Walk-in Wheel (Spin & Shape)

30 minute hands on experiences where guests walk away with 1 or more successful pieces.

The Wheel Experience is a guided, premium walk-in clay offering designed to make the pottery wheel accessible, fun, and successful for every guest. It is intentionally structured to support strong revenue, protect staff energy, and deliver consistent, high-quality results across all sessions.

This is not a pottery class. Instead, it is a timed, staff-led experience with clear boundaries that allow guests to enjoy the creative process while the studio ensures a smooth flow and dependable outcomes.

EXPERIENCE TYPES

BIG WHEEL

30 minute hands-on guest experience

45 minute booking blocks (allows for cleaning and reset)

1 piece included

Additional pieces $18 each

Fees include return visit to glaze

How to Talk to Customers About It

“On the big wheel, you’ll start with a pre-centered 1-lb ball of clay. We’ll show you how to open, pull, and form a shape then you’ll get to practice before spinning up a shape of your own! Your favorite wheel success and a return trip to glaze is included in the session but you can keep anything you love for an additional $18"

MINI WHEEL

30 minute hands-on guest experience

45 minute booking blocks (allows for cleaning and reset)

2 pieces included

Additional pieces $12 each

Fees include return visit to glaze

How to Talk to Customers About It

“On the mini wheel, you’ll start with a mini ball of clay. We’ll show you how to open, pull, and form a shape then you’ll get to practice before spinning up a shape of your own! Your top 2 favorite wheel successes and a return trip to glaze is included in the session but you can keep anything you love for an additional $12"

Each wheel is one guest per session. No sharing. Guest are welcome to participate in a handbuilding, PYOP, or mosaic project while they wait for wheel availability.

Staff Role: Wheel Experience Facilitator

Your Job Is To

control flow and timing
frame success clearly
normalize failure early
log all outcomes accurately
protect the studio’s time, tools, and kiln space

You're NOT Here To

teach advanced techniques
troubleshoot endlessly
negotiate pricing or rules

Spin and Shape Session Flow

1. GUEST INTAKE

Staff must confirm:

session type
one guest per wheel
pricing structure

Script:

“You can make as much as you like during your session. Your favorite successful piece is included. Additional pieces are extra.”

2. STAFF DEMO (failure first)

Staff places centered demo ball
Demonstrates opening, pulling, shaping
Pushes piece until failure

Script:

“I’m going to show you what success looks like — and where things go too far.”

3. PRACTICE BALL

Guest uses one practice ball
No pressure to save
One correction max

Script:

“Practice balls are just for that - practice. This piece is not intended to be a keeper and is designed for you to simply get a feel for the clay.”

4. KEEPER ATTEMPT

Staff explicitly frames this as the keeper/success at shaping.
Guest may stop early
Staff controls pull-off

Script:

“Now that we’ve had some practice, let’s shoot for success and stop when you feel like you’ve made a shape you like. Don’t worry, I’m here to guide you in the right direction.”

5. PICK PIECES & WRAP UP

Each additional piece (beyond initially included):

is clearly priced
logged before checkout
marked as KEEPER on ticket

Script:

“Our session is coming to an end, let’s pick our favorite successful piece(s) included with your session as well as any extras you want to keep and I’ll get your ticket together while you wash hands and take a look at our glazing options for your return visit in a few weeks.”

6. CLOSEOUT & CHECKOUT

Staff confirms number of included and additional keeper pieces
Directs guest to checkout
Explains next steps clearly

Script:

“We’ll trim, dry, and bisque fire these for you. You’ll come back to glaze when they’re ready in 2-4 weeks. Head over to the counter and [staff member name] will be happy to get you checked out! ”

Spin & Shape Ticketing System

Laminated tickets are used during the active clay phase of the Wheel Experience and remain with the work until it enters the bisque kiln. At the end of each session, staff use the completed laminated ticket to create a paper firing ticket in Square POS. That paper ticket is placed in the black box labeled Customer Bisque and becomes the primary tracking tool while pieces finish drying and wait to be fired. Once all pieces associated with a paper ticket are fully dry, they are loaded into the bisque kiln. After firing, the paper ticket is used to match finished bisque to the correct customer and to notify them that their pieces are ready to glaze. The laminated ticket does not enter the kiln room and is wiped clean once the work is actively in the bisque firing process, ensuring laminated tickets stay in clay and drying areas only.

TL; DR: Laminated tickets are used to create POS sales receipts then stay with wet clay only and are wiped once pieces enter the bisque firing process; all kiln room tracking is done using paper firing tickets.

Note: These tickets live in the clay corner when not traveling with a current clay project.

Drying and Trimming Standards

All wheel pieces follow a standard drying and finishing flow unless otherwise noted. After a session, work is kept under plastic for approximately 24 hours, then the plastic is loosened to allow for a slow, even release of moisture before pieces are moved to open shelves to dry fully until bone dry. Staff may adjust the drying method as needed based on the form, thickness, or environmental conditions to protect the integrity of the piece. All trimming is completed by staff to ensure consistency and quality; guests do not trim their own work unless they are enrolled in an approved class or membership program. Any trimming decisions or adjustments are recorded on the ticket so the piece can be tracked accurately through the production process.

Drying Flow (Default)

Plastic 24 hours
Loosen plastic
Shelf dry until bone dry

Staff may adjust drying method based on form.

Trimming Policy

All trimming is completed by staff
Guests do not trim unless enrolled in a class or membership
Trimming decisions are marked on ticket

Spin & Shape Curveballs & Confident Redirects

Occasionally, guests may request exceptions during a wheel session, and staff are expected to respond with clarity and consistency. Here are some of the top customer scenarios you might run into.

Can a guest do the wheel with more than one person at a time? What about sharing time?
Wheel sessions are limited to one guest per wheel to ensure everyone receives a full, uninterrupted experience; additional guests should be redirected to mini wheel sessions, handbuilding options, or paint-your-own pottery.

Oh no, the guest didn't successfully make ANYTHING!
If a guest does not produce a successful piece, staff should save and finish the best viable attempt whenever possible. In the rare case that no piece is usable, staff may offer one recovery option—either a free additional keep it piece on a future visit, a $10 studio credit, or a waived PYOP party reservation fee. Refunds are not offered.

The guest wants to trim their own piece.
Trimming is not part of the walk-in wheel experience; guests interested in trimming their own work should be directed toward an approved class or membership program where that skill is taught and supported.

Quality and Performance Standards

Quality and consistency are what make the Wheel Experience feel smooth and welcoming for both guests and staff. Each session should run on time, leave the guest feeling encouraged, and produce viable pieces that can move confidently through the studio process. Pricing should always be clear, laminated tickets should be filled out accurately, and the wheel area should be fully reset between sessions so every guest starts on equal footing. When the established flow isn’t followed, retraining may be used as a supportive tool to help keep the experience consistent and strong across the team.

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