Lori Richter on mon 18 dec 00
Hello all!!
As a newcomer to this group, as well as to the wonderful world of clay, =
I'd like to ask for some input from anyone involved with a co-op. =20
I'm still a beginner (with only a couple years experience under my =
belt), but, am past the "mud-wrestling" stage and feel that I'm finally =
on my way to becoming a competent potter. The problem is that there is =
absolutely nowhere in our area for someone like me to be able to go and =
play, except for our community college where the hours are restricted, =
and can only be accessed during the week, and then only for the two =
semesters when pottery classes are offered. =20
Since there are a number of us in the same boat, it occurred to us to =
set up a co-op type of arrangement where we can indulge ourselves. =
Unfortunately, no one in the area seems to know much about this type of =
thing, and anyone I've tried to contact just doesn't want to let go of =
the information. It would be (at least for now) just a place for a =
bunch of mudjunkies to go and throw..... or explore the realm of all =
the glaze possibilities....... or just whatever.......
What I'm looking for is just a bit of general info. Namely, what kind =
of fees do you pay and what does this get you? What kind of hours are =
you allowed to use the studio? How do you charge for supplies and =
materials - are you limited to a specific amount of each? =20
I assume that as a member one would be expected to share duties of =
mixing, firing, cleaning, etc.
We have a place scouted out (an old, smallish factory with a lot of =
character and in good general repair - it just needs someone to give it =
a bit of TLC and use it well). It will serve the purpose nicely! =20
Any and all help would be appreciated. If you'd like, you're more than =
welcome to answer off the board.
Thanks for your time...
Lori=20
1jls@aeroinc.net
"As you slide down the banisters of life,
may all the slivers be pointing the right direction."
~Irish Blessing~
Hank Murrow on tue 19 dec 00
Lori wrote in part;
>
>As a newcomer to this group, as well as to the wonderful world of clay,
>I'd like to ask for some input from anyone involved with a co-op. The
>problem is that there is absolutely nowhere in our area for someone like
>me to be able to go and play, except for our community college where the
>hours are restricted, and can only be accessed during the week, and then
>only for the two semesters when pottery classes are offered.
>
>Since there are a number of us in the same boat, it occurred to us to set
>up a co-op type of arrangement. We have a place scouted out (an old,
>smallish factory with a lot of character and in good general repair - it
>just needs someone to give it a bit of TLC and use it well). It will
>serve the purpose nicely!
Dear Lori;
Back in 1962 I was on staff at one of those community center type
places where people came to clay class, unwrapped their pieces, worked on
them for an hour, wrapped 'em back up and went home until next week. Well,
Jane heald was the teacher, and she and I would talk at lunch about how
folks really couldn't learn under those circumstances, etc. We got a
meeting together of the participants and talked about a coop with everyone
chipping in some dough......etc. The meeting adjourned after two hours of
"we can't do that" talk. We tried again with the same result, except that
as the last person left without committment, I said to Jane,"Well, its down
to just us". Jane replied,"That seems just right to me!"
Four months later and $750 each invested, we opened the PotShop on
Sunset Avenue in Venice, CA. For twelve dollars/month each person got a key
to the door and 5000 sqft of pottery space with two well-used Alpine 20ft
kilns and a dozen kickwheels that I built. We had up to 64 members, and did
reciprocal raku parties with Soldner and the Scripps students. The key
thing was two idiots who didn't know any better(Jane & I), and locating in
a 'transitional' neighorhood. The city viewed us a pioneers or scouts and
left us alone with the remmnants of the Beat generation and the then-new
hippie dopers.
In our current culture of asking for support everywhere, I am
reminded of just what a blessing it was to be left alone in the City of
Angels in the 60s. We built kilns, and made pots and went with our pots to
the first Renaissance Fairs, and had poetry readings and Bar-B-Qs, and had
a two-week workshop with Hamada, who visited our shop during his visit. The
best memories a young potter could have, and a lifetime friendship with
Jane were among the blessings. So take heart, "Jeter le coeur"(follow your
passion in french), and mainly take responsibility for your dream. You
could be firing a kiln that you built by this time next year!
Cheers! Hank in Eugene
Diane G. Echlin on wed 20 dec 00
Hi Lori,
Here are a few specifics to think about with your co-op:
In the building you have scoped out, are you planning on renting or
buying?
