kswan

Use a car dent puller to dip your pots in glaze! https://tinyurl.com/2p9y6bn3\\\\\\\\\\
I bought a couple of dent pullers for that reason.  It only works on waxed, very smooth, flat bottoms.  If that describes your pots, it will probably work.   
 

I've heard the dad joke pretty often so far myself about my berry bowl or pierced fruit bowl not holding soup. Sigh. I just try to picture my actual dad saying those things, because he's come up with some doozies that make me groan in embarrassment even to this day. I haven't had anyone disrespectfully touch my items, though. I'd get pretty upset with a grown adult playing with my work like it's a toy. 
I put labels next to my items which really helps with the questions like, "What is this for?" when it is a berry bowl or garlic jar. People unfamiliar with those terms will then ask me how it's used, and I enjoy explaining that to them. I used to be an elementary teacher, and answering questions is something I still love. It would be difficult for me to make up some of the wacky questions the kids would ask, so I'm not too surprised by anything people ask me about my pottery. 

Lots  of pix at https://tinyurl.com/2rkyb27z ... two  particularly lo-tech ones are

It would be interesting to know if  "fingerdips" work
Use a car dent puller to dip your pots in glaze! https://tinyurl.com/2p9y6bn3\\\\\\\\\\
Apparently suckers can be useful in some circumstances

SInce Min's "hint" should be submitted here, I'll do it, using her words  "Do people who work with clay have a tendency towards certain personalities ?" Might be interesting!

99.999% of my customers have been lovely but there are exceptions. Not trying to tear down joe public but there are cases where customers are anything but lovely. Have had two customers at an outdoor summer market who were complete jerks. Doing things like picking up a berry bowl and very loudly saying things along the line of  "well this isn't going to hold cereal", ha ha ha. Then going over to a large platter, removing it from it's stand and pretending it was a steering wheel of a sports car. Another time I had a fellow take some of the blueberries he was carrying (bought from a farm vendor) and start whipping them into my swirl dish (type in avatar) seeing if he could get them to go around the outside then land in the center cup. They finished being jerks, laughing loudly at what I guess they thought was being brilliantly clever then moved on. 

I find most of the “stupid” questions that I’ve encountered are more about feeling socially awkward and not knowing what to say at all, rather than anyone coming into my booth with half baked ideas. The time the one person was quietly browsing my booth and picked up a soup bowl an asked me what it was for. Turned out she’d tripped over her words and was more wondering what specific use she wanted to put it to in her life. We had a good chuckle over it, and chatted some. She bought the bowl, and decided to use it for dinner that night. 
So I’m never going to make fun of the weird questions. I find people’s curiosity to be a beautiful thing, and I think it should receive all the positive reinforcement possible. I love talking shop with other potters, and I love introducing new ideas to people who haven’t seen something before. If they like it, great, if not, that’s okay. I might not like whatever they’re into.

As pieces are fired, the glaze and top layer of the clay are literally melting into one another. In this case, it's your slip. Where it's thicker, it still has enough coverage of the clay underneath that the top part melting into the glaze doesn't show. You need that zone to melt together to make a stronger glaze fit. 

I'm 52 and was recently diagnosed with ADHD. So much about me makes sense knowing this. I can work on something like pottery where I'm using my hands for hours at a time, and then forget the rest of the world exists. That's both good and bad, as I don't get around to doing other things that need to be done, and my back or shoulders will get stiff. Thanks for bringing it up and discussing it in this topic. I've got a lot I'd like to learn about this.
I've had back injuries where I have to be very careful when I'm working or carrying things, so it doesn't get exacerbated. Sometimes just leaning down the wrong way will have me hurting for a week or more. I got an adjustable seat for my wheel but I know I still need to take breaks and get up every few minutes anyway. I need to keep up with my PT exercises, but ugh it gets boring! I used to rock climb up until about 5 or 6 years ago, and I was really strong. Unfortunately, I also had chronic tendonitis in my forearms and tears in both shoulder cartilage. I went through surgery for one, and once the other one tore I decided I was done. It's too bad I haven't found an activity I like as much as I did climbing. I became even more of a homebody during the pandemic lockdown so now even carrying a 50 box of clay is difficult. 
I started doing hand building a few years ago out of necessity when I hurt my back again. It was months before I was fully recovered, but I still wanted to do work. I got a slab roller and now that's what I use probably more than my wheel. 

