I’m going to share with you how I got started teaching art classes with our local wineries, cideries, and restaurants. And my tips on how you can work with local venues to teach your art!
I was working at our local farmers market. I had a booth setup and was offering demonstrations and guests could make a scarf. A beautiful woman would come and check out my demonstration then leave. She was a fellow vendor. But english was her second language, so I think she was a little shy to speak with me. At the end of the day she brought me a buisness card. And said I should call and teach my classes at her families winery. Well, I did call and I set up a meeting with one of the owners.
The day of the meeting I totally lost track of time and forgot all about the meeting. I realized about 20 minutes before our meeting was scheduled. So I called and apologized and owned my mistake and asked if we could meet an hour later. He said yes. So I got myself ready and was there on time. We sat he asked a few questions and he offered me my first workshop!
I did make a few mistakes thru that first encounter. But being myself and owning my mistake I think was a big piece of my success.
Now 5 years later this winery continues to host my workshops. And I am so very grateful to them. So here are 4 ways I now connect with venues to host my events.
Meet In Person
Arriving in person to meet is my most successful method to book workshops with local venues. But you have to be mindful of peak hours. For example a resturant is busy during lunch or supper hours, so you go after or before.
- Google the venue-do they usually host workshops? Learn at least 3 facts about them. Do they have a private event room?
- Bring with you your business information. Business card. Finished art work. Images on your phone or printed from a workshop.
- Ask for their card. Because you will need to be the one to followup. I bring a buisness card.
- Communicate the way you will organize the workshop.
- As soon as I leave or arrive home send them a follow up email to confirm your converstation or outline more details. Sometimes they have already said yes to hosting, and I’m just emailing to confirm dates.
Phone Call
Calling a venue can be a little daunting. Here’s how I start.
- Google the venue- do they host art workshops? Learn at least 3 facts about them. Do they have a private event room?
- Call the venue.
- I will ask if they host art workshops.
- Then I will ask for the person who would be best to speak to in regards to working together for an art workshop. If that person is available I will ask to speak to them. If not ask for the email address or call back.
- I will have all my information in front of me just like I was going in person.
- I will also have a notepad so I can document any important information from the call.
- I will follow up with an email.
I find this to be one of my least successful ways to book a venue. They don’t know me. And it’s a very cold way to start off. BUT, If you have tonnes of great images of your work and workshops inlcude those in your email. That will help.
- Google the venue- do they host art workshops? Learn at least 3 facts about them. Do they have a private event room?
- Look at their website, you are looking for the event co-ordinator or manager.
- Email them directly.
- You don’t want to go too far in depth. Introduce yourself, ask a few quetions. And make sure you attach your images of work. At the end of the email you can add, I will call to follow up. That gives you the opportunity to follow up with a phone call.
- Here’s the hard part you wait. Make sure you check junk. But you have to just wait.
- In a week you can follow up with a phone call if you added that to your email.
Event Promotion
On most of my events that I am actively promoting I will communicate about the opportunity to host our workshops. This will actually get me some venues reaching out to me!
- Promoting your event on facebook groups ensure you mention at the end that you are looking for new hosting venues.
- You can ask people to tag venues that should host a workshop
- At the bottom of your event tickets sales, facebook event,anywhere add a blurb about contact me if you are interested in hosting a workshop.
No matter what you teach. If you are wanting to teach your class in your local area with restaurants, and wineries try these ideas. I would love to hear if this helps you!