For a panel Mark moderated at NCECA in 2005 about apprenticeships, he asked his last two apprentices to reflect on their experiences.
Maya Machin wrote about the business side of the apprenticeship:

For a downloadable version, click here.

I began my apprenticeship with Mark Shapiro around a year and a half ago with a mixture of excitement and apprehension.  It had been a year since I graduated from college with a concentration in ceramics, and I decided that I wanted to return to that medium to explore it further.  Choosing between an apprenticeship and graduate school was easy for me.  Pragmatist that I am, I wanted to see the pottery business through the eyes of someone who had experienced and thrived in it first hand.        
  
Throughout this apprenticeship, I have been able learn all aspects of the business, not just the making of pottery.  Because of this, I think I am much more prepared to take on this profession (if that is what I choose to do) than if I had attended graduate school.  Having the liberty of free materials and space has allowed me to work under much less stress and encouraged me to take more risks with my work.  I have been able to study Mark’s exceptional pieces up close and absorb some of his techniques and sensibilities.  Watching a professional routinely make his way through problems and evolve his craft has been very encouraging for me.  It gives me inspiration to continue through some of the challenging aspects of this apprenticeship. 

Juggling my work for Mark, my own craft, and my other part-time job has been a little overwhelming at times. Each part of my life is demanding in different ways and staying motivated and focused on all aspects has definitely been a challenge.  I try to concentrate first and foremost on my pottery and retaining and creating my own style that will be necessarily influenced by Mark’s work, but hopefully not overwhelmed by it. Because there little uninterrupted time to produce my pieces, and because I am physically and mentally stretched, this is not easy. 

However, I do not think I would have it any other way.  Seeing the reality of what it takes to support myself in this business and still being excited to come to work every day is revealing.  Having an environment that is supportive, flexible, financially stable, inspiring, and yet realistic is invaluable.  I would encourage anyone thinking of taking on pottery to complete an apprenticeship with a professional that they respect. 

- Maya Machin. 2005.