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What if you stopped making the kind of work you don’t actually like to make and decided to only make the random thing that really interests you? And what if… what if doing that actually brought you more sales and more people interested in your work and excited about the same thing you are excited about than you could have ever imagined?

That very thing is happening for Kate Schroeder and her Shelfies and on this episode, we get to hear all about the long road that led her to today's successes.

"For full show notes and links to all of our guests' resources visit: www.makersplaybook.com/podcast"

Guest Details:
Kate Schroeder's Instagram

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For most everyone I’ve spoken with in the last year and a half of the podcast, one thing has been true - As soon as they touched clay, they were hooked. It was like a siren call, an addiction, where their whole life they began to rearrange in order to figure out how to carve out more time to have their hands in the mud. That mesmerizing experience that is true for so many of us, often has us jump straight from our first class at the local community studio to “how do I sell this so that I can quit my job?” in the span of just a few months. But what does it actually take to quit your job and go full-time in pottery? What SKILLS do you need in order to actually be able to make a living from the things you make? Are there certain goals you need to hit to make this thing viable? Today’s guest sheds a bit of light on his experience with these very questions.

If the mention of amazing support from fellow makers has you yearning for a community of your own, I would love it if you check out The Community - our new online home. Right now, we already have 47 makers from all over the world sharing their experiences and problem solving around so many of the questions we all have - How the heck do you keep up with Instagram changes? What website platform did you decide to use when you moved off Etsy? How do you manage shipping? And so many more… Learn more by visiting: https://www.makersplaybook.com/community/

For full show notes and links to all of our guests' resources visit: www.makersplaybook.com/podcast

Guest Details:
Rich Brown's Instagram

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When you see a super well know potter's name somewhere - on the cover of a book, on a list of speakers at a conference, or anywhere else - do you ever wonder how they got there? Did they always know they wanted to do this? Or was their path a bit more windy (perhaps like yours and mine)? Have they reached this particular level of success because of a clearly laid out plan, or was it really most luck and timing? Well my friends, one of those names that pop up in my head as more of a name on a book rather than the person themselves is John Britt and on today's episode, you just might be surprised how he came to have his name on the cover of that book that’s probably on your shelf right now…

If you are looking for a community of similar makers inside of a supportive environment to have realistic, candid conversations around what it’s really like to make a living from the things you make, The Community might just be the online home for you.

Come learn more and see if it’s right for you at makersplaybook.com/community.
Bonus perk: By joining, you’ll be helping support the creation of this very podcast.

For full show notes and links to all of our guests' resources visit: www.makersplaybook.com/podcast

Guest Details:
John Britt's Instagram

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12 years ago, I had no idea what I was doing. I didn’t go to business school. And I definitely had never dreamed of starting my own business. But, I managed to keep putting one foot in front of the other and climb up the hill that is self-employment, learning when to adjust course or totally change plans when necessary thanks to the support of an incredible Community of peers.

On today’s solo episode, I’m sharing why I’ve spent the last 4 months building a virtual home for makers - The Community by the Maker’s Playbook - and a few of the things that make this online space particularly special to me. I know without a doubt that I would not have the business I have today without the support of a community of colleagues.  The depth of this support is what I dream about bringing to the maker community. Not only tactical how-to’s from the makers that have come before you, but side-by-side emotional support when the going gets tough. Because if there’s one other thing I know it’s this: Making a living from the things you make is a marathon, not a sprint. And while it might always be hard, it’s a heck of a lot more enjoyable with friends by your side.

Find out more about The Community by the Maker’s Playbook by clicking here: www.makersplaybook.com/community

For full show notes and links to all of our guests' resources visit: www.makersplaybook.com/podcast

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Kenny Sing of Turn Studio & I chat this week about how his Instagram originally started out simply as a place to share the processes he was testing out, without the intention of reaching 83,000++ followers. We also dig into his passion for teaching and why he's building his community studio space (plus how building a studio actually works and all the hard cost realities of doing that).

Kenny's heart for building a community clearly hits home for me. If you don't have a local resource for in-person community building like Kenny's space, or if you are craving connecting with other makers year round rather than a few days at a workshop, I'd be honored to see you join us over at The Community. We already have makers from all over the world chatting together, and we'll be kicking things off with a full month of digging into how we can use Instagram in a sustainable, healthy way next week.

