Teaching
your wine and paint classes classes for a fundraising event can feel
like you're being asked to give away your work for free.
Depending on how you set it up, you CAN give away your time for free, or you can use the experience as an opportunity to grow your business.
Just to clarify, a "Fundraiser" is an event hosted by a non-profit
agency to help them raise money to support the work they do. The idea is
that you, as the teacher, are helping the agency to raise money for
their cause, by providing an activity for their event.
The goal is for the agency to make money and for you to help them make that money.
Here's one of the questions I recently received along with my thoughts on how I handle this request.
Q: "I've
been asked about doing a fundraiser. I’m not opposed to that, but how
would I go about it as far as figuring up cost and how much actually
gets donated to the cause?"
A:Before
you figure up the costs. think about WHY you might want to do a
fundraiser and if it's a good fit for where you are in your business
right now.
I'm all about giving back and volunteering, but there are many ways to give your time and/or money to help others. It doesn't have to be by giving away your services for free.
I personally like creating win-win situations for both you and the
non-profit. Teaching at a non-profit event can help build your business
in terms of gaining experience, expanding your connections and marketing
your service. Here's what I mean:
You're just starting out and would like to get your name out there and make more connections
You're passionate about/involved with the cause and have a strong desire to give your time and services
You don't have much experience and you'd like an audience to practice with
You'd like to get photographs, testimonials and talk going about your class to help market it
You'd like to build your email list of students interested in your classes
You can build in your time to the cost of the class, so you're still getting paid while also helping others
Now that you're feeling good about why you'd like to do this, start by breaking down all of your costs.
Be sure to include all of the materials you use in each class (plug your own numbers in here, these are just for example:)
Canvas @ $5.00 per person x 20 people=$100.00
Paint @ $30.00 for an event with 20 people=$30.00
Paper Plates $3.00
Paper Towels $3.00
Table Covers $8.00
Total=$144.00
Then you can add a charge for your time and overhead such as your
liability insurance. Let's say you want to make $100.00 pay for the 4
hours you will spend with set-up, teaching and tear down and you add
another $20 for your liability insurance.
Your grand total is now:
Materials: $144
Time: $100
Ins: $20 Total: $264.00
Once you know how much you need to cover your time and expenses, you now have choices of how you can present your class fees.
Example 1: You can charge a per person rate that is a discount off of your typical rate:
If you typically charge $40.00 per person you can instead charge a discounted price of $20 per person.
The non-profit can then offer the class for $40 per person and they keep the difference of $20 per person.
In this scenario, you earn $400, covering your expenses and time and they get $400. Win-win.
Example 2:
Another option is to just buy all of the supplies for the class and have the non-profit reimburse you for the expense. Then you straight-up donate your time.
I give all of the left-over supplies to the non-profit, as they paid for
it and it belongs to them. I use my brushes and easels and aprons and
such, but all of the disposables, they buy.
In this example, you are 100% donating your time and have no material
costs. You still gain the benefits in marketing and experience we talked
about above and the non-profit gets to offer a great service to people
and raise funds by charging whatever they want for the class.
Example 3:
You charge a flat fee for the event. If you know you're
costs are $264, you can round that up to an even $300.00 flat fee for
the event, for up to X number of people. The non-profit pays you this
fee and charges as much as they want for participation in the event.
In this scenario, you get cover your costs+time and the non-profit is
able to flexibly charge to meet their own fundraising goals.
So, there you have 3 different ways to structure a fundraising event, while also feeling good about it and doing some outreach and marketing for your business.
Happy Creating!
Kelly
ps: I've gotten a little side tracked on the project I've been creating
for you, but it's back in the front of my mind as we move into 2019 and
I'm SUPER excited about it!
I'd love to hear from you about what you need help with as you explore teaching these types of social art making classes.
Would you like more lessons like these?
A FB group to share ideas with other creatives?
An Ultimate Guide to starting a wine and paint business? (or similar type of business?)
Learning about other types of social art making classes that aren't painting on canvas?
How can I best help you?
I'd be delighted if you would contact meand let me know. I read every one and will reply to any questions you have.
