Читать книгу Start & Run an Art Teaching Business - Tanya Freedman - Страница 6

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 younger sibling, too? From there I added custom birthday parties to my menu of programs.