Hobby Income

"Uncle John" wrote in message
...
Jan Clauson wrote in news:w260b.72$Ls2.45
@newsread4.news.pas.earthlink.net:
In my experience potters generally tend to be the worst in setting up and
running their pottery as a business venture. There is some sort of
feeling that a pot is imbued with a built in life force and artistic
merit and that buyers will not only beat a path to the front door but
will kick it in as well so that they can get their hands on it. They do
not have a clue what their market is, or what their production and
running costs are. Ask them about depreciation on their equipment and
replacement and all you get is a blank look. Probably what you look like
if you've got lead poisoning.

I am always amazed by the number of people who post to this group and say
they have just bought a kiln and a wheel and want to set up in business,
and how to go about it. What most don't realise or do not want to realise
because they are "artists" that pottery production is hard physical work
with long hours and endless repetition, come summer or winter. No matter
what you make you need to sell it. The studio potters that are making it
are market and cost driven, but then most of them, even the most popular,
are holding down another job in teaching or something else. The ones that
fail are the ones that felt that they control the market.

Most don't even know if they want to retail or wholesale

I was talking to a well respected potter the other day who has been
around for ever. He said that he can sit down and make 150 coffee mugs in
one sitting but he can't sell 150 mugs a year now. He is now moving on
into one off brick sculpture.

It also seems that most collectors are also fellow potters.

Because of the influx of cheap imported ware (Italian, Chinese etc) the
demand for hand made domestic ware has virtually gone. To make a go of it
you need to to manufacture ( and no matter what abstract philosphy you
want to imbue you work with, pottery is a manufacturing process)
decorative objects of some sort.

I think that the big failure is that there has been no education of the
younger people who are the future market into a love of hand made craft
objects, be they pottery, leatherwork, glass or what ever. I would
imagine it is a world wide problem.

Uncle John

Yes, Uncle John, it IS a worldwide problem. We have been discussing just
that very topic in the Clayart group.
Without rehashing the whole thing, the gist of the argument
seems to be just what you nailed...that the young are not being
taught proper appreciation of handcraft, AND the value of working for what
you want.

They, and to some extent we, grew up in a culture that allowed (and even
encouraged) "mass" production (so everyone could have
whatever it is being produced.) Convenience in availability is like an
addictive drug. Instant gratification, and all that. No thought to
leaving it to the generations that come after. No thought to "uniqueness",
except possibly in furniture, and then only among the more affluent
who can afford to choose "what they like", rather than "what serves the
purpose." With parents willing to give them anything they want, they
certainly have NO CLUE wht it means to actually have to work and SAVE for
anything. Just charge it to Daddy's card!
And that's the parent's fault....US!

Now tell me how to fix that in THIS generation (Gen X and Y), and you will
no doubt be elevated to "God" status by all the craftspersons out there.
Hell, I'll even build you a stoneware or porcelain pedestal myself! I would
suggest a throne, but a porcelain throne has altogether different
connotations :)

By the way, can you tell me in 200 words or less how to open a successful
business that will have people banging down the door
without my putting in any effort at all, or actually having to WORK for it
wg. I'm sure all those "instant gratification" types out
there would LOVE to hear it :)

Best
Wayne in Key West

On Mon, 18 Aug 2003 20:00:27 -0400, "psci_kw"
wrote:


Now tell me how to fix that in THIS generation (Gen X and Y), and you will
no doubt be elevated to "God" status by all the craftspersons out there.
Hell, I'll even build you a stoneware or porcelain pedestal myself! I would
suggest a throne, but a porcelain throne has altogether different
connotations :)

Maybe "product placement" in some hip movie or music video.
The youth culture is driven by emulation. If they see the cool
stars displaying an appreciation for something, they'll try it
too. Works for tobacco and alcohol!


Bob Masta
dqatechATdaqartaDOTcom

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