Jamaica Plan, MA – October 25, 2018
Look around J.P. and you’ll see every café full to capacity. Most of the patrons are regulars – camped out for hours with laptops open, attention focused. They are working and this is their office.
For those of us in the ever-growing independent workforce – freelancers, creatives, and solo entrepreneurs – this is our day-to day. We seek a comfortable space surrounded by the energy of others.
The trouble is that the local café as a “Third Space” does not offer the ideal conditions for productive work. If you can find a space at all, you’ll make frequent trips to the counter to purchase just enough to justify the hours spent occupying a table. A loud conversation at the next table can disrupt your flow. It’s hard to take a phone call or do video conferencing. Everything feels either constrained or out of your control.
Co-working spaces are the logical solution, and there are a number of offerings in the metro Boston area. None in Jamaica Plain.
The Plan: An Overview
- Co-working space. Members get access to an open workspace with high-speed wifi.
- Meeting rooms. Members can book meeting rooms or make use of private phone booths.
- Training programs. Learn business skills from guided workshops or brown bag lunches.
- Media production. Get help producing a podcast, explainer videos, or slide decks.
Let’s take a deeper look at the Who / What / Where /When / How.
The Who
- Founding Partner: Michael Boezi, Owner and Managing Director of Control Mouse Media, LLC – a content services and training company in Jamaica Plain, MA. Michael runs marketing training programs on content strategy, SEO, podcasting and oversees the on-site media production.
- Founding Partner: Let’s call him Paul. Paul is a full partner in the business, and runs business training program on startup strategy, raising capital, and other executive functions.
- Business Manager: Let’s call her Mimi. Mimi runs the day-to-day operations of AllSpace, including member services.
- Events Manager: Let’s call her Ruby. Ruby schedules and manages training programs and use of the space for external events.
The What
It is 1,200+ square feet of space, and includes:
- An open floor plan with “hot desks” for members.
- A meeting room for up to 8 people with a table and chairs.
- A bank of 2-3 phone “booths” for private conversations.
- A media production room with soundproofing and pro lighting.
- Two offices for Michael and Paul.
The Where
AllSpace is conveniently located, with easy access to the Orange Line.
The When
AllSpace plans to open in 2019. Soft launch in Summer 2019 with incentives for charter members. Training programs in a rolling launch, starting Fall 2019.
The How
AllSpace is more than “just a desk.” The market for this is overserved already. From WeWork to WorkBar to Oficio, there are plenty of “co-working” spaces that are really just “working” spaces.
I prefer Alex Hillman’s model for Indy Hall in Philadelphia, where it is a true community space. Members are expected to share their expertise in brown bag lunch sessions – and participate in social events. It’s a way to network, strategize, and get a window into different types of businesses. This provides an environment where new ideas and opportunities can germinate.
Running a business – especially in the early days – can be lonely and frustrating. There’s so much to learn, and you feel like you make thousands of mistakes each week. That’s where the training programs come in. Tailored to the needs of the community, Michael and Paul (along with invited guest trainers) design workshops and one-on-one sessions to help teach particular business skills and strategy.
In an extension of Michael’s company, Control Mouse Media, members can get help producing media assets such as a podcast or videos – or get help with SEO, blogging, and social media. The studio is available for members to do their own recordings, with green screens, lighting, and microphones – or get help from a professional producer (rates vary, depending on the project).
As a podcaster, I was searching for a space to do recordings – and it’s amazing that none of the co-working spaces are outfit with such amenities. The best that most could offer is a meeting room, which is often expensive and not at all soundproof. Today’s businesses are expected to be media producers, so this is a real need.
The space would be potentially be available in the evenings at reduced rates for community meetings and NFPs – and perhaps as a performance space for music (depending on zoning), author readings, and lecture series.
by , in memory of Teresa S. Boezi, 8/3/46—10/25/07. .