Cheryl L Litman on fri 22 aug 97
Hi,
I live in Somerset, NJ and have been reaching out to home schoolers as
well. Are you nearby? If you don't mind discussing fees I'd like to
know what you charge for classes? I've been varying my price somewhat
depending on the group but would rather have a "fixed" policy. I usually
charge $8/hr plus a small materials/firing fee or $10/hr and no fee. I
give $10% off if they sign for a certain number of classes per session
and pay in advance. For classes where people come to my studio, no ones
complained about the prices, for classes where they host a group in their
home, I've received feedback that the parents think I should charge less
since they are providing a "whole class" for me. I see it differently
since I now have to carry and haul everything. I checked into the costs
of lots of kids activities in the area and unless we're talking YMCA or
other non-profit, the $10/hr fee is right in the ballpark here in central
NJ. I've done a few one time only group activities for a lump sum which
is far less than the $8/hr/child, but for a regular class I don't think
that's practical financially. Any info you wish to share would be
greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Cheryl Litman
cheryllitman@juno.com
On Thu, 21 Aug 1997 18:17:49 EDT The Wrights
writes:
>----------------------------Original
>message----------------------------
>Mel Jacobson wrote:
>>
>> ----------------------------Original
>message----------------------------
>> several ideas on becoming a potter.
>> 1. if you love clay, love fire, love hard work, and are very
>determined,
>> and do not need others to stimulate you to achieve. be a potter.
>> 2. if you value yourself, want to be your own boss, and can live
>> without the "glitz" of life. be a potter.
>> 3. if you are willing to become a carpenter, welder, brick mason,
>> chemical engineer, chemist, general contractor, skilled crafts
>person,
>> salesperson, packer, mailer, and then a little bit of artist. be a
>potter.
>> 4. if you like working into the night, and then getting up at dawn.
>> be a potter.
>> 5. if you like wet clay in your crotch. be a potter.
>> 6. and then, of course, if you are these things, what else could
>you
>> be, but a potter?
>> 7. if none of these things appeal to you.........be an accountant.*
>>
>> *a story: why is it that so many accountants take ceramics
>classes,
>> and potters rarely want to spend evenings taking accounting classes?
>
>Because ceramics is so EXCITING and INTERESTING and VARIED and
>accounting is soooooo snoooozzzzzzzzz (BORING!!!!!!!)
>
>>
>> that was a question posed to kevin caufield at one of his evening
>> adult ceramics classes at the northern clay center, mpls.
>> mel. mn.
>> http://www.pclink.com/melpots
>
>I loved this. I have been doing accounting and bookkeeping for more
>years than I care to think (about 15 now). I escaped the "9 - 5
>office
>prison" when I became a full time art major in 1992. I learned on
>the
>job, so I didn't have to snooooozzz through Accounting class, although
>I
>tried taking a home study course and ended up falling asleep reading
>the
>chapters, not much good for learning. At that time, I launched my own
>bookkeeping buisness, where I was free to come and go as work was
>available, when it was done, I could leave the client. I didn't have
>to
>sort and stack paper clips to "look busy" until 5:30pm. Now, I am
>passing my bookkeeping jobs on to my husband and he hopefully will be
>taking over with them and I will do art full time. My current most
>lucrative (?) art-like activity is teaching art to home schooled
>children. I either go to their house (which the mothers love, no
>driving) or I have classes in their area (which is a compromise for
>the
>families that are more than an hour away from me). I also do some
>illustration, but my true "heart-throb" is pottery. I fell in love
>with
>it when I saw it as a little child and always wanted to try but never
>could. So, when I went to college, my second semester I took ceramics
>and was hooked. So, now I just plan every day as though I am going to
>be
>a full time artist very soon. It is so good to finally find my niche.
>If I had had the confidence at an earlier age I would definitely be
>further along.
>
>One great thing about my bookkeeping experience, that I am really
>thankful for is that I have learned to be organized, take care of
>paperwork and money issues and the business side of running a
>home-based
>business. I am really grateful for that, because I could have made
>some
>seriously royal mistakes.
>
>Take care, e y'all soon (or since I'm from Jersey I should say "e
>youse
>soon"
>
Pamela Dolin on sat 23 aug 97
Dear Cheryl,
I am a potter who does teach lessons. I also am a homeschooling mother. I
mostly teach homeschoolers as that is a big part of my life. I would be happy
to help you if I can. I have a studio in my humble two car garage. I charge
15.00 for a two hour lesson. I have no more than four students to a class. I
make them buy their own clay and small hand tools, but I fire and they are
welcome to use my glazes. If I can help you in any other way let me know. I
have also taught up to 100 girlscouts before, that was very profitable.
