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New Hires

 >>  I get a visit every month or so by someone really wanting to learn neon,
often willing to give up their steady job to come work in my slip-shod 1 1/2
person shop.  I can't imagine how one
 could economically train a bender from zero - especially since they'll
 look elsewhere for work if you have a slow spell. <<

 The only people I have trained is my younger brothers ( one of which went to
work for my competition ).  The only way I would hire someone on a training
basis is if they signed a non-competition contract which would state that they
would not work for or open a competing shop within so many miles within a
given time frame.  If this would be OK then I might consider the risks
involved in teaching someone.  I know it isn't easy for someone who wants to
start out in the business.  Unfortunately, the neon schools spin out too many
"instant experts" on the subject of neon and at the same time they are not
confident or competent enough to charge the going rate. The business
establishment is all too happy to give them a try because all they understand
is $$$$. A lot of schools that were also production shops stopped teaching
because they found out that they were cutting their own throats.

 My attitude is that $3000 is a lot of money to put out that could go into
equipment and such that a beginner will need. If he thinks that going to
school will get him a job then there I guess it is not too bad considering the
price of college these days.  Beats having a PhD. and making Big Macs because
there are no jobs.

 I'm glad that this mailing list got formed and there are so many different
perspectives on here.  I've been burned by a few people that worked for me and
then stole my customers. They talked down my work and told them I was over
charging them and they could do the work cheaper.  I have another person who
went to a 6 week school and came back and told another client of mine that he
could do the work cheaper too. The "wholesale" supplier of tubing and
electrodes, etc. that I always buy full boxes of glass from was all too glad
to help out by selling them a couple of sticks of glass at a time.  The other
thing is that these 2 guys both set up shops in their garages in residential
areas. So they also don't have to pay for another commercial building overhead
and insurances, etc.  Lucky for me I don't do this for a living <g.>.  While I
have a book of business cards from shops that have come in and folded for one
reason or another they still leave me with the remains of their price gouging.
 All I can think of is the old timers who used to bitch about these same
complaints and now I am where they were.  Not a pretty picture.

 I'll probably take some heat from others on the list who are set up in
garages and buy sticks at a time too.  That's ok, but the main thing to
remember is that just because you can cut costs to the bone,  you still should
be charging for your work or you will end up out of business or in debt. or
just overworked and stressed out.  Like I always like to say, " I don't need
the work, I need the MONEY". Also remember the hazards associated with the
medium and realize that you are living with them.

 I just wish that this list was around for the last 20 years I've been doing
glass. I plan on being here for as long as the list is around.  I hope I can
help make it easier for those who are willing to put up with the cuts and the
burns and really want to work the glass.  That's how I got started.  I was and
still am still fascinated with the glow of the plasma. Business aside, if you
really like neon for what it is, I'll be glad to help where I can.


  E-mail from: Tom Biebel, 26-Nov-1995
 

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