elizabeth priddy on sun 9 jan 00
I am in the process of establishing my setup
for workshops here in Beaufort and I have a
question on where people should stay. My studio
is fully equipped with slab roller, extruder,
two electric wheels, one kick, two electric
kilns, damp box, ware carts, and about 400 sq
feet of work space.
My house on the other hand, is housekept by me,
(first problem), 223 yrs old, (2nd problem),
inhabited by two very large black hairy dogs,
(3rd and 4th problems), has one rudimentary
bathroom (5th problem), and a husband
who does not pot and likes his privacy (np).
I am studio rich and house poor, a situation I
am ok with, but limits my ability to entertain
guests before and after the business of potting
happens.
So there is my main problem and here is my
little plan, as it were: (please blow holes
in it now, as this is what the planning stage
and a community of friends is for!)
I know many potters are on a budget and I am
too but if I am going out of town, I tend to
like to stay in pleasant accommodations and
will save a little to do it as it enhances my
'vacation' feeling a lot.
Beaufort, where I live due to my husband's
association with the Marine Lab here, is a sea
side resort. The local hotels are ridiculously
expensive, and cost as much or more than the
local B&B's. I had always thought of B&B's as
really expensive, but they are less here. And
off season, they are a bargain.
I don't really want to have people in town
during season due to potentially serious
weather problems and also the crowds are crazy
and most people are out at shows etc during
that time anyway.
So I talked to a local B&B owner and we are
working out a deal for off season rates for
groups of potters to all stay at this one house
for workshops. He has a website and I would
like to run this by you all here and see how
these rates and accommodations compare to
others around the country.
It comes to about $95 per room per night, each
room sleeps two (one double bed and one roll
away if needed) and includes a full sit down
breakfast each morning and wine cocktails in the
afternoon before dinner. It is two blocks from
my house and studio, three blocks from the
waterfront, one block off the major highway in
to town, Interstate 70.
I don't want people to get sticker shock when
they look at the daily cost of being in
Beaufort, and I also don't want to have to do
workshops out of town to make it affordable.
We have an airport nearby and you can walk the
daily stuff.
And Beaufort has the advantage of being a place
with a lot of diverse activities for the non
potters who tend to get dragged into these
little excursions. Elmo lists them under
"Beaufort Charm" at his website for the B&B.
Also, the house is not inhabited by the owners,
they live next door, so it is fairly private
and the spaces inside can be meeting places.
He is willing to work something out regarding
his gourmet weekend program as well and he is
a national class chef. (meals cooked on site
for the participants for about $20 per person,
including wine and dessert and a fully diverse
menu that can feed vegetarian and other special
diets as well-this is a special deal if I decide
to have the workshop participants stay there in
groups, you can't just walk in and get it)
But how do you best incorporate this aspect of
the workshop into your marketing? And will it
make people more or less inclined to come, if
they will be forced to endure good food and very
pleasant living quarters for about $10 more per
night per room than a bare bones Holiday Inn?
There is plenty of local cheap places for daily
meals and little entertainments, but sleeping
here is a little steep...like Denver, but at
sea level.
I would appreciate your help on this because
long term, I am very interested in bringing
other presenters to Beaufort for workshops as
well and the recent thread on what do you have
to do to have a good workshop brought out the
point that the care and feeding of the potters
is really important.
But would this be taking it too far?
And how comparable is it to other
places you have stayed?
To see the details of his B&B go to:
http://www.cousinsbedandbreakfast.com
---
Elizabeth Priddy
email: epriddy@usa.net
http://www.angelfire.com/nc/clayworkshop
Clay: 12,000 yrs and still fresh!
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NakedClay@aol.com on mon 10 jan 00
Elizabeth,
It sounds like you're taking care of the accomodations in a wise and prudent
way. I wonder how far it is from your studio to the B & B you plan to use. I
don't think your guests will have much problem driving from one venue to
another, if the mileage is less than ten miles.
How much property do you have to accomodate the number of cars/vehicles your
visitors will use to get to the studio? If your parking space is limited, I
suggest that you set up car-pooling from the B & B to the studio.
Another thought is to allow your guests to pitch tents on your property, or
on adjacent land, if your neighbors consent. Sometimes, rustic accomodations
will be adequate. Your "campers" could cook out, using their own propane, or
wood-burning firepaces you provide.
