Cindy Strnad on mon 5 mar 01
Tom,
If you want to make your transition from pleasure to business in a
systematic way, you can start studying now to be ready for it when it comes.
I recommend that you talk to your local Small Business Association. They
generally have many experienced volunteer consultants available who are more
than willing to mentor would-be new business people.
Cindy Strnad
Earthen Vessels Pottery
RR 1, Box 51
Custer, SD 57730
USA
earthenv@gwtc.net
http://www.earthenvesselssd.com
Tom Guettler on mon 5 mar 01
Greetings:
As a recreational potter, I've been throwing functional stoneware pots
for several years, doing most of my work through community education
classes. After becoming frustrated with the quality and consistency of
equipment, clay, glazes, and firing in my classes, I purchased a wheel,
kiln, and other supplies, and am now working out of my house. The quality of
my pots is improving, my satisfaction and enjoyment levels are increasing,
and I'm being more productive. My success, however, has raised a couple of
issues.
First, now that I'm becoming more skilled, and prolific, I'm considering
selling my work. Though I'm not ready to give up my day job, I'd like to
test the market. My biggest fear at this point is that my work will sell,
that there will be a demand for my work, and that I'll be under pressure to
choose between my job and my hobby. Is there a sane way to make the
transition?
Second, as I consider selling my pots, I find that I'm focusing more on
making pieces that will sell. While focusing on salability seems to improve
my technical skills, I'm afraid of losing my creative edge. If I do it
for money, will it still be fun?
I'm interested in thoughts of people who have experienced or are
experiencing a similar dilemma. What are the considerations that will
help me through this decision process?
Thanks.
Tom
John Hesselberth on tue 6 mar 01
Tom Guettler wrote:
> My biggest fear at this point is that my work will sell,
>that there will be a demand for my work, and that I'll be under pressure to
>choose between my job and my hobby. Is there a sane way to make the
>transition?
Hi Tom,
I'm surprised no one has mentioned a very easy technique. If you start
selling too much before you are ready, raise your prices! Keep raising
them until you are in balance. When someone tells me my prices are
pretty high (as the entree to try to negotiate a lower price), I tell
them I am already selling more than I can make at these prices. End of
price negotiation! I'm happy and IF they go ahead and buy they somehow
think they got something more valuable.
Regards, John
"The life so short, the craft so long to learn." Chaucer's translation of
Hippocrates, 5th cent. B.C.
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John Hesselberth on tue 6 mar 01
Tom Guettler wrote:
> My biggest fear at this point is that my work will sell,
>that there will be a demand for my work, and that I'll be under pressure to
>choose between my job and my hobby. Is there a sane way to make the
>transition?
Hi Tom,
I'm surprised no one has mentioned a very easy technique. If you start
selling too much before you are ready, raise your prices! Keep raising
them until you are in balance. When someone tells me my prices are
pretty high (as the entree to try to negotiate a lower price), I tell
them I am already selling more than I can make at these prices. End of
price negotiation! I'm happy and IF they go ahead and buy they somehow
think they got something more valuable.
Regards, John
"The life so short, the craft so long to learn." Chaucer's translation of
Hippocrates, 5th cent. B.C.
Kathy McDonald on wed 7 mar 01
A very wise potter once told me this....making pottery is not a job.....
it's about a certain kind of lifestyle.
I have struggled with the dilemma that this question raises for many
years now, and have at certain points in my life have attempted to make
my living at pot selling.
This worked well when my two children were very young and I could head
for craft fairs with a baby strapped to my chest in a snuggly. Work
then was mostly of the
*round n brown* variety (not puttin it down at all.... I still prefer
the naturals)) , and people in the 70's responded to the "children of
the earth" phenomenon.
( Yep, I sold home made granola too).
Things change, children grow, people grow. The field of ceramics has
changed dramatically in the 20+ years I've been potting. Things are much
more competitive,
and the buying public are quite selective. These are good things. We've
come a long way baby.
