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START & RUN AN ART TEACHING BUSINESS
Tanya Freedman
Self-Counsel Press
(a division of)
International Self-Counsel Press Ltd.
USA Canada-
Copyright © 2012
International Self-Counsel Press
All rights reserved.
Foreword
The role of mentor is an extremely important one, providing guidance, counseling, coaching, and professional advice learned through experience. Effective mentors share not only what they know, and who they know, but also who they are. In Start & Run an Art Teaching Business, Tanya Freedman, my protégée and friend, acts as a mentor to her readers.
For Tanya, being successful isn’t just about believing in herself and her talents, it is also about reaching out and connecting with others who are willing to help her succeed. Tanya has built on her extensive networking skills and business acumen to accomplish exactly what she set out to do: make this a must-read book.
Start & Run an Art Teaching Business is a template for anyone who wants to succeed in the business of teaching art. Allow Tanya to guide you through the planning and infancy of your new business. Your dreams can come true if you learn from an expert.
Donna Messer, DIRECTOR OF CONNECTUS, COMMUNICATIONS CANADA
Introduction
It is a well-known fact that children’s learning and development potential improves significantly when they are stimulated by arts programs. Yet many schools are eliminating programs such as art and music because of funding cutbacks. After-school art programs are increasingly in demand as parents actively seek to cultivate as many of their children’s talents as possible.
And it is not just children who can benefit from art classes. Adults, too, are seeking a creative outlet, especially as the effects of stress reach epidemic proportions.
More and more people are using their creative talents to pursue alternative careers and becoming entrepreneurs in the field of art, crafts, music, and dance. Even some of the lost crafts such as knitting, sewing, and crocheting are being set up as new business ventures.
In this book I share with you my own experiences of opening my school, Jolly Good Art. This book is a blueprint to help you craft your own business using your unique artistic talents. What art school do you dream of starting? This is an exciting new venture, and in addition to having a genuine love and passion for creating and teaching art, you must remain motivated and excited at every stage. Let this book be the companion that motivates you as you start and run your enterprise. It will take your art school business from conception to profitable reality — and beyond.
If you are new to the world of business, I highly recommend that you complete all the exercises. They are intended to help you with all the brainstorming you must do, especially when it comes to charting realistic short- and long-term goals. You will get a better idea of where to start, how to cultivate your own abilities, and how to nurture your students’ creativity and talents. And the practical advice about time management should help you become more organized and therefore accomplish even more. Time is a more precious commodity than most people admit or realize!
Whether you are a new or an experienced entrepreneur, I hope the ideas in this book will spark your imagination in an exciting new direction, and help you become an even better communicator, teacher, and networker. I’m also here to remind you that your expectations at the outset should be grounded and realistic. Be honest with yourself and others, and cultivate your integrity as a respected businessperson. When it comes to operating your business, sometimes there is no right or wrong, only what you learn along the way.
Make wise choices, and make the most of your life now! I trust you have unique talents and visions, and this book is here to help you start a business doing something you enjoy. I wish you the greatest joy in discovering your fullest potential and then living it.
1
Getting Your Business Started
I don’t care how much power, brilliance, or energy you have, if you don’t harness it and focus it on a specific target and hold it there you’re never going to accomplish as much as your ability warrants.
— ZIG ZIGLAR
The Conception of Jolly Good Art
My first business involved importing English antique furniture. Because of my love of antiques, and my knowledge of good quality furniture, it seemed a natural path to follow. I enjoyed what I did, but after three years of frequent traveling, my family obligations overtook the burgeoning success of my company.
I took a long, hard look at what it was I really wanted to do that would not end up compromising my marriage or motherhood. My husband and I analyzed my options. What did I really want to do and what could I do that wouldn’t necessitate traveling? The answer was art. I loved art, and an opportunity, by way of invitation to demonstrate my watercolor skills at a local ladies’ social group, planted the seed of the Jolly Good Art Studio and School.
I wrote down a tentative plan for what I needed to do to earn a minimum monthly income. Rather than pressuring myself to start big, which would have made me feel overwhelmed, I decided to ease my way into the new venture. I researched and talked to people who I thought could give me advice. I talked to my friends with entrepreneurial backgrounds and the parents of my daughter’s friends. I contacted other artists and anyone I respected to give me their honest opinions.
I began with small classes of four or five students, in after-school programs in my own home-based studio in my basement as well as off-site. I calculated the earnings potential and seriously considered what I wanted to achieve. Would it be worth it?
My mathematical equation was a basic one:
Number of children x fee per child per month – costs (e.g., supplies, rent, and eventually staff) = monthly profit
Within a few months, using my marketing and networking skills, I took my home business to the next level. Registering my sole-ownership name of Jolly Good Art and insuring for maximum liability, I started with small classes for children and for stay-at-home or self-employed parents.
Before long I was also running various after-school (and after-work) and weekend programs in my home studio. The classes included painting and glass painting workshops for adults and weekend art classes for children of different ages and experience levels.
During that time, a parent of one of my students had asked me if I offered summer camp programs. It was March so I thought, “Why not?” It seemed right to expand my business. I took the initiative to plan and prepare a unique summer camp program. I had plenty of committed campers interested in joining and could therefore cover the costs of additional staff.
The last day of camp coincided with a seven-year-old boy’s birthday. With a little extra planning, having selected special balloons and games to celebrate the official end of summer as well as his special day, the celebration was a success, and I was complimented for being able to organize such an event. Everyone could see I was a skilled professional. Could I organize another birthday party for the