Getting Started - Learning to Throw and Growing on Social Media

[@KeyushTheStuntDog]

You have a lovely voice to listen to and I definitely agree with seeing lots of different techniques for centring, when I learnt from my lecturer, I picked it up quickly, but instantly altered the way I did it. My other class mates couldn't get to grips with our lecturers technique until I showed them the way I was doing it. I need to get those interchangeable batts you have, I'm not sure if they'll fit my Rohde wheel though,

[@OldForgeCreations]

Thank you! Editing these videos is easily the most I've ever had to listen to my own voice. I'm over the initial disbelief that I actually sound like that, but I have absolutely no idea how other people will feel about it! The batt system is from Hartley and Noble, and they can make them custom to fit just about anything. This one is slightly non standard because I measured my batt pins at 9.6mm rather than the 10 they had as a default, so I got them to make mine to fit perfectly instead of having that extra movement

[@TariHuffaker]

I love that you recommend looking at several different potters to learn. The first potter I watched...15 years ago or so...was Bill Van Gilder. Then I watched Simon Leach, and Steve Booten. I also watched every Ceramic Arts Daily videos I could get links for. Then I took a class...had a very good teacher. But I keep watching pottery videos. Tim See has an old video titled "help I can't center"...good one. Thank you for all of your good advice while you make this process look so easy.

[@sherrimacdonald2157]

in the first two minutes you have given such great advice! I am a beginner potter, I've taken a course in ceramic school but just couldn't get the centring so I obsessed over youtube videos of potters and you are absolutely right- bits of info from each one helped me so much. I have a wheel at home so luckily I can practice every day- which is another helpful tip- practice practice practice!!

[@Ro-ex2wn]

Such wise words, thank you for sharing your insights!

[@deniseyoung5385]

I love what you said about sharing your techniques and knowledge with beginners. So very true! We were all there once and it only increases your own knowledge and growth to teach the next group of Potters coming up. Thanks for sharing your experience and how you have grown your media presence. Also this American is fascinated with your lovely accent. ❤️

[@OldForgeCreations]

Thank you! Haha, I'd love to hear how other people hear my accent, as far as I'm concerned I don't have one!

[@Eunyu___]

That's a perfect spinning wheel😻

[@lydia397]

Thank you for your honest opinion and all the information shared. Your blog posts are great, I will have to take some time later to study it! Have a lovely weekend 😊

[@OldForgeCreations]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Ch0c0laid]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge, another great video.

[@jillwazstudio]

Thank you for your generous advice!

[@deMibPottery]

Thanks. Lots of good points :-)

[@BasilWallace]

Honestly your videos all look like they're filmed in the morning with natural light

[@OldForgeCreations]

Perfect, the deception worked! But really, that's the look I'm going for. Neutral diffused light, as though I'm in a big room with lots of windows on a nice day. It's great to be able to reliably get that look without having to wait for nice weather.

[@johnmoore9442]

Any way you could better identify the lights you are using?

[@BasilWallace]

@@johnmoore9442 Something like this: reductionrevolution.com.au/products/led-panel-light-600-600?variant=12136782168166

[@nadezhdasimeonova1590]

How much clay are you using for those mugs? How big are they?

[@davehess5681]

Same question

[@penelopesparrow]

I don't know anything about NotHS but with Etsy you absolutely *do* need a social media. Unless you're selling a niche product with low competition, good market demand and a clear understanding of Etsy-related relevance and SEO. That's a hard game with so much of it out of your control. You can't pay for a top spot on etsy, you pay for ads but it's random where you place and might not even be page one. You get to a good spot on etsy search results by being one of the listings that gets clicked on (hearted,sold) the most as a result of those search terms and you need to keep that rank or be leap-frogged by people who can.

[@OldForgeCreations]

Ah, thanks, that's good to know. All my knowledge about Etsy is second hand, and even my experience with NOTHS is a few years out of date, so I'm not sure even that is still correct. At least the advice to not go that route still applies though.

[@penelopesparrow]

Old Forge Creations yes and no, it would really depend on the type of ceramics someone was selling - something retail-like and everyday like mugs etc is good but they’d also be best served if they were able to produce the same design/product in numbers and had a clear brand. If they sold unusual or one-off pieces then yeah Etsy is not the best bet. Which is the opposite of how it used to be but... 🤷🏼‍♀️ In any case a newsletter is definitely essential- as you said you want your audience to be your own!

[@maniacmikepepperhead3040]

What bat system do you use?

[@OldForgeCreations]

It's the Hartley and Noble Russian Doll system

[@lindevanbeers413]

Hi! I'm looking into starting pottery myself. You said you learned through KZbin, but how did you access equipment, like the wheel and oven? Did you go to a community space?

[@michellemartorell6582]

Have you ever shown your face in your videos? I know it is your style... but I was wondering why... Is there any pros/cons? I ask, bc my mother is a ceramic sculptor... well known in PR and she wants to also make videos without showing her face. I get the privacy thing.. but has it made any difference for you? Did you always do the videos this way?

[@OldForgeCreations]

I have, but not often. I don't think it makes that much difference if it fits the style of the videos and the content that you do show is ok. Personally it's because I don't like being the centre of attention, and my low energy presenting style doesn't really require anything more than I do. Someone like Jonthepotter takes a totally different approach and I think it wouldn't really work for him.

[@BendviewFarm-dq4sp]

How do you stay so clean while working with clay? I mean...a WHITE t-shirt? 😂

[@OldForgeCreations]

Haha, I get that a lot! I'm not actually sure how I make that much less mess than most, but I usually get away with it!