How I made pottery my career

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//MENTIONED IN THE VIDEO
How to Sell Pottery Online: • My step-by-step proces...
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[@kevinskudalski5838]

What art schools usually miss is a business course on how to make a living as a artist. More people need to be talking about this. What a great springboard and reference for future endeavors. Thank you.

[@zandrea_l]

Totally agree. On that same thought, I’d love to see a video like this for how to make career out of traveling and exploring the world. If anyone knows about a decent video about this, please kindly share

[@lalalillymo4]

I’ve been a studio tech, a production potter & a teacher, as well as selling here & there. Another angle of selling is craft fairs! I know potters that travel with larger craft fair tours, and even highly specific niche audiences like renaissance or oddity fairs. This is a great way to connect with an audience that is already interested in your art & perspective- and in a position where they are looking to spend decent money to support real artisans. The downside of being a traveling seller specifically for pottery is the bulk & fragility of your inventory. A way to teach that I don’t think you mentioned is teaching at a high school. There are lots of organizations that partner with the local schools to offer programming, usually after-school classes. Sometimes they are in the school itself or else the org has it’s own location & facilities. This kind of work is sooooo good for somebody who dabbles in a lot of different jobs. It’s very flexible, super part time, and lowkey often pays decently. Plus is convenient because you’re just collecting a check, and you don’t have to manage a space. You touched on this but, highly specialized labor does pay A LOT sometimes. Specifically, kiln repair can become a very lucrative Avenue that is often not too crowded with competitors. Becoming a vendor to public schools & community colleges will give you the opportunity to charge pretty much anything you want, because you’re frequently dealing with deans who don’t know the first thing about what you’re doing (and have put aside a budget to just get the thing working). This one does require an electrician license & self employed business tho. And, the last way to make some good pocket change, which is pretty obvious, is to sell to friends & family. Getting a hundred dollars (untaxed!) here and there just from texting & sending pics to somebody you know can get you through a rough week where the online sales might be low or the teaching gigs are on break. Don’t knock it!

[@AB-uh1pt]

what a lovely chat this has been! i'm not a potter yet, but i see your advice being applicable to other craftly workers. thanks! :D

[@PotterytothePeople]

thanks for watching! 😄

[@tripsheridan160]

You can sell in person as a vendor at markets and festivals !

[@PotterytothePeople]

omg how did I forget that one!! 🙏🙏🙏

[@pamhyde1857]

This is the main way I sell. It's easier than online, and no trucks or packaging involved.

[@starvingartistscollective]

Great pathway. Exactly how I started out!

[@Jenneefur8]

I thoroughly enjoy your videos and tutorials! I, too, lived in Germany. It was only for 2 years and in Frankfurt on a work exchange. It was one of the best things I ever experienced. Germany and its people are wonderful - I did not want to return home after my assignment was complete. I still consider it my home away from home ♥️ Though I’m (partially) of German heritage and now have a lovely German last name after getting married, it would not be enough to be accepted for immigration purposes 😢 SO! I will live a little bit vicariously through you while continuing my exploration of ceramics/pottery! Thank you so much for sharing with us and doing what you do!

[@avermontlife]

My choice was to take online classes with CWE, a women's entrepreneurial resource in New England, and to create enough high quality work to apply to a gallery. Even then, one may find they need to employ some of these other strategies, like local restaurants, museum shops, art fairs, etc. This video was helpful in displaying the importance of introspection, really asking yourself who you are and what you are comfortable with. For myself, I strive to find a balance between inspiration and duty, but in my studio, inspiration must be the master.

[@valentineartstudio]

I've been mixing my own glazes for years now and I'm thinking I will scope out selling them online, maybe some simple tool kits as well. I already sell aprons on my website it's hard to make money selling pottery online because ceramics are heavy and shipping is expensive 😂 thanks for putting this video out our studio is just me in our "studio" basement and sometimes my wife editing content. I was approached to teach a hand building class recently for a good chunk of money for a days work 😬 we'll see how that goes!

[@PotterytothePeople]

sounds amazing! I think selling the glazes is a brilliant idea! We potters have to have multiple income streams for sure 😄

[@gracielaguardado9426]

Some neat ideas for jobs I wouldn’t have thought about (making tools!). But I especially like how you started this video. I work in healthcare and ceramics is where I can turn my brain off and be introspective. It’s my hobby. So I’d never want it to be a job. I’m too tired to have a side hustle.

[@lshawndavis]

Omg - I didn’t even know you were selling templates! You really should highlight these in your videos :-) I would love to see more of your Great Pottery Throwdown videos . Thanks for another awesome video. I’m still very much a beginner but you gave me some really great ideas about where my pottery can take me! First I need to find a used wheel so I can progress my skills, or buy one of those Amazon wheels, which I would love to see you review.

