Drummer Cafe Community Forum

Ive been giving drum lessons for a few years now, and getting students was never a problem. I got most of my students by word of mouth. I dont know why, but this school year, I dont have nearly as many students as usual. Either I suck or no one has the $$$ to put their kids through lessons. Anyway, any Ideas on how I can "beat the bushes" and get some more students. If business dosent pick up I might have to get a "Real Job"

Advertise your school/lessons

Advertise. and more advertising. websites, newspapers, classified adds, town message boards ... and mailings. The best way is to send promo packs to the area schools ... I've sent things as far as an hour from my apartment. The time you put into advertising yourself will come back 10-fold. Get a webpage. put the address on all your adds. it's easier for someone to to remember a website (not the free websites that have a mile long address) than a phone number.

I recently moved to a new location, and as of now, I have plastered the area and the local internet sites with my information. In one month I've joined 2 highly giging and recording bands, and have classical gigs through the roof. There was need in the area for a percussionist - and I'm sure there are lots of percussionists in the area - just no-one wanted to advertise. check out my webpage at www.cjspercussion.com, and if you want email me from there and we can talk more, even share some ideas.

Good luck,
Chris

Check out some local drum shops.  Place ads in metro papers that have sections deticated to the music industry.  How about colleges and placing ads in their news papers.

Get business cards made up and place them in music stores.  Talk to high school music teachers.  Some studios might help too.

Hope this helps.

Jazzman 8)

That's the problem, if you ask me. Families all over the world have less money every year. They do want their children to play music, but if the can't afford to send them to college, music is out of the question..... Put your ads in a neighborhood with families that own houses w/ swimming pools or stuff like that, no kidding.

I think part of it is the economy--my business has been affected too. A friend of mine who teaches riding  told me that she figures for every 25 flyers she puts out, she gets one call, and for every 10 calls she gets a new student. And there are a lot of horses around here, so it's not like riding is an unusual hobby. I've seen the same thing--my biz cards go like mad, but I hardly get any calls proportional to the # of cards I put out.
 I agree w/ Stefanos--put your ads in wealthier areas.  My DI gives lessons at a local music shop, so they refer people who call for lessons to the instructors affiliated w/ their shop. Wonder if you could do a similar thing w/ a local shop? Any local arts/entertainment mags that you could ad in?

Just to add another suggestion to all the great ones thus far ....

Gain a relationship with local band directors and music programs. This is a guaranteed clientele, with new students being added annually.

Some schools are very particular about the instructors, so you may have to go through a lot of red tape to get the end result you want. Band boosters (parents) typically are involved with coordinating the private instructors for public schools ... since you would not really be employeed BY the school system. It's like an adjunct teaching position.

Every area is different; some will allow you to teach out of your home, while others insist that you teach at the school. Some have students pulled out of their classes once a week for the lesson, while others make the students have their lessons before or after school.

Anyway ... check it out.

If you are only wanting to teach drumset ... then this avenue is probably not the one for you. More than likely they will want you to teach snare, timpani, mallets, etc.