Ep 625: Iterating for a Target Audience with Will Donovan (Part Two!)

Send us a textWorking as a librarian by day and making pottery in her garage studio by night, Becky wrestles with a challenge many makers face: how do you develop a distinctive artistic voice when you're working in isolation? What if the pressure to constantly produce—amplified by social media's highlight reel—is actually drowning out the quiet work of discovering what you're truly trying to say? Through Becky's journey from community studios to her home workspace, and ultimately to seeking mentorship, we see how the introspective work of noticing what you notice and allowing yourself to be vulnerable about your creative exploration can transform not just your work, but your entire relationship with your craft. When we, as makers, give ourselves permission to prioritize being curious over meeting productivity expectations, we can often discover that the creative restlessness we’ve been feeling isn't a problem to solve—it's actually pointing us toward the work we’re meant to be making…Becky's Instagram: @hawthorn_ceramicsMore information on Naomi Clement's mentorship program can be found here.Applications are now open to Naomi Clement's "Finding Your Voice" mentorship program!  This mentorship is all about the why behind your work.  It's a five month virtual program designed specifically for makers like you who are ready to explore new creative directions and dig deeper into their work. Click here to learn more!Love this podcast? Support an episode! Click here to learn more. Follow The Maker's Playbook on Instagram @themakersplaybookHave questions about the show or want to say Hi? Email us at: podcast (at) makers-playbook (dot) com

Send us a textMany makers struggle with the tension between creating work we love vs making work that we think will sell, especially when traditional academic instruction is often focused on concepts and what I call “Capital A Art” over the practical skills needed to make a living. What if the key isn't choosing between artistic integrity and commercial viability, but rather learning to work efficiently?Olivia Avery's experience reveals how rigorous craftsmanship training—throwing 40-80 pots daily until she could self-evaluate and create consistent work—became the foundation that allows her to pursue intricate surface decoration while maintaining a viable business. Despite the unpredictability of markets where she might sell out of teapots one weekend and mugs the next, her willingness to price her labor-intensive, highly decorated functional work appropriately demonstrates how technical excellence and clear pricing boundaries can create space for both creative fulfillment and financial sustainability, even when it means accepting a smaller but more committed customer base.⭐️ Looking for more support? ⭐️Whether you're trying to figure out your pricing, navigate the art fair circuit, get out of the art fair circuit, or just want support while you experiment with new creative directions, you'll find fellow makers who truly get it (and a ton of ever growing, practical educationl resources to support you along the way) inside of our Community. Learn more about the perks of membership and come join us by visiting: makersplaybook.com/communityApplications are now open to Naomi Clement's "Finding Your Voice" mentorship program!  This mentorship is all about the why behind your work.  It's a five month virtual program designed specifically for makers like you who are ready to explore new creative directions and dig deeper into their work. Click here to learn more!Love this podcast? Support an episode! Click here to learn more. Follow The Maker's Playbook on Instagram @themakersplaybookHave questions about the show or want to say Hi? Email us at: podcast (at) makers-playbook (dot) com

Send us a textAs makers, we often feel pressure to create what we think will sell rather than what genuinely excites us, but what if following your authentic creative vision is actually the fastest path to finding your people and building sustainable success? Danielle Williams of Strong Roots Pottery discovered this when she finally allowed herself to explore the hair-inspired clay work that had been sitting in her sketchbook for years—her now-signature Bantu knot vases didn't just reignite her passion for making, they created such demand that she now maintains a waitlist of eager customers. By giving herself permission to make what truly resonated with her (even when it meant stepping away from "safer" planter sales), she found that following her long-held creative vision became her greatest business asset, proving that the courage to pursue your personal creative interests—rather than chasing trends or quick sales—often leads to the kind of meaningful work that sustains both your artistic soul and your bank account.Applications are now open to Naomi Clement's "Finding Your Voice" mentorship program!  This mentorship is all about the why behind your work.  It's a five month virtual program designed specifically for makers like you who are ready to explore new creative directions and dig deeper into their work. Click here to learn more!Love this podcast? Support an episode! Click here to learn more. Follow The Maker's Playbook on Instagram @themakersplaybookHave questions about the show or want to say Hi? Email us at: podcast (at) makers-playbook (dot) com

