JoDa Glassworks

[flotntoke]

LMAO!!

More on much of this. Let's take this convo over to the nano thread tho, so we don't hijack Joda! See you there.

It clears plenty fast enough with the carb. Not as instant as pulling the GonG, but surprisingly close. Yes... what you're envisioning with only pulling every few hits to stir should work fine.

 

[VaPeD&CoNfUsEd]

The clear is a bit slower than pulling the gong. Obviously because it's an 1/8th inch hole vs an open unrestricted joint. I am working on getting my carb holes a bit bigger for a faster clear. My personal gong has a bigger hole and clears as fast as pulling the gong itself. It's just a bit of a bitch to pull off sometimes.

Please all keep in mind that I am 10 months into this journey now which makes me....... A complete fucking noob! lol. So please continue to bare with me and I'll get better for me and for you. I appreciate constructive criticism. I've had some destructive criticism lately from a couple customers (which in any business ur gonna get) but, those comments stick with me a lot more than the good ones with me for some reason. They tear me down pretty good and honestly make me want to completely cut off the custom work and go solid wholesale because (believe me) the offers are out there. I just like people having a say in the design of their piece. Understand that I too make mistakes. This isn't directed at anyone in particular (hell not even anyone from FC), I'm just getting sick of folks thinking they own ur soul over a 35$ piece of glass. I'm this (holding my thumb and index finger very close together) close to stopping customs all together. VERY VERY few glassblowers even take on customs and it's 95% of my current business because I try to give folks some insight and say on their pieces but a few bad apples are very close to ruining the bunch.

 

[nihil]

@VaPeD&CoNfUsEd , as I've suggested a few times in PM's, go solo. Setup a templated website (pretty easy to do nowadays), make what you want, post it, it will sell.

Do a few custom pieces on the side for shits and giggles.

It will suck for us, but in the long run be better for everyone. You get full creative control and develop your skills at your own pace. You streamline production, maybe it's cheaper for us.

Yes, I'm an asshole for suggesting this. But, put another way, why not leave this guy to create a few dozen different pieces (GonG's, steamrollers, weed-friendly-functional-art, etc (what the community demands and is willing to compensate for)), post pictures and prices to a storefront, we buy them. Everyone is happy.

Think it over.

You're stressed, we want to give you our money, you want us to be happy, so do we, say "fuck it" this is what I have to offer at this price, let the market sort itself out. Either way, I think all of us would benefit.

/Posted publicly, as in others chime in.

 

[VaPeD&CoNfUsEd]

There's already a few things similar to that plan possibly in the works @nihil. I just love the customs so much because you guys feel that you took part in the process. I remember back when glassblowersdirect named a piece after me how awesome I fealt and I want everyone to feel that about the glass the way I did. It's just very stressful doing customs and living up to the customers expectations.

 

[DieHard]

@VaPeD&CoNfUsEd
Dont let the bastards grind you down. You have to do what's best for you and yours. I love the idea of working with the artist for customs. Some people may have unreal expectations. Some may assume you can intuitively understand what's in their head. Some can NEVER be made happy. Whatever you decide, your talents will shine through and your art will sell itself. Of that I am confident.

 

[Mr. Gweilo 420]

I totally agree with @DieHard You should do what is best for you and your family and also for your business moving forward. I totally get what you mean about people thinking they own you over $35. Fuck that. It is scary to think that you have only been at this for 10 months. Hopefully as you progress those custom orders become more expenisve and worth your trouble and the angst of dealing with a few arseholes. I've often thought if you had some non-custom pieces available that they would sell like hotcakes if listed on a website (I guess websites are old-school now?) or whichever medium is best. In any case you are well appreciated by us here at FC and I'm looking forward to placing my next order with you after your order hiatus (hopefully) hard work eventually pays off man!

 

[TeeJay1952]

Joda follow your bliss and it will never be work.
I fixed computers. I saw myself as Mr Wizard teaching the masses how to maintain a windows machine. Easy stuff like reinstall, new hard drive or modem or network card. I didn't charge. Just filled up my spare time helping folks. NO ONE got it. Everyone thought I wanted to be the Geek Squad for the poor. People just hand over their minds and never critically think. I did it for 25 years and then I stopped. I did it for me, and stopped for the same reason. It wasn't a burden but rather a honor to help all those folks. Do what you want. If that doesn't work at least you tried.

 

[stickstones]

Don't forget you can pick who your customers are. Dicks to the right...

 

[smokum]

Never let anyone harsh your mellow bro... especially when YOU are in the driver's seat

 

[Erwin]

I'm sorry to hear that the creation of such beauty has created such stress. As others have said above me, I say do what's right for you. I appreciate and respect how much you strive to please your customers, but art, even commissioned art, should always be first and foremost about the process. You are bringing beauty and functionality into the world. For that, you don't owe anyone a thing. Do customs for those who's ideas inspire you but, beyond that, create what inspires you, for you. With your skills people will pay for it anyway. I really like @nihil's idea of creating your own website. Whatever you make, people will buy (especially those of us here at FC), and you can always continue to do the customs that you're excited about. Just don't ever let anyone else's want for some smoking accessory or whatever else interfere with your artistic vision. As long as your art is always first and foremost for yourself the love of making art, there will never be limitations to your growth other than the ones you place on yourself.

