Jump to content

Expectation And Appearance


Recommended Posts

Ok, this was a weird one for me this past weekend. I was doing a show and a lady asked the usual...'you made this all yourself?' I nod and smile and start to tell her it was all my work and i was local, as i was doing this i brushed an errant bit of hair out of my face that the wind blew...she watched my hand and looked at me skeptically and said, 'and yet too nice of fingernails' and turned in left.

 

I do tend to have nice active length nails, nothing i do is special, just clip the tips when they get ragged, i also have very long hair so i figure it just being healthy. So very odd to be judged badly cause your hands are nicer than expected. I'm certainly not going to go rough up my nails just to fit the expected. Ever lose a sale because your appearance didn't meet with expectations?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 62
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Nothing like that has ever happened in my limited experience.

 

To me, it sounds like that lady was looking for a reason to not believe you. Not all "Did you do all this yourself?" type questions come from positive places.  Insecurity can make people act in strange ways.  Perhaps your talent and the fact that you looked so put together threw her off and made her feel inferior in a way she didn't like?

 

I'm assuming you've done a number of shows and this has never happened, so  I don't think such a statistical rarity merits much thought.  It's one thing to lose business because you fail to meet a socially implied dress code, but losing business over looking too manicured points to a problem on the customer's part.  Normally I'd say the customer's always right and 90% of the time that's true, but (to put it in near-vulgar terms) you can't please crazy.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is the classic;"escape the studio/shop scene"

If she had a smoke bomb, she would have thrown it down and disappeared. I have heard;"Do you have that in green?",or" I am just going to get my wallet/purse/backpack,money."

Who walks around a craft fair with their money in another location?

I also have beautiful hair and nails, and ironically, am still able to make pottery.

File this one under the"crack-pot pile."

Tom.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

I was working on a private comission for a large local fair grounds, they loved my sculptures. The president of the fair grounds told me that they had another sculptor, who was and I quote "not as good, not nearly as impressive:" but they would not hire me for a show, as I did not drive a nice enough truck to perform durring the fair... I never inquired about about doing a show for them in the first place, and I drive a nice truck?

He said, to be adiquate " I should have a Truck and a 20' trailer whith vinyl graphics."

 

I'm not sure to this day why I would have needed to have my truck on display. If I wanted to do their show, I really could have parked it anywhere....maybe he didn't like Toyota's?

 

When they first introduced smart phone credit card readers, I ordered one, one of the very firstcard readers you could get. While I was waiting on the card reader I had a show. At the show, I had a customer who loved my stuff, but would not pay cash, because he felt I made tons of money under the table, and would cheat on my taxes.

 

Oh... I saved the best for last.

 

I had a request to take some photos and do a sculpture of Timber wolves for an exotic pet owner. Durring My visit to take photos and get a deposit, Long story, short...the so called tame wolves ate the wife's cat...she was home.

 

Not only can a customer be wrong, but they can scar you for life!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

One more goofy customer story. Summer market with lots of traffic in my tent and a woman saw one of my lazy susans. It had a sign that said "Lazy Susan". She loudly said that it was very rude. How would that make Susan feel?!! She stomped off looking very superior for being so wise. Head shaking moment at the time but had to giggle about it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

One more goofy customer story. Summer market with lots of traffic in my tent and a woman saw one of my lazy susans. It had a sign that said "Lazy Susan". She loudly said that it was very rude. How would that make Susan feel?!! She stomped off looking very superior for being so wise. Head shaking moment at the time but had to giggle about it.

I don't know where these people come from. Doesn't everyone know that the spinny thing is called a "Lazy Susan?"

TJR.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I keep my nails manicured with shellac so they do not split and break. The shellac gel protects the nails.  I must be honest, when I was at nceca I felt a little out of place because I was not 24yrs old with dreadlocks or a guy with a beard.  I felt a bit  "yuppy ish" being 34 and a stay at home mother.  

 

The minute we start trying to "look like a potter" is when we stop being true to ourselves and likely our work will follow suit.  Just remember bernard leach made pots wearing a suit.  

 

Chris-  don't you know we potters are not supposed to take care of our hair and wear makeup? ;)  Next convention I shall not shower or brush my hair for a week prior.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest JBaymore

The customer is always right, but often wrong.

 

People comment that I don't look like a potter ... what should I change to fit their vision?

I'm already wearing jeans and a t shirt ... Maybe it's the shoes?

 

 

Yiour choices are tie-dye T-shirts and dreads, a checkered wool shirt and Carharts, or tattoos and piercings. Pick one. ;)

 

best,

 

.......................john

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest JBaymore

The minute we start trying to "look like a potter" is when we stop being true to ourselves and likely our work will follow suit.  Just remember bernard leach made pots wearing a suit.