Send us a textMost makers think YouTube means teaching their craft or competing with influencers for millions of views—but what if the real power lies in creating educated, confident buyers who value your work before they ever click "purchase"? Jamar Diggs, YouTube consultant and creator of the Low Lift Club, reveals how service providers and product makers can leverage YouTube not for viral fame, but as a strategic lead generator that transforms browsers into invested customers. When makers shift from accidentally teaching their techniques to intentionally showcasing their process and educating buyers on product value, they create a sustainable system where old videos continue attracting qualified customers months or even years later—turning YouTube into a working asset rather than another exhausting content treadmill.Jamar will be joining us in The Community on September 23rd for a masterclass called "How to Track What Matters Online." Because while we're talking about YouTube strategy in this conversation, the bigger question many of us face is: how do we actually know what's growing our business? Or put more simply: How do we know what’s working? Come join us inside of The Community for this masterclass as well as access to our ever growing library of masterclasses by clicking here: makersplaybook.com/communityApplications are now open to Naomi Clement's "Finding Your Voice" mentorship program!  This mentorship is all about the why behind your work.  It's a five month virtual program designed specifically for makers like you who are ready to explore new creative directions and dig deeper into their work. Click here to learn more!Love this podcast? Support an episode! Click here to learn more. Follow The Maker's Playbook on Instagram @themakersplaybookHave questions about the show or want to say Hi? Email us at: podcast (at) makers-playbook (dot) com

Send us a textWhat if the pressure to grow your follower count and perfect your online presence is actually distracting you from the real relationship-building that sustains creative businesses over time? Because it’s a little bit crazy to realize how many of the most successful business opportunities often come not from your carefully crafted marketing strategy, but from the casual conversations that happen when you're just being human. Moments like helping a neighbor move boxes, chatting in another language at an art opening, or simply showing up authentically in your community. Yvonne's experience reveals how pivoting from traditional market sales to unexpected revenue streams like embassy orders and collaborations discovered through bilingual conversations has not only increased her income but deepened her creative practice. As she navigates the seasonal rhythms of pottery—selling in winter, creating in summer, and learning to work with rather than against these natural cycles—her journey illustrates that sustainable self-employment might be less about having a perfect plan and more about staying open to the human connections and creative experiments that emerge when you're focused on the work you love rather than the metrics you think you need. In this episode: Yvonne Rausch @_yvonnerauschFull Show Notes & Resources can be found at makersplaybook.com/podcast-----Find Community member Anne online @ceramicsbyanneInterested in joining Anne and Yvonne inside of The Community? Learn more about the perks of membership and sign up at: makersplaybook.com/community-----Applications are now open to Naomi Clement's "Finding Your Voice" mentorship program!  This mentorship is all about the why behind your work.  It's a five month virtual program designed specifically for makers like you who are ready to explore new creative directions and dig deeper into their work. Click here to learn more!Love this podcast? Support an episode! Click here to learn more. Follow The Maker's Playbook on Instagram @themakersplaybookHave questions about the show or want to say Hi? Email us at: podcast (at) makers-playbook (dot) com

Send us a textThe romanticized image of going full-time as a maker often glosses over one crucial reality: you'll spend as much time problem-solving your business as you do creating, and the mental resilience required might surprise you more than the financial challenges. What if the key to thriving long-term isn't just having enough savings or demand for your work, but developing the flexibility to constantly adapt when your original plans inevitably must change? Yvonne's two-year journey from part-time ceramicist to full-time entrepreneur reveals how seasonal rhythms, unexpected kiln disasters, and market changes force you to get creative with revenue streams—from embassy orders to collaborations discovered through casual conversations. Rather than viewing these constant pivots as setbacks, embracing the problem-solving nature of self-employment can lead to both stronger business foundations and deeper self-knowledge about your values, boundaries, and creative evolution.In this episode: Yvonne Rausch @_yvonnerauschFull Show Notes & Resources can be found at makersplaybook.com/podcast-----Find Community member Debi online @curiosibee.artInterested in joining Debi and Yvonne inside of The Community? Learn more about the perks of membership and sign up at: makersplaybook.com/community-----Applications are now open to Naomi Clement's "Finding Your Voice" mentorship program!  This mentorship is all about the why behind your work.  It's a five month virtual program designed specifically for makers like you who are ready to explore new creative directions and dig deeper into their work. Click here to learn more!Love this podcast? Support an episode! Click here to learn more. Follow The Maker's Playbook on Instagram @themakersplaybookHave questions about the show or want to say Hi? Email us at: podcast (at) makers-playbook (dot) com

