Ryan & Becca sit down with a new friend in clay, Chris Burch. This lengthy discussion covers many topics from fulfilling a 500 piece order in 9 weeks, pursuing clay full time, balancing family and small business duties, pricing your work appropriately, teaching on the wheel, understanding how you find happiness in the work you do, and much more. Thanks so much to Chris for being very gracious with his time and sharing insights that will resonate with many of you out there. We hope you enjoy and please show him some love if you enjoyed our discussion.-----Find more about Chris&apos; business below-----Instagram - @potterybychrisburchShop - https://www.etsy.com/shop/PotterybyChrisBurch Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PotterybyChrisBurch/Website - https://potterybychrisburch.com/The Potters Cast - Episode 656: Clay Saved Me | Chris BurchListener QuestionsSend us questions so we can answer anything you&apos;ve been thinking about on a future episode. Send those through Instagram @wheeltalkpodcast or email us at wheeltalkpodcast@gmail.com.Support the show on Patreon:https://patreon.com/WheeltalkpodcastFollow us on Instagram:@wheeltalkpodcast@rdceramics@5linespotteryVisit our website:www.wheeltalkpotcast.comSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/Wheeltalkpodcast)

Wheel Talk

#116 - Don't waste your talents with Chris Burch

Ryan & Becca bring you a special episode discussing all things #potswap2021. Follow along with all Pot Swap happenings on Instagram @potswapofficial. Registration is free and open to the first 600 entries this year starting on Sunday, October 17th at 12pm EDT. First come, first serve on sign-ups so set a reminder (we have a reminder shared in our Instagram stories)! Spots WILL fill up very fast so don&apos;t wait!We&apos;re joined by a great group of clay friends to help with all of the tasks involved to make Pots Swap a success year after year. We&apos;ve received some great survey feedback from the last 3 years we&apos;ve hosted it and have been making efforts to improve more each year. Thanks for the continued support!Listener QuestionsOn this episode:- I’m wondering what y’all think about consistent sizes for certain pots? Should I stick with 1 or 2 sizes for bowls, mugs, etc or is it okay to make small batches where there may be 30 of something and maybe I’ll never make those again or maybe I will. I wonder if Becca has insight into this from Gravesco. How do they think about what size and shape the cocktail cup is and would the shape change all of a sudden in the next batch? @goodwheelceramicsSend us questions so we can answer anything you&apos;ve been thinking about on a future episode. Send those through Instagram @wheeltalkpodcast or email us at wheeltalkpodcast@gmail.com.Thanks for joining us and we would love to hear your feedback on future topics to discuss and help us improve!Support the show on Patreon:https://patreon.com/WheeltalkpodcastFollow us on Instagram:@wheeltalkpodcast@rdceramics@5linespotteryVisit our website:www.wheeltalkpotcast.comSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/Wheeltalkpodcast)

#115 - Pot Swap 2021 is almost here!!

Ryan & Becca jump into the deep on tracking their business income and expenses. Becca is pretty invested in Quickbooks for her business. Ryan tracks everything using Google Sheets/Forms. If you ever wanted to know how Ryan stays so organized and on top of his business books, you&apos;re in the right spot! Enjoy and check out our Instagram for visuals if you&apos;re looking to follow along as Ryan explains it all.Resourceshttps://quickbooks.intuit.com/https://www.hurdlr.com/What would you do if...your “clay towel” or apron gets covered in dry clay from cleanup and you want it clean again?Listener QuestionsSend us questions so we can answer anything you&apos;ve been thinking about on a future episode. Send those through Instagram @wheeltalkpodcast or email us at wheeltalkpodcast@gmail.com.Support the show on Patreon:https://patreon.com/WheeltalkpodcastFollow us on Instagram:@wheeltalkpodcast@rdceramics@5linespotteryVisit our website:www.wheeltalkpotcast.comSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/Wheeltalkpodcast)

#114 - Bookkeeping deep dive

Ryan & Becca have a different one for you today as they talk through a new line of work Becca is starting. Sometimes it&apos;s nice to chat with a friend about something new you are planning and need a second perspective. We cover sales goals, pricing, branding, making efficiency, various forms, and timelines. We hope you enjoy this informal conversation between a couple of friends who love to break down business and process.Resources:https://clayconwest.com/What would you do if...you’re having no luck throwing anything well to start your throwing session? All flops!Listener QuestionsSend us questions so we can answer anything you&apos;ve been thinking about on a future episode. Send those through Instagram @wheeltalkpodcast or email us at wheeltalkpodcast@gmail.com.Support the show on Patreon:https://patreon.com/WheeltalkpodcastFollow us on Instagram:@wheeltalkpodcast@rdceramics@5linespotteryVisit our website:www.wheeltalkpotcast.comSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/Wheeltalkpodcast)