For full show notes and links to all of our guests' resources visit: www.makersplaybook.com/podcast

Guest Details:
Kenny Sing's Instagram

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On this week’s episode, I virtually sit down with Lucy Fagella to discuss how she’s shifted her business over the course of the last 20+ years as a full-time studio potter. We chat about the realities of parenting and being a full-time maker as well as how to make sure you are taking care of your body amidst the physical demands of ceramics. Lucy has navigated the big shift from predominantly cash-based in-person market sales to credit card processing and online shops (and as may come as a shock to some, would rather spend a day packing up boxes & shipping labels than loading a car and driving to a show). Lucy has discovered a way in which to provide a stable income removed from the stress of the shop-update cycle on one half of her business while keeping things flexible and creatively interesting on the other side.

For full show notes and links to all of our guests' resources visit: www.makersplaybook.com/podcast

Guest Details:
Lucy Fagella's Instagram
Lucy's website
Learn pottery from Lucy

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Have you ever talked yourself out of going after a goal because the logistics just felt impossible? Like pursuing a master’s degree when you can’t attend a school in person? Or setting up a home studio space when you work in a job that forces you to move locations every couple of years? Pretty difficult right? But not impossible. Or at least, you can’t use that excuse any more, because today’s guest on the podcast, Del of D Goode Art has managed to work with all of those logistical limitations while also creating some incredibly iconic work. 

We have one more new interview coming next week before we take our typical “4th week off” from releasing an episode, which means… there’s a new free monthly photo tip coming your way soon! Or, at least it’s coming your way if you are on our email list! Click here to download our free cheat sheet for better photos faster, to kickstart your photo tips. Doing so will also add you to our list for the free monthly photo tips.

For full show notes and links to all of our guests' resources visit: www.makersplaybook.com/podcast

Guest Details:
Delvin Goode's Instagram

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We are back! Season 3 of the Maker’s Playbook podcast kicks off with Adam Field! In this episode, Adam and I dig into how he managed to say yes to a multi-year residency program at the Archie Bray with 2 kiddos in tow, how he integrates social media into his studio practice, and the vulnerability it takes to change the style of our work when also making a living from that work. This is a conversation I know I personally will be returning to frequently.

You’ve heard me end every episode for 15 months' worth of podcasts now with the belief that together we can really make these crazy audacious dreams of our maker’s life work. I know this to be true because my life and career are proof of it. But, I also know that a podcast is pretty one-sided. This is exactly why I’m launching an online forum for makers! At the time of this episode launching, we are almost ready to open the doors, so until then, be sure to sign up for our insider’s email list to be the first to find out when the community launches. I have a couple of surprises in store for those that join first! Sign up at https://www.makersplaybook.com/newsletter/

For full show notes and links to all of our guests' resources visit: www.makersplaybook.com/podcast

Guest Details:
Adam Field's Instagram

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It’s taken me longer than expected to finish writing this episode. But I suppose that should come as no surprise given the constant influx of world news being thrown at us. At times like this, just like in 2020 and so many other moments of social awakening in the last few years, our work as artists can feel disconnected with the immediate needs of the world. On this week’s solo episode, I’m peeling back the curtain on how I process that for myself. Alongside my originally planned episode of discussing a few of the various business models you can choose in order to create a business that serves your life and not the other way around. 

We'll be taking a short season break after this episode. I don't have the exact restart date for Season 3 just yet, so if you want to be sure not to miss any new episodes once they are ready, then click here to sign up for our email insider's list. Doing so will also put you on the list for our monthly free photography tips, specifically geared towards ceramicists and makers.

For full show notes and links to all of our guests' resources visit: www.makersplaybook.com/podcast

Love this podcast? Support an episode! Click here to learn more.

Follow The Maker's Playbook on Instagram @themakersplaybook

Have questions about the show or want to say Hi? Email us at: podcast (at) makers-playbook (dot) com

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Do you think of the word “business” as a dirty word? Does the idea of starting a business seem like the last thing that might bring about the change we so desperately need in the world? Could a business possibly do as much good for our communities as a non-profit organization? Well, this week’s podcast guest is building a business on their terms. And it’s one creating quite an impact. Phi Le has built their community pottery studio, Illuminated Clay, specifically focused on not only providing a safe space for people often not included in traditional structures but also a space that can provide resources to historically marginalized groups regardless of their ability to pay. And Phi is only just getting started…

I’ll be taking a bit of an unplanned season break after next week’s episode, so if you want to be sure to be alerted when new episodes air, then visit makersplaybook.com/newsletter and sign up for the email list. Doing so will also add you to our monthly free photo tips list, where I deep dive on many of the most frequently asked photography questions specifically for makers - like why shooting on an all-white background is so dang hard, and why what kind of camera you use really doesn’t matter as much as you think it does.

For full show notes and links to all of our guests' resources visit: www.makersplaybook.com/podcast

Guest Details:
Phi Le's Instagram

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Have questions about the show or want to say Hi? Email us at: podcast (at) makers-playbook (dot) com