My local Guild has trouble filling classes at their teaching events. It's a real shame because it means our members are missing some absolutely fabulous learning opportunities. Many of our out of town guest teachers are one time appearances only. Unless you are going to Vogue Live or Stitches and spending the big bucks, those of us here in Toronto won't get a second chance at a class with these teachers. Some of our local teachers who currently teach at both of those events no longer teach locally for the same reason.
Some time ago I did a little independent survey of knitters and asked if they take classes because of the topic or because of the teacher. Most knitters initially told me it was due to the teacher. However, the really interesting part of the discussion was the question, who did they learn the most from? The answer was frequently not the Rock Stars.
The YarnOver SleepOver Retreat that I am part of was originated because we wanted to create our own teaching opportunities. Here's a quote from one of our attendees, “I thought I knew a lot about knitting until I came here, and learned things I could not have even imagined.”
I know none of us qualify as Rock Stars.
A member of my Guild who moved away, posted my name and that of Fiona Ellis in a thread for her new Guild which asked for suggestions for teachers for classes. When I was told about it, I read through the thread. Post # 26 is very interesting! I'll ask the question again, are you missing out by only focusing on Rock Star knitters?
hmm, this is quite an interesting idea- for starters, I had no idea there even was a Toronto knitter's guild. There are indeed the rockstars of the knitting world, but they don't need to teach a workshop in the same way that another truly talented and committed designer/knitter might. I guess the real question is do people want to only see rockstar knitters at these events, OR do they want to learn how to up their knitting game? Listening to (for example) Jared Flood talk about designing isn't really going to teach many people about designing their own knits in a really tangible way. Not that I wouldn't love to hear his thoughts, but it would be more a keynote address than a learning workshop.
ReplyDeleteJulie TKG website is here: http://torontoknittersguild.ca/ They did recently change their name.
DeleteI agree, the question is do knitters want a celebrity or do they want knowledge?
YES! I help workshops for my guild, and we have many of the same issues. Knitters say that $35 is too expensive for a 3-hour workshop with a well-regarded teacher (who teaches at Stitches, VK Live, etc.), and then they ask when we are going to bring in Cookie A. or Franklin Habit.
ReplyDeleteKatinka I'm glad to hear other guilds struggle with this too. We have also noticed that celebrity knitters are different according to knitters. It appears to depend on the sources the knitter gets their info from. If I go by my blog stats and sales I may have a bigger name in France and Germany than I do here at home in Canada.
DeleteWe are in luck that for 2015, a "big name" knitter wants to ski in our area, and has offered to teach our annual workshop. We would still pay for her flight, but she has offered to arrange accommodations with a local friend. Still, it's frustrating when knitters want the rockstars, but aren't willing to pay rockstar prices.
DeleteIt seems clear to me that anyone who is unwilling to pay $35 for a 3 hour class has never prepared and presented such a class themselves. To do it well, it takes countless hours of preparation and attention to detail. If it is done well, it is well worth $35.
ReplyDeleteI agree! I spend hours prepping the notes, planning the class work and knitting the samples. I never consider the work done. I update as students ask questions and as I learn new things myself.
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