Jacob is meeting with THE contractor today! The permits from the city are almost approved as well SOOO construction might begin as early as next week. Contractors think they should be able to get us ready by April 1st!
The sign is almost ready too! Lots of fun there. It's an unusual sign, much more complex then most and the sign company didn't quite think about how to mount the sign once it was done but now it sounds like there is a satisfactory plan in place!
Angela is training to teach with me on Fridays and will take over next month a couple students that she's been watching.
Met with a violin teacher this week that shares the exact vision of what we want for the studio! Hoping it works out. She would fit perfectly with us!
Music Together will start in April too if we can open by the 1st week or 2nd week. That will be great!
We're on the way to hiring babysitting/office work help as well as janitor/closer.
I again feel a bit like I'm in uncharted waters with hiring. I've led praise teams and recruited and even hired a bit for that (starting from scratch) so I've done some leading, recruiting and coaching, but this feels like an even bigger stretch. I'm feeling a bit like I need to step back and only take on new students that my other teachers can't handle (prior experience or very fast students).
I LOVE teaching so I don't see giving up my current students, but it seems wise to consider not taking any more new ones.
I've been blessed with finding someone that's really incredible to help with marketing for the next couple months for a price that we can afford. : )
Ok.. back to playing and housework!
Friday, February 18, 2011
Thursday, February 10, 2011
progress!
There's been slow, but steady progress at the studio. I am continually grateful of all the help that people have either volunteered or the referrals we've been given! We truly could NOT do this expansion without everyone that has helped.
Here's a couple things that have come about this week.
-I mentioned on facebook that I needed some marketing help and a student's mom (highly, highly qualified) stepped up and within an afternoon pulled some things together that would have taken me a few hours!
-I posted on a local homeschool forum that I needed someone to clean and lock up and within 24 hours had the name of someone who so far looks like perfect match!
-I asked a couple people that babysit if they had interest in doing our childcare/office work combo and have at least 1 interested within 24 hours.
- We have most bids in from the contractors and the 1st one that we had gotten awhile back is coming in at a price we can afford. It's also someone that we feel is completely capable of doing this well and in a timely manner.
-A new friend/neighbor calls almost daily if she goes out to see if we need anything. In my pregnant state it means a lot to have someone that cares to ask about me and check up.
-A call from Rochester Post that they'd like to do a story on us when we open! Free!
We have 2 leads for violin teachers and for the time being we'll be only having violin, 3 Simply Music teachers and also have added Music Together's Jenna from Mini-Musicians. I couldn't be happier with our team so far!
We are currently at about 73 students with new calls almost daily. Goal is 80 students by the end of February and strengthening our relationships with current students and more coaching and support for all our teachers (including me.. I have 2 mentors now).
Add in some support staff (with childcare, office help, marketing and janitor/closer), we'll be in great shape!
On a personal note, I'm about 12 weeks from my due date and the 3rd trimester came on quickly with the sudden challenge of more fatigue, emotions and suddenly more hungry all the time. : ) I'm reminded each day I teach however of the need to separate home and work and the need for more space and childcare.
Here's a couple things that have come about this week.
-I mentioned on facebook that I needed some marketing help and a student's mom (highly, highly qualified) stepped up and within an afternoon pulled some things together that would have taken me a few hours!
-I posted on a local homeschool forum that I needed someone to clean and lock up and within 24 hours had the name of someone who so far looks like perfect match!
-I asked a couple people that babysit if they had interest in doing our childcare/office work combo and have at least 1 interested within 24 hours.
- We have most bids in from the contractors and the 1st one that we had gotten awhile back is coming in at a price we can afford. It's also someone that we feel is completely capable of doing this well and in a timely manner.
-A new friend/neighbor calls almost daily if she goes out to see if we need anything. In my pregnant state it means a lot to have someone that cares to ask about me and check up.
-A call from Rochester Post that they'd like to do a story on us when we open! Free!
We have 2 leads for violin teachers and for the time being we'll be only having violin, 3 Simply Music teachers and also have added Music Together's Jenna from Mini-Musicians. I couldn't be happier with our team so far!
We are currently at about 73 students with new calls almost daily. Goal is 80 students by the end of February and strengthening our relationships with current students and more coaching and support for all our teachers (including me.. I have 2 mentors now).
Add in some support staff (with childcare, office help, marketing and janitor/closer), we'll be in great shape!
On a personal note, I'm about 12 weeks from my due date and the 3rd trimester came on quickly with the sudden challenge of more fatigue, emotions and suddenly more hungry all the time. : ) I'm reminded each day I teach however of the need to separate home and work and the need for more space and childcare.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
slowwwllly moving ahead!
The architect drawings are done as of Monday and Jacob has contacted all the contractors to get bids. He's asked 5 to bid and have their bids in by Monday. We'll see how it turns out! The plans have been submitted to the city. There should be no surprises with the city permits though as the architects already met with them before finishing the plans.
The studio is growing. Looking forward to starting Tammy and Alex this week and meeting some new potential students at the Free Intro Session on Saturday. : )
Plans are moving ahead to have Music Together at the studio starting when it opens!
This week I introduced a new fun game that I heard about at the symposium. All students had kept up their playlist and I could see progress with managing all the songs students have learned. Most had 30 or more on their playlist! Really fantastic.
Snow days have been causing a bit of an adventure with lessons lately. Rachel and I will be making up lessons from this week.
Videotaped some students last week and this week Friday interviewing them for testimonials for the website. Thanks to Sarah for doing the interviews! They were really enlightening. Thanks to those who participated! Really appreciate it!
Looking forward to the rest of the week teaching! I didn't teach today due to the snow and really missed it as usual. : (
The studio is growing. Looking forward to starting Tammy and Alex this week and meeting some new potential students at the Free Intro Session on Saturday. : )
Plans are moving ahead to have Music Together at the studio starting when it opens!
This week I introduced a new fun game that I heard about at the symposium. All students had kept up their playlist and I could see progress with managing all the songs students have learned. Most had 30 or more on their playlist! Really fantastic.
Snow days have been causing a bit of an adventure with lessons lately. Rachel and I will be making up lessons from this week.
Videotaped some students last week and this week Friday interviewing them for testimonials for the website. Thanks to Sarah for doing the interviews! They were really enlightening. Thanks to those who participated! Really appreciate it!
Looking forward to the rest of the week teaching! I didn't teach today due to the snow and really missed it as usual. : (
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