Independents Hall Philadelphia

Frequently Asked Questions about IndyHall

What is the difference between a coworking space and any other office share?

In short, a combination of community and core values. IndyHall isn't about the desks, but about what the desks enable when a certain set of values are aligned.

One of our sister spaces (and in large part an inspiration for our model), Citizen Space in San Francisco, outlines it's core values from which we continue to evolve:

• Collaboration: One of the great benefits of working in a coworking space is that you will meet all sorts of people with all sorts of knowledge.
• Openness: We believe in transparency and openness. In a world where people are free, but ideas are not, only a few benefit. When ideas are free, everyone benefits. Therefore, we encourage open spaces and discussions. IndyHall is a Community of Trust.
• Community: We thrive on connections and mutual support here. It is important that everyone give into as well as benefit from the strong (international) community coworking has become.
• Accessibility: In order to be fully open, we must make the effort to be accessible to all. Diversity is core to our community's success. This means that we endeavor to create both a financially and a physically accessible space. We are committed to this principle and welcome feedback on how we can make it even more accessible.
• Sustainability: Sustainability is a two-fold mission for us: not only is the sharing of resources generally a green practice for individuals and business, but our overall business principals are based on sustainable relationships and exchanges. Every decision is measured by its ability to be sustained by the community in the long term.

How long has IndyHall been around?

Independents Hall has been around as a business and a space since August of 2007, but existed as a vibrant and rapidly growing community since September 2006.

What kind of people work at IndyHall?

Our community is comprised of designers, developers, writers, artists, entrepreneurs, scientists, educators, small business owners, telecommuters, marketers, videographers, game developers, and more. If you can work from anywhere, you can work from IndyHall.

I talk on the phone a lot. Is that going to be a problem?

Our community and space operate on mutual respect between our members. While taking a brief call at your desk is perfectly acceptable, if you think your extended phone time is bothering others, its up to you to take the call elsewhere in the space, like the conference room or the lounge. If you spend ALL day on the phone, IndyHall probably isn't for you.

Do you provide computers or monitors?

No, you must bring your own computer. We provide a desk, chair, internet, and power for your workstation. Some members leave large external monitors in a locker if they do not have a full time desk. If you're interested in a large monitor, ask us. We might be able to help coordinate a monitor sharing arrangement.

Do you require members to sign NDAs? How do you deal with intellectual property?

Indyhall is a community of trust. The more open you are, the more you can get out of this community. Ideas don't get stolen here, they get gardened and grown. That said, if you work in a field where your employer or partners are concerned about confidential information being spread, IndyHall might not be the best fit.

Why do you require people to work from IndyHall for a day before becoming a member?

Remember, we're a community first. And trust is a huge part of our community. We want to meet you face to face before signing any paperwork to get the trust-building process off on the right foot. There's no formal screening, just come in and be yourself!

I'm a member of another coworking space. Do I get any benefits from IndyHall if I come visit?

IndyHall participates in the Coworking Visa, a loose program that allows paying members of any other participating space to reserve a desk at IndyHall for up to 3 days for free before switching to our $25/day rate. All standard drop-in procedures apply.
Besides the savings on cash, the other benefit to being a "transfer coworker" is the amazing community dynamic; our members LOVE meeting members from other coworking spaces, and sharing stories and ideas. This is the BEST part about visiting other coworking spaces!

I'm a company looking for a freelancer. Can you help?

Sorta. IndyHall isn't a recruitment office. IndyHall is a place where people come to do work, not get work. That is an important aspect to our office's culture. If you're interested in meeting any of the talent who works at IndyHall, you are welcome to participate in any of our public events and spend time with members. We ask that you participate, though, not show up to pitch work or opportunities. We'd never stand between a member and a good opportunity, but we also don't want people to feel threatened in their work environment.

I want something like IndyHall in my city! Can you help?

Sure! Start by watching this video we produced in March of 2009:

Geoff and Alex offer coworking consulting by hourly and package rates, and have helped get new coworking spaces off the ground in cities around the world. Interested in working with us? Just send us a note.

We also have an FAQs category on our blog where we periodically answer questions in text and videos, so please check that out as well.