@Kelly in AK I've been lucky to live near climbing gyms for the past 20 years or so. Unfortunately, that's where I manage to injure myself because it's too easy to just keep pushing myself! Outside, you have to drive or fly to the destination, hike the approach to the climbs, set up and organize your gear, descend back to the base, and you don't want to do that in the dark. My local gym on the other hand is ten minutes away and is open from 6am to 11pm! My husband still climbs, though. I'm not an athletic or competitive person either, but climbing is a mental challenge that appealed to me. 

My ADHD brain needs the clay.  Wedging is a straight dopamine hit (which surprises the heck out of me because it’s basically the OPPOSITE of everything that usually makes my brain happy) The physical rhythmic movements and seeing and feeling the clay transform soothes my brain when it’s chaotic. 

The clay forces me to slow down and be intentional at every step.  It is a constant exercise in mindfulness.  I have to pay attention to my physical body and align it with my mental state.  I’ve never had anything require that physical part before and I think that’s the magic.  (I’m still in my first year of pottery) 

My 50 year old body lets me know if I wasn’t paying attention to my posture!   I’m actually motivated to strengthen my core so I can achieve longer times in the studio.  
 
I notice that standing to throw has been mentioned a lot.  Maybe I need to look into that. 

I’m not gonna diagnose anyone over the internet. But I’d lay good money the number of us that have ADHD of some flavour is pretty high. Hitting that flow state that @Juxtaposie Jendescribes is really, really good for us. I’d also bet good money that neuroplasticity changes brought on by hitting that flow state on the regular have had a very positive effect on my own mental health and resiliency. 
I’m 46 and can still lift more than I thought I could. Just this weekend, the elevator at the one day show I was at decided to crap out right at load out. I and the rest of the vendors had to pack our remaining stock and display down 31 steps to the main floor and our vehicles. I did not have assistance, but managed it in about 8 trips. I was expecting to be super sore the next day, but I didn’t particularly feel it. It surprised me, because I don’t do much in the way of structured exercise. I haven’t had a gym membership for a couple of years and I didn’t think just walking my dog counted. 
I will say that I’m glad I didn’t set up the mug tree with the cement base. 

I'm 52 and was recently diagnosed with ADHD. So much about me makes sense knowing this. I can work on something like pottery where I'm using my hands for hours at a time, and then forget the rest of the world exists. That's both good and bad, as I don't get around to doing other things that need to be done, and my back or shoulders will get stiff. Thanks for bringing it up and discussing it in this topic. I've got a lot I'd like to learn about this.
I've had back injuries where I have to be very careful when I'm working or carrying things, so it doesn't get exacerbated. Sometimes just leaning down the wrong way will have me hurting for a week or more. I got an adjustable seat for my wheel but I know I still need to take breaks and get up every few minutes anyway. I need to keep up with my PT exercises, but ugh it gets boring! I used to rock climb up until about 5 or 6 years ago, and I was really strong. Unfortunately, I also had chronic tendonitis in my forearms and tears in both shoulder cartilage. I went through surgery for one, and once the other one tore I decided I was done. It's too bad I haven't found an activity I like as much as I did climbing. I became even more of a homebody during the pandemic lockdown so now even carrying a 50 box of clay is difficult. 
I started doing hand building a few years ago out of necessity when I hurt my back again. It was months before I was fully recovered, but I still wanted to do work. I got a slab roller and now that's what I use probably more than my wheel. 

ADHD, Flow states, having the world disappear when hands are in clay, those all hit home here too. With clay I don’t have to think about what to do, I just do the next important thing. All clay activity feels that way, not just the making of pots. Glazing, measuring materials, stacking bricks, digging clay, all of it. It’s one part of my life I feel total focus and connection. Otherworldly. My normal state of being does not feel the same.
@kswanThere is a climbing gym in my town, it’s been my savior for fitness. I can see why it’s difficult to find something you like as much. I’ve never ever been a gym/athletic club guy (till now). It has some mild routes I haul my portly self up three times a week. Definitely worth looking into if you haven’t. 

I'm 52 and was recently diagnosed with ADHD. So much about me makes sense knowing this. I can work on something like pottery where I'm using my hands for hours at a time, and then forget the rest of the world exists. That's both good and bad, as I don't get around to doing other things that need to be done, and my back or shoulders will get stiff. Thanks for bringing it up and discussing it in this topic. I've got a lot I'd like to learn about this.
I've had back injuries where I have to be very careful when I'm working or carrying things, so it doesn't get exacerbated. Sometimes just leaning down the wrong way will have me hurting for a week or more. I got an adjustable seat for my wheel but I know I still need to take breaks and get up every few minutes anyway. I need to keep up with my PT exercises, but ugh it gets boring! I used to rock climb up until about 5 or 6 years ago, and I was really strong. Unfortunately, I also had chronic tendonitis in my forearms and tears in both shoulder cartilage. I went through surgery for one, and once the other one tore I decided I was done. It's too bad I haven't found an activity I like as much as I did climbing. I became even more of a homebody during the pandemic lockdown so now even carrying a 50 box of clay is difficult. 
I started doing hand building a few years ago out of necessity when I hurt my back again. It was months before I was fully recovered, but I still wanted to do work. I got a slab roller and now that's what I use probably more than my wheel. 

