[Woodcarver] charges for teaching

[Joe Dillett]

Hi Helen,

This is a great question and a great discussion because so many of us teach
or are thinking of teaching. I think teaching is so important to our own
learning as well as the students.

I've got several different types of classes and non-of them have treats
unless one of the students bring them. I do supply all the coffee and water
they want. I have pop machines where they can buy pop if they want it.

I have a 4-year apprenticeship class with 6 apprentices who are a little
over a year into the program. We meet for group classes twice a week
(Tuesday evening and Saturday afternoon) for 3 hours each class. I charge
$10 per class. This is way below my normal charge because this
apprenticeship class is kind of an experiment that began with a rough
outline and is being refined as we go. Other than the use of one or two
special tools nothing is supplied. They pay for supplies, cut out their own
blanks and sharpen their own tools.

When companies set up classes for their employees (here in my shop) I take a
maximum of 6 students and charge the company $200 for each 3-hour class
regardless if there is 1 or 6 students. Today begins the second series of 3
classes for Designed Stairs. They come on Thursdays right after work from 4
until 7 PM. Two of these students coming this evening have taken the class 8
times, 2 is their second time and the other 2 is their first time.

Once a year I run a series of beginner classes at The Hardwood Connection.
The class costs $75 for 3 evenings of 2-½ hour each. There is a minimum of 8
to a maximum of 13 students. I don't supply anything. I get $150 per night
and The Hardwood Connection gets the balance plus all tool and supply sales.

I started teaching at The Hardwood Connection about 18 years ago when
liability insurance became so expensive and my insurance company wouldn't
even write the policy. Now I have a different insurance company for the
whole business, which includes liability for the classes I teach.


Joe Dillett
The Carving Shop
645 E. LaSalle St. Suite 3
Somonauk, IL. 60552
(815) 498-9290 phone
(815) 498-9249 fax
http://www.thecarvingshop.com
jdillett at thecarvingshop.com
http://www.carvingmagazine.com Carving Magazine web site and Readers Forum
http://community.webshots.com/user/joe_dillett
http://www.citizenactions.org
http://www.safeguardsystemsinc.com
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----- Original Message ----- 
From: <Chipmama at aol.com>
To: <woodcarver at six.pairlist.net>
Sent: Wednesday, February 16, 2005 10:14 PM
Subject: [Woodcarver] charges for teaching


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> I would really appreciate some input from those of you who teach carving
on a
> weekly or monthly basis - about what you charge.
> I've been teaching for about four years now and love it.  I just love to
> carve and I've been known to get tears in my eyes when one of my students
does
> something surprisingly good.
> I have ten somewhat "regulars" that I have recently split into two classes
in
> order to have more time to spend with each one.
> My students are all ladies rangeing in age from 27 to 85 years,
> plus a lady who is deaf.  I've never recruited students - it's all been by
> word of mouth.  Four of them are friends who I've known for over 20 years
and
> therein, I think, lies the problem.
> I am always here, unless I'm sick, which is seldom.  Plus, I am a carving
> fool, so I always put carving class before anything else.
> Some of my students on the other hand cancel for anything and everything
and
> it's starting to eat at me.
> I charge $10 for a 2 and a half hour class.  I sharpen their tools for
free.
> I supply paint.  I order things for them.  I don't charge for cutting out
> things on the bandsaw.  I have coffee and tea and often have snacks.  I
have come
> to the conclusion that the problem is I've been a poor business woman and
a
> bit of a doormat because I don't want to hurt my friends feelings.
> I am thinking about actively recruiting new students but I feel I should
set
> things up a little differently.
> Any ideas?  I'm open to all suggestions and comments.
> Sorry this turned out to be so long.  Guess I needed to spill my guts to
> someone who would understand.  Thanks for listening.
>
> Helen Coxe
> chipmama at aol.com
> Phoenix, AZ
>


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