Mark C.

Well lets see the show was under perfect weather condions no wind in the upper 70s and 80s for 3 calm days. Best show of my life and thats saying something.
Customers heard it was my last show there after 30 straight years
They came from Canada and Seattle area,Bellingham to Germany. My largest sale was from a Jeweler from Atlanta area who flew in for show and was along time customer-she heard it was my last show and bought a few boxes of pots.. Had over 750 customers over the 3 days
My new fish plates in 3 sizes where a big hit and sold out in 2nd am.I raised the price 3 times on them.
It was tedious telling custmers over and over why I was not coming back
One thing people at shows think is you will always be there for them whenever they come. Well that was true for 30 years . They where slow to under stand that my wares sell out where I live and i have no reason to take them out of county ever again.
They get it now. It was sad and a joy at the same time doing this last of my favorite show -the show is 250 artists which 25% where brand new. Less than 10 potters left now as in most shows I see nowadays. Only less than 5 artists who like me have 30 plus years in there.
I meta youg potter couple in mid 40s and invited them down to our local art show and will if they ever come pass on some of my display racks for cheap as I have way to many sets of displays at this point-no more double booths for me. The diving was so so as the tides where not good and I picked up a cough/cold (not covid) on trip. I was masked whole time in the heat -no fun but I'm careful .
I'll miss the show and the customers as I saved them to the end.
well back to packing stuff up for 5 order drop day at local outlets
 

Pres you need to be using Pirate ship-its a super deal with UPS and USPS rates-The best deal I have worked with by far. Anyone can sign up-you just need a printer and a scale and a ruler 

I gave that up long  long long ago (hard deadline where I’m beholden to someone )
its all on my timeline and schedule-been that way since I can recall.
I have made a life my way and never have bent well to others demands-been that way since youth
As a potter you get to pick and choose thats the beauty of it 
I'm in the drivers seat and have been for many many many decades .
The only fixed dates are shows and now there are only two and one I pick the dates.
Now with no options for store galleries or shops in terms of new potters. You are really in control.
I had some customers in Wa state  last week take a gallery road trip on the Oragon coast to buy ceramics -the whole trip they said was a bust -no more potttery in the galleries.
Not sure whats going on back east or up North of the border but out west we are te last of the Mohicans
I just raised prices again when I got home on some items and dropped them off in the shops last Sunday
 
 

Well lets see the show was under perfect weather condions no wind in the upper 70s and 80s for 3 calm days. Best show of my life and thats saying something.
Customers heard it was my last show there after 30 straight years
They came from Canada and Seattle area,Bellingham to Germany. My largest sale was from a Jeweler from Atlanta area who flew in for show and was along time customer-she heard it was my last show and bought a few boxes of pots.. Had over 750 customers over the 3 days
My new fish plates in 3 sizes where a big hit and sold out in 2nd am.I raised the price 3 times on them.
It was tedious telling custmers over and over why I was not coming back
One thing people at shows think is you will always be there for them whenever they come. Well that was true for 30 years . They where slow to under stand that my wares sell out where I live and i have no reason to take them out of county ever again.
They get it now. It was sad and a joy at the same time doing this last of my favorite show -the show is 250 artists which 25% where brand new. Less than 10 potters left now as in most shows I see nowadays. Only less than 5 artists who like me have 30 plus years in there.
I meta youg potter couple in mid 40s and invited them down to our local art show and will if they ever come pass on some of my display racks for cheap as I have way to many sets of displays at this point-no more double booths for me. The diving was so so as the tides where not good and I picked up a cough/cold (not covid) on trip. I was masked whole time in the heat -no fun but I'm careful .
I'll miss the show and the customers as I saved them to the end.
well back to packing stuff up for 5 order drop day at local outlets
 

I slap 4 logs together and drop them onto my wedging table and shape them into a standard 25# pug then cut them into usual amounts to throw

I slap 4 logs together and drop them onto my wedging table and shape them into a standard 25# pug then cut them into usual amounts to throw

To pick up on what the Pres mentioned...my gut tells me the slab is being overworked. (In the making process.) Too many "walls" are being attached and its causing stress in the firing. The walls may be necessary for strength and to hide things, but the attachment process is too stressful. Can I presume the slab is flat on a surface and you're pressing the walls into it? The question would be how can you reduce the stress when going thru this process?
My gut tells me you should create a form that is intact on its own, essentially, and then put the shaped slab OVER it. That way taking stress off the slab itself.

