[Clayart] ego vs promotion/long

[John Rodgers]

Vince, I was a member of Clayart for a time when  Joe and Mary Molinaro
were there. I would have been lost with out them, but when Mel took over he
got it together and built it into what it is today, and I am ever grateful.
Way back then  was a neofite wandering in the wilderness. Mel has helped me
immensely thru Clayart and ocassionally with answered questions  directly -
along with my career.

I have not the words to express my appreciation for what he has done for
me, and the Potters world!

John Rodgers

On Thu, Sep 26, 2019, 9:51 PM Vince Pitelka <vpitelka at dtccom.net> wrote:

> Correction - Mel did not start Clayart.  He took it over when Joe and Mary
> Molinaro and Richard Burkett backed out of it, but Mel is certainly to be
> thanked for keeping it going for many years.
> - Vince
>
> Vince Pitelka,
> Professor Emeritus, Appalachian Center for Craft,
> School of Art, Craft & Design, Tennessee Tech University,
> Now residing Chapel Hill, NC 27516,
> vpitelka at dtccom.net,
> www.vincepitelka.com
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Clayart [mailto:clayart-bounces at lists.clayartworld.com] On Behalf
> Of Ann B. Potter
> Sent: Thursday, September 26, 2019 1:30 PM
> To: Clayart international pottery discussion forum <
> clayart at lists.clayartworld.com>
> Subject: Re: [Clayart] ego vs promotion/long
>
> Mel,
>
> Your post gave me more hope and a clearer plan then anything I ever heard
> in a class or read in a book. Thank you so much for starting clayart and
> keeping it going you are wonderful.
>
> Ann
>
> On Tue, Sep 24, 2019 at 5:29 PM mel jacobson <melpots at mail.com> wrote:
>
> > as a working potter, artist, whatever, you are the only one in most
> > cases to promote your work.  it is essential.
> > how you do it, says everything about you.
> >
> > neighbors and friends help at times, and of course relatives...but in
> > the long run, it is up to you.
> >
> > if you are doing honest promotion, say....speaking about pottery at a
> > flower club, or local city hall class...it is worth a great deal.  i
> > have done plenty of them.  you have a very open audience. captured.  i
> > usually give away a nice vase as a gift.  they all write down
> > melpots.com
> >
> > i give a very nice platter every year for the empty bowls auction.
> > they love it.  and lots of people see that platter...`oh, that is mel,
> > he used to teach at the high school...nice, he is still working...we
> > should go out and see him.  they do, they buy a $100 worth.
> >
> > i have worked with the empty bowls folks and i make a series of very
> > nice pots that we give to the huge donors...like $25,000 worth of bread.
> > they get a lovely tea pot.  what do you give rich people...a toaster?
> > no, a nice piece of hand made craft. we all win.
> >
> > so much about promotion is public interest stuff. low key...volunteer
> > sort of thing.  it works like a miracle.  you sell yourself as an
> > honest hard working potter, crafts-person.  made in minnesota, by hand.
> >
> > just this past year i talked to a senior cabin attendant on a delta
> flight.
> > it turns out she lives near me...and building a house.  guess
> > what?...she has purchased about $400 in pots and now wants a big 7
> > foot painting. nice.
> > (i gave her my email on a scrap of paper...she wrote. nice)
> >
> > of course many of you have heard my story about the 50 mile circle.
> > i live within a circle of over a million people...some should want my
> pots.
> > i work only that circle...folks in chicago do not buy from me.  i
> > collect every address i can get my hands on. tear off that upper
> > address on an old check..and keep track of every sale. get the
> > address. build a data base. work it hard.
> > it works.  of course this is real business.  not romantic thoughts
> > that i will be discovered. i want to be discovered by one potential
> > customer at a time.
> >
> > i sell at home. it works.  i send out about 800 post cards for every
> sale.
> > first class. black and white, simple instructions, when, where, what.
> > big mj logo on both sides.  keep the data base clean. they just show
> > up and clean me out. they love my home and studio.  they want a piece
> > of me. i give it up freely.  i complete orders. i run a small
> > business.
> > anyone can do it.  you just have to try.
> > mel
> >
> > website: www.melpots.com
> >
> >
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