Lili Krakowski on wed 4 jul 07
Your story, Kathryn Sacred Clay, is scary. But illustrative.
And, gee, don't spend that $8 tip all in one place!
I think this horrible incident shows how clay is regarded by The Public At
Large.
Or what I think one has to be careful about re: private lessons.
There are all sorts of professional entertainers out there who come to
children's parties or have children's parties at their places
for the little darlings "to have fun". (Contemporary definitions of
"having fun" make my hair stand on end)
The "teacher" or "host" becomes a sacrificial lamb, and a mistreated one at
that. The children are encouraged to "express themselves" which means they
scream, yell, demolish the place and are rude. The teacher is supposed to
smile bravely and put up with it for fees that barely pay for the cleanup
and recovery time.
There are these painting on bisque places, and glazing greenware places that
are set up for this sort of farce.
I don't think the average studio is set up for that. and I intuit you did
not expect to become an "entertainment center".
I HAVE seen children's classes running like clockwork because:
1. these are regular classes over a set "term". 2. The teacher is treated
as a teacher, not an entertainer. 3. More than one adult is there besides
the official teacher. (Adult here might be a teenager if the class is
pre-teen).
It seems to me that a one -time play session at your studio is not a private
lesson really, but just that: a play session or "clay party."
If you even consider a "next time" I would suggest: call around to places
that give children's parties of the type mentioned above and find out what
they charge. I expect a lot more than $10 per child. Find out how many
adults are there for what size group.
Make it clear up front that the clay is paid for $25 (or whatever) per bag,
and any opened bag is considered a full bag. Charge the firing per kiln
load. Or restrict what is to be fired somehow.
I think you were admirably plucky and gracious, and I wish you a speedy
recovery!
Lili Krakowski
Be of good courage
Lee Love on thu 5 jul 07
On 7/4/07, Lili Krakowski wrote:
> Make it clear up front that the clay is paid for $25 (or whatever) per bag,
> and any opened bag is considered a full bag. Charge the firing per kiln
> load. Or restrict what is to be fired somehow.
Rather than encourage a parent to "use up the clay." Why not charge
per lb. of the actual clay used. Weigh what is made and charge that.
It would discourage making just to use the clay up. Or, provide
much less clay to start or a couple pounds per child and then a per
lb. charge after that. Charge extra if the parent is making stuff
too (adult rate.)
--
Lee in Mashiko, Japan
Minneapolis, Minnesota USA
http://mashikopots.blogspot.com/
"To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of arts." -
Henry David Thoreau
"Let the beauty we love be what we do." - Rumi
sacredclay on thu 5 jul 07
Darling Lili, you cracked me up and pretty much hit everything on the
nail here.Your "be of good courage" was extroadinary fitting in this
case too. I could not pinpoint what it was, only that I felt vaguely
at disadvantage here. Logan called it a high maintenance party.
Combined with her words and yours and it fits the bill exactly. It
didn't cost me anything for firing or anything like that because my
boss, who is a gift from the kiln goddesses, wasn't charging me
anything to use the studio. Nonetheless, if it was my studio, it was
still quite underpaid. However, your suggestion to look up similiar
endeavors of the entertainment field is an excellent one. Is it worth
it to do it again? Personally, no! Monetary, yup.I do what I have to
do to put food on the table. That "huge" tip paid for half of Papa
John's pizza tonight for dinner. Really nutritional.Warmly, Kathryn
Sacred Cheap Clay in NC --- In clayart@yahoogroups.com, Lili
Krakowski wrote:
>
> Your story, Kathryn Sacred Clay, is scary. But illustrative.
>
> And, gee, don't spend that $8 tip all in one place!
>
> I think this horrible incident shows how clay is regarded by The
Public At
> Large.
>
> Lili Krakowski
> Be of good courage
>
>
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