Good points, all.. We also rent out space during off hours.. a Ninjitsu class, yoga class and we are negotiating with a 'Belly dancing group" ( i think they will get a good rate:D ).. another reason to get into this is to stay focused.. it’s not as easy to be lazy teaching as it is learning.. i find that it constantly challenges me to be sure i’ve got it right, i don’t want to pass on incorrect information..
As for “getting rich”.. if you are good at what you do, respect peoples individuality and abilities (whatever they may be).. and can manage money.. your reputation will at least pay the bills.. your students are your best marketing tool.. if they are good, it is assumed that you can help others get good too.. and the personal testimony of your students goes a long way..
Wow this thread has really become much more than I expected.
I agreed with Hua Lin Lao Shi that there aren’t many help available. I am kind of wonder if it would be a good idea to make this thread sticky so that all those who are interested in having a go at running a MA school could have a starter resource.
I think what you are suggesting fits into a fringe club category which is a viable option in my mind. This is actually something that I have in mind should I move to a big city.
A fring club using Kung Fu classes as the anchor is not a bad idea at all. But then the need of people skill is a must. One would have to be somewhat actively involved with the community. That translats into - more work that’s not directly Kung Fu related.
Anyway, it’s one of the creative solutions for have a succcessful club IMHO. Thanks for sharing that.
Warm regards
Mantis108
PS Spiralstair, thank you for all the helpful information. Really appricate that.
I think you are right (even if i don’t like the term “fringe club”).. but, MA is our mainstay.. it is simply a waste of space to sit empty for 5-6 hours a day that could benefit another aspect of alternative health (and help with rent).. I am fortunate to be associated with some very skilled people, and very good students.. The concept of “fringe Club”, for me, is more like a community resource center.. in the evenings and weekends we offer Taiji, JKD, Mo Hahn, Kali-Escrima, Muay Thai, and Cardio Kick-Boxing from the MA perspective.. and, as long as there is empty space in the days, we believe that “movement” classes with a health focus is appropriate.. Now, on weekend evenings we may begin hosting a drumming circle/class with Trance-Dance performances.. an indepth QiGong monthly workshop.. and a Women’s self-defense workshop… Geeze, no wonder my hair’s turning white, that’s gonna be a lot of paperwork.. but, it feels good to involved in the community..
spiarlstair,
Sounds like goo advice.
I almost feel like it can help me get off the couch.
Hau Lin,
Will this advice affect your future plans?
Do you feel it is something new that you didn’t try?
I suspect that your location is messing you up.
What would be the problem of going to a public place like a park or beach and doing an exibition (two or more person sets) which doesn’t appear to be an exibition (empty hand, no weapons)? I think that would be great advertisement for local areas. It would certainly be something I would consider if I were in the position of trying to get known. I see the Capoiera group at our local beach all the time even though they are not advertising for a school. Just doing their thing.
I even thought of going to the local flea market, rent a stall or two and pass the hat as in Chinese older times (at least in the movies). You get practice, you get exposure, and if you’re good you get money. Put on shows, etc.
The only downside would be any local @ssholes that would want to challenge you or some dumb krap like that.
I agree with Hua lin, it should be like a franchise, i mean you have to pay the temple $3000 to open a school then they should help you in it.
Bob had good points, if you have the space and are not using it do something with it.
Also you could find out the demographics of the area, LOCATION is a key point. Just finding a place with low rent may not be the best solution if your not in a good area.
I think those who are in wah lum should throw some ideas at the temple to help out the new schools, it is a part of their organization and they should want to see it do well.
For my business(not a MA school), we do inserts in the local newspaper. A regular advertisement is very expensive, but i can put in a regular 8 1/2 X 11, 2 color insert for $360. It is for 10,000 inserts and you can pick the zip codes you want it in. It only goes to subscribers, not in the boxes on the corners of streets.
It is alot less expensive than a advetisement in the actual paper.
We always include a calander for the month on the back side so people may want to keep it on their wall for the month and don’t throw it away. They say people usually have to see something 6 or 7 times before they decide on it.
Like i said before, get a business plan and follow it, don’t go into it blind
There is something everybody needs to remember or even learn for that matter. If you operate a school or are thinking of operating a school as a means of generating income for survival, you need to understand that the majority of people that come in for information or are interested in your classes do not care who you are, where you come from, who your teachers are, or what high level of kung fu you have attained. What they are interested in (the majority) is “What can you do for me or for my child?”