(Some people have started texting me? I'm not sure how that happened, but please reply by email only.)
I had a question that I thought might help youwhen you are approaching local venues to pitch your class.
It's good to go in prepared, not only with your sample work, but also
with a plan of how you can work together to price the classe so both you
and the venue you want to teach in, will benefit.
Here is a question that Dominique asked about pricing that I thought
would be helpful to anyone getting ready to approach a new place:
Q: I am starting to reach out to local wineries and
wine shops to pitch them on my class. How should I price my services
knowing that they will incur costs by providing their wine?
I would like to create tiered pricing packages for them...do you have
any idea where I should start? I would like to make $45 per person,
because I am an experienced teacher, and I will be providing all of the
supplies. A: It sounds like you are off to a good start with
contacting potential locations to teach. You are correct to assume that
the venue wants to get something out of the class as well.
The way I approach this is to figure out how much total I need to make
from the class, to cover expenses: materials, supplies, travel and my
pay. I then determine a per person rate from this total.
Then I look at what the going rate is for these types of classes-in this
area it's $30-$45 per person. I want to make sure my price is in line
with other classes in the area.
I know that most venues want to make at least $5.00 per person and
possibly more, depending on what they will provide. Some places charge a
room fee, but others will take a per person rate.
I work with a restaurant where we negotiated a rate of $10 per person
and they provide appetizers, pizza and a drink from the bar.
You will have to be flexible on your per person rate and work with the
venue to come up with a price that works for you both, but know what YOU
need going into the negotiation. You will also want to establish a
minimum number of students to make sure you cover costs and make it
worth your time.
You also want to ask the venue if they will do any promotion or
advertising of the class as well. Some may let you put up a sign or post
it on their social media page.
To create pricing tiers here are some possible options:
Venue
gets $5.00 per person and provides a drink and space (also talk up that
people will likely order more drinks and food once they are there)
Venue gets $10 per person and provides one drink and food (appetizers, lunch, etc...)
Venue
charges you the standard room rental fee is for the room (typically
$50-$100) and guests buy their own food and drink from the menu or bar.
$45 is likely going to be the top price that people will pay, so you
will want to be flexible and work within that as the total price charged
per person for a 2-3 hour class.
Hope this helps and good luck!
*Don't forget to start creating your own mailing list of students from
each event you hold. I'll send out a post on fun ways to do that soon!
ps: I'm making something special for you to answer all of your wine and
paint/social art making questions. It's in the works and I can't wait to
share it!
I recently was asked a question about taking painting classes into
people's homes. I think this is a great business model for your wine and paint business
for two BIG reason's I'll explain below. Q:
Thank you for providing so much helpful information about starting a
wine and paint business. I am a retired art teacher, who also worked
part time at a Muse Paintbar so I am already at ease with the
instructional part of the business. I purchased materials, easels,
aprons, canvases, paint, brushes, etc. I thought I might like to do this
in private homes (I come to you), but I am not sure if people are
comfortable with painting in their homes. I could do small groups in my
house but I have crazy dogs that jump. So, I am not exactly sure how to
go about it. A: Yes, teaching in homes is totally doable and a great business model for two reasons that I love.
There is no overhead to pay for the space, which saves you money.
The Host does recruitment of students for you which saves you both the time and expense of promoting the class.
Here are a few things to consider when teaching in people's homes:
Space:
Hosts need to know what to expect as far as space considerations,
tables, chairs and flooring concerns (you don't want to get paint on a
pretty white carpet for example.) I typically set up in people's dining
rooms and that works out well using the table top easels and plastic
table cloths. Hosts will need to know what YOU provide and what THEY
need to provide, so make sure this is clear. (A written agreement is
always good for this.)
Pricing and Supplies:
I charge a per person rate for home parties, the same as if I'm hosting
them in a public venue. My rate is $35.00 per person and I provide all
of the art supplies needed including easels and aprons. I also have two
6-foot tables that can be used for seating or art supplies.
You may want to charge more if you have to travel longer distances, to account for the extra time and mileage expenses.
You may want to consider a deposit to secure the date, especially if
you're booked solid and rely on the income from each party. Be clear
about what happens to the deposit if the class is cancelled by either
party.