[@PotterytothePeople]

thank you! i will do more throwdown episodes soon! Alsoo I am doing an affordable wheel review too!! Should be out in about a month…

[@whorlingwisteria]

I'm so glad I watched this video, it was clear, gave me an idea of what to do, and also was quite relaxing :)

[@karenwaterman9389]

Dude! You’re awesome! Thank you. Been potting for years and now stepping into creating more of a business model. You’re right - you are a great teacher. Thanks for sharing your experience, insight and enthusiasm. Really appreciating your videos.

[@oranje2974]

Im quitting my dayjob as a draftsman to persue a carreer into ceramics, Im mainly focussing on construction techniques, researching styles and masters and ofcourse glazing (aaaaah glazing). Drawing almost daily of what to make, tipping over to the direction of sculpture aswell. Im contemplating in finding an aprentenship. (how do you find a good aprentenship?..) From september I will be in the atelier daily when not traveling. (Faenza here I come!!) I could do those slab templates as a side job if I would ever need that, as a draftsman. But at the moment I really dont want to sell anything. Just learn, and trade for value, get to know amazing people while doing that.

[@PotterytothePeople]

I'm not sure where you're living but depending on that, apprenticeships can be institutionalized, so it's like applying for a school. Outside of that system it can be tricky but not impossible! Basically you'd need to reach out to other ceramicists to ask if they'd take you on.

[@theviciouscircle777]

great content as always! you helped me to reframe how I approach the craft and to see where I could improve to be more comfortable with the profits. also, you gave me new ideas of things I hadn't considered that could be a better fit for me, so thank you! hope you have a great week 💜

[@bloomingboys]

Thank you for this video. I am on the brink of a career change to become a potter and this video was/is priceless.

[@caglacem4440]

What a lovely, instructive and inspiring video :) I really thank you for you good soul, patience and passion, I've been watching your youtube videos from the beginning till now learn lot of things and I will continue to watch them all. Starting to my pottery selling within a short time hopefully and this vidoe especially fully open my mind. Thanks again being just you :)

[@mathi3933]

I have never tried pottery and have no intention to ever work in the creative/crafting field - but this was very interesting to watch! I wouldn't have thought of quite a few of the paths you talked about and learned new things about the ones I had in mind!

[@PotterytothePeople]

thats nice to hear ☺️ thanks for watching!

[@katiakatiakat]

So glad you're making some chi Ching here. You deserve it. Love your vibe and what you offer. Also, I thought of another one.....In person selling at markets, festivals, pop-ups etc.

[@karmenzoriano6864]

Miz.Mia you are a great communicator and your voice make this very important information easy to digest..!! Much success to you !

[@karmenzoriano6864]

#13 Franchise your brand!!!"POTTERY to THE PEOPLE" WORLD WIDE!You ARE A NATURAL TEACHER and communicator...you look great talking to the camara!!

[@nicolethijs5428]

I so recognise what you are saying. I am a quilter for over more then 45 years and the only time I made money was when I teached classes. I never went the whole way in the sense that I never charged enough and always treated it as a little side earnings for a stayvat home mum.

[@Holly_is_trying]

Thank you for sharing this! I'm trying to start my pottery career but was feeling overwhelmed by the 'MUST MAKE CONTENT' element that I thought was the only way to do it, so this was really helpful, thank you!

[@ellenthompson8405]

Thank you so much for this awesome video! I appreciate the way that you discuss the strengths and interests that you could pair with each type of income stream. I wanted to recommend "Akiko's Pottery: The Story of a Potter" - great documentary. Congratulations on your new channel on Pottery Templates!! You are a fantastic teacher!

[@PotterytothePeople]

Thank you so much! I will check out the doco :)

[@BexArdron]

This has been massively helpful thank you ❤

[@54suzie]

Thank you so much Such a wonderful video So well done I’m watching again and sharing Thanks again ❤❤❤

[@PotterytothePeople]

Thank you!! I'm so glad you like it :)

[@XDproductionsXD]

Thank you for sharing your journey. Best of luck and profits in the future~

[@PotterytothePeople]

Thanks so much!

[@danielajohnson177]

Thank you so much, this is great, informative and has gotten me thinking. I personally sell my pottery in craft shows and I have learned a lot, especially for the shows that are a good fit for your style and are worth the money and the time. I like juried art shows as you know that you will be in good company and hopefully can charge as an artist. Another venue is of course having your own website, but you have to get your name out there like you said, with different social media. Thank you again for a fun and informative video! 😊

[@claudiachagui8440]

This is the first video of yours that I’ve watched and I really appreciate it. Thank you for your candor and sharing the breadth of your experience! Super appreciate it!

