Chris Schafale on sat 20 dec 03
I'm playing with the idea of starting a pottery studio/co-op in my small town.
I'm thinking small teaching studio (maybe 4-6 wheels), electric kiln, maybe a
couple of mini-studios that individuals could rent, a small retail space.
There's a building available that might work, with reasonable rent and a
cooperative landlord, but it would definitely be a big capital investment for
equipment and fitting out the space. I'd probably need at least a couple of
other people to go in with me on it, since I have a full-time "day job" and
would only be available evenings and weekends.
My main motivation is to have someplace where I could teach classes, since
my home studio is too small and the community studios in this county are
all at least 20 miles from here. People keep asking me where they can take
classes, and there really isn't anyplace on this end of the county, that I know
of. I think there would definitely be a market.
Anyway, this is all at the very beginning stages of being envisioned, and I
wondered if any of you who may have trod this road would have any advice
about questions to ask, things to do or not do, etc. I'd appreciate any
thoughts you may have.
Chris Schafale
--
Light One Candle Pottery
Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, USA
(south of Raleigh, NC)
www.lightonecandle.com
NEW email: chris at lightonecandle dot com
(insert the @ and . as appropriate)
Hank Murrow on sat 20 dec 03
On Dec 20, 2003, at 5:32 AM, Chris Schafale wrote:
> I'm playing with the idea of starting a pottery studio/co-op in my
> small town.
> I'm thinking small teaching studio (maybe 4-6 wheels), electric kiln,
> maybe a
> couple of mini-studios that individuals could rent, a small retail
> space. I
> wondered if any of you who may have trod this road would have any
> advice
> about questions to ask, things to do or not do, etc. I'd appreciate
> any
> thoughts you may have.
Dear Chris;
Back in 1960, I was working for the City of Los Angeles Parks System,
firing an electric and mixing glazes (out of a bag) for classes at the
Rustic Canyon facility. Jane Heald was the teacher there and we soon
got to be friends despite my condescending view of the limited vision
permitted by their program (I had been used to working in gas kilns at
high temperature from original recipes). Jane and I realised that many
of these folks would never 'get on in clay' under such circumstances
(studio closed to them except during limited class time..... barely
enough time to unwrap their pieces before needing to wrap them up
again!). We talked casually of how grand it would be to come in anytime
somewhere to work.
Of course, we had a couple of meetings with folks there to gauge the
interest, with the same result each time.......no one ready to actually
commit $$. At the last meeting as the remaining person left without
commitment, I said to Jane,"Well, we're down to just us two again."
She replied, "Sounds just right to me!" And so it was.
Pooling $750 each, we found an abandoned 5000 sq ft building in Venice,
CA that had been a production facility for low temp pottery, got a
lease for $300/month, and opened the doors as "The PotShop", 324 Sunset
Ave. The fee to join was $10/mo (later raised to $12.50) which gave a
key to the front door so one could come anytime. Clay and firing were
extra, as were classes. Had sixty members in a couple of months, and I
fired the best of two worn out Alpine twenty footers to C/9 reduction.
I built a dozen kick wheels and scrounged a couple electrics. Had a
showroom in front and for three years we had a 'learning experience'
non pareil.
We sold the place to Ned Sloan and Guy Cognein after Jane got tired of
making plaster bats for the School District (for $$) and I got tired of
being the sorely-overrated resident expert. Jane went back to her
studio and I went back to the U of Oregon to declare my major in clay
and work through a BS and MFA program there. Perhaps there are still
oldies in LA who remember their time at the PotShop?
I wish you luck, and write offlist for more on what to look out for. I
feel the secret was being too naive to know how hard it would be, a lot
like young love.....the hormones move you beyond yourself.
Cheers, Hank
LaurieJean gombar on sat 20 dec 03
Hi!
Make sure it is handicapped accessable and you have a handicapped
accessable bathroom... I wanted to offer a limited small amount of
classes in my inhome- commercial zoned, studio/store and the town said I
needed a handicapped accessable bathroom and sink... I could not just
offer anyone a bucket of water and washcloths to clean up with after
playing with clay. And you know what... 9 out of 10 ppl come in asking
me about classes. When I found out it would be such a big deal... I had
3 electricians standing there "on time" with a plumber and the local
town inspector telling me all this. We had already dickered with the
town for about 3 years at that point (on other things) and had already
framed in the bathroom door (to fit code requirements) and made the
bathroom bigger. He also wanted a second poop stack for the first floor
toilet, which there was no place to put it with the original design of a
1940's house. I was not wanting to offer a publicly accessable bathroom
anyway, because one would have to go into my home to get to it and
through my studio, making a sharp right and a sharp left. There would
not have been enough room for a wheelchair to turn in either the
bathroom or the hall.
We built a ramp to code. I did not mind that. I mind shoveling snow and
ice off of it...
LJ
GO to the town hall first and the ADA... Make sure you have all your
ducks quacking and moving all in a row before you start, and then once
you do, MOVE on it and get it done fast... They change laws, and if you
get stuck in the middle of it... You have to improve or change what you
have done to meet the new rules or regulations.
and I wondered if any of you who may have trod this road would have any
advice about questions to ask, things to do or not do, etc. I'd
appreciate any thoughts you may have.
Chris Schafale
claybair on sun 21 dec 03
Chris,
I'm sure you will get better advice but here is mine.
After 2 night school clay classes I knew how hooked
on clay and needed a venue. My night school instructor
mentioned he was going to start a pottery studio
and I volunteered to help.
Since my clay experience was limited
I did the promotion, brochures, helped paint the place,
and set up of the gallery area,
manned the phones & gallery, helped with shows,
became a founding member
and before I moved to WA was teaching.
In return I had unlimited time in the studio,
the only restriction was if there was full class.
We had 9 founding members... each of us
donated whatever talents we had... teaching, bookkeeping,
graphic arts etc. etc.
I was happy & the studio got free labor etc.
It was a wonderful experience for me.
John Hansen & I had a lot of hilarious conversations.
You could cut costs by offering studio time, classes etc. for services.
You might even get a break on rent by offering classes to your landlord!
Next best advice...... avoid primadonnas at all costs.
One can tear apart the whole place.... darn... been there and saw it happen!
Gayle Bair
Bainbridge Island, WA
http://claybair.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG]On Behalf Of Chris
Schafale
Sent: Saturday, December 20, 2003 5:32 AM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: starting a co-op studio -- any advice?
I'm playing with the idea of starting a pottery studio/co-op in my small
town.
I'm thinking small teaching studio (maybe 4-6 wheels), electric kiln, maybe
a
couple of mini-studios that individuals could rent, a small retail space.
There's a building available that might work, with reasonable rent and a
cooperative landlord, but it would definitely be a big capital investment
for
equipment and fitting out the space. I'd probably need at least a couple of
other people to go in with me on it, since I have a full-time "day job" and
would only be available evenings and weekends.
My main motivation is to have someplace where I could teach classes, since
my home studio is too small and the community studios in this county are
all at least 20 miles from here. People keep asking me where they can take
classes, and there really isn't anyplace on this end of the county, that I
know
of. I think there would definitely be a market.
Anyway, this is all at the very beginning stages of being envisioned, and I
wondered if any of you who may have trod this road would have any advice
about questions to ask, things to do or not do, etc. I'd appreciate any
thoughts you may have.
Chris Schafale
--
Light One Candle Pottery
Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, USA
(south of Raleigh, NC)
www.lightonecandle.com
NEW email: chris at lightonecandle dot com
(insert the @ and . as appropriate)
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