Sure long ago (the 70s)
mixed it in a tub added my slop -dryed it in huge plaster tubs-ran it thru my vertical Alpine pug mill (before most of your times-these maching stood 5 feet tall)
came out rough -had air in it and was short-agged it for a few years still short.I was in my 20s and in the middle of the schooling of hard knocks  which I got a degree in about 10 years after my art collage degree. You try every thing until it kills you-listen to know one except a bad back and sore body-I went for the advnaced hard knocks degree
Gave up the whole darn deal. Never looked back-My time has always had value
Nowday I have two peter pugges and still would not make clay . The only reason for me would be to make a body I could not buy one. Maybe a self throwing body if Glazenerd can devise one for me as that is the only body I cannot buy as of now.You would weigh the balls drop them on the wheel and step away as it throws itself. 
 

I think B mix is the wrong clay for this. It does not slab well (staying flat) like to cracks as well and drys super uneven.
I work in porcelain 95% when I need to do slab work I choose other white  bodies
I make larger press molded baking dishes -that body is white -its 1/2 porcealin and 1/2 wso called 1/2 and 1/2 the WC number is 382. Its made for slab torture.
I suggest a body thats more up to the task any white body with finer white grog will work as well.
I also will add as other below me on the waster  slabs or sand or grog to allow the slab to move as it shrinks in the fire

I think B mix is the wrong clay for this. It does not slab well (staying flat) like to cracks as well and drys super uneven.
I work in porcelain 95% when I need to do slab work I choose other white  bodies
I make larger press molded baking dishes -that body is white -its 1/2 porcealin and 1/2 wso called 1/2 and 1/2 the WC number is 382. Its made for slab torture.
I suggest a body thats more up to the task any white body with finer white grog will work as well.
I also will add as other below me on the waster  slabs or sand or grog to allow the slab to move as it shrinks in the fire

Sure long ago (the 70s)
mixed it in a tub added my slop -dryed it in huge plaster tubs-ran it thru my vertical Alpine pug mill (before most of your times-these maching stood 5 feet tall)
came out rough -had air in it and was short-agged it for a few years still short.I was in my 20s and in the middle of the schooling of hard knocks  which I got a degree in about 10 years after my art collage degree. You try every thing until it kills you-listen to know one except a bad back and sore body-I went for the advnaced hard knocks degree
Gave up the whole darn deal. Never looked back-My time has always had value
Nowday I have two peter pugges and still would not make clay . The only reason for me would be to make a body I could not buy one. Maybe a self throwing body if Glazenerd can devise one for me as that is the only body I cannot buy as of now.You would weigh the balls drop them on the wheel and step away as it throws itself. 
 

I suggest unless you have power mixing equipment say like a peter pugger you forget the whole dry thing.
The factor you never spoke about (gas .travel, dry vs wet costs) was your time and a quaility clay product at the end of your labors . Clay makers mix the clay ,take the air out of the clay and pug and bag and box your clay-you cannot even ever come close to doing this yourself and think you are saving a thing. Especially money
now if you have a lot of power equipment  for clay making and tons of FREE time then lets talk more
Now its it dry slip casting clay thats another story but you never mentioned slip.
 
PS I have bought dry clay in 50# sacks to add to anothrer clay body (custom blend) and what a pain-I donated most of that dry clay to an art center as a tax write off decades later

I suggest unless you have power mixing equipment say like a peter pugger you forget the whole dry thing.
The factor you never spoke about (gas .travel, dry vs wet costs) was your time and a quaility clay product at the end of your labors . Clay makers mix the clay ,take the air out of the clay and pug and bag and box your clay-you cannot even ever come close to doing this yourself and think you are saving a thing. Especially money
now if you have a lot of power equipment  for clay making and tons of FREE time then lets talk more
Now its it dry slip casting clay thats another story but you never mentioned slip.
 
