Joyce Lee on wed 21 feb 07
It's my experience from observation that most people who enter the
Clayart room are approached or welcomed by some other claybud.
However, each year as mid-March gets closer, we hear the opposite
experiences from claybuds who did find their way to the Clayart
room, felt intimidated and left ... missing out on what might have been
some of the most enriching moments of their lives.
You may have to be a bit more forward than you're accustomed. BUT
do stay in the room, find your bearings and pick a group or an
individual to join. Go sit at "their" table...... which probably isn't "their"
table at all, or at least didn't start out to be .... this cohesive group
you're hesitating to approach probably entered about 20 minutes before
you, feeling much as you do....... but have now created their own space...
are now one of the much-touted, but seldom seen, "In" group.
IF you attempt to converse with someone and receive less than an
enthusiastic acceptance, don't crumble and die on the spot. We've
all been there. That person may indeed be a major clod....... but,
again, maybe not. Give them a break.... ask about the kind of work
they do, where they're from, been to NCECA before?, what looks best
out of the many offerings for you to attend, where are they staying,
do they have a group with which to grab a bite ... you know yourself
what to say and do to break the ice........ just do it..... and don't do
as I do..... I sometimes get stuck with questions that elicit only "yes"
or "no" responses...... which can make me feel like the Evil Interrogator.
AND..... IF....... this always works...... IF you feel that you made
a total ass of yourself......
climb on the nearest table and announce to the world that you have
just made a Total Ass of yourself...... and will somebody please come
rescue you so you don't have to leave on the next bus or plane.
(Well, no, I've never done this; I've often wanted to but my fear was
that NOBODY would come rescue me from myself!)
What I actually did at my first NCECA in Las Vegas was find my way to
the Clayart breakfast (room hadn't yet been organzied), peep in, see
Mishy and Mel moving chairs about (didn't know them, but recognized
Mishy from a workshop and Mel from the cover of CM)..... what did I
do? Join them and ask how I could help? Not on your life..... I
developed a case of the Shys....... turned
and fled the area.... didn't attend the breakfast...... just wallowed in my
own ineptness.
And PLEASE try to think positive thoughts about the people around you. It
really never helps to walk around mentally categorizing all your buds that
you came so far to see..... placing them in negative boxes... where you
eventually become the ONLY acceptable person in the room.... at least as
far as you are concerned. There have
been times when I've heard the Clayart Room experience described by several
different people and I'd swear that none of us had been at the same party.
Some of us do indeed bring our Gloom and Doom along with us wherever we
go. Try to leave them home this time.
Joyce
In the Mojave desert of California pontificating as if she knows whereof
she speaks. Truth is if I got stuck with only myself for company, I'd
find Mel..... there's always a group around him.... I'd join it and know that
I'd be welcome. Or Wayne.... best heart in any town, and willing to
share always.
Shula on wed 21 feb 07
>From: Joyce Lee
>It's my experience from observation that most people who enter the
>Clayart room are approached or welcomed by some other claybud.
Ok, so it's true confessions time.
Last year I was an NCECA virgin. OK and I'm a bit compulsive. In preparation, I printed out the ClayArt pictures so I could place the face and name (I don't remember names very well). I also planned to meet the two other former Philthadelphia women in the ClayArt room sometime during NCECA.
I arrived in Portland, checked into the hotel, threw my suit case down in my room, grabbed my red boa, and ran up to the ClayArt Room. Looked around. Didn't know a soul. I felt like a deer in the headlights of an oncoming car. Struck dumb - whatever your cliche of choice is, that was me. What to do? I went up to strangers and asked them if they had seen Joyce. EVERYONE knows Joyce. It was a great conversation starter. Then I'd introduce myself. And eventually, I even found Joyce!
Won't be going to NCECA this year, but feel free to use my line if it's your first time.
Shula
in sunny Redondo Beach, CA
WJ Seidl on thu 22 feb 07
To Joyce's excellent post, might I add one thing:
Feel free to go up to ANYONE wearing a boa.
You can start the conversation with "Nice boa". Simple line.
If they're a newbie (or as Nan Kitchens called me a few years ago, an "NCECA
virgin"), they're in the same boat as you...common ground. Sometimes you
won't recognize the name. I've given out quite a few boas to "lurkers" who
finally summoned up the courage to go to an NCECA. Good for them! (And some
of those lurkers are now quite recognized names on the list. I was a lurker
just a few years ago. Now they can't get me to shut up . (Oh, quit
rolling your eyes, Mel!)
If they're a veteran of the Clayart Room, you're off and running, and will
probably be introduced to more people in 10 minutes than you can remember.
That's what the boas are for...to identify us; anywhere in NCECA...on the
street, in a gallery or restaurant, anywhere.
Same thing goes with the Mayor's orange dots on the name tags. They ID us
as Clayarters.