 

A lot of wisdom in that statement.

 

best,

 

.......................john

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I must be honest, when I was at nceca I felt a little out of place because I was not 24yrs old with dreadlocks or a guy with a beard.  I felt a bit  "yuppy ish" being 34 and a stay at home mother.  

 

 

It was the same for me in college. The "Artsy" students, were wearing paint splattered, retro clothing from the local second hand store, mixed with band apparel from someone I had never heard of. The Graphic Design students wore khakis and button ups or polos.

I took a wide range of classes, so my dress never fit in with either, as I was constantly in sneakers, jeans and a t-shirt.

 

I never felt out of place, as I wasn't aware there was a required "Artist Dress Code". Since, I'm apparently incorrect, I guess I will have to invest in some berets and smocks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

As an artist... it is always safe to dress in all black too. ;)

 

best,

 

..................john

 

 

 

Hahahahaha!.....

 

...after years of skirts and 'sensible' shoes for office work (are high heels ever sensible??) ... I put on black clothes and steel caps boots for art school morning dress convenience ......15 years later still the same.....doesn't make a better artist but the 'what should I wear' morning dress ritual is easier!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm not an artist, so the black clothes won't work for me ;)

Besides, I like my bib overalls and clay-ey shoes too much!

 

....somehow, I don't feel complete unless I'm splattered with clay somewhere. Shoes are usually the more acceptable location ;)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

The customer is always right, but often wrong.

People comment that I don't look like a potter ... what should I change to fit their vision?

I'm already wearing jeans and a t shirt ... Maybe it's the shoes?

 

 

 

Yiour choices are tie-dye T-shirts and dreads, a checkered wool shirt and Carharts, or tattoos and piercings. Pick one. ;)

 

best,

 

.......................john

 

The tattoos ... If I were not so averse to any forms of pain or blood letting, I would definitely have tats!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

I must be honest, when I was at nceca I felt a little out of place because I was not 24yrs old with dreadlocks or a guy with a beard.  I felt a bit  "yuppy ish" being 34 and a stay at home mother.  

 

It was the same for me in college. The "Artsy" students, were wearing paint splattered, retro clothing from the local second hand store, mixed with band apparel from someone I had never heard of. The Graphic Design students wore khakis and button ups or polos.

I took a wide range of classes, so my dress never fit in with either, as I was constantly in sneakers, jeans and a t-shirt.

 

I never felt out of place, as I wasn't aware there was a required "Artist Dress Code". Since, I'm apparently incorrect, I guess I will have to invest in some berets and smocks.

 

The fact that you throw pots sitting on a lounge chair speaks oceans, go on youtube, start a movement, not many are so cool!!

Statemnet in red,  great statement.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

While I was in last few years of college, I worked in a bank as a trouble shooter/accountant/jack of all trades. I would often leave classes headed for work wearing a near suit sort of look. All too often I would be working in the studio, either ceramics, printmaking, or painting with a tie tucked, and an old flannel shirt on over top. I was also a little older so all of the art students did not think of me as too cool, heaven forbid. I kept that when at HS teaching as I was required to wear a tie in all classes no matter what. Suits were even required on some days. . . . the Superintendent thought that the clothes set the tone and there was only one professional look. 36 years of teaching pottery in a tie. Now there are pictures of some of the oldies doing the same, so who cares.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I wear a tie, every once in a while, just to mess with students.  I normally don't, so it throws them for a loop, and they think something is going on.

Generally, it's just some khaki dress pants, and a button up...Though this winter, it was usually some type of zip up sweater, by necessity.  Fridays, we can wear jeans.  It's been that way, at two of the three districts, I've taught at.  The other, we were never really supposed to wear jeans.  Even on days, where no students were present, jean were not allowed.  

To me, the teacher sets the tones, by how they handle themselves and the classroom, not by what they wear.  I can wear jeans, and look professional....and quite suave....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have a very lazy habit of getting out of bed and going straight to the shed (especially at the moment, my next contract starts mid-month so I've not had to go to work for the last month!) and so its more often than not this.

 

Yep. pyjamas and steel capped boots...its all glamour here in Coburg!

 

P.S. Benzine is that a lounge suite you're sitting on in your profile picture?!

 

 

post-62155-0-57721600-1396846691_thumb.jpg

post-62155-0-57721600-1396846691_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Now don't get ideas from Benzine AnnaM!

Wheels in lounge rooms take a lot of explaining, esp if you're renting :D

Also Pyjamas and steel capped boots! :lol:

Keeping the neighbours wondering.

Everyone is out of place but me!

Long hair, hair tie long way away, hair clayed to the head......I'm sure an ancient culture did this,keeps it out of hte eyes a treat.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.


×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.