Olivia T Cavy on thu 19 jun 97
Steve, as a CPA I disagree with your colleague. To state the obvious, the
only time you are making money is when you are collecting the money on
the pots you have sold. All other time that you spend is production
time,
and that time is a cost (if a direct cost) or an expense (if overhead).
Not to
nitpick, but if I spend 1 minute making the pot and 10 minutes
subsequently completing it (trimming, finishing details, glazing and the
many other steps
involved) it's the same as if I spend 8 minutes making it and 3 minutes
finishing it. You may argue which is the "better" pot likely to sell for
more
money, but that's not the issue. It's still my time--and that is
basically what
I am selling as a ceramic artist.
BTW if I make a sale on credit and fail to collect the money owed to me,
have I made any money? I think not.
Bonnie Hellman in Pittsburgh, PA
On Tue, 17 Jun 1997 19:40:49 EDT stevemills
writes:
>----------------------------Original
>message----------------------------
>When I started production throwing a fellow potter told me that the
>only
>time you make money is when you are on the wheel, any work done on
>your
>pots subsequent to that "massages" the money but doesn't necessarily
>increase its value. Also where possible I threw pots in a way that
>removed the need to turn(trim) them. This certainly helped to speed up
>production considerably without (to my eyes) any loss of quality.
>Steve
>--
>Steve Mills
>@Bath Potters Supplies
>Dorset Close
>Bath
>BA2 3RF
>UK
>Tel:(44) (0)1225 337046
>Fax:(44) (0)1225 462712
>
stevemills on fri 20 jun 97
Bonnie, I think there is a fundamental difference as to where
you and I are coming from. At the time which I refer to I was
a production potter earning a living and supporting a wife and
three kids on the proceeds. At that point in time I did not in any
way consider myself an Artist. I was a one man factory, I had an
income to make to pay the bills which meant a fixed minimum
amount of money had to be earned per week. The Kiln had an
average value per charge (contents) and this put strict limits on
the amount of time I could afford to spend making pots. I'm
not complaining, I enjoyed making straight forward simple pots
for every day use and abuse very quickly. It was a skill I rejoiced
in. Things have now changed and I don't need to make my pots
that way.The time spent throwing each piece is counted in
minutes not seconds and perhaps I have made the transition
from artisan to artist, I like to think so. In my original post I
spoke from past experience which I feel is a valid from that
point of view. Your view is just as valid but from a different
ceramic perspective.
Steve.
(also posted to clayart)
In message , Olivia T Cavy writes
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Steve, as a CPA I disagree with your colleague. To state the obvious, the
> only time you are making money is when you are collecting the money on
> the pots you have sold. All other time that you spend is production
>time,
> and that time is a cost (if a direct cost) or an expense (if overhead).
>Not to
> nitpick, but if I spend 1 minute making the pot and 10 minutes
>subsequently completing it (trimming, finishing details, glazing and the
>many other steps
> involved) it's the same as if I spend 8 minutes making it and 3 minutes
> finishing it. You may argue which is the "better" pot likely to sell for
>more
> money, but that's not the issue. It's still my time--and that is
>basically what
> I am selling as a ceramic artist.
>
>BTW if I make a sale on credit and fail to collect the money owed to me,
>have I made any money? I think not.
>
>Bonnie Hellman in Pittsburgh, PA
>On Tue, 17 Jun 1997 19:40:49 EDT stevemills
--
Steve Mills
@Bath Potters Supplies
Dorset Close
Bath
BA2 3RF
UK
Tel:(44) (0)1225 337046
Fax:(44) (0)1225 462712
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