[Jewelry making - Article 00065] - Re: [Orchid] Apprenticeships

[Jay Gaelen]

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Karen,

    I don't know if there is a standard on this, I can only relay my
    personal arrangement. 

    I was a Camp Ranger ( I did maintenence) In TX. I loved my tools but
    hated having to be outside all the time - 100 degrees and above in
    the summer.  I always said that if I could sit inside in the A/C and
    play with tools, I'd be happy forever.  I encountered a jeweler who
    upon hearing this asked if I'd ever considered being a jeweler.  I
    asked what this would entail?  He showed me a bench and the rest was
    history...16 years now. 

    I had to promise 2 things.  That I would stay for a minimum of 4
    years and that I would never go into business in his town in
    competition with him. In exchange he would give me use of the bench
    and tools I needed.  When I wanted specific lessons, there were
    tapes and books all over the shop. (If I interrupted him to ask
    something like 'explain bezel setting", he'd kick back in his big
    chair and say "$300.00 and I'll tell you", I'd go find out) Once I
    learned how to do things like sizing and chain repair, he paid me
    wholesale labor on the jobs I completed without help.  As I got more
    proficient I got more money. 

    This was all on a cash basis and therefore he didn't set hours.  I
    was there on and off for 14 years.  This eventually worked out to
    where even though I had opened my own store I still helped him when
    he had overflows.  He was a great help in my getting off the ground.
     To minimize paperwork at the year end our monthly bookwork looked
    like this:  I did X amount ($) of repair work for him.  I owe him
    X($) for stones, parts, watch services... 

Jay



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