Point taken... but maybe you are still 'advanced' and this lot are 'supersonic'!

I think this thread has developed in an interesting way since I posted (with some trepidation!). It reminds me of computers - my OH is quite IT savvy so I was an early user of a range of IT. Lots of people used to ask me for advice despite the fact that my OH used to make me feel like a complete beginner! I came to the conclusion that a computer expert was simply someone who knew a little more about the subject than you did!

Maybe it is the same with beading!

On reflection I think the descriptions beginner, intermediate and advanced are unhelpful as clearly they mean different things to different people. It might also be worth recounting a short anecdote at this point. I was once in Stitch n Craft (spending far too much money) and a class was taking place. I couldn't help overhearing what the woman running the course was saying. One thing that struck me was that she said that she often put descriptions re requirements/skill level and that these were often ignored and people seemed to book on her courses for a wide variety of reasons. One was "enjoyed another course". Another was "recommended by a friend".

I hadn't heard of this woman but clearly she has built up a bit of a following. I looked at the stitch n craft website and have to say that her courses didn't jump out at me (unlike a couple of yours but I can't book til nearer the time because the work I do gives me little down time but I wont bore you with the details) .

I know that one of your courses at stitch n craft was cancelled and I wonder if the shop uses feedback forms to establish why people choose the courses they do? It is obviously difficult to provide feedback on a course that had to be cancelled but a properly designed feedback form would give the shop an indication of why people choose to do what they do.

I think that, as you said, it is partly a matter of building a following ( I am sure that must be growing) and partly getting the project and marketing right. Unfortunately I dont have any easy answers here but your suggestion that I could have asked questions on the forum was one that I will remember . Not sure why it didn't occur to me at the time. So, good luck - and I hope you will let us know when you have developed the winning marketing formula because, as I said, I am a great admirer of your work and believe many of us can learn from you.

Best beady wishes
Sandra

Thanks for this, Sandra!
The thing I think we're trying to avoid as teachers/course organizers is having total, utter, never-seed-beaded-before-ever, beginners turn up to a workshop where the majority of people already do have some experience. This happened to me at an 'intermediate' workshop recently and it was a bit of a nightmare - thankfully it was a group of only 7 and not 12, but the two utter beginners monopolized an unfair amount of my time simply because they needed to be shown how to thread the needle, tie on the stop bead, pick up the beads, read the instructions, align their work with the photographs in the instructions, and so on... and to begin with they needed to be talked through each and every stitch, as the handouts I'd prepared assumed some basic beading abilities that these people just didn't have. The other more experienced beaders were very tolerant but it wasn't fair on them, they were either waiting for me to get round to them or listening to stuff they already knew.
It's not so bad if everyone has at least a bit of beading experience. And it's not that I don't like teaching beginners - I love it, it's soooo satisfying when the stitch finally clicks and they start to enjoy it! - but we do at least need some way of ensuring that the very beginners end up at workshops that are appropriate for them and where whoever is teaching the project can prepare handouts etc. that start at the very beginning!
Off to think about this a bit more before next Sunday

Would "Not suitable for absolute beginners" suffice?

Sandra

I like to keep things simple!

Thanks for the input everyone - had some interesting conversations with various people today too and we'll see what we can do to improve things for next year - although the organizers are talking about not having workshops at next year's fair as the takeup in advance was generally poor.
The demo attracted plenty of interest though, to the extent that I only completed half of a beaded bead as I was so busy talking to people! It was nice to meet Jane and several other virtual friends IRL - and weirdly my accountant turned up and said hi (his wife's a beader)... hmmm, maybe that's why I didn't spend as much today as I thought I was going to

I'm glad you enjoyed your demo today.
I would have liked to go to one of your workshops but as I am a total beginner and you would have had to show me how to thread the needle and so on I would have definitely been a hindrance to your class.

I think maybe people are not interested in the workshops as this is the only bead fair in this area every year and taking out most of the morning or afternoon doing a workshop means they would have a lot less time for drooling and buying at the fair.

Melanie

I think you could be right there Melanie - I'd realised as a tutor that it would eat into my shopping time but of course it eats into the tutees' shopping time too!
Next time I'd like to do at least one session that is for total beginners and one that's not too hard to get started but has potential to be developed into something interesting enough for the 'advanced' brigade... if there is a next time (fingers crossed). It was clear from talking to people that there is more of a demand than we'd realised for seed bead instruction for total beginners who have never done seed beading and want to be shown how to thread a needle, how to start and finish thread, how to undo tangles, how to get the tension right - all the stuff that the books and mags don't tell you and that is much easier to learn from a real person. I think that might turn out to be my teaching niche, as there are plenty of other people offering more 'advanced' classes. Hmmm, maybe a drop-in or demo table with lots of size 8's and very simple stitches for people to have a go at...

Another small thought, would it be possible for the workshops to start at 9am and finish at 11am and the afternoon ones to start at 3pm and finish at 5pm that way you still get almost a full day at the fair.

Melanie

Well my first ever working bead fair and boy did my feet ache last night. What a great day though, I loved chatting to everyone and looking at some wonderful creations that some were wearing. It's weird I was recognizing the jewellery on the ladies coming back to the stall rather then their faces
It was great to meet you Lynn (sorry it was such a fleeting hello but only I only managed to grab a 5 min break).

Didn't get home till gone 8 as traffic was bad on A303 near Stonehenge but I have to say I would definately do it again if asked.
Jane

Sorry I didnt get a chance to meet you Lynn - came over to your stall and you weren't there and only had limited time as I had decided to do two workshops.

It has been interesting reading the posts. In the morning I did the elegant cabochon workshop and, to my amazement, two complete beginners one of whom really didn't know how to thread a needle. I thought Lynn wasjoking when she said that.

The group was fairly small so it really wasn't a problem but there was a stage where one of the beginner ladies was sitting waiting a while (the tutor was with the other novice!) so I ended up explaining something to her - which was a bit wierd.

In the afternoon everybody was more experienced and there was one pupil wearing a fantastic necklace from a Laura McCabe workshop who really didn't need lessons but she seemed to get something from the session too.

Someone came in and asked about what sort of classes we would like (always difficult to answer when put on the spot) and whether the length was right but it struck me we were the wrong people to ask and the people who hadnt booked workshops should be asked!

A number of people had had quite a long drive so I don't think it would be good for us night owls to move the workshops earlier or it would mean getting up at the crack of dawn.

It _was_ a rush getting round the stalls and there was too little time to browse and people who had been before nearly all said that they had only booked one workshop this year to allow more stall time.

I guess it is a difficult one but I would go to Wincanton again as I like the mix of beading and buying.

Sandra