Anticipation
Nov. 15th, 2014 02:21 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
offcntrThis is an odd time of year for me in the studio. Most of the time, I go into production mode knowing pretty much what my goal is. Show X is coming up; I've taken an inventory and a few special orders so I know pretty clearly what needs to be made for the next firing. I've got a nice little checklist on a clipboard and I tick off items at the end of each workday--which might well be the wee hours of the next morning.
In November, though, everything breaks down. I've just had a firing. I'm ready for the next show, Clayfolk. I've got a good supply of everything, all the special orders (except for the few that got taken out by oxidation) are done and ready to be delivered. My subconscious really wants to kick back and read scifi and listen to music and cook big, high-carb, pre-hibernation meals. Oh, and sleep late.
The problem is two-fold. One, it takes four to six weeks to fill and fire the fifty cubic-foot glaze kiln at Club Mud. And two, my next show is the weekend after Clayfolk. And the weekend after that, and the weekend after, and did I mention Christmas week? Holiday Market is less a sprint than a marathon, as well as about a quarter of my annual income. So I definitely will need more pots somewhere in that period, and need to start making them now. But I don't know what to make.
Not a clue. Even if I tracked last year's sales by item, even if I went through my records from all my previous years at Market and crunched the data, it still wouldn't help. What sells changes from year to year, not only patterns but forms as well. I remember loading up on pie plates for Clayfolk last year, because I'd sold out the previous year. Didn't sell a one.
So I'm sitting at my wheel, throwing a random assortment of my regular ware--soup bowls, painted mugs, tall mugs, plates. I'll do some pitchers, serving bowls, probably some squared bakers. I'm pretty well stocked on pies and pasta bowls, but may make some more anyway--they're easy and fill the kiln quickly.
I just make more. And hope I anticipate the demand at least reasonably well.
In November, though, everything breaks down. I've just had a firing. I'm ready for the next show, Clayfolk. I've got a good supply of everything, all the special orders (except for the few that got taken out by oxidation) are done and ready to be delivered. My subconscious really wants to kick back and read scifi and listen to music and cook big, high-carb, pre-hibernation meals. Oh, and sleep late.
The problem is two-fold. One, it takes four to six weeks to fill and fire the fifty cubic-foot glaze kiln at Club Mud. And two, my next show is the weekend after Clayfolk. And the weekend after that, and the weekend after, and did I mention Christmas week? Holiday Market is less a sprint than a marathon, as well as about a quarter of my annual income. So I definitely will need more pots somewhere in that period, and need to start making them now. But I don't know what to make.
Not a clue. Even if I tracked last year's sales by item, even if I went through my records from all my previous years at Market and crunched the data, it still wouldn't help. What sells changes from year to year, not only patterns but forms as well. I remember loading up on pie plates for Clayfolk last year, because I'd sold out the previous year. Didn't sell a one.
So I'm sitting at my wheel, throwing a random assortment of my regular ware--soup bowls, painted mugs, tall mugs, plates. I'll do some pitchers, serving bowls, probably some squared bakers. I'm pretty well stocked on pies and pasta bowls, but may make some more anyway--they're easy and fill the kiln quickly.
I just make more. And hope I anticipate the demand at least reasonably well.