The Wrights on sat 23 aug 97
Hi,
>
> I live in Somerset, NJ and have been reaching out to home schoolers as
> well.
That's great, they are very much in need of artists to help them.
Are you nearby?
I live in Haledon, between Paterson and Wayne. I commuted to William
Paterson College from Hillsdale in Bergen County, for 10 years as a part
time then full time student. I graduated in May '96, got engaged and
then married in October. I then moved to, would you believe about two
minutes from college. I could walk there. The Dunkin' Donuts that gave
me those last surges of energy, while working in the ceramic studio is
about 4 blocks away. Life is full of irony.
If you don't mind discussing fees I'd like to
> know what you charge for classes?
I don't mind at all. I provide two options:
1) private lessons at the child(ren)'s home - I charge $22.00 per two
hour lesson for 1 - 2 children, I give a small discout if the parents
pay for the whole month at the beginning of the month. If they have 3
or more children then I charge 10.00 per child for the same length of
time.
2) group lessons in their area - the North Bergen Home Schooler's
Association has split into about 8 different sub-groups, based on
location, I am going to be contacting each group about classes in their
area. For an 8 week lesson series, with two weeks following for make-up
classes, I charge $75.00 for the first child in the family, $65.00 for
the second child, $55.00 for the third child, $45.00 for the fourth
child, and 5th or more come for free. I have already done a 12 week
program in Ledgewood, that's up Northwest Jersey. It went really well.
I had 40 students, did two full days a week, three two hour sessions per
day, maximum of 8 students per class.
When I was planning on doing this, I spoke to my sister who lives in
West Milford and was taking my nephew to art classes in her area. My
price range now is a little lower than my nephew's art teacher's rates
were about 2 years ago (when I spoke to my sister). My nephew went to
her place too, I do house calls which the parents are very grateful for,
since home-school mothers cart their children all over the place.
I've been varying my price somewhat
> depending on the group but would rather have a "fixed" policy.
You definitely want to do that. Don't underprice yourself either,
especially if you are "making house calls" too. You have to consider
the wear and tear on your car, the travel time and the convenience that
you are providing for the families.
Do you just teach clay? I do basic drawing first, because I believe
that all art has it's foundation in drawing. And I teach them how to
draw what they see. I use "Drawing From the Right Side of the Brain",
excellent book. I have some other resources too.
What age groups are you working with? I work with all ages, 7 years to
16 right now. I am helping the 16 year old get her portfolio together
to go to art school next year. One of the mothers wants me to teach her
after I teach her daughter.
I usually
> charge $8/hr plus a small materials/firing fee or $10/hr and no fee. I
> give $10% off if they sign for a certain number of classes per session
> and pay in advance. For classes where people come to my studio, no ones
> complained about the prices, for classes where they host a group in their
> home, I've received feedback that the parents think I should charge less
> since they are providing a "whole class" for me.
You can gently remind them that you also use gas and time to get over to
their houses.
I see it differently
> since I now have to carry and haul everything. I checked into the costs
> of lots of kids activities in the area and unless we're talking YMCA or
> other non-profit, the $10/hr fee is right in the ballpark here in central
> NJ. I've done a few one time only group activities for a lump sum which
> is far less than the $8/hr/child, but for a regular class I don't think
> that's practical financially.
That's right.
I did my first newsletter that tells about how I started in art and
gives details for up-coming classes, if you are interested, or if you
just want to talk more, you can call my pager at 973-614-4150.
I'd like more info about you too. If I get any calls from people in
your area I could refer them to you.
Just a little tip for future reference, if you are dealing with
home-schoolers alot, I just learned it this month. If you are setting
up programs in the fall, expect to start at the end of September, and
don't expect them to be able to pay you in full, in advance, in August,
because they have just broken their bank accounts to buy curriculum,
which is very expensive. Most of them are single income, which isn't
easy in this state, and they still have to pay school taxes for services
they don't use. I am very supportive of this very contraversial concept
of home-schooling. I want to do it myself when I have children. The
greatest majority of children I know are great. They are mostly mature,
capable of socializing with every age group, able to express themselves,
living lives full of activities and opportunities that I never had
rotting away in the school system. No offense to all you educators, I
know I probabley just lit some fires, but my experiences with school was
not good at all. I humbley apologize and hope noone is upset with me
for speaking my mind.
Any info you wish to share would be
> greatly appreciated.
Well I hope I was some help. Feel free to page me, or e me again for any
reason. Take care
| |
|