We are family. A colorful, quarrelsome, humorous, wonderful family.
You can't ask for better company.
Best,
Wayne Seidl
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of Joyce Lee
Sent: Wednesday, February 21, 2007 1:52 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: NCECA/Clayart Room
It's my experience from observation that most people who enter the
Clayart room are approached or welcomed by some other claybud.
However, each year as mid-March gets closer, we hear the opposite
experiences from claybuds who did find their way to the Clayart
room, felt intimidated and left ... missing out on what might have been
some of the most enriching moments of their lives.
You may have to be a bit more forward than you're accustomed. BUT
do stay in the room, find your bearings and pick a group or an
individual to join. Go sit at "their" table...... which probably isn't
"their"
table at all, or at least didn't start out to be .... this cohesive group
you're hesitating to approach probably entered about 20 minutes before
you, feeling much as you do....... but have now created their own space...
are now one of the much-touted, but seldom seen, "In" group.
IF you attempt to converse with someone and receive less than an
enthusiastic acceptance, don't crumble and die on the spot. We've
all been there. That person may indeed be a major clod....... but,
again, maybe not. Give them a break.... ask about the kind of work
they do, where they're from, been to NCECA before?, what looks best
out of the many offerings for you to attend, where are they staying,
do they have a group with which to grab a bite ... you know yourself
what to say and do to break the ice........ just do it..... and don't do
as I do..... I sometimes get stuck with questions that elicit only "yes"
or "no" responses...... which can make me feel like the Evil Interrogator.
AND..... IF....... this always works...... IF you feel that you made
a total ass of yourself......
climb on the nearest table and announce to the world that you have
just made a Total Ass of yourself...... and will somebody please come
rescue you so you don't have to leave on the next bus or plane.
(Well, no, I've never done this; I've often wanted to but my fear was
that NOBODY would come rescue me from myself!)
What I actually did at my first NCECA in Las Vegas was find my way to
the Clayart breakfast (room hadn't yet been organzied), peep in, see
Mishy and Mel moving chairs about (didn't know them, but recognized
Mishy from a workshop and Mel from the cover of CM)..... what did I
do? Join them and ask how I could help? Not on your life..... I
developed a case of the Shys....... turned
and fled the area.... didn't attend the breakfast...... just wallowed in my
own ineptness.
And PLEASE try to think positive thoughts about the people around you. It
really never helps to walk around mentally categorizing all your buds that
you came so far to see..... placing them in negative boxes... where you
eventually become the ONLY acceptable person in the room.... at least as
far as you are concerned. There have
been times when I've heard the Clayart Room experience described by several
different people and I'd swear that none of us had been at the same party.
Some of us do indeed bring our Gloom and Doom along with us wherever we
go. Try to leave them home this time.
Joyce
In the Mojave desert of California pontificating as if she knows whereof
she speaks. Truth is if I got stuck with only myself for company, I'd
find Mel..... there's always a group around him.... I'd join it and know
that
I'd be welcome. Or Wayne.... best heart in any town, and willing to
share always.
____________________________________________________________________________
__
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You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
Taylor Hendrix on thu 22 feb 07
I consider myself extremely lucky to be an NCECA virgin this year, and
I hope that my gregarious clay makeover sticks. I was not always so
anoyingly friendly, but quiet and skeerd of large crowds (hence the
appellation "wirerabbit" given me as a skinny undergrad). Somehow,
partly through dint of will, just about the time I found clayart and
met David Hendley, I have become a friggin chatter box. Ask David what
I'm like stacking wood and Lezlie what I do when I'm making foil
saggars. Who the heck was that wearing my overalls during the garagio
tour?
It's freaky how I have changed in my 40 years though at times I still
fall back on the old introverted habbits. Good changes; not quite sure
I'm ready for the boa just yet.
Looking forward to making some more clay connections. Feel free to
tell me that I'm getting a bit too giddy for adult company, and I'll
behave.
Taylor, in Rockport TX
On 2/21/07, Joyce Lee wrote:
> It's my experience from observation that most people who enter the
> Clayart room are approached or welcomed by some other claybud.
...
Chris Campbell on thu 22 feb 07
Excellent post Joyce!
Potters are by nature a little solitary so
may I offer one excellent piece of advice
I got from a lady I thought was the best
I have ever seen at 'working a room' ...
( it turned out she was so shy she
almost got ill before entering the room)
She always approached people who
were standing alone. She knew they
would be just like her and wishing
someone would talk to them ...
then people see two people talking
and stop to see what's up and before
you know it you have created a group.
She would then move on to the next
person standing alone.
I am also a big fan of the orange sticker
and walk up to anyone with one and
introduce myself ... sometimes they look
at me as though I am crazy but if you wait
for others to speak first you will never
meet any of the shy ones ... and very often
they are the very interesting ones.