As far as bathrooms go, is there at least one toilet in the studio, for your
guests? If not, consider renting porta-potties. Most porta-potty rental
contracts include weekly cleaning service. We rented two porta-potties for a
recent gathering (20 guests). Though not as "nice" as indoor plumbing, Porta
potties can be placed on flat, vacant areas on your property. You can also
rent portable shower and sink facilities.
How about oudoor lighting, for night-time walks between your studio and the
parking area? This is a safety matter, which you need to consider. Also,
check your propery's liability insurance, and buy extra coverage, for the
time you have guests in your studio.
I hope this is helpful. Please contact me offline, if you need further
suggestions.
Milton NakedClay@AOL.COM
Wesley C. Rolley on mon 10 jan 00
>So there is my main problem and here is my
>little plan, as it were: (please blow holes
>in it now, as this is what the planning stage
>and a community of friends is for!)
>
>I know many potters are on a budget and I am
>too but if I am going out of town, I tend to
>like to stay in pleasant accommodations and
>will save a little to do it as it enhances my
>'vacation' feeling a lot.
Elizabeth,
This is a good start at thinking through a real problem. There are a few
of us who have RV's and would be more likely to attend workshops if there
were places near the workshop studio where we could stay in the RV.
Nottingham Center for the Arts in Calif. has a large area where students
can stay in an RV and that makes their workshops attractive for me.
Just another thing to add to your list.
Wes
Antoinette Badenhorst on mon 10 jan 00
Elizabeth, I am not so familiar with what is
reasonable prizes or not, but I`ve learned a little
bit of putting other business together with my pots.
I`ve learned that unless things don`t fall perfectly
into place,you are the one that will end up with the
struggle. I read through the lines that you are not
really satisfied with the situation and that you are
looking for someone to give you a green light.(sorry,
am I too straigt foreward?)
>From what you told me, this b+b sounds like a nice
place for other visits than stay over for workshops.Is
this really a bargaining prize to pay, or can any
individual bargain for this prize?
Most of the times potters wants to visit on the site
for hours after the workshop is over.
Good food is important, but to my knowledge most
potters will give that up for "pottery things"
The fact that you might think it is too expensive will
intimidate your workshop fees and make it on the long
run not worthwhile for you.
The idea is wonderful but I think you have to sleep on
it longer. Unfortunately I have no idea with what type
of weather you are dealing or what rent and that type
of things go for in your area, but I am pretty sure
there should be an easier and cheaper way.May be you
can throw out more scenarios to us to chew on. It may
take more effort from you in the beginning, but as you
save up money,you might become in the situation to
build or buy your own premises.This might sound like
preaching to you, but I have to be reminded all the
time to take my family with me in my decisions. May be
if you can get them behind you with this idea you will
have the best of a win win situation.
Antoinette.
--- elizabeth priddy wrote:
> ----------------------------Original
> message----------------------------
> I am in the process of establishing my setup
> for workshops here in Beaufort and I have a
> question on where people should stay. My studio
> is fully equipped with slab roller, extruder,
> two electric wheels, one kick, two electric
> kilns, damp box, ware carts, and about 400 sq
> feet of work space.
>
> My house on the other hand, is housekept by me,
> (first problem), 223 yrs old, (2nd problem),
> inhabited by two very large black hairy dogs,
> (3rd and 4th problems), has one rudimentary
> bathroom (5th problem), and a husband
> who does not pot and likes his privacy (np).
>
> I am studio rich and house poor, a situation I
> am ok with, but limits my ability to entertain
> guests before and after the business of potting
> happens.
>
> So there is my main problem and here is my
> little plan, as it were: (please blow holes
> in it now, as this is what the planning stage
> and a community of friends is for!)
>
> I know many potters are on a budget and I am
> too but if I am going out of town, I tend to
> like to stay in pleasant accommodations and
> will save a little to do it as it enhances my
> 'vacation' feeling a lot.
>
> Beaufort, where I live due to my husband's
> association with the Marine Lab here, is a sea
> side resort. The local hotels are ridiculously
> expensive, and cost as much or more than the
> local B&B's. I had always thought of B&B's as
> really expensive, but they are less here. And
> off season, they are a bargain.
