Good enough to teach?

Hey guys, I have had a few ppl ask if I teach classes.. Am i good enough to teach a basic class?

you have been to a basic class and know what's in it. having heard what it was about i'm sure you would definitely be good enough to get people started. as long as you feel confident to teach then i say yes go for it!
One thing to take into consideration- would you share your kit, have a trainer kit, or have them bring their own...

It certainly looks to me as though you could teach. Having the ability to transfer knowledge in a mentoring way takes a certain patience and then to make it meaningful, enjoyable and lasting takes someone who really cares.... I'm betting you have ALL that... and a bag of chips (that's quite possibly only an American saying)

My questions is why? Is your market big enough to support the future face painters you are creating? I've kind of decided that the only people I'm going to teach locally are employees and so far that's only been family.

Has anyone else on the forum done this? Have you taught classes in your geographic area and had them go on to be face painters? Did you like it or regret it?

I guess my philosophy has been that if I literally put paints in the hands of a young mother or grandma or young adult, I've taken away at least a party that they might have hired me for and they might also take business from me (for their family and neighbors) that would have been a referral from that party and they might even become my competitor in the local market.

D.

I agree...If you want to teach, I would make sure it was far enough away from your market as to not create your own competition. Unless of course if your goal is to make teaching your primary business and painting secondary. Then it wouldn't matter as much.

I think teaching is a good thing we teach alot here but you have to remeber that if you teach some one dose not mean they are going to start to take over your area unless they are better then you in that case you should not be teaching lol . if you want to grow your company if they get it hire them ( thats what we do ) ... and if your name is big around town and your quality is top notch no one will take your clients away from you if they do it will one be once then they come crawling back

Gordo -
this is totally off topic but I LOVE that avatar!

They don't have to be better painter than you if their better at marketing. A couple of clown friends bought some face paints and ask me to give them a class. They were great marketers and good clowns if not very good painters and did take business from us.

Yeah. There are a LOT of facepainters in my area (Denise can attest). Most of them are hobbyists, but it seems that everyday there is a new painter on google search. Sigh. I LOVE to teach though. I have mentored a couple of people that work with me.
One thing to consider.... if someone is interested enough in face painting to pay to take a class, they are probably already face painting. I doubt she will be RECRUITING face painters. She just happens to be the one transfering the knowledge.

tamarielpaints

thank you just something i did on my self at work one day

Yup. Sigh... Of course, I'm kind of one of the newbies too....

I actually LOVE teaching also (one of the reasons I do Youtube) but having been a Realtor and done marketing for lots of Realtors, I realize that I can't afford to just give away all of my knowledge. I worked hard for it!

You are basically "fired" after each gig and you need to work to keep your business alive.

D.

PS: Kat, there is one new teen girl here in Orem that Emma KNOWS uses acrylics but she says in her ad "I'm not a professional, that's why I'm only charging $25.00 per hour." Grrrr. Now I know what everyone was talking about before. The new year must bring out a whole new crop of face painters.

$25.00 an hour? good grief.

I have been asked a few times to teach in 1 december and 2 in January....but although it is flatering - There are alot of face painters in sydney and looking at websites I think there maybe even more in QLD?? (its a guess). I already know alot of sydney painters, but there are alot more that I don't
additionally there are about 300 painters scattered around sydney greater metropolatin area. many courses around within the sydney basin that between the lot of them have the potentual to make 80 new painters a year.... so for a population just over 4 million we seem to have about 1 painter per 10000 people!!!! (ish)
so why do I get calls... because my site is a cut above I assume... there are only a few that stand out.
Now although I could teach do I really want to teach how to paint like me? what products I use? how to teardrop and linework, when things like this are what make clients pick me. a lot of the medioca painters come and then go, granted. but while they are there undercutting the market they are a huge pain in the but. and they are not good for client referals as the client won't understand why you are twice the price. better to network with other similar painters and share what you know with them and create a great network with what you have.with the benifit of both developing skills.

we are also even as Australia is doing well economically, having a reduction in spending, which reduces the amount of jobs and more people desperate to make what is percieved as easy money (face painting) which means less jobs, more people taking up face painting even without a course. which means there is more competition out there anyway.

I would rather help the painters I know and work together through this, so we survive. than make more painters. plus They all know it isn't easy money- lol.

also the course that initially taught the painters created a pile of face paint instructors that undercut them. and they are not as good as them - but happens there too.

Do be flattered and take it as a compliment but seriously think about it. and yep you may get a few hundred dolars but loose $1000s in the long run. the choice is ultimatley yours no doubt - but look at the really big picture and make an informed choice.

Good points Elantaura!

OP, I am always asking myself the same question. You guys brought up some good points. Can your market support the competition?