PS I have bought dry clay in 50# sacks to add to anothrer clay body (custom blend) and what a pain-I donated most of that dry clay to an art center as a tax write off decades later

I suggest unless you have power mixing equipment say like a peter pugger you forget the whole dry thing.
The factor you never spoke about (gas .travel, dry vs wet costs) was your time and a quaility clay product at the end of your labors . Clay makers mix the clay ,take the air out of the clay and pug and bag and box your clay-you cannot even ever come close to doing this yourself and think you are saving a thing. Especially money
now if you have a lot of power equipment  for clay making and tons of FREE time then lets talk more
Now its it dry slip casting clay thats another story but you never mentioned slip.
 
PS I have bought dry clay in 50# sacks to add to anothrer clay body (custom blend) and what a pain-I donated most of that dry clay to an art center as a tax write off decades later

Those cheap moving blankets over clay will also stabilize temps and slow down the drying

I mixed 3 tons once in a soldner mixer once darn near killed me unloading it all. Ran it thru a bluebird no airing pug mill.-clay was short for years.
I learned my lesson-I commend you on going ahead with the school of hard knocks-I was 30 years old then-I hope you are in your 20s
That soldner mixer is a back killer at least for me other may love it
On the clay getting hard deal I have a master tip for you
Use a small round 2-3 inch round throwing sponge  (this is so you can ameasre the same amount every time but submerging it ino a bucket of water.
Now unbox the clay and open the plastic bags-depending on how dry they are its one or two or three squeezes of that full sponge (two is usllay fine) retie the bag and drip them into the box and put a arrow on it.Fip the box everty day for 4 dasys to cover all sides of the longways pugs inside. Then store-this clay will now be even weteness once agin within a week . No to bother with underwater or wet towels. I have done tons this way of porcealin which is harder than most Bodies to rewet. I bought 12 tons for years once a year and some got hard. 
My clay  is 13 hours away one way so your clay seem close but what do I know.
Oldlady said it above -buy in bulk and store it in a cool dry place.The price breaks add up. 

I suggest unless you have power mixing equipment say like a peter pugger you forget the whole dry thing.
The factor you never spoke about (gas .travel, dry vs wet costs) was your time and a quaility clay product at the end of your labors . Clay makers mix the clay ,take the air out of the clay and pug and bag and box your clay-you cannot even ever come close to doing this yourself and think you are saving a thing. Especially money
now if you have a lot of power equipment  for clay making and tons of FREE time then lets talk more
Now its it dry slip casting clay thats another story but you never mentioned slip.
 
PS I have bought dry clay in 50# sacks to add to anothrer clay body (custom blend) and what a pain-I donated most of that dry clay to an art center as a tax write off decades later

Pres you need to be using Pirate ship-its a super deal with UPS and USPS rates-The best deal I have worked with by far. Anyone can sign up-you just need a printer and a scale and a ruler 

I cannot image selling 10,000$ in a day like I had once recently on Etsy so you must be refering to small slow amount of sales. To do a big art show you to have lots of wares. 
For me etsy is a one off deal or a small slow burn on sales. My etsy friends tell me now its full of more clay than years past and that pie is cut into many more slices .
Art show potters are usually not a small table affair but a huge booth of wares with backstock. They come for big sales and there are  now very few of them. 
The etsy deal is not at all the same folks like for example  like to feel my plates before buy the dinnerware set -same with a mug-The net is far away from that personal experience .
Yes etsy and other Venuses sell works no doubt  but customers like to touch and any venue that afords that potters with thrive better .
I have some aged out  professional potters selling thier left overs on etsy and thay say it will take a decade vs one show-that a huge difference in time and sales
Intsead of etsy how about having a shop sell it less hassle 
The etsy is good venue for hobby start ups or a line that does not require touch of for someone who wants to work at home . The potters I'm refering to who are not applying to shows  these days are those who never did etsy. The volume is to great.
For a professional like me I want to go gather a bunch of $$ in 2-3 days  and they get back to work .Etsy will never do that for me.
I have a current  costumer mail order for 200$  to 250$ and stopping to sort and pack and ship slows me down from my usual work. That sounds flippant I know but its the truth.

