Inventory Day

I bet most folks don't really know what goes on behind the scenes in preparation for a pottery show.  Sure there's the making: throwing, drying, painting, bisquing, glazing, firing each and every piece.  Then there's the loss in all that - this show I've lost 4 large bowls that I was really counting on to fill in space on my display - they shattered while I was working on them, broke during glazing, the glazing failed.... and all you can do about it is sigh and think "well, it's just mud".

But today I completed the most despised of all the tasks - the dreaded inventory.  Yes, in order to participate in a multi-potter show, one must provide an inventory for the accounting team.  and that means laying everything out, deciding what pieces are similar in effort and size for  "fair" pricing. Then the really big decision: what price tag am I going to put on this?  The thoughts that swirl make one dizzy: What would I pay? How much work is in this? What other costs went into it? Is there really any profit for me or will I only break even?  How will this compare to the prices others are going to charge?  How will my work measure up to the other work in the room? What will a customer pay?

Sometimes the last question I ask is" Is it worth all of this hassle?  It must be, since I can't seem to stop.  I need to sell so that I have room for more. So, today I spent over 6 hours sorting, pricing, compiling and finally I am finished.  Everything is packed and ready to go to Mountainside for the Potters' Guild of NJ spring show and sale.  It's always a good one, and just in time for Mothers' and Fathers' day.  Remember: everything tastes better when eaten from pottery.  And when there are 40 potters on hand, you know you'll find the right thing for yourself and every gift on your list.