My questions for you in assisting you to make some headway in resolving
this dilemma is:
" What are your needs?" (physical, emotional, lifestyle, spiritual)
" Can you work well alone?"
" Do you have a supportive partner"? (My husband thinks all potters
should only ever undertake to live with another potter.)
" Do you have the equipment you need?"
"Could you build it or fix equipment if you need to"?
" Are you a good budgeter"? (i.e.: if you come home from a craft fair
with 5000 bucks can you put 1/2 that away for the *lean* times)
These are only a few of the questions that come to my mind as I think
about this issue, others can likely add much more.
In writing this response to your question,,,I've gained some insight
into my own reasons for doing what I am doing,,,I have balanced pottery
and my *real job*
for many years now. The reality for me is that I have other training
that pays me much more than I would make selling my pottery, and it
allows me the
freedom to make whatever I want,,,,, to indulge my tool addiction..(yep
I love tools), and keep my family in the manner to which they've become
accustomed.
I've made some lifestyle choices,,you bet...I can't say I regret my
choices,,,well maybe,,,,,( :)............
Well...... time to get to the *real* job,,,,,
Kathy
http://www.willowtreepottery.com
Bill Amsterlaw on wed 7 mar 01
Hi Clayart:
To my eye, the biggest difficulty in making the transition from hobby to
business is the danger of becoming preoccupied with business issues.
You start out with a love of clay. You want to play and experiment. =
You
enjoy the work of other potters. You are hungry to learn. Your =
imagination
is bursting with ideas....
But when you quit your day job and go full-time clay, your creative =
mindset
may be seduced by marketplace influences. You may eventually find
yourself cranking out stuff that you don't care about, year after year,
because you know there is a market for it. You may stop
experimenting-playing-learning-enjoying clay. You may come to judge
your success in terms of dollars.
If clay is to become your vocation, be sure to preserve the spirit that =
got
you into clay in the first place. There will be powerful forces =
encouraging
you to forget it. If you are not equal to this challenge, it may be =
better
to be a part-time potter who loves clay than a full-time clay =
entrepreneur.
Bill Amsterlaw
Keene, NY, USA
http://amsterlaw.com
wamster@amsterlaw.com
<< If you want to make your transition from pleasure to business in a
systematic way, you can start studying now to be ready for it when it =
comes.
I recommend that you talk to your local Small Business Association. >> =
(Cindy)
<< Doing pottery is like prostitution. At first you do it for love, =
then you
do it for friends, then you do it for money. >> (Bonita)
<< Then they will go buy the bargain bowl....It will be less kickass but =
cheaper.....>> (Artimator)
<< If you start selling too much before you are ready, raise your =
prices! >>
(Hesselberth)
<< Not everyone's going to succeed, and the ones that do may not be the
most deserving. Life's like that. Most of us picked our fate with eyes
open ... I am way too self-indulgent to go back to gainful employment,
so I justify my continuing poverty by claiming moral superiority.. >>
(Snail)
Lee Love on sun 11 mar 01
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Hesselberth"
:
: > My biggest fear at this point is that my work will sell,
: >that there will be a demand for my work, and that I'll be under pressure to
: >choose between my job and my hobby. Is there a sane way to make the
: >transition?
:
: I'm surprised no one has mentioned a very easy technique. If you start
: selling too much before you are ready, raise your prices! Keep raising
: them until you are in balance.
Another way (one that you can follow if you want to keep reasonable prices)
is to let the work dictate your schedule and not the market. Respect the
work and don't let the market control you.
Make a commitment to your work and doors will open for you.
Commitment is the key, as Goethe says (I've shared this quote here before):
"Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always
ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative [or creation] there is one
elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid
plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves
too.
All sorts of things occur to help one that would otherwise never haven
ever have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision,
raising in one's favor all manner of incidents and meetings and material
assistance which no man would have believed would have come his way. Whatever
you think you can do or believe you can do, begin it. Action has
magic, grace, and power in it."
- Goethe
--
Lee Love
Mashiko JAPAN Ikiru@kami.com
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