Stone Spiral Posted December 11, 2016 Report Share Posted December 11, 2016 Hey All!So I have been running mini-classes out of my home studio for the past few months. It's gone swimmingly, and I am taking the leap to a bigger location/more public venue. Registration for January classes is going well, and we move into the space next week.I feel prepared, I like to think I thought of (almost) everything - but don't want to re-invent the wheel and am willing to take advice from more experienced peers and mentors!I'd love to hear advice from experienced people on what you figured out, through trial & error - and perhaps even after several months or years into this adventure. What small tip or trick made a huge difference for your studio running smoothly?What essential tool or item made life a lot safer/easier/more efficient? I feel pretty good but know that there is certainly more I could learn...Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted December 11, 2016 Report Share Posted December 11, 2016 I've had a lot of students who come from other studios around the country where they had to pay every time they did something. Every practice session outside of class time,, every pot that was glazed, every pot that was fired, etc. They felt like they were nickeled and dimed to death. I price things so it's easy on them, and easier for me in that I don't have to constantly be hitting them up for fees. Class tuition includes open studio time. Clay price includes glazes and firing. They pay tuition at the beginning of the session, they buy a bag of clay when they need it. Easy. They're more willing to come to open studio, which means they improve more quickly, and use more clay, which I'm happy to sell them. They get hooked on clay and keep signing up for classes. Make the rules clear. Post them in a couple of spots in the studio. I have a few students who pay for 24 hour access, and they are a great help in opening the studio when I can't. Learn how to say 'NO'. Say it a lot. You'll be happier. If you're ever undecided, go with 'no' rather than 'yes'. It's usually not worth the money and aggravation to say 'yes'. It took me a long time to learn this, as it does most people. Define what your job is and how you want to do it, and stick to it. You are under no obligation to do things for customers or students who want you to do something outside of your job description. That's not to say that your job can't evolve, but be selective. Only say 'yes' if it's something you plan to continue doing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joseph Fireborn Posted December 12, 2016 Report Share Posted December 12, 2016 Learn how to say 'NO'. Say it a lot. You'll be happier. If you're ever undecided, go with 'no' rather than 'yes'. It's usually not worth the money and aggravation to say 'yes'. It took me a long time to learn this, as it does most people. Define what your job is and how you want to do it, and stick to it. You are under no obligation to do things for customers or students who want you to do something outside of your job description. That's not to say that your job can't evolve, but be selective. Only say 'yes' if it's something you plan to continue doing. This is mostly true for everything in business development. I used this ideology almost every day when I was developing websites and now I am applying it to developing apps. Just because a lot of people want something doesn't mean it needs to be added. Sometimes things can be accomplished with the existing rule set or things you have available. After enough time if people haven't came up with a solution to a problem by using a work around or just doing something else instead, then maybe it is time to look at adding that feature or rule, until then go very slowly in things you change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callie Beller Diesel Posted December 12, 2016 Report Share Posted December 12, 2016 This is a subset under the "learn to say no" clause: Don't expand your scope too rapidly. Figure out what you're willing to offer, and have that set of offerings firmly established and running as smoothly as you can before you add other things that might be requested. Juggling too many balls leads to important ones being dropped. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denice Posted December 12, 2016 Report Share Posted December 12, 2016 Don't forget to get insurance. Denice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MatthewV Posted December 12, 2016 Report Share Posted December 12, 2016 I wouldn't allow open studio time to people who have not taken a class with you. The people I had do this have not meshed as well with me. The only tool that changed my life... the pug mill. I couldn't afford a new one right away but was blessed with a used one after a few months. --- On a similar but different side of Neil, I charge by the weight of finished glazed work. Students can freely use and reclaim the studio clay and pay only when completing at my place. Studio access is paid for monthly or as part of a class. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted December 12, 2016 Report Share Posted December 12, 2016 I agree with Matthew. Don't do walk-ins. I only allow people in the studio who are signed up for classes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nancylee Posted December 12, 2016 Report Share Posted December 12, 2016 I am not a studio owner, but have had businesses and taken classes. A teacher I've been with for 6 years is a wonderful and generous teacher. She rarely says No. She tries to accomodate us. And from my own businesses and my own experience as a student, if i had a teacher who said No a lot, I'd find another teacher. Id try to accomdate people on reasonable requests and lean more toward saying Yes, let me try to help you, rather than saying No frequently. Just a different perspective. Everyone has to do what he or she is comfortable with.