Building your "studio" into this size is an achievable target, but one not as many as could reach it actually do. Those who do are employing valuable marketing techniques whether they realise it or not.
Building your "studio" into this size is an achievable target, but one not as many as could reach it actually do. Those who do are employing valuable marketing techniques whether they realise it or not.
One of these marketing techniques is so subtle, many don't even realise they are doing it when they are advertising in their local newspaper or shop window. This is a basic example, but stick with me; this idea can be applied at any time in your teaching career. By advertising in a local newspaper, you are already targeting the first most likely people to use your tuition services… your local community. Unless you are famous for being an incredible musician, people will neither just ask if you would teach them, or travel to find you in the hope you teach music. This one simple ad is telling the local community "I live in this area, and I have spaces available to teach music lessons." I would save the expense and time on that website until further down the line if you live in a small town, the paper would provide a far higher return on income when you are starting off.
To develop this further, think what your ads say about you? Do they say professional, or do they say "I can play a few tunes on the piano, let me teach you cos I really need the money"
Here are my top 5 mostly marketing techniques for musicians aspiring to earn a decent income from private tuition.
1. Choose a name for your "studio" this can be anything from "Maria's Singing Tuition" to "Bass riff School". Choose one and use it in ALL your advertising
2. Make sure you include contact details on everything - advertising is an obvious one, but what about your pupils' notebooks in case they ever need to cancel a lesson?
3. Make at least two copies of your teaching schedule. One that stays with you (especially if you are as forgetful as me), and one that everyone else in your household can see. This allows them to know when not to disturb you, or when you'll be home.
(A third copy is ideal to keep with your musical instrument as a reference.)
4. Make sure that the two copies in point 3 have contact names and numbers for all your students. Should you ever have an emergency, this allows all your pupils to be contacted by another person in your family should you not be able to attend.
5. Don't be afraid to tell people that you teach music - especially if you have spaces available. Word of mouth is the best form of advertising, and when you combine this with the power of NETWORKING, you can only succeed.
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