# Pottery Class Booking: Waitlists, No-Shows and Make-Ups

Cluster: For Studio Owners
URL: https://claybook.studio/blog/pottery-class-booking-waitlists-no-shows/

# Pottery Class Booking: Waitlists, No-Shows and Make-Ups

Pottery classes are small, popular and hard to refill. A student who skips a session leaves an empty wheel. A full class with a long waitlist leaves money on the table. Clear booking rules fix both.

## Decide how people book

* **Series.** Students sign up for a block of weeks. Good for steady progress and easier to plan clay and firings.
* **Single sessions.** Flexible, but harder to predict attendance and to teach in sequence.
* **Hybrid.** A series with the option to buy single drop-in spaces if there are free places.

Keep class sizes to what your wheels and teacher can handle. See [how to start a pottery studio](/blog/how-to-start-a-pottery-studio/) for the practical limits.

## Run a fair waitlist

* Take names in order and tell people their position.
* When a space opens, offer it to the next person with a deadline to accept, such as 24 hours.
* If they do not respond, move on and tell them.
* Keep a record so you can show how decisions were made.

## No-show and make-up policy template

Copy this wording and edit to fit your studio.

| Situation | Policy |
| --- | --- |
| Cancel more than 48 hours before | Free of charge. We offer your space to the waitlist. |
| Cancel less than 48 hours before | Sessions are not refunded. A make-up is not guaranteed. |
| No-show | Counted as an attended session. |
| Make-up | One make-up per course, within four weeks, when space is available. |
| Teacher cancels | The session is rescheduled or credited. |
| Student leaves mid-course | No refund after the second session, unless we agree otherwise. |

State the policy at booking and repeat it in the confirmation message. Apply it consistently, and decide in advance when you will make exceptions.

## Reduce no-shows

* Send a reminder 24 to 48 hours before.
* Tell students what to wear and bring.
* Make it easy to cancel, so they do not just stay away.
* Ask for payment upfront when booking.

## Plan for the first class

Beginners are nervous. A clear first-session plan helps them show up again. Our [curriculum guide](/blog/beginner-pottery-class-curriculum/) and the lesson on [your first tools](/learn/your-first-tools/) are a good start.

## What to look for in booking tools

* Waitlists that fill automatically
* Series and single-session bookings
* Reminders by email or text
* Make-up credits
* A payment option
* Export of your student list

Check current features and prices before you commit.

## Want this in your studio?

Claybook handles this for your studio: students book a series or a single session, a cancellation fills from the waitlist automatically and make-ups follow your policy.

Tell us how you run things today and we will tailor it to your studio. See [everything we offer studios](/studios/features/).