How to approach music stores for teaching

[Bardolph]

I've been playing for 10 years now and I'd like to start teaching electric bass. There are a few stores close to my house where I'd like to be an instructor. For those of you who are instructors, what was an effective way for you to land the job? Demo CD's, recommendations, resume, etc.?

[Freddels]

The music store where my son takes sax lessons has all teachers with degrees (some masters and even a doctorate). If they have teachers at the music store where you're thinking of teaching, what are their qualifications and you'll have to show yours.

[So Low Bass]

Why teach in a music store? Why give them a piece of your action. You can teach at home and do what you want to do right up to the minute your student is expected. Your car is warm in the garage and your wearing your slippers. Now, if you're LOOKING for students, that's another question.

I always have looked at music stores as merchants, not educators. Let's see THEIR credentials.

[sackvegas]

^Good point, try placing an add on Craigslist or Kijiji

[Billnc]

Originally Posted by So Low Bass

Why teach in a music store? Why give them a piece of your action. You can teach at home and do what you want to do right up to the minute your student is expected. Your car is warm in the garage and your wearing your slippers. Now, if you're LOOKING for students, that's another question.

I always have looked at music stores as merchants, not educators. Let's see THEIR credentials.

I was fine with this until I had 8 people showing up at my house in one day, one a 24 year old with the 'sniffles' just looking at my gear (read cokehead who saw an add and answered) I'm reclusive by nature and even relatives in my house drive me crazy. But you're correct about the stores too. I'm the only bass player, yet everyone teaches bass!

My best teaching gig is an after school program at a private school.

[Roy Vogt]

Originally Posted by Billnc

I was fine with this until I had 8 people showing up at my house in one day, one a 24 year old with the 'sniffles' just looking at my gear (read cokehead who saw an add and answered) I'm reclusive by nature and even relatives in my house drive me crazy. But you're correct about the stores too. I'm the only bass player, yet everyone teaches bass!

My best teaching gig is an after school program at a private school.

I really don't like giving people access to my home and family. I have a couple of venues that I can use for private lessons. Craigslist for bass lessons strikes me as risky. Here's a venue you might not have thought about:
What about teaching at a church? You can start with the bassists in the youth band (if they have one) and see what other options are there. One of my former students routinely makes about $500 per Sunday at a MegaChurch in the Atlanta area by playing their Sunday services and hanging around in the afternoon teaching bass lessons.
You can always approach the store that has no teachers and see if they'll let you try to attempt to teach one day a week and try to build a practice.