Hot Fired Arts — Attraction in Frederick

We were really looking forward to Hot Fired Arts, but unfortunately were disappointed with our experience. We had a reservation at 11am on a weekday. We arrived at 11:05. Even with our names and reservation time being posted on the table, someone else had placed their pottery on our table. Apparently another family had come in for a "to-go" order and set their items down. This would not have been a problem, except with COVID, I'd prefer not to have anyone's items in our reserved space. I then had to switch out one of the chairs at our table, because there were footprints all over it (I suspect someone stepped on the chair to reach a piece of pottery on a high shelf). We waited until 11:30 to be helped, because there was just one young woman working, and she was assisting the family with their to go order. Why have reservations if walk-ins get priority? I'm not sure if they were walk-ins, or scheduled a pickup time, but they weren't the only family who came in for a to-go order who received priority over us. When we were being helped, we were told by the young woman she would bring us water for our brushes. She forgot, and so I ended up getting my own, because she was constantly helping other families. All this to say, clearly one person is not enough staff to accommodate a full studio plus pickup orders. The young woman (Mackenna) was very friendly, but obviously overwhelmed. While tables were placed a safe distance apart, we still frequently had strangers next to us, because that was the only place they could view the pottery to choose their pieces. Based on what I read on the website, the owner has taken COVID into consideration by offering outdoor seating, to go orders, etc., so this was surprising and frustrating. I was hoping to give my daughter a special day for her 4th birthday, and this...

It looks like loads of people have good experiences here so hopefully mine is not the norm. But I've been here twice and have been disappointed both times so figured it was worth a review. Today id reserved and paid for spots for my two sons to do a craft class. The class was advertised as taking one and a half hours, and as "drop off" meaning I could leave my kids there and come back for them. When we arrived, we were the only ones there for the class. The supplies were set out, but there was zero instruction or assistance despite us being the only ones present. Thank goodness I didn't leave the boys there (age 7 and 8) as the employee was in the back most of the time and never checked on them. I had to get their supplies when needed.

Additionally, I thought I'd do a craft while my boys did theirs. I was asking for help and guidance chosing something and got the opposite - the store employee couldn't even answer basic questions and didn't seem to know how to set me up for any project. I chose a fused glass project thinking I'd get instructions but got set up with the wrong color, minimal instructions and in the end gave up because it was clear I wasn't going to achieve any sort of reasonable finished project just making it up as I went along. When I told the employee I didn't know what I was doing and was giving up she didn't have a response. I cleaned up my own supplies and returned to help my boys.

The 1.5 hour project took them about 30 minutes because they had no instructions or guidance and just slipped paint on pre cut wood.

This place is really expensive and to me, the experience doesn't come close to justifying the cost. Obviously others have better experiences so take my review in context with the others - just felt my two experiences - years apart - were basically the same so...

Don’t think I’ll be returning after my visit today. I called on Saturday night trying to find out information about the studio (prices,classes,etc). The women on the phone was helpful, and i told her I’d be in Monday morning along with some friends. Monday morning shows up, and my friend and I are about to leave our house (35 minutes away) we get the directions on the website but figured we’d call to find out where the studio is exactly. Nobody answers. Their automatic recording says their operation hours are “Tuesday-Sunday”. UH?! What happened to Monday?! The women on the phone definitely did say she would see my friends & i on Monday? Even with our plans being changed up my friends and I were very annoyed with the confusion but agree to try to go tomorrow as a fun get together. Today (Tuesday) my friends & I show up at 9:55am, and nobody is in the studio. Other families were waiting outside confused as to why nobody was there even when they open at 10:00am. In addition to that, my plan was to paint a letter for $14 but they were out of the letters i needed. Instead i got stuck painting a plate for $18. This studio also had a lack of color choices & pieces to pick from. I’m not usually one to complain and write reviews but this really irritated my friends and I. I’ve been to the I Made This studio in Downtown Frederick, and they have way more...