I require a minimum number of guests to run the class and insure I
cover my costs. As far as maximums go, the host needs enough space to
comfortably seat all of the guests so that can vary based on the house
you're teaching in.
Getting started:
A good place to start is by having a friend host your first party and
then work to build more parties from that first class. Once people
attend one and have a great time, they are more likely to book a class.
That's how I started.
If you ever attended a Pampered Chef Party or Lia Sophia or Tupperware
even, you can take some cues from them as far as marketing goes. You
want to give incentives to people in your first class to book the next
class. Bring a calendar with you and if they sign up for a party in the
next 2 months, they will get a special gift on the night of their party,
as well as getting a free class themselves.
I also do a giveaway to sign up for my mailing list. This can be a small
prize, like wine charms, a wine stopper or a bottle of wine, but the
idea is to get all of the students onto your mailing list so you can
contact them again in the future.
I take photos during the party and send out an email to the group
following the event to keep the excitement going. You can also ask for
permission to use the photos on social media or your website to promote
your home parties.
I teach in-home parties for both painting and jewelry making and in 2017
these were one of my biggest money-makers. I would definitely encourage
you to give it a try.
If you're not interested in hosting classes in people's homes and need more ideas about where you set up shop, visit this post.
I hope this gets you thinking about the possibilities of hosting your
own in-home events. As always, if you have questions, just reply to this
email and ask away!
Happy Creating!
Kelly
ps: if you're ready to start teaching your own sip and paint classes, you can get your parties started ASAP using my quick-start guide. Grab it below and join our group of merry art makers.
If you've been thinking about teaching Wine and Paint Classes, then the idea of purchasing a franchise may have crossed your mind at one time or another. Businesses like Painting with a Twist, the first and largest paint and sip franchise in the US, have good track records of success. Painting with a Twist has maintained its spot as the nation’s top franchise in the industry. It ranked as the #1 Paint and Sip Studio in Entrepreneur magazine’s 38th Annual Franchise 500® edition, for the fourth year in a row. (Read the full article here.) The support and success can be tempting, but is a franchise right for you? A few years back, an artist friend of mine started talking about opening a franchise for kids art classes, and with all due love and respect to her, I thought it was the WORST idea possible for her and here's why: She is one of those people who never actually stops creating and just about everything she makes is spectacular. Having to limit herself to a franchise that tells you what to paint and how to paint it, would be like caging a hummingbird. She needs to fly and she needs to be in constant creative motion. It's my belief that a franchise would be too limiting to her creative spirit. Having to teach something a certain way (that isn't her way) is not something I can see her doing for very long-pretty sure she would go rogue and start spray painting the kids. She doesn't want a "job" and she says she is not cut out for a job. She's an artist and she works when she feels like working. To have to show up at a studio and teach kids on a schedule, could quickly begin to feel like a job. In fact, franchising has been described as "buying yourself a job." All of the things she enjoys about her current lifestyle, would be gone. She was tempted by the "proven system" and the marketing support. She was tired of always having to work hard to drum up students for her (very unique and inspiring) classes when she did hold them. She wanted really, to be able to show up and teach and run a successful business that would support her financially. And maybe it would, but my concern was that it might just crush her free-spirited-art-loving self. I would not want to see her make a huge investment, only to feel imprisoned in a year. I suggested that if she wanted a franchise, she should start one
herself and be the franchiser, the parent company, not the franchisee. She's an original and she's someone who could figure it out and
then teach others how to do it. So, what about you? Do you like a lot of structure, guidance, rules and systems? Do you want someone to tell you exactly what colors to paint your walls and what to paint during each class? There can be comfort in that. When you buy a franchise, you pay the franchisee to help you every step of the way and you exchange a great deal of control (and money) for this support. I've never owned a franchise, but I expect it's like having a business coach who keeps you on track and guides you so you succeed. It's perfect for some people and not so good for others, like my friend. If you're thinking of buying a franchise, do your due diligence:
Find out if there are openings (or territories) in your area
Ask for a list of other owners you can talk to. Have a list of questions ready for them and talk to at least 3. Try to get a good sense of what a day in the life of an owner is like.