I'm 52 and was recently diagnosed with ADHD. So much about me makes sense knowing this. I can work on something like pottery where I'm using my hands for hours at a time, and then forget the rest of the world exists. That's both good and bad, as I don't get around to doing other things that need to be done, and my back or shoulders will get stiff. Thanks for bringing it up and discussing it in this topic. I've got a lot I'd like to learn about this.
I've had back injuries where I have to be very careful when I'm working or carrying things, so it doesn't get exacerbated. Sometimes just leaning down the wrong way will have me hurting for a week or more. I got an adjustable seat for my wheel but I know I still need to take breaks and get up every few minutes anyway. I need to keep up with my PT exercises, but ugh it gets boring! I used to rock climb up until about 5 or 6 years ago, and I was really strong. Unfortunately, I also had chronic tendonitis in my forearms and tears in both shoulder cartilage. I went through surgery for one, and once the other one tore I decided I was done. It's too bad I haven't found an activity I like as much as I did climbing. I became even more of a homebody during the pandemic lockdown so now even carrying a 50 box of clay is difficult. 
I started doing hand building a few years ago out of necessity when I hurt my back again. It was months before I was fully recovered, but I still wanted to do work. I got a slab roller and now that's what I use probably more than my wheel. 

I'm 52 and was recently diagnosed with ADHD. So much about me makes sense knowing this. I can work on something like pottery where I'm using my hands for hours at a time, and then forget the rest of the world exists. That's both good and bad, as I don't get around to doing other things that need to be done, and my back or shoulders will get stiff. Thanks for bringing it up and discussing it in this topic. I've got a lot I'd like to learn about this.
I've had back injuries where I have to be very careful when I'm working or carrying things, so it doesn't get exacerbated. Sometimes just leaning down the wrong way will have me hurting for a week or more. I got an adjustable seat for my wheel but I know I still need to take breaks and get up every few minutes anyway. I need to keep up with my PT exercises, but ugh it gets boring! I used to rock climb up until about 5 or 6 years ago, and I was really strong. Unfortunately, I also had chronic tendonitis in my forearms and tears in both shoulder cartilage. I went through surgery for one, and once the other one tore I decided I was done. It's too bad I haven't found an activity I like as much as I did climbing. I became even more of a homebody during the pandemic lockdown so now even carrying a 50 box of clay is difficult. 
I started doing hand building a few years ago out of necessity when I hurt my back again. It was months before I was fully recovered, but I still wanted to do work. I got a slab roller and now that's what I use probably more than my wheel. 

I'm 52 and was recently diagnosed with ADHD. So much about me makes sense knowing this. I can work on something like pottery where I'm using my hands for hours at a time, and then forget the rest of the world exists. That's both good and bad, as I don't get around to doing other things that need to be done, and my back or shoulders will get stiff. Thanks for bringing it up and discussing it in this topic. I've got a lot I'd like to learn about this.
I've had back injuries where I have to be very careful when I'm working or carrying things, so it doesn't get exacerbated. Sometimes just leaning down the wrong way will have me hurting for a week or more. I got an adjustable seat for my wheel but I know I still need to take breaks and get up every few minutes anyway. I need to keep up with my PT exercises, but ugh it gets boring! I used to rock climb up until about 5 or 6 years ago, and I was really strong. Unfortunately, I also had chronic tendonitis in my forearms and tears in both shoulder cartilage. I went through surgery for one, and once the other one tore I decided I was done. It's too bad I haven't found an activity I like as much as I did climbing. I became even more of a homebody during the pandemic lockdown so now even carrying a 50 box of clay is difficult. 
I started doing hand building a few years ago out of necessity when I hurt my back again. It was months before I was fully recovered, but I still wanted to do work. I got a slab roller and now that's what I use probably more than my wheel. 