Send us a textCould it be that we've been thinking about this all wrong? That it's not the "real job" on one side of life and the dream of making art full-time on the other, and that eventually, we have to choose? Because when we really look at it, are the most sustainable creative careers, from the artists we admire the most, actually built on either-or decisions? Jenna McNerney's journey through teaching, studio ownership, a few odd jobs in construction and even a hair salon, chronic illness diagnosis, and back to teaching again reveals how adapting to life's curveballs doesn't mean giving up on your dreams. Instead, it means getting strategic about how you pursue them. Sometimes the most rebellious thing you can do isn't quitting your day job, but rather embracing the flexibility to move between worlds as you need to, keeping your hands in clay no matter what life throws your way.In this episode: Jena's Instagram @levelstudioartsFull Show Notes & Resources can be found at makersplaybook.com/podcast-----Find Community member Debi online @curiosibee.artInterested in joining Debi and Jena inside of The Community? Learn more about the perks of membership and sign up at: makersplaybook.com/community-----Applications are now open to Naomi Clement's "Finding Your Voice" mentorship program!  This mentorship is all about the why behind your work.  It's a five month virtual program designed specifically for makers like you who are ready to explore new creative directions and dig deeper into their work. Click here to learn more!Love this podcast? Support an episode! Click here to learn more. Follow The Maker's Playbook on Instagram @themakersplaybookHave questions about the show or want to say Hi? Email us at: podcast (at) makers-playbook (dot) com

Send us a textThe internet loves to talk about that magical “six figure business” milestone, but what if hitting that revenue number doesn't actually change your life the way you think it will? What if the real transformation happens when you stop chasing someone else's definition of success and start building systems that serve your actual goals—even when that means making decisions that feel uncomfortable or unconventional? In part two of our conversation, Will Donovan pulls back the curtain on what six figures really means as a business owner, how he navigates the complex world of copyright when creating fantasy-inspired work, and why strategic paid advertising became a tool only after he had proven organic growth. Turns out, sometimes the most sustainable path forward might require letting go of the romantic notions of what it means to be a "real" maker and embracing the frameworks required to build the business you need that actually supports your life. In this episode: Will's work @donovanpotteryFull Show Notes & Resources can be found at makersplaybook.com/podcast-----Find Community member Alisha @alishahagenartInterested in joining Alisha inside of The Community? Learn more about the perks of membership and sign up at: makersplaybook.com/community-----Applications are now open to Naomi Clement's "Finding Your Voice" mentorship program!  This mentorship is all about the why behind your work.  It's a five month virtual program designed specifically for makers like you who are ready to explore new creative directions and dig deeper into their work. Click here to learn more!Love this podcast? Support an episode! Click here to learn more. Follow The Maker's Playbook on Instagram @themakersplaybookHave questions about the show or want to say Hi? Email us at: podcast (at) makers-playbook (dot) com

Send us a textAs makers, we often start with a vision of success that's more fantasy than strategic roadmap—believing that if we just work harder at making our beautiful pieces, it will somehow lead to a sustainable business. But what if the path to actually thriving as a creative is in repeatedly narrowing your focus, rather than doing more and more? What if doing less is actually what allows you to find that magical venn diagram intersection of what you love and a specific audience who desperately wants it?Will Donovan's journey from nearly abandoning ceramics to building a six-figure fantasy-themed pottery business reveals how iterating toward a precise target audience—rather than trying to please everyone—can transform both your creative satisfaction and your bottom line. But don’t be fooled! The need to evolve your definition of success, even when it means letting go of traditional expectations (or some of the hands-on making) is no easy process. As always, it all comes down to your unique definition of not only what success looks like, but also what type of life you actually want to live.In this episode: Will's work @donovanpottery-----Find Community member Alisha @alishahagenartInterested in joining Alisha inside of The Community? Learn more about the perks of membership and sign up at: makersplaybook.com/community-----Applications are now open to Naomi Clement's "Finding Your Voice" mentorship program!  This mentorship is all about the why behind your work.  It's a five month virtual program designed specifically for makers like you who are ready to explore new creative directions and dig deeper into their work. Click here to learn more!Love this podcast? Support an episode! Click here to learn more. Follow The Maker's Playbook on Instagram @themakersplaybookHave questions about the show or want to say Hi? Email us at: podcast (at) makers-playbook (dot) com

Send us a textAs makers, many of us feel pressure to choose between our creative passions and a more traditional career - but what if that's a false choice entirely? What if taking your craft seriously doesn't require abandoning a career you are equally passionate about? Melisa's journey from taking her first clay class as a 40th birthday gift to creating what she calls a "side saunter" shows us how blending our different worlds can actually make both richer. Could embracing your own pace and connecting your creative work to the career you already had be the key to building a sustainable making practice that enhances rather than competes with all of life’s other demands?Melisa's work can be found @mwypotteryFeatured in this episode:  Check out our Community member, Alisha's work @alishahagenartApplications are now open to Naomi Clement's "Finding Your Voice" mentorship program!  This mentorship is all about the why behind your work.  It's a five month virtual program designed specifically for makers like you who are ready to explore new creative directions and dig deeper into their work. Click here to learn more!Love this podcast? Support an episode! Click here to learn more. Follow The Maker's Playbook on Instagram @themakersplaybookHave questions about the show or want to say Hi? Email us at: podcast (at) makers-playbook (dot) com