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartinB Posted December 12, 2016 Report Share Posted December 12, 2016 Have a listen to this podcast - Building a Community Center | Tallie Maughan | Episode 249 http://thepotterscast.com/249 Its the place I started doing pottery at in London, its gone from strength to strength and is a real hub for ceramics in the city now, they're even opening a second site too. Might not transfer over to what you're thinking but definitely worth a listen and probably some useful advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MatthewV Posted December 12, 2016 Report Share Posted December 12, 2016 nancylee-- There is a very big difference from going out of the way to foster and continue a student's progress and listening to the public requests. They will fall along these lines: "you should do kids parties!" "you should have bisque to paint!" "you should let me use the facility for free and I will pay you in June" "you should...." The ones that hold more water: "I am interested in..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 12, 2016 Report Share Posted December 12, 2016 "you should do kids parties!" "you should have bisque to paint!" "you should let me use the facility for free and I will pay you in June" "you should...." "Will you watch my kids for me while I go shopping?" Happen to me once Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Min Posted December 12, 2016 Report Share Posted December 12, 2016 For a new business starting out if Roxy is looking to find more participants and is interested in teaching kids I actually think holding Birthday Parties is a great way to introduce kids to clay and would likely result in some of the kids and possibly parents signing up for a full set of lessons. In my part of the world nobody holds kids parties at home anymore. Everyone is doing on location type parties, Trampoline, Cupcake Decorating, Arts & Crafts ones and so forth. I went to one a couple months ago. Was done by this company http://www.4cats.com/blog/clay-party/. The clay party option is $195 for 1 hour of studio time plus a table for having cake and juice which is another 45 minutes. Parents supply everything not clay related from cups to plastic tablecloths, to small decorations plus the cake etc. The studio has 1 instructor demoing 1 project that everyone makes. If there are more than 10 kids then it’s another $15- a person. Each kid is given 1 ball of clay (about 1 lb) and uses simple handtools. Parents stay and look after kids, the instructor taught the lesson, it’ wasn't babysitting. Pots are painted with underglaze then are ready to be picked up 3 weeks later. Low fire clay, underglaze, clear glaze. I appreciate that they are not “serious†clay projects but there is definitely a market for this with opportunity for add on instruction. $195 for 1 3/4 hours of time (1 hour of actual instruction) plus minimal supplies and 10 tennis ball sized items to fire doesn’t sound too bad. 1 party a week would probably pay the rent. Lots of schools no longer offer ceramics programs, especially elementary, I think it is a good way to introduce clay to kids. edit: I know a lot of people will find this idea abhorrent, I don't know what kind of business model or philosophy Roxy is following. It might be waaaaay off base but it could be an option with a new start-up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted December 13, 2016 Report Share Posted December 13, 2016 nancylee-- There is a very big difference from going out of the way to foster and continue a student's progress and listening to the public requests. They will fall along these lines: "you should do kids parties!" "you should have bisque to paint!" "you should let me use the facility for free and I will pay you in June" "you should...." The ones that hold more water: "I am interested in..." Exactly. I do everything I can for my students, and then some. But there are also limits to what I can do for them because my studio isn't equipped for certain things, or it's outside of my area of expertise. Everyone off the street has an idea what what my business should do and what kind of pots I should make. I get regular requests to reproduce pieces of pottery someone bought on vacation 20 years ago. No. Nor do I make goblets or chalices. Nor will I make a custom glaze for someone. If you want my work, then you get the forms I make with the glazes I use. I get regular requests to let 5 year olds into my kids classes 'because he's very mature for his age'. No. I get regular suggestions to do all sorts of things that people expect my business to be, but isn't. You have to define your business so you can excel at what you're trying to do, rather than being pulled in a million different directions. Saying no to all the other things allows you to put the effort where it belongs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stone Spiral Posted December 13, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 13, 2016 Thanks guys! All such awesome,valuable advice and insight. I will respond more when I have time.. I've just been so busy with this endeavor! Will keep checking back to see if more gold/gems of info come rolling in. Very excited and happy to hear from you all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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