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ILLUSTRATION: AMY BLACKWELL

PAY IT FORWARD

LOOKING TO DEVELOP YOUR CREATIVE BUSINESS? FIND OUT HOW RUNNING YOUR OWN CRAFTING CLASSES COULD GIVE YOU AN AMAZING BOOST

Words: KAREN DUNN Illustration: AMY BLACKWELL WWW.AMYBLACKWELL.CO.UK

We’ve all had a teacher who’s inspired us at some point in our lives. So, as a maker who’s spent years honing your craft and working on new techniques to get the best results, why not pass on your knowledge and become that person that inspires others? Sharing the know-how you’ve used to grow your own creative business won’t just give you a warm fuzzy feeling as you see others benefitting from it, it’s a great way to take your hustle to the next level. A few hours teaching could turn out to be a lucrative revenue stream, bringing in extra cash on the side of selling your makes. But, there’s a whole other heap of benefits to teaching, too. Not only can you get more people to share the joy of crafting, you can get feedback on your products –free market research, anyone? –and make new connections with fellow creatives. Rohn Strong (www.rohnstrong.com ) teaches crochet and knitting in person, online and on TV, and is a huge advocate for skill sharing and the positive impact it can have. “Teaching is all about building a community. When you give people the confidence to create something, they become friends as well as customers,” he explains. So, do you need any specific skills to teach? “A good teacher has passion and talent. Teachers have to be kind, patient, encouraging and firm. The good news is all these are attainable. I encourage everyone to teach –I never feel better than when I’m standing in front of a class.” The ‘experience economy’, where people buy activities rather than objects, is currently one of the fastest growing retail sectors. If you’re up for the challenge, now is the perfect time to teach your craft alongside the day job.

PICK YOUR MEDIUM From putting together kits and creating ebooks for people who sign up to your mailing list to using online classrooms where beginners can learn new skills from scratch, there are so many great ways of sharing your talents beyond face-to-face workshops. They also mean you don’t have to stand up in front of a room full of people to do it. But before you start, do your research. Find out what people want to learn and the skills they struggle with, so you can make sure your workshop is tailored to their needs. When abstract artist Laura Horn (www.laurahornart.com ) was learning to paint she often signed up for classes, but never managed to finish them because life got in the way. When she looked for something shorter she couldn’t find anything that fitted the bill, so decided to create her own. “I saw an opportunity to create online classes that were informative, easy to follow and affordable,” Laura recalls. “I work with my husband who’s a photographer and videographer and we release a mixed media mini art class every six to eight weeks. This generates the majority of the income for our business.” Using platforms such as Teachable, Thinkific and Kajabi, you can create video content with a camera, microphone and some editing software. But, the real key to a good course is keeping it simple. “Often as teachers we want to cover everything so we keep adding more and more content into our workshops, but students can get overwhelmed,” explains Laura. “What you want is content that’s clear and easy to implement.”

GET PREPPED If you’re hosting a workshop in person, you’ll also need to have everything in place before you begin. For silver clay workshop teacher Melanie Blaikie (www.melanieblaikie.com ), planning is key. As well as picking the right venue, she advises making sure you have the right tools, equipment and materials, not to mention public liability insurance. “I encourage all new teachers to prepare a lesson plan,” adds Melanie. “It’s your blueprint for each class and breaks it down into easy chunks, with estimated timings and notes on techniques, demos or instructions to cover in each section. Another good idea is to run a practice class to anticipate any problems and refine your timings.” You can also use it as a place to upsell your brand –every time you host a workshop, you’re also marketing yourself. “Almost all the teachers I know also sell their own work,” reveals Melanie. “Everyone who attends a class leaves with a new-found understanding of the skill of the craftsperson.” And in turn, sharing your knowledge with others can give you valuable experience in your field of expertise. Inspiring a new wave of makers with love for your craft while growing your brand? Sounds like a win-win to us.