Visit a location and take a class with one of the franchisees
Get the structure and the vibe before you commit and make sure it's a good match with your style
Know the full costs, both start-up and ongoing
Decide if you want a location based franchise, like Painting with a Twist or a Community Based Option like Paint Nite. Each type has their pros and cons.
Ready to dive in and do some research? Here are some of the top franchises in the industry from the 2017 Entrepreneur Magazine. Each link will take you to a summary of the franchise. Painting with a Twist Initial Investment $89K-$143K Pinot's Palette Initial Investment $77K-$197K Bottle and Bottega Initial Investment $97K-158K Wine and Design $46K-$95K If you're more like me, you would rather earn extra income on the side teaching wine and paint classes in your community or your own studio than run a full-out franchise business. You want to do it your way and you might do other things as well. These classes can be easy to get going on your own, you don't have to commit your life savings to buy a job you might not enjoy. Trying it on your own first, might be a good way to test the waters to see if you even need the support of a franchise. Maybe what you are able to book and fill with happy students on your own, is all you actually need. If you want to quickly get started with the do-it-yourself version contact me right here for a free, 20 minute, laser focused coaching call (no worries, I'm not selling anything and I could potentially save you 100K.) We'll review where you are right now, answer any questions you have and brainstorm ideas to get your class out of your head and onto the calendar. Getting that date booked will get you into action mode faster than anything else can. or If email is more your style, grab the free worksheet and start working toward "Getting Your First Class Booked in the Next 30 Days" and start making it happen!
I sometimes teach BIG classes of 30+ students eager to paint. That's a lot of canvas and materials to transport, so I've devised ways to save time, money and the amount of stuff to haul.
I am not naturally organized, so this process has evolved from trial and error over the years. Here are some things you may find helpful as you set up your own wine and paint classes: #1: Bring helpfor larger classes. Have a friendor older child join you to help with set up, tear down and assist students during class. It typically takes me about an hour to set up for a larger class, including bringing things in from the car, laying the tablecloths down and preparing each station with easels, canvas, paints, brushes, water cups and paper towels.
Having an extra set of hands is needed to keep this to about an hour as well as to assist students during the class with extra paint, getting fresh water and answering questions. You may want to ask your assistant to take photos during and after class too. #2: Pre-dispense the paints based on the sample. I prefer to pre-dispense paints on paper plates because it saves time and paint but I also love when people get creative. Students who want different choices can come up to the table and add their extra choices to the pre-dispensed options. This is not exactly a money saving option, but I love when people get really into it and want to branch out. #3: Set up drying stations with regular old hairdryers, to speed the process between layers. Students can take their painting over and dry the layer they just finished. Make sure to put something down to protect the surface of the drying station as well. This keeps the class moving, especially if you need something dry before you can move on to the next stage. I like to paint in layers and my students love this too. #4: Make it easy to see the finished painting. I print out mini-versions of my painting on my computer before class and place one at each station. In larger classes the students may not be able to see the example you have on display, so this way they have it at their seat to refer to. I got this idea from a class I attended myself and my students seem to really like it too. Another option is to ask the students to take a photo on their phone to keep at their station. Certainly less work on your part to achieve the same result. #5: Consolidate Supplies. I transport my loose supplies in 2 plastic bins with lids. Aprons and easels go in one bin. Paints, brushes, cups, paper plates, towels and tablecloths in the other one. The canvas are separate.
I always pack extra supplies, just in case more people show up or something happens to a canvas. Extra paint, paper towels, paper plates and canvas will keep your mind at ease and you won't stress about running out. Wondering where to buy supplies? Here is a post on where I buy everything. #6: Make Clean-Up Quick. I take large, gallon-size ziplock plastic bags for quick clean up. The paint brushes go in a zip-lock to clean at home after class. The paint water gets dumped and the plastic cups go into a plastic grocery bag to also be washed at home. I take trash bags to make garbage removal easy. Depending on the condition of the tablecloths when your students are done, I may keep them or toss them. #7: Collect aprons before students leave. I ask students to take off their aprons and put them on the back of their chairs. It's best to do this before photos. Aprons have a tendency to walk out during the larger classes, because people forget they have them on and get very caught up in the excitement of sharing their work and taking photos at the end of class. It's good to issue the reminder to insure you get them back.