>
> I don't really want to have people in town
> during season due to potentially serious
> weather problems and also the crowds are crazy
> and most people are out at shows etc during
> that time anyway.
>
> So I talked to a local B&B owner and we are
> working out a deal for off season rates for
> groups of potters to all stay at this one house
> for workshops. He has a website and I would
> like to run this by you all here and see how
> these rates and accommodations compare to
> others around the country.
>
> It comes to about $95 per room per night, each
> room sleeps two (one double bed and one roll
> away if needed) and includes a full sit down
> breakfast each morning and wine cocktails in the
> afternoon before dinner. It is two blocks from
> my house and studio, three blocks from the
> waterfront, one block off the major highway in
> to town, Interstate 70.
>
> I don't want people to get sticker shock when
> they look at the daily cost of being in
> Beaufort, and I also don't want to have to do
> workshops out of town to make it affordable.
> We have an airport nearby and you can walk the
> daily stuff.
>
> And Beaufort has the advantage of being a place
> with a lot of diverse activities for the non
> potters who tend to get dragged into these
> little excursions. Elmo lists them under
> "Beaufort Charm" at his website for the B&B.
> Also, the house is not inhabited by the owners,
> they live next door, so it is fairly private
> and the spaces inside can be meeting places.
>
>
> He is willing to work something out regarding
> his gourmet weekend program as well and he is
> a national class chef. (meals cooked on site
> for the participants for about $20 per person,
> including wine and dessert and a fully diverse
> menu that can feed vegetarian and other special
> diets as well-this is a special deal if I decide
> to have the workshop participants stay there in
> groups, you can't just walk in and get it)
>
> But how do you best incorporate this aspect of
> the workshop into your marketing? And will it
> make people more or less inclined to come, if
> they will be forced to endure good food and very
> pleasant living quarters for about $10 more per
> night per room than a bare bones Holiday Inn?
>
> There is plenty of local cheap places for daily
> meals and little entertainments, but sleeping
> here is a little steep...like Denver, but at
> sea level.
>
> I would appreciate your help on this because
> long term, I am very interested in bringing
> other presenters to Beaufort for workshops as
> well and the recent thread on what do you have
> to do to have a good workshop brought out the
> point that the care and feeding of the potters
> is really important.
>
> But would this be taking it too far?
> And how comparable is it to other
> places you have stayed?
>
> To see the details of his B&B go to:
>
> http://www.cousinsbedandbreakfast.com
>
> ---
> Elizabeth Priddy
>
> email: epriddy@usa.net
> http://www.angelfire.com/nc/clayworkshop
> Clay: 12,000 yrs and still fresh!
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --== Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ ==--
> Share what you know. Learn what you don't.
>
=====
Antoinette Badenhorst
PO Box 552
Saltillo,Mississippi
38866
Telephone (601) 869-1651
timakia@yahoo.com
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Terry Sullivan/Nottingham Center for the Arts on thu 13 jan 00
From:
Terry Sullivan
Nottingham Center for the Arts
San Marcos, CA
This business of where the workshop attendees stay has been a significant
topic at our place.
Each presenting venue has its own usually quite different situation.
Here at the Nottingham Center we have several nice little motels within a
block or two and a very good one mile away. Also there are over two dozen
great reataurants and pubs within 1/4 mile.
Nonetheless; there are many, like scholarship students, who don't have the
funds for even a motel. At our last workshop, with Paul Soldner, we had
several students camping at the center and a few stayed in a motor home, on
site, I own which has full hookups. One fellow even slept in the main studio.
Since many of these attendees wanted to continue working well into the night
and even fire raku and other kilns; it was convienient for them and us to
have them stay on site.
Overall supervision and assistance was available from two of our resident
artists who also live at the center.
In the future we plan to provide bathroom and shower facilities for those
camping at the center and there is also plenty of room for RV's as we have 4
acres of flat land.
I think it is a good practice to make the facility available to participants
past the regular workshop hours for work and socializing. Workshops are
almost as much about meeting others as the learning from the featured
presenter.
It is a continual learning expirience for us as we grow and refine the
workshop proceedure. Thing is you just gota make a plan and give it a go. Be
ready to handle situations as they come up. This workshop thing is alot like
small theater and you need to be flexible. Each time it will get easier (
usually) but there is no
"set" way to do it.
Terry Sullivan
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