So many of you have asked...

I've had questions about why I'm teaching less. In my case, one of the issues is, venues always want new classes and I don't show a profit until I teach my classes multiple times. I also have reasons concerning the quality of my teaching for why I want to repeat the classes. I have a post on that topic here. 

I'm currently seeing more consistent pattern sales and my collaboration with Signature yarns is having an impact on my available time.

It's also shockingly time consuming to apply for teaching opportunities. Eventually I realized that the decision to hire wasn't only based on my classes or on my reputation as a teacher. There are many other considerations venues use, social media presence, do they have a book or magazine to promote that you are included in, are you also a vendor, etc.

However, this is the part I haven't want to share in the past. Compensation is very poor and you need to be a very tough negotiator. Unfortunately no one (until now) has shared their rates so I've not really been sure what I should be asking for. Often you are presented with a payment scheme and told that is what everyone is being offered. I was told by someone confidentially that rock star knitters get much higher compensation. If I do manage to negotiate something different I am always sworn to secrecy! I have been asked on numerous occasions to do free work for exposure or to pay very high upfront costs with no guarantee of earnings. After several emails from an event who invited me to come teach and having starting payment negotiations, I emailed the organizer I would come if they guaranteed my out of pocket expenses and he didn't even bother to respond to say no. I know the students and attendees assume we are being appropriately compensated but it's not always the case. Much of the time and effort which goes into developing material and attending an event is not covered by the hourly rate of the actual class time.

If you haven't heard, there's a social media storm out there about teacher rates. They all say it very well so here's the links if you are interested in knowing what's going on. 

http://www.miriamfelton.com/risk-vs-reward-the-true-costs-of-fiber-teaching/

https://hookedforlifepublishing.wordpress.com/2016/09/03/the-great-teaching-kerfuffle/

https://medium.com/@abbysyarns/what-does-it-cost-to-hire-top-talent-in-fiber-arts-im-glad-you-asked-6f2b25c12cb4#.1ukecy8km

http://bethsmithspinning.com/i-used-to-hire-teachers/ 

http://craftindustryalliance.org/changes-interweave-yarn-fest-contract-shift-financial-risk-and-promotional-burden-from-show-organizers-to-teachers/

http://plymagazine.com/2016/09/fair-fiber-wage-look-side/
 
and on twitter:  https://twitter.com/search?q=%23FairFiberWage&src=typd

and on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=fairfiberwage

The Economics of Knitting - Classes

Do you want new or great? I'm noticing a trend with requests for classes and presentations. Organizers always ask first what I have that's new. Some now even pay a premium for classes which have never been taught before. However, when students email me, they ask for my existing classes and want the details of where and when I'll next be teaching them. Often it's because someone told them it's a great class and they learned a lot by taking it.

I think the more often I teach a class the better it gets. I get to practice the material, I figure out what isn't working for students and why. I get their questions and add the answers into the class and the notes for future sessions. I also have the opportunity to recognize the difference between an problem for a specific student and a more general problem with the material as I repeat the class. As I move forward I can often share more information more quickly because I'm communicating it better. 

It takes a great deal of time for me to develop the best possible material for both classes and presentations. To recoup the costs of the time invested, I need to use it multiple times if I'm going to sustain my work as a business. I do accept that ultimately this is a passion project for me but on the other hand I only get hired if I'm seen as a credible expert. 

So what do you want, my new material or my best material?

The Economics of Knitting - Classes

One of the the very kind compliments I frequently get on my classes is that I share so much information and new technique skills. That compliment was recently followed up with a question. "Why do the American teachers have so little content in their classes?" I'm in Canada and we do get foreign teachers here at some events but we are a large country with a small population. Many teachers are locals even at our larger venues.

That one did throw me for a moment. There is a lot pressure from students for small classes and a lot more pressure from venues for larger classes. Larger classes mean more profit. I set myself a personal standard which includes knowing that every student, even the really experienced ones leave my classes with some new knowledge. 

Increasing class numbers creates a problem for me because  my teaching plan timing is based on student numbers. More students means less material can be covered. As it is, I also have to adjust during the class based on student skill level which varies widely between classes and between students and is completely unknown in advance. 

After I thought about it, I realized the person asking the question had been attending some of the big knitting events with large classes in the U.S. She is also a very experienced knitter and very open to new information. I shared my insight with her and suggested she might want to focus on different kinds of classes to see if she can find a better fit for her learning requirements. I also thought to myself "whew I'm glad that started with a compliment and wasn't a complaint about my class".