Privates and parties are with your own instructor(s) at your own time slot. They include step-by-step instruction, clay, tools, choice of glaze color, and post-production of your pots (bisque and glaze firing).

Your instructor preps the wheel area, clay and tools ahead of time. After a short intro and demo, students receive step-by-step instruction on how to make and design a pot on the wheel. We focus on making a bowl or a smaller pot that are best for beginners.

At the end of class, the instructor will guide everyone through a quick clean up. After, students choose a glaze color for their piece. Your pots stay at the studio and staff handle all the post-production - glazing and firing. Once every pot in your group is finished, the staff will contact you for pick-up.

**Please allow 6-8 weeks for your pottery to go through the entire firing process. Scroll further to read the Student Waiver*

Please respect your instructor and the others in the studio - put your phones on vibrate, silent or lower the volume. Take all phone calls outside if needed. We encourage everyone to put your phones away completely and be fully engaged in the class to get the most out of it.

Don’t worry, we’ll make sure you get your pictures and videos.

ARRIVAL: Your party must arrive 15 minutes prior to a private booking to maximize your time! You will not be given extra time if you are late.

DEPARTURE: We kindly ask your group depart no more than 15 minutes after the end of your booking. Other bookings are happening before and after your time, and staff need to clean up properly between sessions. Thank you for your understanding!

Food and drink are welcome for parties and privates. However, we are not a restaurant, picnic area, or dining venue. We do not give extra time for sit-down meals and drinks - the pottery class will take up the entire time. There are plenty of restaurants close by that you can visit before or after your party!

Please coordinate with us if you are planning on bringing cake, food or drinks so we can give you the best recommendations! If you do not make prior arrangements, staff may not be able to accommodate. Contact us for specific protocol and suggestions BEFORE you plan to bring anything to your party. The focus is on the pottery class so everyone’s hands will be covered in clay the whole time.

Please do not have anything delivered to the studio before your arrival.

Staff will NOT accept deliveries on your behalf when you are not present. You are welcome to bring light balloons or small decorations. However, we cannot hang anything, rearrange furniture, or alter the studio space. We cannot accommodate your arrival time more than 15 minutes before your class. Remember the focus is on the pottery!

We do not offer refunds or reschedules for missed bookings - all sales are final.

We cannot change a reservation once it is made and the teacher is scheduled. Because we are getting materials, reserving wheels and teachers are prepping ahead of time, we do not offer prorated refunds if less people show up than your reservation. Everyone in your group must show up on time! Showing up promptly, allows the private to start and end on time without interruptions. If you are late, the class will still end at the listed time.

Come dressed comfortably, with long hair tied back and nice jewelry and watches removed (they won’t get hurt but it is a pain to clean the clay off!). The clay will wash out and we do provide clean aprons; but wear clothes you don’t mind getting clay on.

And just a friendly tip - long nails are not pottery-friendly because the process involves so much of your hands and fingers (but we’ve seen it done before)!

Parking is street parking (metered and non-metered), please pay attention to the street signs. Please do not park in any business’s parking lots or our designated BRP Staff spaces. If you do, you risk being towed.

We suggest carpooling or ride-share whenever possible.

Bitter Root adheres to current guidelines for LA County and asks all our students and members to be prepared to follow any protocols. As of Friday, February 25, 2022 in LA County, masks are not required indoors for vaccinated individuals. With any activity, coming to the studio and participating in class or membership is done at your own discretion with full awareness we are a public space, adhering to LA County guidelines. Others will be taking classes, working on projects in various areas of the studio.

Please allow at least six-eight (6-8) weeks for your pottery to complete the firing process. Staff will contact you when everyone’s pottery in your group is ready to be picked up. From the time of your contact, you have 30 days to come pick up your pottery. After 30 days, your work may not be available for pick-up as we need to clear room for new student work.

Occasionally, pieces do not make it through the firing process due to air bubbles, construction issues, etc. Occasionally, firings do not go as planned - shapes may warp slightly or glazes may come out different than expected. Staff cannot control the results of firings once a pot is in the kiln. This is simply the nature of the imperfect ceramic process. Completed, “perfect” pots cannot be guaranteed.

REFUNDS WILL NOT BE ISSUED IF YOUR PIECE DOES NOT MAKE IT.

You are coming to Bitter Root Pottery for the whole experience of working in a ceramics studio with a knowledgeable, friendly instructor! Our instructors have been working for years in this discipline to learn its many nuances and to get to the skills they have today. These skills cannot be imparted in one 2 hour session. So while you may have ideas of making a perfect bowl, we encourage you to put those expectations down and focus on enjoying the entire experience of working with clay and engaging with the creative process so in-depth.