[@luciegilchrist240]

You are a fabulous inspiration! Thank you for sharing your wealth of information. In gratitude from 🇨🇦 Canada.

[@vedranaslatki4999]

Another great and helpful video from you, thank you! 🙏😊 I started my hobby pottery journey a year and half ago, and now a I wanna switch my career to become a potter 😅. Well, it's not impossible if you try, right 😊

[@lynetteyeobalota7433]

Love your videos and this is SUPER!! I’m at #7 and I like the idea that I can evolve!

[@PotterytothePeople]

Lovely! Glad the video was helpful for you :)

[@nsziszo]

Thank you, such a great summary!

[@harambeexpress]

I'm not a potter... But maybe I'll try it and change my mind. I keep coming back to the idea of making physical things for a living so I'll keep it in mind. I presume this advice can be true for things other than pottery too.

[@PotterytothePeople]

For sure! I guess anyone who's is making stuff to sell :)

[@copicgirl8057]

I am from Austria and without proper education I am not allowed to make items for food. I am only allowed to make decorative items. I am not allowed to sell stuff that is fired in my own kiln, which is insane. It's not worth it for me to let everything be fired in another place. I am really thinkingabout taking a full on ceramics exam, but it's expensive and it requires a lot of studying.

[@facepillownap]

Hey Mia! I just started watching your YT, and I gotta say… Great stuff! Anyways, uh… I’m Billy from UW. Jess’s friend. I think I took you on a motorcycle ride once or twice. I have your prints of the “Conusme!” And… “Mushroom friends(?)”. Actually they’re not prints. Lithographs? Idk… the coolest art pieces I own. Anyhoo, thanks for the cool stuff. Holler if you ever feel compelled to visit Alaska. :)

[@PotterytothePeople]

Hi Billy! Yes I remember you :)

[@facepillownap]

@@PotterytothePeople:) Gosh i’m having a hard time breathing with this wave of nostalgia crashing. There was a pretty special moment down in Madison eh?

[@ivrifamily7813]

Thank you so much for this great video! You're such a champ 🏆 💪

[@redpinkgreenknitting1096]

Oh, Mia! I always wanted to visit your studio and now I totally missed you in Berlin. Uncanny that almost all your points can be transferred to machine knitting as well. (you came to visit my studio in Koloniestr to see Jessie)

[@nadiasomething]

very informative! i don't suppose you can do something similar on 'how to improve at pottery'. at the moment im taking classes, but im not sure what other options there are for improving long-term without having to keep going to classes. apprenticeships, or i dunno, volunteering? i have lots of free time so other alternative options would be welcomed!

[@giftysworld9988]

I‘d love to try pottery even as a child but never done even once. I‘m glad you live in Germany 🤩 Schade, that your studio is far away from where I live. Anyway, hope I can start soon with my kids.

[@ixchelssong]

Another problem with working for someone else in a studio... You don't always get a great boss! I think artistic types are stereotypically weak in the management department. In my case, I worked in a studio where we called our boss/the owner "the psychopath." I was very depressed by the end of my time there, because of the way we were treated most of the time.

[@PotterytothePeople]

uff yes that's true. There are benefits to working for yourself!

[@debbiesmith297]

I just love you! So informative! Thank you!

[@PotterytothePeople]

Thanks for watching!

[@bugbubblessoap]

I just get a new hobby every time I start monetising my hobbies hahaha. Great video got me thinking about monetising my hobbies even more..

[@PotterytothePeople]

haha i can relate so hard to this 😂

[@1divmstr]

I love your videos. Thank you. ❤

[@PotterytothePeople]

thank you for your kind words 🥰

[@zlothemeek]

great video. and off topic cool ink

[@juliannehansen4801]

Very informative video! WELL DONE!

[@PotterytothePeople]

Glad you liked it!

[@danielle.harrison]

Such a great video thank you so much.

[@PotterytothePeople]

Glad it was helpful!

[@bernicepeyron1054]

Yay, bought my template pack today, just need to get to it 😅

[@PotterytothePeople]

yay! Let me know if you have any questions as you work through it :)

[@bernicepeyron1054]

@@PotterytothePeople hey Maya, love your Channel. So I have transposed my template pack on to crafter’s foam for durable use lol and today made three of the footed cups which are now drying under plastic, upside down as per your advice, in my garage. On to the next project. Best regards to you from Normandy. Bernice

[@gabrielabukovacova-bartoso303]

Thanks so much for your advises and time to do it !! 😚😊

[@kathryn3293]

Such useful content, looking forward to watchingnmore of your videos

[@mwilamwiza]

Thanks for the video. Would like to start potery. Watching videos to get more information. This has been really helpful.