Look, I have been involved in formal martial arts training for the last 20 years. For the last 18 years, I have been involved in school operations, everything from school management to classroom management.
If you want to attract students and do not have the income or finances to do a marketing strategy that includes newspaper adds and things of that nature. Then make a flyer that explains why it is beneficial for that person to come and join your school.
Again, this goes out to the sifus that want to teach commercially. Remember I have been there and done that when it comes to school operations.
Man it’s too early in the morning. I forgot to put in my last post what to do with the flyer. Once you make the flyer, do a block walk. Go around to the neighborhoods in and around your school and post it in the front doors of homes. If possible do not put it in the mailboxes. Leave them at their front door.
Don’t have the time to do it by yourself. Then use your current students. Have them help you on a Saturday and invite them for pizza.
There are so many things you can do if you are willing to be open-minded.
Another interesting concept is “appearance”.. ALL of the marketing people i have spoken with AND my own inclinations suggest that there should be a shrine-like appearance to the school.. an atmosphere that says “something special” happens here.. a comfortable but focused arrangement of art, weapons, certificates, and furnishings.. too much “hype” speaks for itself, “too much”, gimicks quickly lose their appeal… another observation made by a knowledgable interior designer was to have an observable first-aid station, parents sub-consciously like the attention to safety (and you will probably need it sooner or later).. As much printed material as is pertinent to your art, such as hand-outs for students, gives a feeling of permanance and is a great reference.. and leave a “school-copy” laying out for prospective students to browse through..
Keep the school tidy and clean.. disorganization, clutter and poor sanitation will discourage potential students.. pricing should published and available for prospective students.. remember that many first-time students are intimidated by the whole MA thing, we should make their initial visit as pleasant as possible (we can beat 'em later ).. Clean and private changing rooms are a great benefit.. Instill a 5 minute period at the end of each class where the students clean and straighten-up, make this mandatory.. it is good discipline and helps with your off class time for maintenance.. it also instills pride in the students for their school..
Although i started in the park and liked it for the most part, it is kind of impractical, thanks to summertime storms here in Florida and the plague of mosquitos.. ultimately, it is about the lessons, and too many cancelled classes due to weather or too much discomfort fighting bugs/using repellants, will discourage students or add liability (bug transmitted diseases).. I am a big fan of outdoor classes in the park as a marketing tool.. set up a sign or banner, have handouts and be available to talk with the curious or interested people.. have a social/workshop/picnic, it shows unity and more of a wholesome attitude.. get involved as a school in park clean-ups, etc.. contribute to the community that supports you.. and it’s good advertising..
Just some random ideas, some practical/some not.. but worth consideration..
There were multiple reasons why I went with leasing a suite instead of starting in a park. In retrospect I can see it was the wrong approach although it seems to be working for the new Kentucky school. Since I couldn’t find a low/no cost place when I had to close I doubt I would have found one before I signed the lease so I probably would have ended up in a suite anyhow. My current feelings now are that I don’t want to travel 40 miles to teach a few students in a park. Especially since the rainy season is coming up and my only transportation is a motorcycle.
Blaming the location is an easy way out but it really was a bad area. Also, I ran out of money faster than expected so allocating funds for marketing was dropped in favor of paying the rent. I thought staying open longer would be more productive than a couple of months of advertising and closing if the ads didn’t work. I believe the longer you can stay open the better your chances. Guess I was wrong.
A few other things:
When I tried to put out flyers at a boxing event downtown at the cenvention center I was told it was considered a public park area and I would have to have a permit. Attempts to provide a half time show for future events didn’t work out but definitely worth a try if you can.
I got in trouble papering cars at another K-Mart. A store owner by my school told me about a guy who got fined $4000 for putting flyers out at Olde Town (amusement spot).
Find out when the new phone books come out and open up around then. I opened beginning of March and the phone book didn’t come out until Nevember.
Another thing is remember, you are teaching kung fu, knowledge. Dont short change your style. Sifu’s should be charging hundreds of dollars an hours for their knowledge. I heard people charging 50 bucks for kung fu. Ask yourself, is it reallly worth that much?
DarkSands, is that 50.00 for a month of unlimited classes, 50.00 for a private per hour / half hour, 50.00 for a month of one class a week???
HuaLin, Kissimmee is full of Jack@sses. I know as I used to live there for many years. I once got harrassed for being on a closed down school property by the police when I was practicing Qi Gong. Yet every weekend they had high or middle school football. Yep, they finger printed me and everything. Oh yeah, try to explain to those idiots what Qi Gong is and why I’m just standing there under a tree (Zhang Zhong). Anyway, it was embarrasing for sure. Good thing I didn’t have any Kung Fu weapons or I’d probably been hauled off to jail. Oh, and it was across the street from my duplex which I owned. Oh well.
