I did see a sea of import in Atlantic city/bonaroo and some on the rest of the east coast dates. The people who buy import on lot , buy import at home , They don't buy our glass either way .

[Liquidsand]

Thanks BoRo, that's just the kind of information I was looking for. I'm not into cruising around with a case; no worries there. So the entrance across from the main gate on rt. 50 you referred to- you mean the entrance to spac and not the campground, right?

I just about sold out at the local 4/20 celebration, and it was GREAT after all the wholesale. Funny thing, everyone had the pens, but they still bought my spoons.

I agree about the import people. I think they don't see the same thing as we do when they look at glass. And I totally know what you mean about the souvenir-buyers. Anyone remember when Snodgrass had the only glass on the lot? People would follow him like the Pied Piper from his van to his spot, and he would sell out even before his case was open all the way. It was a huge status symbol, and an event, when someone got a piece. There is so much more meaning attached to a piece with a history attached. I just wasn't sure if there was any of that magical sentiment left, or if kids today are all jaded.

[BORO]

rt 50 lot . Right across from the main lot , that the front entrance is in . There is a foot bridge over rt 50 that connects the lot peps vend in to the main lot.

[Super Phunk]

im super close, be there all 3 nights, spac is not a good place to try and make money, more of just have a good time! What are you paying at lees to vend, is it just included with a spot?

[Liquidsand]

im super close, be there all 3 nights, spac is not a good place to try and make money, more of just have a good time! What are you paying at lees to vend, is it just included with a spot?
Lee's is not charging people for vending spots as far as I know. I didn't speak to them personally, but a friend called and that's what they told him.
Camping is $25 per person/per night. It's another $12 to take their shuttle bus to the show and back. There's not a lot of info on their website of Facebook about vending specifically, but they are claiming to have a "full-blown Shakedown". It would be incredibly wrong in my mind to call it that and then charge people to set up.
Why is spac not a good place to make money? Just curious why you say that.
I haven't been to spac in 13 years or so and it was for Phil/Furthur and just one night.

[RamblezMarblez]

If you vend glass at Lee'z it is expected to TIP the owners.... 10000 stoners and hippies...If that is not the place to sell glass, then I don't know where is...There is soo much excitement going on and I have seen Phish thar in the past, I'm not even buying a ticket. You could make crazy money just selling water for a $1. There will be plenty of money in peoples pocket, you just gotta know how to Hustle I guess... Just don't sell p&j sandwiches if it's hot...People sell everything!

[BORO]

.........Its funny you say that about lee's . I never had much luck at there( I have good sales at spac ) , a few late night sales to some spun wookies , better than wholesale but not worth my time. ( I am local and may be too quick to sleep in my own bed ? ) I just feel like the people with money to spend , are not camping for three days , if they don't have to.(after parties etc. ) The weather looks good for this weekend , Its rained all week , and will clear by friday . So who knows ?

[istandalone24/7]

lol @ the spun wookies comment. i've ran into a few of those back in the early to mid 90's when all the GD tour kids hung out in my town. wooks can be anywhere from funny to downright seedy. they usually have good smoke though.

[RamblezMarblez]

Thanks Boro for all the info...To tell ya the truth, I've never been on Leez campground...I saw shakedown in the parking lot before the walk over bridge into SPAC. Everyone who was vending was in the first line of cars...Is this where you think I would make the most sales? Leez advertised on their site as Full Blown Shakedown so I was assuming I'd get good sales at the campground but I could be wrong. I know Jabberwock is vending at Leez.

[BORO]

...............You may make bank , I don't know . I do make spoons ,my lady does too . But it won't pay my bills. we may be talking about high $ vs. low $ .( I tend to sell stuff over 50$ ) Lee's WILL sell out , the weather is nice , you may do crazy good there . At spac , vending will be in row 1 and 2 by the bridge . I set up at the far end of the row from the bridge . The bridge is the "getto" of spac lot , a.k.a. crazy crazy too much people/drama to think .(for me that is ) The far end of the row.... is where people wander to then have to stop , turn around , and walk back up shakedown , right in front of me . Less pressure , easy to talk to peeps ect.

Also , This is the biggest tip I can give anyone who vends a lot.

You will increase sales 50% or better if you set up on a table . People don't look at cases on the ground. This is SO important . I promise .Even if you bum table space from someone .

[RamblezMarblez]

True that, I sold 4 pipes last time trying to sell from a gun case. People SEE a tent and table. I have a display case with mirror walls and a glass cover.

