Real-Life Communication
Most potters show and sell their work through galleries.
In order to attract potential customers to the gallery to see their work,
potters and gallery owners often team up to do special shows and opening nights.
Opening
nights are usually half party, half sales pitch. The first part is easy. The
second part takes some tact and some public speaking.
The owner of
a downtown city gallery is planning an opening for your work. The show will
feature about 40 pieces of your pottery. The owner has invited art critics
and wealthy, well-known people to see it. She's taking care of the catering
and the party details, but wants to kick the night off with a few words from
you. You are a bit nervous, since you consider yourself an artist and not
a public speaker.
But you know it's part of being a potter, so you
set out to prepare a brief speech. You decide to talk about the work in the
show, most of which shares a common theme -- all the pieces reflect ancient
Greek pottery you saw during a trip to that country. The gallery owner thinks
a few words about your background -- you have been a potter for 10 years and
studied in France and the U.S. -- are needed as well as some insight into
the pottery-making process.
The best way to avoid nervousness in a
public speaking situation, say experts, is to be confident that you are prepared.
So go over your speech until you get it down pat.