The Mudpit

My boyfriend bought me a gift certificate for Christmas for private lessons here, for $ 225. We walked over this weekend so I could meet the owner and make an appt. When we walked in, the owner informed us they were closing the shop down. When we explained that we had paid for private lessons, she asked for our address, wrote it down and said «she’d try to get us the money when she had it, maybe in a few months.»
What? Most of the fees were for supplies I clearly hadn’t even used yet. I guess we’ll wait and see if the fees are refunded, and if not, we’ll have to take action. Were they even planning on notifying all the people that bought gift certs for Christmas? Or just close up and drop off the face of the earth. Shady if you ask me.

Was interested in taking classes there. Met owner at Union Square winter market and got brochure. Called later to ask about registration and got a vague response from a man who said I should just come by which I did about 1 ½ weeks before the scheduled session was to start. Owner, Cindy, was not taking any registrations yet because «the credit card machine was broken». She asked for my E-​mail address and said she would let me know when she will start registering for the upcoming session. Never heard from her. After reading some negative reviews, I can see that stuff being true. Just got a funny feeling that personal problems interfere with their being able to run a professional business that is reliable. Also, the fact that the website schedule of classes is not kept up to date makes me wary of a shoddy operation. It’s too bad because she seems nice, down to earth, and makes beautiful stuff. I am taking classes at neighboring Choplet which I like generally, but as a beginner, the mixed level classes were not helpful-​spending 1 hour watching a demo of something too advanced for me was frustrating and a waste of my class time when I need to learn the basics. But, if you stick around and watch others, you start to learn what it is you need to know but didn’t know so couldn’t ask.

I had a good impression of this place for the first several weeks I went to the Mud Pit. Cindy is a helpful teacher, there are plenty of wheels and enough space, the materials are good, and the price is reasonable.
Unfortunately, the owners often conduct themselves unprofessionally. The store isn’t reliably open during stated hours, the owners smoke in the studio, and they keep a bedroom adjacent to the studio. I often had to wear headphones to avoid overhearing their arguments.
The owners seem overworked, and I suspect their margins are pretty tight. Unfortunately, their anxiety clouds the atmosphere of the studio. As a result, students come away feeling like the owners care more about getting their money than building an enjoyable studio community.

I’ve been taking classes at Mudpit off and on for several years. Cindy Gatto is a terrific teacher: I find her instruction clear and engaging. She’s very experienced and knows her stuff. Class prices are extremely reasonable. Also, I appreciate the private-​lesson options that are helpful when my schedule won’t accommodate the traditional multiweek classes. The studio is a good size, and it’s a comfortable place to work. Thumbs up from me.
Regarding the negative review: Owners Cindy and Mark are straightforward, no-b.s. people. Class/​studio policies are clear; respect the policies, and the owners will offer the same respect.