#113 - A shi**y discussion

Ryan & Becca are back for yet another question and answer episode covering topics in clay, small business, personal, and plenty of others. These continue to be fun for us to record and we hope you enjoy them also. Thanks to everyone who continue to send their questions via Instagram and email!Listener QuestionsSend us questions so we can answer anything you&apos;ve been thinking about on a future episode. Send those through Instagram @wheeltalkpodcast or email us at wheeltalkpodcast@gmail.com.Support the show on Patreon:https://patreon.com/WheeltalkpodcastFollow us on Instagram:@wheeltalkpodcast@rdceramics@5linespotteryVisit our website:www.wheeltalkpotcast.comSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/Wheeltalkpodcast)

#112 - Q&A Part V

Ryan and Becca start off with some breaking news before discussing expenses for your business today. What should and shouldn&apos;t be considered a business expense and considerations as you think about your past purchases. There are different approaches Ryan & Becca take here and hopefully it helps to hear some varying perspectives on the topic. When in doubt, always consult your bookkeeper or tax prep expert who knows a few things about small business expenses & what can be written off appropriately for your business.Listener QuestionsOn this episode:- What is your throwing set up.  I use one big bucket but after throwing around 30 pieces it gets pretty slippy.  I have seen people use two containers- I think one for clean water and the other to wipe their slippy hands? Just thinking that as a self taught potter it&apos;s not something anyone has talked about- like how/what are you supposed to do? I don&apos;t use a lot of water (in that my wheel isn&apos;t full of water when I am done), but I do end up with a lot of clay from throwing- hard to explain but you can see what I mean on some of the videos I have of me throwing.  I dunno just wondering how folks throw and if I&apos;m missing a trick. @lindygarnerceramics Send us questions so we can answer anything you&apos;ve been thinking about on a future episode. Send those through Instagram @wheeltalkpodcast or email us at wheeltalkpodcast@gmail.com.Support the show on Patreon:https://patreon.com/WheeltalkpodcastFollow us on Instagram:@wheeltalkpodcast@rdceramics@5linespotteryVisit our website:www.wheeltalkpotcast.comSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/Wheeltalkpodcast)

#111 - Business expenses 101

Ryan and Becca answer some more listener questions about art shows. This week we cover how much work you should take to a show to have ample inventory, what items sell well besides mugs, & a final inquiry about how you deal with other vendors who wants to trade work. We hope you enjoy another short episode and it helps those of you selling at shows these days.Resources:#86 - Art show Q&A (pt 1)#87 - Art show Q&A (pt 2)Listener QuestionsOn this episode:- I have a question about shows. I sell primarily online driving traffic to my Etsy but I&apos;d like to some shows this year too. Any advice on how to find shows in your area and how to apply? I know of some shows locally but have a hard time finding a point of contact to apply. Some have terribly outdated websites with no information on how to become a vendor. Any advice on finding and applying to non-juried shows would be great. @mudgrovepottery- You have done several shown on setting up and what to take to an Art Show.  What about how much stuff you take.  IE Bowls, bottles, cups etc. @curlytailstudio- How many pieces do you bring to a vendor show? @batsceramics- What’s the best-selling piece that you should offer at markets besides mugs? I’ve recently made ramen bowls (tall and deep bowls with slots for the chop sticks) that have sold almost instantly at the last couple of markets. Do you guys have pieces that instantly sell? @jessleepottery- How do you deal with other vendors at shows/markets who want to trade merch? Esp when you don’t want what they’re peddling?? @lostcityceramics Send us questions so we can answer anything you&apos;ve been thinking about on a future episode. Send those through Instagram @wheeltalkpodcast or email us at wheeltalkpodcast@gmail.com.Support the show on Patreon:https://patreon.com/WheeltalkpodcastFollow us on Instagram:@wheeltalkpodcast@rdceramics@5linespotteryVisit our website:www.wheeltalkpotcast.comSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/Wheeltalkpodcast)

#110s - How much inventory do you need for shows?

Ryan and Becca get into the finance side of selling mugs of different styles: &apos;basic&apos; production mugs and &apos;fancy&apos; detailed mugs. We breakdown the time to produce, opportunity to experiment, how to manage your inventory effectively, and what other variables should be considered as you grow your customer base. We are pretty used to producing &apos;basic&apos; work in high quantity over &apos;fancy&apos; work in low quantity, but we get a little help from some friends as we chat. Enjoy and let us know how you prefer to structure your making cycles for enjoyment & good for your business also.Listener QuestionsOn this episode:- Do you think it’s more profitable to be a production potter and have a sale of 40-80 mugs at one time for a smaller price or a potter who puts a lot of intricate details on pieces and only sells 10 or 15 mugs at a time for a higher price? -@jessleepottery Send us questions so we can answer anything you&apos;ve been thinking about on a future episode. Send those through Instagram @wheeltalkpodcast or email us at wheeltalkpodcast@gmail.com.Support the show on Patreon:https://patreon.com/WheeltalkpodcastFollow us on Instagram:@wheeltalkpodcast@rdceramics@5linespotteryVisit our website:www.wheeltalkpotcast.comSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/Wheeltalkpodcast)

#109s - What to make: Fancy or Basic?

