Re: career in throwing

"Brad Sondahl" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> If you look in the classified ads in Ceramics Monthly, you may find ads
> for throwers, if that's all you want to do.

[It's not exactly a high-paying occupation. Sweeping floors is a lot more
lucrative.]


> If you want to start your own pottery business, throwing is about 10 % of
> it. The rest is taking care of the thrown pots to final firing, and about
> 50% of the total time is marketing.  It's easier to make a 100 pots than
> to sell 100 pots.

[You've got that right!]

> It's as easy to make a living as a potter as it is to be a writer or
> musician, that is, it is difficult for all but a few.  After 28 years I'm
> finally over $25,000 per year in sales (that's before expenses). So from
> what I've seen selling peanuts in the ballpark at Shea Stadium pays
> better.
> I just made up a rule the other day--people are paid in inverse
> relationship to how fun it is to do.  Since pottery is fun it doesn't pay
> well, or lots of people would do it for living.  Being a proctologist
> isn't fun, so they're paid very well.

[I'm not sure about that. Being a movie star is fun, and the pay is good
too. Same with being a corporation's CEO. Digging ditches and picking
vegetables aren't much fun, and they pay badly to boot. Also, I'm sure some
proctologists enjoy their work - although you might prefer to use one that
doesn't...]


> As to your specific questions,  both functional and decorative pieces are
> preferred by consumers, if they like them.  It is a standard axiom that
> blue pots sell best.
> Is there a market? Yes, though it varies by location, and there are plenty
> of potters already in that market.
> Whether in a comeback or dying out may also vary by location.  Judging by
> the color ads and heft of Ceramics Monthly, the pottery market must be
> doing pretty well overall.

[That's the supply side, not the demand side.]


> To summarize: You can make a living at a potter. It's not easy. It's
> competitive. Everything else in the world is also.
> Good luck.
> Brad Sondahl
>
[It's something that's a lot easier to spend money on than to make money
doing. You might consider setting up a teaching facility, or one of those
"glaze it yourself" outfits that sells bisqueware and charges by the hour.
While you're still at the University, you might take some economics courses
to put your choices in perspective.]

Andrew Werby
www.unitedartworks.com



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