 

[VaPeD&CoNfUsEd]

You guys always make me feel so much better when I get down like this. Thank you all for the encouraging words. I love my FC fam!

 

[rosedale]

Don't stop doing custom stuff! My nano stem and gong are awesome. When we get the the Air shorty fitting better, it will be everything that I wanted.

Every time you hear from a dick, think about all of your repeat business.

 

[little maggie]

Wondering how long it takes to make a new gong? You must be a naturally gifted artist to make such incredible designs after only 9 months!

 

[Nugg]

Don't worry about those arseholes man. Its a privilege to have custom glass blown by you. You have given this community a lot.

You are making a stem for me at the moment and I only requested 3 things (purple, sparkly and a roll stop). I have no idea how you will interpret sparkly but thats half the fun. I know I will love what ever you make because it will be how you wanted to make it.

I think that you need to do what ever is best for you and your future as a glass blower. I'd love to see you settle into a style and really perfect it. If that means no customs, well so be it.

Keep up the good work bro

 

[VaPeD&CoNfUsEd]

Hey guys, I spent the day yesterday in my studio with a couple of guys from Yeti house Glass. These guys are absolute fucking rockstars with 100 times the talent that I have. This is the first time I've had the opportunity to work with othe artists. Hell I didn't even work. I watched and learned. Learned more in one night than I have in the past month. Absolutely brilliant artists and all around great fun guys.

Anyways even with all their talent they are struggling with sales. I explained that combustion pieces just aren't where it's at right now. So they are going to be coming here to FC to spread their amazing art around. I really want to put you guys on to them. They are truly gifted artists that deserve to be making actual money. So look out for all new vape accessories coming soon to FC from these guys. They'll be joining very soon and we're gonna get them a thread going. Here's a pic of a collab marble they did in my shop yesterday if this gives you a little idea of the talent they are bringing to the table.

(2 sides of the same giant ass marble)

I'd really like to see them get the kind of love in the industry here on FC that I've gotten. So keep an eye out because they will blow up!!!

 

[BoogerMan]

Hey guys, I spent the day yesterday in my studio with a couple of guys from Yeti house Glass. These guys are absolute fucking rockstars with 100 times the talent that I have. This is the first time I've had the opportunity to work with othe artists. Hell I didn't even work. I watched and learned. Learned more in one night than I have in the past month. Absolutely brilliant artists and all around great fun guys.

Anyways even with all their talent they are struggling with sales. I explained that combustion pieces just aren't where it's at right now. So they are going to be coming here to FC to spread their amazing art around. I really want to put you guys on to them. They are truly gifted artists that deserve to be making actual money. So look out for all new vape accessories coming soon to FC from these guys. They'll be joining very soon and we're gonna get them a thread going. Here's a pic of a collab marble they did in my shop yesterday if this gives you a little idea of the talent they are bringing to the table.

(2 sides of the same giant ass marble)

I'd really like to see them get the kind of love in the industry here on FC that I've gotten. So keep an eye out because they will blow up!!!

Can't wait! This sounds awesome!

Link to their Instagram:
http://instagram.com/yeti_house_glass

They definitely make some cool stuff

 

[VaPeD&CoNfUsEd]

They don't even have the cool stuff on their IG. These guys are pure fucking talent! They aren't going to jump into my nano accessories. I asked them to stay away from those. But those that have been wanting amazing worked j-hooks, honey buckets, and lots of other things are going to be very happy very soon. They have agreed to teach me to step my game up if I teach them how to properly market themselves. I wanna see these guys get the dues they deserve. I fealt like such a noob around them it was borderline embarrassing!

 

[DieHard]

I got some money to throw their way too!

 

[VaPeD&CoNfUsEd]

Good! They fucking deserve it! Truly amazing artists. They've just been stuck in the combustion market. I'm teaching them that the good people and good money is in the non combustion market. Vape WAS the word of the year last year afterall!

 

[NewVape]

Very nice! I like their stuff. It's always awesome to see new talent who can join our little FC family. Looking forward to see what happens in another FC colab.

 

[grokit]

I'm glad you're sticking with the nano/log accessories, there's so many possibilities there!

 

[VaPeD&CoNfUsEd]

Really guys. Once they get an account please show them the love they deserve. These guys will be bosses before you know it. It was beyond humbling being in their presence.

They plan to run a very close business model to mine here. Good products and good customer service.

 

[BoogerMan]

Really guys. Once they get an account please show them the love they deserve. These guys will be bosses before you know it. It was beyond humbling being in their presence.

They plan to run a very close business model to mine here. Good products and good customer service.

Make sure they post some more recent stuff in their new thread or on their IG.

I really want to see what they can do

I will definitely be ordering something from them for sure! My girlfriend wants a really really girly dabber with cap so maybe they can come up with something that sparkles haha! And she just got accepted into dental school so maybe they could make the carb cap a tooth or something like that. She'd probably have a heart attack if they could do that

 

[Reflections]

Just be sure You let us know their nics and when they come aboard!

 

[VaPeD&CoNfUsEd]

Oh I will. They've agreed to teach me some things (which is priceless where I live) I've agreed to put them on here to meet all of you fine people. Had to explain that FC has the greatest members/friends/customers on the interwebs.