Okay, I know this is off topic, but I gotta know which one(s). I did not have you pegged for a gamer!
In the name of not derailing the thread entirely, I am also noticing sales returning to more normal levels this season. I think everyone’s feeling the interest rate increases, as well as the increases in all manner of goods across the board, and it’s making them choose luxury goods/gifts more carefully. The things I noticed were selling the most were all gifts under 50, and I went through an unusual number of ornaments and small dishies this year. 
I just finished my largest show of the year, and the general consensus among the vendors was that the landscape is changing after the last 2 years. A lot of people had to spend the money that they’d set aside for show fees on daily living expenses, so they had to choose the shows they started up doing again with more care. There were a lot of folks that went over pre-pandemic numbers to see which shows were actually profitable, and which ones they’d been doing just because they were looking at gross take, not net. I know a few potters that after doing the math, and decided it was more profitable to take on shipping work. Usually those folks had some solid digital marketing assets and practices in place, so it’s not a solution that works for everyone. But it’s something to consider.
The ones that did this noted that you can charge for shipping on each item, and you don’t incur the shipping cost (except for bulk purchasing packing materials) until the item sells. With shows, you incur the cost of doing the show regardless of how much stock you sell. So that means if you’re trying to incorporate all your business costs into your COGS pricing, show expenses wind up being a variable rather than fixed percentage of the cost. If you’re selling a large volume of work, that percentage is more easily absorbed, but if you’re not producing at that volume for a wide variety of reasons, it’s something to be aware of when you’re compiling data.
 
 

Best advice ever, @GEP  Especially the part about saying no to things that aren't really productive.   I have had people ask about part time work with me, but I think it would make me nuts.  I am pretty much in my own head when I am making.  I have even thought about what part of my work could I even have someone else do?  Not much.  A friend stayed with us for a few days.  She volunteered to do some sanding.  That was terrific, but I found myself going back over everything  and checking for rough spots.  What the Heck?  I don't consider myself a perfectionist by any means, but I guess I have a standard for my work going out into the world (QOTW) that I have to double check everything.  So yeah, I am happier working by myself.  
Roberta

Wax does take a few tries to get the hang of, but it’s worth doing. I used to do the sponge the feet clean thing, but found some glazes would leave residue, however much they were wiped. Not enough to make the piece stick, but enough to alter the colour of the clay body. Guilty parties usually included some sort of soluble flux that soaked right into the bisque, or iron saturates.
A pair of glaze tongs is also worthwhile to have for smaller pieces. For me, that means anything that started as a 4 lb ball of clay or less, but it’ll depend on your grip strength. And +1 for what Jeff said about having assorted wide shallow containers for dipping pieces into. The dollar store usually has lots of good candidates. 

My trick for glazing plates: grip the plate by the edge and dip it into a large flat pan of glaze. Near drippless glaze application. (With slight touch up along edge.)
I take plastic jar lids, peanut butter lids are great, and drill holes into them. Then I cut little teeth into the edge. (If you don't drill the holes the lid captures glaze which will drip onto the plate when you turn it upright. The little teeth hold the lip of the plate securely as you move the plate around.)
Plastic kitty litter trays make great glaze pans for plates. I have several sizes in the studio for different sized plates. 

There's way too much weight in the middle of that piece to be supported by those ends. If you can leave a part unglazed in the very middle, you can support it from underneath. For example, take a small shelf post and top it with a rolled or rounded piece of clay in the same shape as your curve. Since the sculpture will shrink you could make the support a half centimeter or so lower than your sculpture, which would still support it when it wants to warp downward.

Sponging is especially necessary when going over underglaze pencil or chalk. Just a thin layer to keep it in place. I've found that even with dipping some of my dry materials were floating away in my glaze bucket. A brush smears it, so the sponge works best.

Sponging is especially necessary when going over underglaze pencil or chalk. Just a thin layer to keep it in place. I've found that even with dipping some of my dry materials were floating away in my glaze bucket. A brush smears it, so the sponge works best.

I've found that certain glazes just don't brush on well. I mostly dip and pour from a glaze bucket, but I brush glaze on some of my more awkward shapes. Adding a gum to the glaze helps with brushing, although the commercial ones are full of gum. I've noticed that you have to brush those on more thickly than you'd think, so they look like they're going to fall off the pot. 
You can also try to wet the surface of your bisque a little bit before applying glaze. It can help prevent the first coat from going on unevenly because it keeps the glaze damp for a little longer. 
I do something similar for wiping the foot ring, except I use one of those flat sponges. It looks like a dish cloth, but it is made of sponge. I found anything thicker than that would hit the area I wanted glazed and make a smudge. It stays flat as I wipe across it and then I rinse it when it gets dirt and lay it out again.