[Eric S]

wishing I could go to the gorge, saw them the last 2 times they were there. I had decent luck with just cases on the ground or on foot, but when another glassblower (ESP) saw me walking by with cases he called me over to open them up, and then offered table space to hang with them. We all had above average glass that was very different so no overlaps in style, and we all helped each other increase sales. I did $750 in 2 hours and didnt even have all my cases with me.

[Liquidsand]

That's a part of why I wanted to know beforehand what to expect. I wanted to be able to set up right out of my car, with a covered table, trays, and possibly EZup. I think selling from a case is highly unlikely to have a big pay-off. People on the lot don't have time or the attention-span to stop and peer into the depths of a case being held by someone walking in the other direction or sitting on the ground. Another thing that would be super helpful for a table on Shakedown - a few of those strong camping lanterns for after the show.

[kq9ak]

Imports on lot again this year. Lame..never thought u would fight the imports at phish. The problem is the customer and we need to educate them.

[Tzonis]

Imports on lot again this year. Lame..never thought u would fight the imports at phish. The problem is the customer and we need to educate them.

Educated or not I think most customers when looking for non-unique work are going to go on price which makes it a tough battle. One needs a consistently solid product that is well priced to compete with the imports is my opinion.

-Tz

[RamblezMarblez]

Came back from Phish...The one guy selling imports bought them off a cop from a confiscation *he said*...I believe his story...probably a cop himself...all profit and they know it...got there on Friday late about 5pm and was 5 rows back..sold a couple pipes but wasn't really worth unwrapping all my shit for just two pipes...put up my pop-up that helped make a few sales when it rained and people ran for cover..then to discover they just came to the right tent! I sold a spun wookie an owl pendent and he was stoked cause he need a gift for his gf and I pulled out a box FULL of quality pendants! So I guess the lowdown in the lot is this...you can get there early and set up at whatever time after 6am (I know I did on Sat morning...kids from volunteer internet cleaning crew still picking up garbage bags) Space is like real estate...This is more true near the "getto"...I felt like sleeping so I set up way at the end of row one. I heard a verbal fight way early about real estate near the getto. My spot was better I thought and I was off the hot pavement. I had my pop up and stand up by 7am. You can bbq on the lot (important info I thought). You can also sell food on lot w/o a health whatever licence. I had this feeling undercoverz with fresh tie dyez and undercover cop with his little daughter were scoping the scene. Cops told me Friday night to set up early in row 1 and 2 Sat! Advertizing helps...maybe a hot chick that sayz...Yo check out this tent..Heady Pipes!...really loud...I don't have energy like that. My homemade signs pinned to my tent Helped people look inside and see the display case...Some just pointed and kept with the flow of shakedown due to the excitement of being on scene. Too bad cause I had some of the best pipes on lot... Keep every pipe at wheelchair eye level! Bought my best pipe that dude! I trade up good amounts! One MoFo actually tried to push me aside during a sale with another customer and open up my back door to the the display case to "show me" which piece he wanted. Watch out for shady people like that...I saw an argument between a guy with long dreadz and a light blue hat with his bitch who was crying for him to give her her keys. She punch him...he said he would get the cops..she pleaded and he claimed she was too fucked up but seemed fine to me. Then during another bout of her punching him he slammed her in the car door and she dropped...My homie and I didn't do shit but keep smoking weed and bbqing because we thought it may be an act where they team up and rob us...ya never know...then they made out after one more bout and somehow she got the keys and left with blue hat dreads. So anyhow the rule is- once the crowd goes into the show 7:30-8:30pm the cops say wrap it up and you must put your hippie goods away until the next morning. Cops don't want you there selling goods after the show cause then no one would have any reason to leave and they need to clean up the mess everyone made. I swear some people never left the lot Friday night but I heard the cops kicked ya out after the show sometime. The real crowd goes into saratoga springs and hit up the barz. I came across a tank in the urban woods....whamwhamwham...got hassled by a cop sleeping in the dark corner of an empty fire station...wanted to search my shit even...I respectively held onto my rightz and he was very polite where I could go. I got some awesome pins at the show I'll show ya...next time I go anywhere, I will use these maps I find super helpful http://www.discoverymap.com/

[LooseSeal Baller]

woe, funk is that you?

helleva rant!!

[RamblezMarblez]

Burtoni pin.....283 of 420......LSD Futuroma pin