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1. The
most important thing we
need for a successful
workshop is a
single contact–one
individual who is
enthusiastic and
dedicated. He or she
should have good
connections in the
community and be willing
to do some work to bring
people to the event.
I ask
that we aim for a
minimum of 20
people at the
workshop. While I do schedule
single-day workshops, I
suggest to all groups a
minimum of two
days to get the most out
of the experience. One
day of combat training
is rarely worth the fee
to the student unless it
is a weekly session for
a few weeks.
2. Time.
Working at least
six months in advance
will allow both you and
me to get the word out.
Getting the word out
early=more buzz=more
participants.
3. We
also need a room.
We can talk about the
size later when we see
roughly how many
students are going to
attend, but let’s think
big and comfortable! We
need to have room to
move so we don't bump
into one another (at
least when we're
planning not to do
so), and keep in mind
the length of weapons
you are requesting that
I teach. Twenty people
with longswords need a
lot more room than
twenty people with
knives!
One of
the best places to host
your workshop is an
educational
facility if you have one
available to you.
Educational facilities
are set up for events
like this, and sometimes
you can get them very
inexpensively. I am also
willing to work with the
educational institution
to allow some of their
students into the
workshop in exchange for
free space to hold it.
We can discuss that if
you wish. Less overhead
means everyone makes
more.
4.
Online
registration.
If you are marketing
this workshop to
students outside your
group, you really need
to offer them the
ability to register and
pay over the Internet.
I’ve been doing this
long enough with The
International
Swordfighting and
Martial Arts Workshop
and others to know that
not providing online
registration is a
deterrent. You can do
this through your
shopping cart, through
PayPal, or we can
arrange to use my
website and I will set
up a registration page
for your workshop. If we
use mine, there will be
an additional charge as
this involves merchant
fees and extra time on
my end.
5.
A place to eat.
Certainly everyone can
go where they want for
lunch, but it really is
better for the workshop
experience if you offer
a specific place where
we can stay together for
lunch. We can talk,
network, and share
ideas.
6.
Money.
Oh, yes, money. I do
have fees, which include
travel and
accommodations, but I
don’t want anyone to
lose money on one of my
workshops. Let me tailor
a workshop to your needs
and help you organize
and publicize it so that
it benefits everyone
involved. Email me and
we’ll schedule a time to
chat.
In
return, I will:
1.
Provide you with
promotional language and
anything else you need
to publicize your event.
I will always be
available to help you
prepare and I have an
online media kit
complete with photos..
2. Work
hard to prepare for your
audience.
3. Be
organized, on time, and
enthusiastic.
Email me and we’ll
coordinate a phone call
to discuss the
possibilities. |