[@crowdedsubwaystation]

I haven't done it yet, but I think selling at markets is a good way to make money if you find the right kind of markets and the fee isnt too high.

[@lanceclay]

What I've done in the past,... 60/40 split. With an agreement that if they sell "x" amount of my pottery then it goes to a 70/30 split. Terms are always negotiable.

[@rachelleottereyes364]

Great video - thanks for the info.

[@PotterytothePeople]

thanks for watching! 🥰

[@user-hx4jz1td5w]

Какая Вы умница!!!!!! Прекрасная консультация!!!!❤

[@DasLillchen]

Hi Mia! Thank you so much for the great video! There are definitely some aspects I did not consider so far! Very helpful 🤩 Annnd I have a question about pricing: You mentioned, that the price, a potter offers to cafes and restaurants is the same as wholesale. So that would mean a 50/50 split. I am struggling with exact that topic right now. In my mind the cafe does not have to resell my products. So they don’t need that high of a discount. Wouldn’t it be more profitable to sell for a higher price but offer discounts for big orders? My Problem is, that I don’t have enough left when I sell for half the price…but I can not charge more to my regular customers. would love to hear your opinion on this ❤

[@PotterytothePeople]

Hey! Yeah basically you are giving them a bulk discount. Doesn't have to be 50% off. And you should have order minimum for them to qualify. Restaurants often have tight margins so it's not super realistic to expect them to buy at full price (but I can only speak for my area! It might be different in other parts of the world!)

[@sondertoons9743]

So informative thank you ❤

[@LOVENHOME]

Thank you, that was a helpful video!🫶🏻

[@D_YCON]

This is a very interesting video. Thanks!

[@erinhallmakes777]

I see the last way to make money is to work at a more retail level. Maybe a retail supply shop. Or even working for the manufacturers of supplies.

[@PotterytothePeople]

GREAT idea!!

[@lenacostello-cy3hh]

i really enjoy your videos😁

[@amynahfarid4007]

Always look forward to your videos, inspiring. Am new to pottery, would you suggest types of clay, underglazes & glazes for making a bird feeder & jewelry dish. Also, would be hand building, what thickness would you advice for rolling?

[@susanpapadopoulos3843]

Thanks!

[@PotterytothePeople]

thank you! 🥰🥰

[@laurasmith5704]

Thanks for sharing!!

[@PotterytothePeople]

omg no idea haha

[@bl3524]

i really like you

[@barbaramcknight6198]

Have building full of ceramic molds kiln supplies over 20,000 put into it. Make an offer, I can't lift molds anymore

[@Barthoization]

I'd like to see a 500€ mug.

[@user-nw3xy6jr5p]

Would I be able to download the teabowl template for use in my art classroom? I'm new to downloading stuff. Thanks much.

[@samanthamanalang3730]

farmers markets and annual festivals

[@nomadceramist]

What!? Are you in Berlin?) I was thinking good are somewhere in USA

[@PotterytothePeople]

haha I am American but I’ve been living in Germany since 2014 :)

[@yoke4338]

👍

[@evviesands]

Tell all homeschooling parents this: 8:59

[@PotterytothePeople]

hahahah 🙃 perhaps it's easier with your own kids?

[@evviesands]

@@PotterytothePeople no, it's not that. Lately I've been thinking my comment did not express my real intention, which is, people should not try to homeschool. Teachers study pedagogy, child development, how the brain learns according to the age... And so, so so, much more. Hence my comment when you acknowledge that teaching children (even if it's just a craft, which in and of itself it's much more appealing and motivating to kids) needs some formal training. Teacher here, but seemed pretty obvious. Btw, love your videos! First, I got curious how an American was using the metric system (I'm not American) so I HAD to know... Btw 2, on the video on marketing or selling online, I don't remember right now, just let me tell you that 99% of what you say is applicable to anyone selling their art online and 90% applies to anyone selling products and/or services online. I teach online and am creating courses to sell, and I could just apply your schedule by changing the specifics, such as "last glaze fire" for "final editing and proofreading"…! All your insights are brilliant and I hope more people who are not necessarily into pottery follow you!

[@Highlandboy.28]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@staceem]

👏🏻😀

[@KatiCello]

🙂❤️👍

[@amele820]

do you need an art degree to teach?

[@lwedel3361]

A lady close to me is using Whatsapp to update her customers about what she has on offer. First person to respond gets the piece. I thought that was a clever way and they collect it or she sends it. I like the pinterest idea!