australopithecus

Hello all, Long-time lurker here. I've really appreciated the free advice that so many of you offer. I've seen the question of how to make a living as a ceramic artist posted a few times, as well as a few questions about starting a business selling ceramics supplies and equipment. I'm wondering about making a living running a teaching studio. Ideal would be to offer throwing and hand-building classes in sessions (6-8 weeks), as well as some special offerings (e.g., seasonal classes, sip-and-spin, etc.). I have some idea of the startup costs, but am curious to hear about: 1. How long it can take to fill classes, and how many classes to reasonably offer. 2. How long it can take to become profitable. 3. Necessity of hiring assistants/instructors. 4. What "making a living" doing this really means. 5. Costs and time associated with maintenance of equipment; is this a real pain in the butt? Thanks for your time!