4 Simple Steps to Start a Mobile Craft Club (No studio? No problem!)

We now run classes from our studio as well as mobile classes from various venues every day of the week. But it wasn't always like this...

 When we started our kids crafting club, we had this idea that we HAD TO HAVE a Pinterest beautiful studio. 

We saw beautiful pictures online of gorgeous craft studio spaces with smiley kids, super engaged and having a ball and thought that that was the only way to do it.

We started searching for the perfect studio space we looked at line shops in shopping malls, expensive coffee shop spaces on bustling streets and had a property agent assist us in trying to find this dream studio space that did not exist.

We soon realised that all the spaces we liked were WAAAY too expensive and we started doubting if we could turn this dream of ours into a reality. 

Keep reading or watch the video below to find out how we overcame this obstacle and started running a successful, mobile arts & crafts club.

Funny story...

When we were little, my mom used to take my twin brother and I to weekly art lessons at Miss Gerda's house.

We LOOOVED that art class!

I had this idea in my head that we had to have a studio like Miss Gerda. 

Today still, if I close my eyes and think back of my time in her art class, I can smell the paint, I can hear her encouraging words and I get an excited feeling in my heart that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!

But listen to this...

In conversation with my mom one evening, feeling deflated and unmotivated, I was sharing our struggles of trying to find a studio space with her and that  I want kids to feel like I did when I stepped into Miss Gerda's art studio.

I explained to my mom that it was one of the most magical places I had ever been.

My mom grew a big smile on her face.

"What are you smiling at, Mom?"

My mom's memory did not serve a magical place...

She answered: "Do you remember Miss Gerda's 'art studio' was in her dilapidated car port with one lonely trestle table in the middle of the room?"

I was astonished! That's not how I remember it!

 It's amazing how non-judgmental kids can be! 

I realised, for our club, if we created a space where kids can feel safe and inspired, and where they can freely create something from nothing, they will have an awesome time (no matter where they are!)

After having this big mindset shift we started hosting creative crafting classes at a VERY LOW KEY temporary community venue that they gave to us practically for free, getting small groups of children along with moms, nannies and sometimes even dads together once a week.

When it picked up we moved into a studio at a local church and we also started hosting classes at schools as an extramural activity on a daily basis. 

We discovered that arts & crafts classes work very well as an in-school or after-school activity hosted at schools. We then added restaurants to our offering for crafty parties and workshops.

A church, restaurant, library or community centre all work well, as they usually have lots of parking space and parents feel safe to drop kids off as they usually are familiar with the space and setup. 

Partnering with your local coffee shop or kid-friendly restaurant is also an option, as it is beneficial for everyone involved.

 There are lots of benefits to running mobile classes: 

1. You can start today, you don’t need a studio
2. You get to travel around and visit new places and meet new people
3. It’s convenient for your customers
4. You don’t have to worry about paying rent!
5. You can start out with 1 venue and grow by adding more and more venues to your schedule

 Here's a simple 4-step process to start your mobile craft club... 

STEP 1: grab a pen and paper and make a list of where kids gather in your area.

Schools, churches, club houses, kid friendly restaurants, etc.

• You can probably think of about 10-20 in your area just off the top of your head
• If you need some inspiration you can go to Facebook’s search tab and type in your area (town, city wherever you want to teach) and the type of place that you’d want to teach, e.g. restaurant
• Include all the venues that you are willing to drive to, perhaps an half an hour radius or so. Whatever is convenient for you.

STEP 2: Send a short and sweet email or Facebook message to the person in charge.

• Keep it short and super simple!
• Don’t give too much info - don’t overwhelm them!
• Remember to ask a question at the end - if you ask a question people will have to answer it.
• If you have one: add a picture of you teaching or a fun pic of kids having fun.

 Here's an example script: 

Hi, my name is [your name]. I teach arts and crafts to kids. I’d love to come teach at [venue]. Do you have time to talk this week? Thanks! [your name]

Or if it is a restaurant you can say:

Hi, my name is [your name] and I teach arts and crafts to kids. I’d love to come host a workshop for parents and kids at your restaurant on a slow day. Do you have time to talk this week? Thanks! [your name]

If you’re lucky they will reply. But don’t get discouraged if they don’t! In fact only about 1 out of 10 will get back to you, so it’s a numbers game.

STEP 3: Follow up 1 week later with a phone call.

STEP 4: As soon as someone confirms, go see them and get them to commit to a class (get a date in the calendar!)

If you ask for too much upfront it may sound like too much trouble for them, but if you can host a class first and make it awesome then it’ll be so much easier to get them to commit to you hosting a weekly/monthly class at the venue.

 So to wrap up, let's do a quick recap on the steps: 

STEP 1: Make a list

STEP 2: Reach out (remember it’s a numbers game)

STEP 3: Follow up

STEP 4: Start hosting classes

And there you have it! 

 Here’s what I want you to do: 

1. Set a challenge for yourself: contact 5 potential venues every day for 1 week.

2. Give it a go and let me know how it goes in the comments!

Until next time, cheers!

Christelle

XO

 P.S. WANT TO START AND GROW YOUR VERY OWN KIDS CRAFTING CLUB? 

Join the waiting list to be the first to know when enrolment to the CCC Academy opens.