Ryan & Becca chat with their good friend Isaac Shue, a former high school teacher to full time ceramic artist. Isaac runs Gallery Mostaza, a curated selection of their handmade pottery and other local makers, with his wife Karina in Harper, Kansas. They cover many topics on today&apos;s episode including: transitioning from teaching to making pots full time, renovating a new gallery space, finding products that work for different platforms, evolving your own style, working with decals, social media upkeep, and more gems that you&apos;ll be sure to enjoy. Thanks for joining us Isaac!-----Find more about Isaac&apos;s business below-----Isaac ShueInstagram - @isaacshueisartFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/isceramicsGallery MostazaWebsite - https://www.gallerymostaza.com/Instagram - @gallery.mostazaFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/gallerymostazaListener QuestionsSend us questions so we can answer anything you&apos;ve been thinking about on a future episode. Send those through Instagram @wheeltalkpodcast or email us at wheeltalkpodcast@gmail.com.Support the show on Patreon:https://patreon.com/WheeltalkpodcastFollow us on Instagram:@wheeltalkpodcast@rdceramics@5linespotteryVisit our website:www.wheeltalkpotcast.comSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/Wheeltalkpodcast)

#108 - Finding your market with Isaac Shue

Ryan & Becca decide to rehash the topics discussed on the 2 year anniversary of releasing their first episode. Topics include motivation to get in the studio, list making, how/when we prefer to work in the studio, and how we set goals for ourselves. Let’s see what’s changed in the past 2 years.ReferencesKiln wash recipehttps://suemcleodceramics.com/how-to-make-a-good-kiln-wash-to-protect-your-kiln-shelves/Listener QuestionsOn this episode:- Some of my fellow potters fire at a ^10 in electric kiln and my mind was blown!  What damage are they causing to their kilns?? I know it’s possible but at what cost?- How to clean kiln shelves of crumbling (applied too thick) kiln wash? Heavy grit sand paper?Send us questions so we can answer anything you&apos;ve been thinking about on a future episode. Send those through Instagram @wheeltalkpodcast or email us at wheeltalkpodcast@gmail.com.Support the show on Patreon:https://patreon.com/WheeltalkpodcastFollow us on Instagram:@wheeltalkpodcast@rdceramics@5linespotteryVisit our website:www.wheeltalkpotcast.comSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/Wheeltalkpodcast)

#107 - Motivation as a Maker…Take 2

Ryan & Becca look back as they hit the 2 year anniversary of hosting Wheel Talk. A lot of things have progressed since we first started, we&apos;ve covered so many topics over the past 100+ episodes, and have spent time interviewing some great peers inside & outside of clay.Thank you all so much for listening & letting us join you in your studios on a weekly basis. We are very grateful for all of the shout outs, questions you send us, comments, reviews, and so much more from everyone who is part of our community. We hope you all have gotten as much out of this as we have and you choose to stick around for the next 2 years & beyond!Listener QuestionsOn this episode:- How do you guys feel about having unglazed clay for parts of pottery that come in contact with food? If the clay is vitrified is that ok? I see some people with unglazed sections on food surfaces and think, surely that’s not really food safe, not to mention how unpleasant it would be to run a utensil across that surface.Send us questions so we can answer anything you&apos;ve been thinking about on a future episode. Send those through Instagram @wheeltalkpodcast or email us at wheeltalkpodcast@gmail.com.Support the show on Patreon:https://patreon.com/WheeltalkpodcastFollow us on Instagram:@wheeltalkpodcast@rdceramics@5linespotteryVisit our website:www.wheeltalkpotcast.comSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/Wheeltalkpodcast)

#106 - 2 years of Wheel Talk!!

Ryan & Becca start by sharing how the Backyard Craft Show went for both of them at Ryan&apos;s parent&apos;s home in Louisville, KY. They then go into specifics about each of their 3 favorite cups: likes, dislikes, & the story behind how they got them. It&apos;s fun for us to share our favorite pieces with you and would love to see your favorite cups and tag us on Instagram. Follow us on Patreon to see the video version of this episode as we talk through the cups in detail, or find photos of them on our Instagram account @wheeltalkpodcast.Becca&apos;s favorite cups:Andrew Linderman from Linderman Pottery - @lindermanpottery Amy Brummond from Pine Zen Pottery - @pinezenpottery Victoria Truhn from Tried & Truhn - @triedandtruhn Ryan&apos;s favorite cups:Amelia Stamps from Amelia Stamps Pottery - @ameliastampspottery Tara Underwood from Tara Underwood Pottery - @tara.underwoodDavid Pinto from Jamaica Clay - @pintopottery Listener QuestionsOn this episode:- What’s the biggest mistake you have made that ended up being your best success by accident?Send us questions so we can answer anything you&apos;ve been thinking about on a future episode. Send those through Instagram @wheeltalkpodcast or email us at wheeltalkpodcast@gmail.com.Support the show on Patreon:https://patreon.com/WheeltalkpodcastFollow us on Instagram:@wheeltalkpodcast@rdceramics@5linespotteryVisit our website:www.wheeltalkpotcast.comSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/Wheeltalkpodcast)

#105 - Our 3 favorite cups!