See you at NCECA and if I don't
see you first, please introduce yourself ...
and if I look like I don't remember
you from other years it is because I am
absolutely horrible with names and faces ...
not because you are not memorable.
Chris Campbell - in North Carolina
Pam Barker on thu 22 feb 07
So for all of us NCECA "virgins", how do we get these coveted orange dots?
Pam
>snip
>Same thing goes with the Mayor's orange dots on the name tags. They ID us
>as Clayarters.
>We are family. A colorful, quarrelsome, humorous, wonderful family.
>You can't ask for better company.
>
>Best,
>Wayne Seidl
Jennifer Boyer on thu 22 feb 07
Mel has them with him, but they are just the orange(or red) price
stickers from an office supply store. I like to have mine to put on
the minute I get my NCECA name tag, so I bring my own. I'll leave
some in the Clayart Room.
Jennifer
On Feb 22, 2007, at 5:31 PM, Pam Barker wrote:
> So for all of us NCECA "virgins", how do we get these coveted
> orange dots?
>
> Pam
>
>> snip
>> Same thing goes with the Mayor's orange dots on the name tags.
>> They ID us
>> as Clayarters.
>> We are family. A colorful, quarrelsome, humorous, wonderful family.
>> You can't ask for better company.
>>
>> Best,
>> Wayne Seidl
>
> ______________________________________________________________________
> ________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
> melpots@pclink.com.
*****************************
Jennifer Boyer
Thistle Hill Pottery
Montpelier, VT
http://thistlehillpottery.com
*****************************
sacredclay on fri 23 feb 07
Sweet Taylor, You-are perfect the way you are so please don't ever
change!!!Your kinetic energy, especially with sharing your ideas and
techniques is inspiring and oh, dear! I wish I possess Lili and
Primalmommy's ability to use the language so eloquently but I think
you get the point. I feel like I have exploded since joining Clayart
last year. I just want to go around giving everyone tight and
slobbering hugs. Damn, I really do need to get back on my meds, but
again, don't change, you sweet glorious human being! Warmly Kathryn
in NC
>how I have changed in my 40 years though at times I still
> fall back on the old introverted habbits. Good changes; not quite
sure
> I'm ready for the boa just yet.
>
> Looking forward to making some more clay connections. Feel free to
> tell me that I'm getting a bit too giddy for adult company, and I'll
> behave.
>
> Taylor, in Rockport TX
>
sacredclay on fri 23 feb 07
My hubby, who is a memeber of the normal people race, always warns
people when they are about to meet me that one doesn't just just meet
me, one experiences me (not in the physical sense, sweet people). If I
were going this year,(Oh I wish!!!), you'd find me determined to meet
all of you, and being highly excitable that I might be leap frogging
over people. Why? Because I'd be with MY people and it's about the most
enthralling experience one can have. One of you,- Chris?- said that
potters are solitary creatures and that is so true. What a wonderful
opportunity to break out of that and actually connect to the rest of
the human race that can understand why you live to make mud pies.Sweet
newbies, go out there and screamed loudly, "How the Hail are ya doin'?"
If people just stand there silently at you, add, "I can do card tricks
too!" In a more serious vein, if you were to never be able to come to
this conference ever EVAH again, what would you wished you have done?
BTW, my boss is trying to decide whether to go to it. I told him to
wear a pink boa. I't the in color this year. The look on his face was
priceless! Kathryn in NC
mel jacobson on wed 27 feb 08
just had a chat with dori at nceca.
we are all going to be crowded. 5 hotels full.
the clayart room will be in the omni.
remember, we will put out some tables for folks
to show pots. just a simple idea, bring a cloth, or
box to show your pots. up to you.
nothing formal. it will be a very nice simple showing
of clayart work. buy and sell if you wish.
the mugs will be out too.
it sure was fun in louisville to have the room full of pots from
clayarters. why not? no harm done.
we get to know you best from your smile and work.
i will have red dots to put on your name tag.
REMEMBER, NECEA IS PROVIDING THE ROOM. DO NOT
CHARGE OR ORDER ANYTHING AND PUT IT ON A TAB.
YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR IT...NOT ME.
IF YOU ORDER ANYTHING, IT WILL BE PLACED ON YOUR
ROOMS BILL.
WE GET THE ROOM, WITH TABLES AND CHAIRS...AND THAT
IS IT. WHAT WE DO WITH IT...IS UP TO US.
so, i really look forward to seeing you all. it may be the
biggest nceca of all time.
mel jacobson
moderator clayart, teacher and potter...from minnesota.
ss 472 42 9856....don't worry, i have lifelock.
from minnetonka:
website http://www.visi.com/~melpots/
clayart site:
http://www.visi.com/~melpots/clayart.html
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