I'd like to start a performing arts saturday school, can anyone pls help me?

[Pamela O]

I really really need your help. I'm a drama school graduate and I'd like to set up a saturday performing arts school. I cant afford a franchise so I'm tring to start my own from afresh and I need answers to the following questions pls:
1) how do i set up a performing arts school?
2) do i need insurance? why? where do i find out more infor about this?
3)what are the guidlnes for working with children aged say from 4-13years old?
4) how do i find premises? do i rent from primary or secondary schools?
5) i live in London so therefore, what sort of costs would rental be?
6) what else do i need to be thinking about?
7) How do i get 'Child Protection'? is it just by CRB checking the teachers?
8) What other costs do i need to set up my saturday school?
9) What is the cost of innitial set-up of a saturday performing arts school?
10) is this a recomended industry to go into?
11) what legal requirements are there?
12) What other advice can you offer?

Thank you. Pamela. xxx

[s c]

can't answer all your ??? (in U.S.) but will comment on #3 -

Age 4 - 13 -> you are very brave to take on such young children and also the 11-13 age group that is, on a good day, very mercurial to say the least. Suggest you focus on specific ages then broaden your scope over time. From a practical standpoint, insurance will probably be higher if you have little children there since they are so lively and prone to skinned knees, etc. etc. If I were teaching 4-8 y.o. age group, it would be mandatory that parents stay for class.

Here's my favorite quote: "Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it! Boldness has genius, power and magic in it!" - Goethe

Wishing you all the best in your endeavors.

[Elena B]

go on line

[mamianka]

I am in the US - so can only give advice, not concrete info. However, I have been a teacher for 37 years, and have experience to share.

Most people discover that a franchise, or being *umbrella-ed* under another organization, works better. First of all, carrying a million dollars worth of liability insurance is not unusual in this case - the parent organization may cover you. Heck, I carry insurance on my home-based flute studio! And - advertising is not cheap, and a franchise has more clout and name-recognition.

You will need a facility. If you are an *incorporated* - 501 c 3 - not-for-profit organization, THEN you can use other NFP facilities, like a school. Otherwise, you pay rent - a church basement, or a storefront. ALL your personnel should be credentialed - certified, licensed, AND have the appropriate police and finger-print checks required in most states (again, this is for US - your must be similar).

Legal requirements will vary - you could do what we call a DBA - "doing business as" - my chamber music business is set up that way. I have NFP status for educational and fund-raising capacities for my CONCERT arm of my chamber music performing. You should be protected personally - Here, we incorporate - so that the BUSINESS might be liable for any pro0blems, but not you, personally.

I have taught middle school vocal music for many years. I *like* that age - although they are a handful. We are currently on the search committee for a new conductor for a children's choir school (Saturday school like you propose)m - not all the candidates have a CLUE about working with kids - they just want the prestige of having THEIR OWN CHOIR. Unless you are SURE that you can handle these kids - and their PARENTS - get a partner on board who KNOWS this age. If you can assemble a board of directors, with specialists in EACH area you need - real estate, legal, insurance, education, etc. - then it will be better. All this on YOUR shoulders? Hmm . . . sound like you could use a team behind you. This is WONDERFUL that you are considering this - but this is a HUGE step - bless you for underatking it!