If you’ve been teaching at shops for awhile and you want your career to reach new heights, national art events are your logical next step. It’s not an easy step, but can be an important one.

Before you leap into events, consider how it will change your life and your career. Despite the apparent glamour and prestige, events aren’t the best teaching venue for every artist.

I’m going to sound like a ‘devil’s advocate’ in this article. But, these are important issues to consider.

Expect to teach at a loss for the first year or two. Event paychecks may look juicy, but when you factor in expenses plus prep time, it can equal minimum wage. You’ve probably noticed something similar when you’ve gone on the road to teach at shops.

To learn more about paycheck issues at events, see my article, What Art Teachers Are Paid.

Events often require more complex classes, with far more info, more demos, plus more handouts and supplies that you provide.

Also, it’s smart to create very different classes than what you usually teach at shops.  Students won’t want to pay high event prices, if they can take the same class (or the same kind of class) for less at a local shop.

Be prepared for new competition at shops. Some of your students will go home and teach the exact same class… for far less than you’d charge. They may even use your handouts without your permission. (Almost every teacher has dealt with this at least once.)

So, once you start teaching at events, you may have to radically change how you teach at shops, or phase them out altogether. Consider this carefully if you’re moving up to national events to make more money. Income probably shouldn’t be the reason why you teach at events.

Why would you teach at events if you’ll lose money your first year or so, and (maybe) stop teaching at shops–which are ‘bread and butter’ for many teachers?

The answer is simple: You love to teach, of course. That’s why we all do this.

In addition, national events make you into a ‘name’ in this field. This can lead to higher prices in galleries. You may discover licensing opportunities, book contracts, and–of course–fabulous networking.

Teaching at national events propels your career so quickly, it can be breathtaking. (It can also be overwhelming if you’re not ready for it.)

Start out by teaching at shops, etc. That’s where you get your experience. But, if you want to grow beyond that, quickly–and you are willing to forego the income and still cope with the challenges–take the leap to events.

Teaching on a national or international scale is not a smart choice for everyone. But, if it works well for you, the personal rewards–far beyond the paychecks–are tremendous!