Need your hl - trying to figure out how to do 'classes' & such to make money

M

music-city-missy

Well-known member
Since you all are scattered all over the place and I won't be competing for the same business, I am hoping you all will help me out here.

I want to offer 'food services' - cooking in people's homes, classes (mainly in individual homes as I don't have any other place), shopping, advising, etc. to pick up some income while I am laid off and looking for a job. And I even have a good shot at writing for a local publication some.

I know some of you do these things so I am asking for how you do it - what do you charge, terms such as min/max attendees, time, set up, menu/recipe ideas or themes. I know you have already forged the path so I am hoping yo can share some advice because at this point, I can't afford to lose money and I just don't have a lot of confidence in myself - I know I can do it but just don't feel 'confortable' I guess.

TIA

 
Missy, I've had very few catering jobs lately, and I've just taught my 6th class ever,

but let me advise you anyway, LOL.

You might try donating or bartering services just for the experience. For instance, my first catering experience was for my friend who created a logo and business cards for me. I did a small dinner party in return, and I learned a lot because even though I had helped cook many meals there I insisted that he let me do everything this time--the prep, cooking, and cleaning--so I had a chance to run through the drill. he kept trying to make me sit down and join the party but I wanted to treat it like a job.

I've also had good luck in the past donating a dinner for 6 as an auction item for fundraisers. NOT a raffle item--don't make that mistake. In a silent auction only people who are interested will bid. I have a nice certificate that I print on heavy parchment that gives a choice of four menus. One of my best customers lost a bidding war at a charity event for one of those. She copied my number instead and just hired me. (This was a few years ago when the economy was very different.)

Usually when these certificates are redeemed they add a few people, and/or tip well, so the food costs are covered.

I think next time I donate something it will be a cooking class.

For the classes, I would love to do one in someone's home but it hasn't happened. If your home kitchen can accomodate a class that would be a great place to start. At the cooking store where I've started teaching, couples or individuals can sign up and it's not as big a commitment as getting a whole group together in their home.

Here is a link to the class schedule so you can see how cheap I'm working, lol:

http://kitchenoutfitters.net/cookingclasses.html

The dinner classes are doing well but so far none of the lunch classes have been a go.

I provide all the food and wine (the wine is killing me, especially when my friends enroll) and pay a 15% commission to the store. If the class is full I do OK, but if as few as four people sign up I'm still committed to it, because I want to try to build a clientelle and later raise the prices to cover all that wine. Also, the store's kitchen is very well equipped with top notch stuff so I don't have to haul my sad pots and utensils around.

It's a great value because for the price of a restaurant meal, people get a more relaxed setting, good food, a demonstration, and recipes.

Catering pays better, though the jobs are fewer and farrer between. I charge a similar price per person to those class menus, basically what someone would pay in a restaurant, I also charge a flat base rate of $200 for each event, to bring the restaurant to them. That base fee is the same for 2 people or 100--it equalizes the small and large jobs and guarantees that I make at least something.

I hope that's helpful. I can only say, just charge in, get some experience, concentrate on making the customers happy, even if they're freebies, and we'll all get through this slump somehow.

 
Teaching site: a gal in this town began teaching cooking classes in the kitchen and

fellowship hall of her church. That area was rarely used from 10 AM until 1 PM on weekdays (her actual demos/classes ran from 10 AM until noon, and then we would begin chowing down on the cooked food about noontime so everyone was out no later than 1 PM) so was open practically whenever she wanted to reserve it. The church was most cooperative in letting her teach there as long as she cleaned the kitchen & eating area up and left them as spic and span as she found them plus there was a LOT of room for large groups. You might have to check around to choose the most student-friendly layout. I'll bet if you made a nominal donation most places would let you use their kitchen & fellowship hall facility even if you didn't happen to be a member of that particular church or denomination.

And teaching in a church would ELIMINATE your offering wine to drink so you wouldn't be laying out a ton of cash on that beverage like Joe is. LOL!

Aside: Joe, now that you've started that wine offering tradition it's gonna be next to impossible to stop it. Maybe you should think about limiting the class to one glass per person, or you'll always be working for free! People will sign up for your classes who have minimal interest in the culinary arts, but they simply heard through the grapevine that they can guzzle wine all evening in one of your classes for next to nothing.

Once the gal I knew from above began getting a decent following, she switched to renting commercial space for her cooking classes so she could serve wine with her menus, BUT she did, indeed, limit the alcohol to one glass per person per class.

Also, churches are cleared with their local Boards of Health so you don't have to worry about getting any of those folks after you.

I have taught individual classes, too, and been hired by catering clients who want some one-on-one attention and more hands-on experience with their own cooking appliances so I'll go into their homes to work. Of course, that works out to be a pretty hefty price tag for one person but some people are willing to pay for their private tutoring. One of my clients called a bunch of her friends and organized a private class at her own home so she could split my tab with a couple others, but she did all that admin work, collected the fees and wrote me a single check. I gave her a nosecount limit for the price I quoted, and we were off and running. I've had really good luck teaching a pie crust class and also a bread class to individuals (or to small groups) in private homes as people really need to see and feel the doughs in order to understand when things are ready for the next steps. I've also done classes on Appetizers, once a Champagne Brunch theme, Spring Teas, as well as various dinner and luncheon menus. A holiday brunch theme always goes over well in the fall and especially if it contains items that people can partially do ahead.

Hope some of this will be helpful to you. Wigs

 
LOL, there's no turning back on the wine. I do exagerate a little, though, and people sometimes

bring their own bottle. It's the policy of the store that we provide wine. I could restrict it, but it's not in my nature.

I buy cheap table wine at TJ's for $4-5 a bottle. So I figure if I raise the fives to nines--ie. $59 per class instead of $55, I can cover it. I know people claim not to be fooled by "9's" and "99's" but I've been in retail and it works.

I love your idea of using a church kitchen.

 
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