 This week I've been sharing the truth about my first summer camp. Overall it was a big success! But I definitely made some rookie mistakes. This series is all about helping you avoid my mistakes! (Did you miss the beginning of this series? Find Mistake #1 here and Mistake #2 here.) MISTAKE #3 - I DIDN'T TAKE PICTURESIf you read my first 2 camp posts, you know that I did do several things right. I was very focused on registrations, daily plans, and activities. I was even smart enough to hire extra help. But I never once thought about taking pictures. This left me at a disadvantage on 2 fronts:
When the realization hit me, I was so bummed! DO THIS INSTEADWhile you could take your own photos, you'll already be pretty busy! A smarter solution is to assign this job to someone else:
You'll love having this burden off your shoulders during camp week. Best of all, the photos will be invaluable to you when you're promoting your next camp. (Just make sure that your parents sign a waiver saying you have permission to use their child's photo.) If you're planning your first summer camp, I hope this series has helped! Sara Campbell and I have also created a FREE summer camp checklist to help you have a successful summer camp. Just print it out and you'll have peace of mind that you're not forgetting something important. Phew! DID YOU HEAR THE NEWS?This month there's a Free Group Coaching Bonus that comes with Group Lessons 101. (For those who register by 3/31/18.) Another great resource included with Group 101 is Sara Campbell's Music Blast Plan. You get daily schedules, a supply list, resources - it's all been done for you! But you better hurry! The Coaching Bonus goes away soon!  OTHER CAMP POSTS YOU MIGHT ENJOY Yesterday's post was all about me going overboard with the size of my first summer camp. Today I'm sharing another mistake that a lot of rookies make. MISTAKE #2 - I CREATED MY OWN CAMP PLANI thought organizing a camp would be easy. Plan a few activities. Do some crafts. Simple, right? Wrong! For that first camp, I really should have researched what was working for other teachers. Instead, I simply brainstormed what things "might" work. My big activity mistakes:
DO THIS INSTEADMy camp would have been much better if I had:
In the end, I think it's important that your first camp be stress-free. You'll already be a little nervous because you're a rookie. There's no need to make it tougher by doing it all yourself. A SNEAK PEEK AT MISTAKE #3Make sure you come back tomorrow! I'll share the big thing I forgot all about. I'll also share how it impacted my marketing afterward. If you're worried you might forget something - this free checklist has you covered! And don't forget about the Free Group Coaching Bonus that comes with Group Lessons 101. (For those who register by 3/31/18.) Another great resource included with Group 101 is Sara Campbell's Music Blast Plan. You get daily schedules, a supply list, resources - it's all been done for you!  OTHER CAMP POSTS YOU MIGHT ENJOY A teacher recently posted on Facebook: I am starting to plan my first week-long (5 days) Music Summer Camp ever and I'm a little (ok...a lot!) nervous about it! I'm looking for some insight and advice on how to run a wonderful, fun music camp. It made me think back to my first summer camp. Between you and me, I was pretty nervous:
Fortunately I got over my fears and overall my camp was a huge success:
But it was far from perfect. This week I'm writing a series about my 3 BIG rookie mistakes. Today's post covers Mistake #1 AND how you can set yourself up for success! MISTAKE #1 - MY CAMP WAS TOO BIGFor that first summer camp, I went all out. I packed 12 kids into my 2-room studio. Not only did I have a huge group, they stayed a long time - 5 HOURS a day for a FULL WEEK! Yep - I went a little....overboard. I'll give myself credit for being organized.
But at the end of the day - it was too many students for my first camp. And definitely too long. DO THIS INSTEADI would have saved myself a lot of stress if I had:
In the end, I think I could have earned the same income, but with a LOT less stress! A SNEAK PEEK AT MISTAKE #2Make sure you come back tomorrow. I'll share with you the big mistake I made with planning camp activities and what you should to do differently. (And don't forget about the Free Group Coaching Bonus that comes with Group Lessons 101. Valid only if you register by 3/31/18.)  OTHER CAMP POSTS YOU MIGHT ENJOY |
Hi there! I'm Tracy Selle. A Christian wife, mom, and author of 101 Piano Practice Tips. I'm also a piano teacher and founder of Upbeat Piano Teachers. Categories
All
Archives
August 2018
|
RSS Feed