If renting, who are the core people who will be on the lease and
responsible for paying rent?
Who will take responsibility for insurance? (renter's at the very least,
and if you plan to have shows, you need business insurance)
Who will take care of setting up your "business" with a tax id # etc.?
You will need this for taxes, and also when you buy supplies
Do you plan on teaching classes? More insurance concerns here.
Will you have different levels of memberships? What fees will you
charge in order to stay afloat?
In my studio, where I am an "associate" as opposed to a "partner," I pay
what I consider to be a very reasonable fee of $125 per month that
allows me 24/7 access to the studio, all my bisque firing included, and
most glaze chems. I pay for glaze firing based on either percentage of
kiln space used in the gas kiln, or what it actually costs to fire to ^6
electric. Any chems that the "partners" don't use regularly and don't
stock I buy for myself (I fire ^6, they fire gas reduction ^10, so there
are some variations in what's needed.) I suppose I could push the
partners to buy the chems I need that only I would use, but it doesn't
seem equitable to me. Also, we all provide our own wheels. There are
two extruders and we all know who owns them, but are available for use.
If I were to start my own co-op studio, I would be sure to draw up very
clear guidelines about responsibilities, and have anyone who joins, at
whatever level, sign the aggreement. I'm not sure it would have any
legal teeth if there were a problem, but it at least sends the message
that you are serious about your set-up.
Lastly, and maybe most importantly, I suggest you get a copy of Steve
Branfman's excellent book "The Potter's Professional Handbook" and read
it, memorize it, know it, live it. Someone posted his email yesterday
(maybe Sbranfpots@aol.com?) and I'm sure he'll have it in stock!
Good luck in your endeavor!
Diane in CT
Hank Murrow wrote:
>
> Lori wrote in part;
> >
> >As a newcomer to this group, as well as to the wonderful world of clay,
> >I'd like to ask for some input from anyone involved with a co-op. The
> >problem is that there is absolutely nowhere in our area for someone like
> >me to be able to go and play, except for our community college where the
> >hours are restricted, and can only be accessed during the week, and then
> >only for the two semesters when pottery classes are offered.
> >
> >Since there are a number of us in the same boat, it occurred to us to set
> >up a co-op type of arrangement. We have a place scouted out (an old,
> >smallish factory with a lot of character and in good general repair - it
> >just needs someone to give it a bit of TLC and use it well). It will
> >serve the purpose nicely!
>
> Dear Lori;
>
> Back in 1962 I was on staff at one of those community center type
> places where people came to clay class, unwrapped their pieces, worked on
> them for an hour, wrapped 'em back up and went home until next week. Well,
> Jane heald was the teacher, and she and I would talk at lunch about how
> folks really couldn't learn under those circumstances, etc. We got a
> meeting together of the participants and talked about a coop with everyone
> chipping in some dough......etc. The meeting adjourned after two hours of
> "we can't do that" talk. We tried again with the same result, except that
> as the last person left without committment, I said to Jane,"Well, its down
> to just us". Jane replied,"That seems just right to me!"
> Four months later and $750 each invested, we opened the PotShop on
> Sunset Avenue in Venice, CA. For twelve dollars/month each person got a key
> to the door and 5000 sqft of pottery space with two well-used Alpine 20ft
> kilns and a dozen kickwheels that I built. We had up to 64 members, and did
> reciprocal raku parties with Soldner and the Scripps students. The key
> thing was two idiots who didn't know any better(Jane & I), and locating in
> a 'transitional' neighorhood. The city viewed us a pioneers or scouts and
> left us alone with the remmnants of the Beat generation and the then-new
> hippie dopers.
> In our current culture of asking for support everywhere, I am
> reminded of just what a blessing it was to be left alone in the City of
> Angels in the 60s. We built kilns, and made pots and went with our pots to
> the first Renaissance Fairs, and had poetry readings and Bar-B-Qs, and had
> a two-week workshop with Hamada, who visited our shop during his visit. The
> best memories a young potter could have, and a lifetime friendship with
> Jane were among the blessings. So take heart, "Jeter le coeur"(follow your
> passion in french), and mainly take responsibility for your dream. You
> could be firing a kiln that you built by this time next year!
>
> Cheers! Hank in Eugene
>
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