Steve C.
Yelp
Terrible experience! I've been here years ago for a 2 hour glass blowing course and had a great learning experience. This time, not so much.
I called the studio on Monday and asked if they had any available classes for Tuesday, the day after. The person on the phone was a man named Foster. He stated that there were no instructors available until Wednesday. I told him my flight back home was on Wednesday and I wouldn't be able to book it. No big deal because I didn't book an appointment ahead of time and did not expect to be able to take a class anyway. Foster stated that if he could find an instructor for Tuesday, he would call me back. I receive a call later on and he stated that he found an instructor and my wife and I could take a class on Tuesday. I said great! And he took my credit card info over the phone for the $240 class. The next day we show up for the class and we were greeted by "instructor" Johnny, and I use that term loosely. Johnny was a nice guy, however, he had no teaching skills whatsoever. He began by showing us the basics by making a paper weight as an example. After that, He asked us what we would like to make. I stated that I didn't know and I asked him if there was a list of simple things they start beginners with. He said not really, maybe you guys could make a paper weight or a flower or something. I was confused as to why he didn't have many suggestions since he was the instructor and we were the students. Then I explained that I saw a heart and a duck on the website, and asked if we could make that. He said a heart would be a great idea and it's simple to make. The duck however is a little more complicated and he wouldn't be able to teach us that, some of the other instructors would be able to teach us that. I thought to myself, Well, that doesn't really help our situation since he was the only instructor there that day. Anyway, moving on to the hearts because a duck was out of the question. Johnny had us pick out colors we wanted for the two hearts and then started to show us how to make it. He basically did the same exact process as he did with the "paper weight example." He SHOWED us how a heart was made and we didn't really get to do anything other than choose the colors and roll the molten glass onto the colored glass. He basically made the whole thing himself and showed us how it was done. There wasn't really any hands on experience. He then asks us what we wanted to make next. I explained that my wife wanted me to personally make a heart for her as a gift. He said ok and we started to make a second heart. Again, didn't really get to do anything but watch him make a heart with the colors we chose. Now he asked us what we wanted to make next. Again, he didn't have many suggestions. I didn't know what to tell him because we were not sure what items were for beginners. It seemed like he expected me to have a list of items for him. I said I don't know, what else do you have for beginners to make? Again, he wasn't much help. I stated that years ago I made a cup here and he said yea... we could make a cup. Again, he basically let us pick the colors and made the whole thing himself and we watched. I explained to him that we wanted a more hands on experience and not just watch him make things. His reply was that if he did most of the work then we would have nicer items to take home. I had to explain to him that I don't care if we made ugly lopsided items because we were here for the hands on experience of learning glass blowing and not to bring home nice items. The next couple of items, he tried to let us do a little more and it wasn't much more. We gave up and just went along with this so called "class." When we were done, I asked him what time I could pick up the items. He stated that I could pick them up in the afternoon the next day, right before my flight. I shook his hand and tipped him $20 for his effort in teaching. We left and I receive a call 5 minutes later from Foster stating that I can't pick up the items before my flight. It would take a few days for them to be ready. I explained to him that Johnny said it would be ready the next day. Foster responded that Johnny didn't know because it's his first time teaching. The items would have to be shipped to me and I would be charged between $25-30 for shipping.
The first time I took the class, I was able to pick up my items the next day. I don't understand why I couldn't this time. Furthermore, Foster should've explained to me before I took the class that I would not be able to fly home with the items. He did not have the decency to let me know, he just wanted my $240. He also set me up with a guy that has never taught a class before. Johnny was a nice guy and I could tell he was trying, but after finding out that he has never had students before, it all started making sense. Foster should have never set us up with Johnny if he was not ready to be teaching. We feel cheated of what could've been a great experience.