Teaching Woodworking Classes

Re: Teaching Woodworking Classes

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

We do demos almost every month at our club meetings. This "class" could be like what we do at meetings. People like to be entertained by wood working. Fewer do it.

Re: Teaching Woodworking Classes

Dick Coers

I've taught hands-on at Woodcraft, lots of Saturday demos at Woodcraft and a local hardwood store, plus countless demos for woodworking and woodturning clubs. If you are just going to stand in front to demo, you will be in the entertainment business and not the teaching business. You'll need a way to keep their attention after about the first 20 minutes. What's that saying, "The mind can only absorb as much as the butt can tolerate." It will be tough for you to make much money. There are hours and hours of prep time, and if the people are just there for entertainment, the cost will have to be reasonable. You won't have a lot of liability if you are just entertaining, but a safety lecture will be necessary each time. You don't want a lawyer contacting you because the "student" decides after their injury, that you didn't tell them they could be injured. If I remember correctly, a million dollar liability policy used to be the requirement for hands-on at Woodcraft. Good luck!

Re: Teaching Woodworking Classes

Don Stephan

You might ask permission to sit in on some classes as similar as possible (ceramics, sewing, . . .) to see how those are conducted, and then have a discussion with the coordinator.

Re: Teaching Woodworking Classes

North of the Border

What is the objective? Teaching and demo are different, and tool requirements, liability issue etc. are not the same. Does the center offer a budget for this? Hard to offer meaningful suggestions without knowing more.