Ready to start teaching your own classes? Grab thefree worksheet "Get Your First Class Booked in the Next 30 Days.
I've been asked a lot lately where I buy the supplies for my painting classes. If you've been to wine and paint classes before or are thinking of teaching yourself, you may wonder where all of the lovely items come from.
Well, the suspense is over...here is the list of what I take to every class, where I buy them and how much they cost:
Canvas: I've been buying the flat 16X20 canvas panels through Blick Art Supply because the flatness makes it easier to transport them, especially for classes of 20+ people. I also think they are easy to mount in a frame and add that professional touch to your work. I recently bought 48 of them for $123 (including shipping) for a class of 30. If you're doing smaller classes, it's fine to buy them at Michael's or AC Moore when they go on sale, if you have those near you. I like to buy mine in bulk, so I often just Google what I'm looking for and compare prices online. Do I always use 16"x20"? No. If I'm hiking up to the Yurt for a Painting Class I go smaller. If I'm squeezing a large group into a small space, I go smaller. If the painting just plain looks better smaller, I go with that. Students do not seem to care much about the size of the painting, but that would be something to evaluate at the end of classes.
Easels: I just stocked up on these for a large class. I bought 30 "Strokes Art Tables" for a total of $218 from Amazon. The price was so low because I signed up for an Amazon credit card and received an $80.00 credit toward the purchase. You can typically find these for around $10 each, but I got mine for about $7.25 each with the credit.
Paint Brushes: Who needs them when you have fingers? Depending on the class, I may use the foam brushes for an intuitive art class, but for the sip and paint classes, I get them from local craft stores. I like the Royal brand brushes for classes. I've been building up a collection, but depending on the painting, we may need different types of brushes.
Paint: My 2 favorites are Premiere from AC Moore and Liquitex wherever I can find it on sale. You may be able to get good sales on bulk orders online (Blick or Jerry's Artorama) and you can also get economy sizes online. When I plan my paintings, I try to not get too carried away with a lot of colors, because it adds to the cost of running the class.
Aprons: I just ordered 30 lime green aprons from KNG for $130.00. You have the option of adding your logo to the aprons. However, these have a tendency to walk away with people after class (students forget they have them on.) I just lost 5 of them at my most recent class so you may not want to spend a lot on them.(I need to find a good way to collect them as people are leaving-ideas welcome!)
Paper Plates, Cups, Paper Towels and Table Cloths: I typically get these at the dollar store or anywhere they are on sale and I reuse the plastic cups and table cloths until they can be used no more. I did go to a paint class where the teacher used Styrofoam plates with compartments for the paint, which is a great idea, but I don't feel good about putting more Styrofoam into our world, so I stick with paper. I'm looking at more earth friendly ways to furnish my classes.
Other things I take with me:
Pitchers for transporting water and filling cups
My real camera
My cell phone for keeping track of the time and getting me to the locations
More than I think I will need of all supplies for last minute students who may show up
Scissors for opening things
Plastic Grocery bags to put the wet paintbrushes in after class
Any paperwork needed for the site
My Square for accepting credit cards of people who didn't register ahead and change in case they are paying in cash
My Easel and my real paint palette (it gives me comfort and strength!) for demonstrations
A sample finished painting for guidance (for both me and my students!)
Individual print-outs of the painting for students to refer to at their stations (optional and depends on complexity)
Any other tools or supplies we may be using for the particular class such as stencils, stamps, markers, collage papers, glue, etc...
Email sign-up sheet, if I haven't already collected email during the registration process
Satisfaction Surveys-I sometimes ask for feedback on the class, so I can continue to make it better. I find this is best to do during class so you have the greatest chance of getting responses. If you wait until after class and email people, your response rate will be lower.
I transport the smaller items in 2 plastic bins and then bring the random things that don't fit in separately.
Well, I think that's it! I would love to hear if you have found any good deals on supplies or have favorite supplies that you use in classes.