I also tried to get space to teach Qi Gong at the Convension Center and before that, parks and recreation but nope. Nobody knows anything about Chinese arts and most don’t care (in that area).
I don’t know. I think I would rather work at a job at this point and practice on my own. I once thought I’d like a school but that’s lesser of a desire now.
Excuse my redundancy here, Ive mentioned this before. I rent space from a well known dance school here in an artsy area. Our location is well centered in the city, very close to major universities, and the crowd GongFu seems to attract. I teach part- time in the evenings, and have a day job that pays the bills and provides the family with Ins. I have a history of teaching part-time, I do not like stress! My school overhead is nearly nothing, no bills on that end, cept what I pay the school and Insurance. I will not go into what I pay in travel to see my Shifu and what I pay him... this is where it gets expensive. But what do you do? Learning is perpetual and I must go to the source. My philosophy about tuition is make it affordable. Ive heard, if you have cadillac gongfu, dont charge vw prices. I can respect a Shifu for what he/she has put into learning, cause Im still paying out the wazoo! But lets face it. Look at what we generally draw. Id rather keep tuition affordable and have a large group of folks training, rather than a handful paying high dollar, JMO.
I really appreciate all the quality information being shared here.
Well, I’ve had instruction from both types. Those who charge and those who didn’t charge even though they paid through the wazoo in more ways than one. I guess it comes down to what you’re happy with. I wouldn’t mind teaching for nothing for a small group of dedicated students. Definately not a group of fluffer-nutters for sure.
Qi Gong would be a different story. I’ve paid for some nice sets and wouldn’t let them go for free (although I have… what am I saying? ) However, I gave that qi gong to try to help someone but they didn’t continue to practice and probably lost the information I’ve given them…
I don’t know, some people don’t know how difficult it is sometimes to find such stuff and they let it go as they don’t recognize the value.
I was having lunch at a pizza shop where I kept pamphlets on the counter. Three cops came in and while ordering one was reading a pamphlet. He showed it to the others and read a little out loud. I finished my lunch while they sat down at the table next to me (only 2 tables in the whole place). As I was leaving I asked him if he was interested in Kung Fu. He said “If I can’t spell it i don’t do it”. On the way out the door I heard one say “Hey that’s the guy in the picture”. Sharp eye there Columbo. I was facing them the whole time and wearing my WL shirt. So now I wonder if it’s the Wah Lum he can’t spell or Kung Fu.
If anybody is going to try teaching at a gym, foget about the YMCA. I just got back from talking to the Recreation Director at the one down the street from me. She said that they would keep the money that people paid for the classes ($30-$60 per student) and that she would pay me a whole $15 dollars per hour, no matter how many students I have. How shady is that?! She also said that I would just be teaching Tai Chi, she didn’t want to deal with the Kung Fu right now. I was amazed that she could make me the offer with a straight face.
It is noteworthy that most instructors have invested a goodly sum of money, time and effort in their Martial Education.. it is not unlike going to college.. at some point, if the student has the inclination and teaching skills, it is reasonable that they should be compensated for passing on that knowledge to students making the same journey that they have made.. Psychologists suggest that the amount paid for a service, particularly education, adds a perception of quality and viability that transfers to the students’ attentiveness and dedication.. most people believe that you “get what you pay for”, which causes the inexperienced to question inexpensive park teachers.. unfortunately, MA is full of scam artists, adding to the caution that a student must use in choosing an instructor.. although some of the better instructors end up in the park, the perception may be detrimental to realizing a fair reward for their investment.. If the teacher has a low value assigned to their art, the student will likely have low expectations.. This isn’t true where the teacher’s reputation is of high report, but usually it is only those that have prior experience and know of the teacher that are willing to pay for the park experience.. new students will likely search for a comfortable training environment with amenities.. and we shouldn’t prejudge a new student’s potential for making a decision based on appearance and facilities, they simply have no reference point..
).. Clean and private changing rooms are a great benefit.. Instill a 5 minute period at the end of each class where the students clean and straighten-up, make this mandatory.. it is good discipline and helps with your off class time for maintenance.. it also instills pride in the students for their school..
) However, I gave that qi gong to try to help someone but they didn’t continue to practice and probably lost the information I’ve given them…