Consider what you can offer

Perhaps, like children’s author Alan Durant, who runs writing courses for children, teenagers and adults, you have years of industry experience to share? Maybe you have a niche? Actor and Brighton Fringe director Julian Caddy was so inspired by Ukranian drama teacher Sam Kogan’s acting technique he gave up a marketing career to study and teach it himself. Identify your particular strengths to make sure you stand out in a crowded marketplace. 

Staff vs freelance 

Work for a school, college or university and you’ll have colleagues to lunch with, a ready-made customer base, an equipped classroom – and a regimented work environment. Teaching freelance offers more flexibility but you’re responsible for everything from finding a venue to marketing your classes. 

Your fees will probably be set for you in a staff role; as a freelancer, you’ll price your own time. Check what your peers are charging and consult professional bodies such as the Society of Authors, which has a recommended pricing structure for teachers. Remember it’s not just about the time spent in the classroom. You may also need to factor in travel expenses, the cost of materials, venue hire and marketing. 

Set clear goals 

In planning his popular Draw Brighton sessions, fine artist Jake Spicer tries to nail down who the class is for, what they’ll be expecting from it, as well as what he wants students to get from the class. He factors in time for breaks and questions, revisiting his plan before the session starts. 

Alan advises against trying to cover too much too quickly. You won’t transform someone’s writing in one class but you could aim instead to inspire and enthuse them. Be open to a change of schedule if necessary but beware of straying too far off course. “Discussion is often fruitful but there must be a cut-off point and, as tutor, it’s your job to decide upon it,” says Alan. “It’s important you stay focussed and in control.”

Be a good learner 

The transition from working on your individual creative practice to teaching a room full of strangers can be daunting. Jake prepared by attending as many art classes as possible. “I quizzed [teachers] who I most respected on their process and attitude and noted what made for a good experience as a learner so I could apply that to my own class.” 

Be open to what your pupils can teach you. Jake again: “It’s dangerous to set yourself up as an absolute authority. If you're asked a question you don't know the answer to, blagging it and getting something wrong will make you look silly. Instead you can encourage group discussion around a topic you're not familiar with. This promotes peer learning whilst allowing you to maintain authority.” 

Don’t skimp on feedback 

“Feedback is probably the most important part of any session,” says Alan. “It should never be too negative or finickety but it shouldn’t give false hope either. I always seek the positive, to encourage, before moving on to the tougher criticism,” he says.  If you do have to criticise, Emma Sutherland, who teaches illustration to adults at City College, Brighton, as well as running classes for children, advises being very specific about what’s at fault and adding a little humour to soften the blow. 

Pitch feedback appropriately  – not everyone takes a writing class with the aim of becoming a professional writer.  “I’ll be a lot tougher on someone whose intended goal is publication because they need to know how high the bar is,” says Alan. 

Think like a business 

Be prepared to spend time promoting your classes if you want to stay busy. Word-of-mouth recommendations won’t be enough on their own. “About 20 to 30 per cent of my students come to me that way,” says Julian. “The remainder are completely new.” Having an effective website is key, he says. “We got extremely lucky initially by getting our website fine-tuned to come up top in searches for ‘acting classes’ in the UK.” He also recommends sites such as Meetup.com as a means of finding new students and old-fashioned methods like ads in shop windows and libraries. 

Make sure you’re teaching for the right reasons 

“Never do it for the money,” warns Emma. “Students will see through it and you’ll be miserable. Teaching is not a cop-out. It’s as creative a job as making your own artwork – if not more creative. If you'd rather spend every day in your studio and you need more income, find another way to earn it.” 

But get it right and you’ll discover the benefits are manifold. “I find it a huge help to my own work,” says Jake. “It’s rewarding and sociable and provides me with a community of likeminded people with whom I can share ideas.”

Useful resources

Life Drawing Charter – Jake Spicer’s free pamphlet for people thinking of starting their own classes. 

Guardian Teacher Network – resources, jobs and professional development for teachers 

BBC Teachers – resources to use in lessons 

Get Into Teaching – government website aimed at people considering a career in teaching 

Teachers TV – links to programmes from the archive of (now defunct) Teacher’s TV 

Do you teach? Share your advice and resources in a comment, below!

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Image by Leah Gregg, on a Creative Commons license.