Any Freelance Instructors out there..?

F

Fanatical

Well-Known Member
Joined
27 March 2009
Messages
1,640
Visit site
Firstly, I wasn't sure where to put this so apologies if this is considered to be the wrong place. Also posting in CR.

Many years ago when I first qualified I tried unsuccessfully to build up a client base. In hind sight I probably didn't market/ advertise myself to the best of my ability. So, to those of you who have a successful client base, how do you market yourself? Do you teach solely privately, or do you do any work in a riding school? Also, do you offer group and individual lessosns, and if so (and if you don't mind me asking!), how do you price the group vs individual lessons..?

For info, I am fully qualified and on the BHS RoI.
 
Hello there, I've been freelancing since 2006/7 and have combined horse owners with riding schools, riding clubs. I work at 5 different yards and teach privately as well. As far as the fees go, riding schools I work for have a pretty set fee for freelancers they won't go away from and it is normally very low but as I do a full day at a time it's worth it.
Have to go out in a minute so might try to answer properly in the evening. All the best!
 
Many thanks for your reply Viola - it sounds like you are very successful! :)

I'd love to hear nore about how you've managed to build it all up. PM me if you'd prefer.
 
I've been doing it 4.5yrs.

I worked in a saddlery before I started so I knew a lot of people in the area which helped and when people found out I was leaving to teach some of them booked me. I'm still well known and get a lot of business from recommendations in that shop, but I do also get business from other ones as I am a chatty person, so the people who work there know me and pass me on as a nice person!!

Other than that, I get new clients from friends of friends.

I also do PC. Camps are good money.

I don't do RS. The money is rubbish and I do have at least one client booked in every day which would mean cancelling them which wouldn't be sensible.

Don't get me wrong, I'm certainly not booked 9-5 every day!! Far from it! When I'm REALLY busy I have on average 3 lessons a day and usually fully booked Saturdays. But there are weeks when I teach 10 in total (holidays, injuries etc) and obviously snow wiped me out completely!!

My husband supports me, he pays the bills like mortgage etc that obviously HAVE to be paid. It's not a job if you need to make good regular money.There are probably more ways of picking up clients than what I do. But it works for what I need.
 
That's all very interesting - thanks Galaxy23.

How do you get the work for the Pony Clubs..? I have emailed all the pony clubs within my aresa in the past and never had anything back bar one which replied saying they'd keep my details on file.
I've always thought that pony club/ riding club would be a good way to get some work but have struggled to make any head way with it.
 
I wrote to them... Had work from 2 of them (1 is the one I was in as a teenager, so already had my foot in the door) and have been contacted by a 3rd, but realistically you can't do that many as they all do their camps at the same time! I'm surprised you didn't get anything back.... The PC's around here are quite large so need lots of instructors.

Maybe write again (if it wasn't recent). Make yourself sound fun and enthusiastic and put a bit of a CV type thing in it.

PC stuff is seasonal. You do a lot in the summer (obviously the week camps which are good money) and only the odd bit in the winter
 
Hi I am not a riding instructor but I know my friend had business cards done and handed them out to places and such like? Would that be possible to hand those out to maybe some local livery yards or tack shops etc?

What about those free mags that go out in tack shops and see about advertising in there? In my area it's called the Ridgeway Rider and another one I cannot remember, but alot of freelance instuctors are on there so might help!!

What about contacting yards and see about asking whether or not they would be interested in a clinic, such as Dressage basics, lateral work or gridwork, i.e something in particular and say that it's 20% off for the first couple of times or something and make it sound like you are starting afresh doing some deals like putting posters out...

Are you more experienced in a specific area like dressage, nervous riders, children.. that you target with?

XX
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top