What if you injured your hand and couldn’t play your instrument? What if you developed a chronic illness? What if you were diagnosed with cancer and needed months’ long treatment? These are questions no one wants to face. Especially, small businesses or those who work for themselves. Health insurance is expensive and disability insurance even more so. After all, we think we are invincible. Things like...
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Each year, I find myself re-evaluating my studio policy, tweaking it and adjusting it as a result of things that I have learned throughout the year. When younger siblings were hanging out during older siblings’ piano lessons and becoming disruptive, I added a new policy about having no siblings present during lessons. When parents were cancelling piano lessons regularly in order to make sure their kids didn’t miss a volleyball game, I instilled a non-negotiable monthly fee regardless of missed lessons (totally changed my life, by the way!). Having a studio policy in place to give students once they inquire about lessons — and then enroll at your studio– is invaluable. At the end of each school year, I adjust my policy and re-distribute it to all current students with any updates.
The trick for me in developing a studio policy that works is making sure that I don’t have so many rules and policies in place that it seems overwhelming to students, and being brief and concise in the way I explain them. Having a policy in place protects me as a teacher. If a student or family ever questions something, I remind them that it is part of my studio policy.
Summer can be a wonderful, creative time in our careers. We have more flexibility and time. The downside is that we often have no income. Zero. Zilch. So how do we survive on 9 months of income but 12 months of expenses?...
Read MoreIt's a fact: Consistency in your studio makes a big difference for clear parent communication. Prior blog entries have already touched on benefits of having a "studio handbook" addressing responsibilities and procedures. One area can that can cause friction unless it's clearly spelled out is the policy regarding missed lessons or classes. There is no right answer to the question "What should the policy be?" It's just...
Read MoreWelcome to the new Studio Helper Blog. This is the perfect place to learn new things that can help your studio continually grow and be more successful. Articles will cover a broad range of topics. They'll range from finance management to staff management, marketing to inventory, communication styles to branding techniques. We hope you enjoy the blog and visit regularly to see what's new. We also welcome your...
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