Free Studios in Austin?

[dmora]

I know this is a long shot, but does anyone know of a studio or person with studio gear who wouldnt mind letting a college kid come in and practice lighting?
I have some of my own gear, and honestly i dont even really want to borrow or use any other gear, i just need a nice open space / white walls. I have "a" white wall in my house, but its not big enough for anything really.

[kamekaze]

If you find somewhere let me know, I might be able to bring some beer for the trouble :)

[danchez]

Yeah, me too. I would love to find a larger studio space, free to boot. WOOHOO!!!

[kamekaze]

fyi: I know this is pretty ridiculous, but it never hurts to ask

[High_Boost]

someone on craigslist keeps advertising a studio for rent for 1/2 day.. they want $250 I believe..

it isnt free, but a few of you could pool your money and rent it together and it could be pretty cheap

I think it was in central austin

[CaptainTom]

It's not silly at all.

Just the other day I was asking a Playboy model if she'd come live with me in my mobile home..

It never hurts to ask......

She did say it would be more likely to find a free photo studio in Austin than for her to move in with ME.

[High_Boost]

it looks like they lowered the price to $199 for a half day
maybe it will get cheaper, with a couple buddies this would be really affordable

[kamekaze]

Originally Posted by High_Boost

it looks like they lowered the price to $199 for a half day
maybe it will get cheaper, with a couple buddies this would be really affordable

I was thinking the same thing, could be a pretty cool opportunity for a get together in austin, get a few people from here and a few free models from MM and make an evening of it. If we can get 10 people on it it would be pretty darn cheap and fun.

[High_Boost]

Originally Posted by kamekaze

I was thinking the same thing, could be a pretty cool opportunity for a get together in austin, get a few people from here and a few free models from MM and make an evening of it. If we can get 10 people on it it would be pretty darn cheap and fun.

I may be interested in going in on it.. may be fun..
the thing is, I dont know how much models cost, but splitting 1/2 day with 10 people isnt much shooting time per fotog.

[dmora]

I'd be up for splitting it. I always wanted to get a group together to form an LLC and rent a place down town to make a studio out of.

[CaptainTom]

If you guys pull the trigger on this idea, don't hesitate to ask others the best way to go about it.
There are a couple of co-op studios in my area ( I belong to one ) and several of us have researched the idea quite thoroughly.

[kamekaze]

I would be wary of actually going into a co-op deal with people, too many ways for it to fail and end up costing a bunch of money... You have any tips for success on this Tom?

[danchez]

I am interested in having a studio in Austin, that would be hella cool. As you get more details, let me know.

[CaptainTom]

Originally Posted by kamekaze

I would be wary of actually going into a co-op deal with people, too many ways for it to fail and end up costing a bunch of money... You have any tips for success on this Tom?

The first thing we figured out was that some individual has to have the resources to be able to pay for the whole thing if everyone were to bail out.
Leases are signed by one party, utilities, etc.
The members are then voting partners in the venture, and as long as there are enough members paying enough money it will work. Some one has to have the final say in things. Discussion is great, but when there is an impasse there needs to be a way to break it without everybody getting upset.

Check with a lawyer about contracts, agreements, etc. Texas is pretty loose with its' business regulations.

[dmora]

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

If you guys pull the trigger on this idea, don't hesitate to ask others the best way to go about it.
There are a couple of co-op studios in my area ( I belong to one ) and several of us have researched the idea quite thoroughly.

Awesome! Thanks Tom!

Originally Posted by kamekaze

I would be wary of actually going into a co-op deal with people, too many ways for it to fail and end up costing a bunch of money... You have any tips for success on this Tom?

Kamekaze, thats why you make it a business arrangement with legal representation, as Tom states here...

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

The first thing we figured out was that some individual has to have the resources to be able to pay for the whole thing if everyone were to bail out.
Leases are signed by one party, utilities, etc.
The members are then voting partners in the venture, and as long as there are enough members paying enough money it will work. Some one has to have the final say in things. Discussion is great, but when there is an impasse there needs to be a way to break it without everybody getting upset.

Check with a lawyer about contracts, agreements, etc. Texas is pretty loose with its' business regulations.

Thats a huge bit of helpful info Tom. It would be important to make it a small group i think that starts it up as sort of a "board of directors" that way there's only a few people to actually hold the responsibility instead of 20 different opinions on how things should work. The thing to bare in mind is this co-op is in essence a business. The space and utilities must be paid for monthly just like any other business. This is where i know personally i would have trouble bringing my end up as my photography is mostly just a hobby.