I gave that up long  long long ago (hard deadline where I’m beholden to someone )
its all on my timeline and schedule-been that way since I can recall.
I have made a life my way and never have bent well to others demands-been that way since youth
As a potter you get to pick and choose thats the beauty of it 
I'm in the drivers seat and have been for many many many decades .
The only fixed dates are shows and now there are only two and one I pick the dates.
Now with no options for store galleries or shops in terms of new potters. You are really in control.
I had some customers in Wa state  last week take a gallery road trip on the Oragon coast to buy ceramics -the whole trip they said was a bust -no more potttery in the galleries.
Not sure whats going on back east or up North of the border but out west we are te last of the Mohicans
I just raised prices again when I got home on some items and dropped them off in the shops last Sunday
 
 

One thing I never whant to be is a potter making pots for unknown customers only. That is no shows or cointact with customers. That contact which started in 1972 selling pots to real people direct is one of the reasons I'm still in it today. Making wholesale pots was something I avoided for 2/3 of my career .
Wholesale is something I came to late and slowly. Now I could only do wholesale if I liked that.  I still need some customer contact.

I gave that up long  long long ago (hard deadline where I’m beholden to someone )
its all on my timeline and schedule-been that way since I can recall.
I have made a life my way and never have bent well to others demands-been that way since youth
As a potter you get to pick and choose thats the beauty of it 
I'm in the drivers seat and have been for many many many decades .
The only fixed dates are shows and now there are only two and one I pick the dates.
Now with no options for store galleries or shops in terms of new potters. You are really in control.
I had some customers in Wa state  last week take a gallery road trip on the Oragon coast to buy ceramics -the whole trip they said was a bust -no more potttery in the galleries.
Not sure whats going on back east or up North of the border but out west we are te last of the Mohicans
I just raised prices again when I got home on some items and dropped them off in the shops last Sunday
 
 

I suggest unless you have power mixing equipment say like a peter pugger you forget the whole dry thing.
The factor you never spoke about (gas .travel, dry vs wet costs) was your time and a quaility clay product at the end of your labors . Clay makers mix the clay ,take the air out of the clay and pug and bag and box your clay-you cannot even ever come close to doing this yourself and think you are saving a thing. Especially money
now if you have a lot of power equipment  for clay making and tons of FREE time then lets talk more
Now its it dry slip casting clay thats another story but you never mentioned slip.
 
PS I have bought dry clay in 50# sacks to add to anothrer clay body (custom blend) and what a pain-I donated most of that dry clay to an art center as a tax write off decades later

I suggest unless you have power mixing equipment say like a peter pugger you forget the whole dry thing.
The factor you never spoke about (gas .travel, dry vs wet costs) was your time and a quaility clay product at the end of your labors . Clay makers mix the clay ,take the air out of the clay and pug and bag and box your clay-you cannot even ever come close to doing this yourself and think you are saving a thing. Especially money
now if you have a lot of power equipment  for clay making and tons of FREE time then lets talk more
Now its it dry slip casting clay thats another story but you never mentioned slip.
 
PS I have bought dry clay in 50# sacks to add to anothrer clay body (custom blend) and what a pain-I donated most of that dry clay to an art center as a tax write off decades later

One thing I never whant to be is a potter making pots for unknown customers only. That is no shows or cointact with customers. That contact which started in 1972 selling pots to real people direct is one of the reasons I'm still in it today. Making wholesale pots was something I avoided for 2/3 of my career .
Wholesale is something I came to late and slowly. Now I could only do wholesale if I liked that.  I still need some customer contact.