October 06, 2011

Cost of Art Lessons

This is one of my most visited old posts.  At the time I just asked for help because I had no clue...but now I'm old  & experienced! So I thought I'd come back and update it!


Anyone else struggle with pricing art and art lessons?  I really wish this would have been discussed more in college.  However, over the years I've gotten better with pricing lessons/classes (still struggle with pricing my art work...just being real with you!)

There are a lot of factors that go into pricing art lessons for individuals and classes.  One of the first things you should do is investigate the going rate for art lessons in your area.  It truly is different based on geographic locations.  I would look at individuals giving one on one lessons, individuals giving classes, and classes that can be taken at art stores (Michael's, Hobby Lobby, and Jo-Ann's).  Consider what they are offering and what they are charging.  

Another factor is how many students you will be working with at a given time. I'd also say that they should be at a similar age/developmental level so that a lesson is not comprised of multiple sets of instructions/supplies.  When you are teaching a lesson to a group of students you can charge a bit less than when you are teaching one on one because you will be receiving compensation for each of the students. You are in control in these situations(to a point)...and can set the number of students, their ages, and the projects that you will be doing with them. 

Supplies!  Are they providing the supplies they will be using or will you?  What are is the quality of the supplies you will be using (because that impacts price).  

You have to make this experience worth it for you.  Your time, experience & expertise deserves financial compensation.  Do not underestimate your worth. You need to be flexible (to a point) as people approach you for lessons.  Provide people with the amount that you are looking for based on the information you've gathered, but have a bottom line dollar amount that you are not willing to go below if people want to "negotiate".  They may offer to buy the supplies to help lower the price...but you still need to make sure you stick to your bottom line.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS/PERSONAL EXPERIENCES
...PLEASE SHARE IN THE COMMENTS

26 comments:

  1. I teach music rather than art (I just like your blog!) but music lessons in our area of KY run $10-$15 for a half hour, and group lessons would be toward the bottom end of that range, if that helps any.

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  2. To be fair to you it can't be less than the material cost. What do you make hourly as a teacher? For a group I would think your hourly rate plus materials or something like that might be a good place to start. With 5 kids it will be much like teaching a class and normally you would expect the school to pay the materials.

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  3. I agree with Indiri. For a private lesson with one student, I charge approximately $1/min but for a group setting you would have to charge less per student. Are you doing the lessons at your house or driving somewhere?

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  4. I teach art classes out of my home and have been doing it for 3 years. I charge an upfront registration fee of $25.00 per student and then I charge a session fee (which is 8 classes per session) of $80.00. My classes run 1 hour long. Its a huge success. Started with 5 children, and have over 60. I have grossed over $30,000 this year and I work 5 hours a week. There is some great money in it, but you do have to be on top of the game, which you seem you are.

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    1. Is it 80 dollars for 8 weeks (10 per class?) or 80 per day?

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    2. I am trying to do the same thing. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?

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    3. You can ask...not sure I’ll know the answers :)

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  5. I do lessons at our after school program and for this session which is 5 lessons I have 7 students. They are charged $50- for these 5 lessons. This includes materials. Hope this helps.

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  6. came across your blog b/c it was linked to another. i send my son to art classes at a local art association in town. i paid $115 for 10 weeks (an additional 10% off due to signing up early so 103). supplies included. the class is an hour and a half. class min is 5 max is 12. i send my son to many different activities and expect to pay in the 10-14 range for most group activities depending on class/project and location.

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  7. I work at a non-profit and our classes generally boil down to anywhere between $12-15 per child, per class. Classes usually last an hour and 15 minutes.

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  8. For group lessons, I've been paid anywhere from $15 - $35 an hour depending on the venue, excluding the cost of materials. The students, however, paid the various programs between $10 - $60 each for a one-hour workshop type class. Class size was usually a minimum of three students to a maximum of twelve, usually ranging in age from 10 - 14 years old.

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  9. When I taught a homeschool class I charged $5 per child, with a max of $20 for a family. Since they were tax paying community members, I used school materials for the projects. The challenge was planning a lesson over ages 5-12. I ended up splitting it into 2 groups.

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  10. I charge $25 an hour for private lessons, but when a sibling becomes involved, I only up it by $10 if I am teaching them at the same time. When it is a group of several families I charge less, as if it is a class rather than a private lesson because they don't all get that one-on-one attention as soon as you add in a few extra kids - usually $15 per child per hour, and an additional $10 again if they are siblings. Family discounts mean happy parents!

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  11. My son took private HS lessons, and it was $10 per class, and the classes were 90 min. The supplies she used really were very basic-paper, markers, clay, that sort of thing. They took home handouts on whatever they did.

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  12. I teach private art lessons from my home. I charge $20 an hour and a one time art supply fee per project ( which is $20 or less). I don't make money on the supply fee and I only take up to 5 kids at a time. I use a lot of different mediums, parents seem to really like more than basic stuff.

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  13. I teach private oil painting lessons to adults in my studio (old garage) next to my house, I charge $40 for a 3-hour painting session, or $20 for a one hour critique with no painting. Private lessons occur at the convenience of the teacher and the student so the student doesn't miss any lessons. I also teach Drawing to two or three adults in a 2-hour session and charge $20 per student.

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  14. I teach private oil painting lessons to adults in my studio (old garage) next to my house, I charge $40 for a 3-hour painting session, or $20 for a one hour critique with no painting. Private lessons occur at the convenience of the teacher and the student so the student doesn't miss any lessons. I also teach Drawing to two or three adults in a 2-hour session and charge $20 per student.

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  15. I teach private Art lessons (Abstract & Mixed media) to adults out of my home studio and I charge $30 to $50/hour. They get a list of materials needed and I provide some paint depending on the project.

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  16. Hi! I'm teaching group art lessons to 8-12 year olds this summer and will be charging $10 per child for an hour lesson once a week, plus a $10 upfront materials fee. However, I'm only sixteen and don't have a degree. Is $10 too much since I'm a teenager? In answer to your question, a local art teacher I know charges $50 for an hour and a half long oil painting group lesson.

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    1. Do not go less than $10 an hour! Compare that to the cost of babysitting for the parents or the cost of taking their kids to a movie.

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  17. I have started at a new place that is an imaginative play area having art classes
    I had said preschoolers yo k would be $5 each kid for up to an hour of class. I supply all supplies. First class 5 students, free class to advertise grand opening. Today 15 kids, still no pay. Thos was a surprise today. They are trying to figure out my pay. ????
    Am I out of range??? Am I being used??

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    1. Wow...that is super cheap. People should be thrilled!!

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    2. underpayed! Preschool is hard. Make sure you take home a living wage,

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    3. You are being taken advantage of- minimum of 20.00 for 1 hour group, 40.00 private.

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  18. Very helpful info here -- timeless question we all wrestle with at the beginning!! Thank you Mr. E!!

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