Ryan & Becca recap their weekend after returning from the Berea Craft Festival and answer a listener question. A listener has a good question about how they should go about raising their prices. Pricing is always a tough task but having confidence in whatever you decide is the best advice we could give you. Good luck out there!Listener QuestionsOn this episode:- I need to up my prices due to the price of clay, shipping (I&apos;m in Canada), buying quality tools to make the process easier, etc but I have a hard time trying to figure out how/when. Should I give advance warning? If so, how much? How high is too high? ( I sell my beachy mugs for $30 and literally can&apos;t keep them in stock) Should I make a post explaining on my IG and FB? I&apos;m thinking of going up to $35 but don&apos;t want to insult anyone, or make it too high etc. I feel guilty asking for more... Maybe that&apos;s the GD people pleaser in me...Send us questions so we can answer anything you&apos;ve been thinking about on a future episode. Send those through Instagram @wheeltalkpodcast or email us at wheeltalkpodcast@gmail.com.Support the show on Patreon:https://patreon.com/WheeltalkpodcastFollow us on Instagram:@wheeltalkpodcast@rdceramics@5linespotteryVisit our website:www.wheeltalkpotcast.comSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/Wheeltalkpodcast)

#104 - Show talk & raising prices

Ryan & Becca finally get to a question that has been left unanswered for a while now: pros and cons of selling on your own website vs an Etsy shop. There is a lot to this topic but we hope to cover a number of angles to be considered before decided what&apos;s right for your situation. Selling online is a great source of revenue and we encourage you to open up your business to the wider customer base that comes with sharing your work on the internet. Whether you&apos;re just starting out or a pro, we hope you enjoy the discussion.Etsy Resources:https://www.etsy.com/Where Etsy Collects and Remits State Sales TaxEtsy Fees & Payment PolicyOther Platforms we discuss:https://www.weebly.com/https://www.shopify.com/https://www.squarespace.com/Listener QuestionsOn this episode:- Ryan - if you had to spend an hour decorating one pot - what techniques would you try out?- Becca - if you had to make a pot that was for some obscure specific use, what would it be?Send us questions so we can answer anything you&apos;ve been thinking about on a future episode. Send those through Instagram @wheeltalkpodcast or email us at wheeltalkpodcast@gmail.com.Support the show on Patreon:https://patreon.com/WheeltalkpodcastFollow us on Instagram:@wheeltalkpodcast@rdceramics@5linespotteryVisit our website:www.wheeltalkpotcast.comSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/Wheeltalkpodcast)

#103 - Etsy or your own website?

Ryan and Becca give some insights about recycling your mountain of clay scraps effectively. They recap how they have handled reclaim in the past, what they do now, and what you should consider adapting to your situation. The price of new clay, time invested/lost by recycling, clay consistency, and studio spacing are a few factors to consider. Resources:https://www.instagram.com/reel/CRgvplFi372/ (Florian Gadsby)https://www.instagram.com/reel/CM8FV5ZFxf6/ (Joel Cherrico)Listener QuestionsOn this episode:- I don’t reclaim - can you convince me I should? I think my time is more valuable. Clay is cheap, but so many folks reclaim. Am I wrong?Send us questions so we can answer anything you&apos;ve been thinking about on a future episode. Send those through Instagram @wheeltalkpodcast or email us at wheeltalkpodcast@gmail.com.Support the show on Patreon:https://patreon.com/WheeltalkpodcastFollow us on Instagram:@wheeltalkpodcast@rdceramics@5linespotteryVisit our website:www.wheeltalkpotcast.comSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/Wheeltalkpodcast)

#102s - Reclaiming your clay

Ryan Durbin (@rdceramics) & Becca Otis (@5linespotterystudio) share their experiences as potters, makers, small business owners, and creatives. Becca is a full time potter and studio owner, while Ryan is a full time website developer and part time potter. We'd love to share our ups and downs along the way as we build our skills as makers and small business owners in an honest, informal manner. We hope to bring you helpful tips we've learned over the years, learn from each other, and share expertise from a number of guests with you also. Please join us for some Wheel Talk!

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Wheel Talk

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