Slate, aluminum and ceramic surfaces can be played all the way around but seem to all be sweeter a certain distance from the rim and not in the center. I think this has to do with the frequency of the vibrations changing as you move away fron the rim. All other surfaces that you condition you orient the call based on the direction of your conditioning. Some play 90 degrees to the conditioning, I like palying 45 degrees to the conditioning. But even these seem to be sweeter a certain distance from the rim. I have not observed the orientation of the grain of the pot itself having a noticeable effect.