Daniel has coached Studio Owners globally on how to remove obstacles that prevent them from having the success they desire.  In this episode, he sits with Chris and Tyler to discuss the 6 drivers of studio growth every business owner should know and live.

You may also want to subscribe to our podcast on one of the many Podcast Locations we support in addition to our website.

In this episode, we have Tim Topham fly all the way from Australia to the teacher zone headquarters to talk about creativity in our lesson business’s and inside the lessons themselves! Tim goes over the ways he helps teachers (music teachers specifically) on how to be more creative in the ways they teach their students.  

Listen to “Special Guest Tim Topham – Creativity In Your Lesson Business” on Spreaker.

In this episode, Tyler interviews Jared Loss of Rockdale Music in Pennsylvania.  He shares about the passion and hard work that it took to grow his school to where it is today.  Learn his journey and how he has turned everything around tremendously in just this last year!

Listen to “Crushing 2019 Together!” on Spreaker.

Podcast episode #19

Happy New Year 2019!!!

Crushing 2019 together!

What are your hopes dreams and goals for this year in your lesson business?

Los Rios Rock School – Our ninth year in review… facilities and systems in place that have helped to create the highest revenue ever!!!

13 performances where OVER 250 songs were played!

Over 1000 individual instrument projects completed.

7539 one hour private lessons given

Over 400 rehearsals attended last year!

Which equates to 20338 hours of lessons and rehearsals received by the student body!!

2018 – Review for Los Rios Rock School

• 5 coach house shows
• Boston and Beatles HOB
• SUMMER SLAM – MULTIPLE SCHOOLS
• Tall Ships
• MARDAN FESTIVAL
• Halloween Show
• 90’s Sweet Relief Musicians Fund
• Legend of Christmas Rock

Facilities and Systems in place

• Facilities Complete
• Payments Automated
• Attendance Automated
• Payroll Automated
• Audition Requirement Courses and Lessons
• Communications Automated (auto reminders, chats, newsletter, podcast…etc.)

Goals for this year… (OKR’s = Objectives and Key Results)

At roughly 15% profit we really want to get in the 25% range

2019 BHAG: To be maxed out on a waitlist 10am-9pm

• Referrals Program ($200 giveaway to students)
• Continue with Marketing (more pointed with Middle School stuff)
• Limited Edition Merchandise three times a year
• Train Staff to Coach Students to Refer their friends
• Start a Day Program (Home-School and Charter Networks)
• More community outreach (Friday 8am Coffee Chat…etc.)

Listen to “Creating Powerful Moments In Your Lesson Business” on Spreaker.

In their book “The Power of Moments”, Chip and Dan Heath talk about how there are two things that create the most powerful moments in our lives…

1.  Transitions
2.  Milestones

They also discuss that there are four attributes that define us in those moments…

1.  Moments of Elevation
2. Moments of Insight
3. Moments of Pride
4. Moments of Connection

Theodore Levitt famously said, “People don’t want to buy a quarter-inch drill bit. They want a quarter-inch hole.”

From – This is Marketing by Seth Godin

Big moments

1. Public experience (attract)
2. The Tour (entice)
3. Lessons (engage)
4. Jams/Live group (socialize)
5. Shows (elevation)

Trust points

1. Respect, everyone is a musician regardless of level
2. Gear, having amazing gear speaks to our authenticity
3. Facilities, safe pro environment makes them want to return
4. Systems, consistency shows that we are owning their experience
5. Mentoring, zone learning, auditions, classes, holding high standards and letting them create their journey

The future is now…

Listen to “Are You Teaching or Mentoring?” on Spreaker.

Teaching is a one way conversation.  Teaching is about the Teacher…Coaching and Mentoring is about the Student.

Here’s how we define it:

• Teaching: Giving information (Info)
• Coaching: Building Confidence and Skills (Tasks)
• Mentoring: Modeling and Helping Achieve Goals (Relationships)

Plato 2400 years ago created the concept of curriculum.  Learning was rooted in rote memorization. We now know that the brain prunes knowledge not rooted in experiences.

Three types of wisdom:

1. Told
2. Deduced
3. Experienced

Experience is the highest form of Wisdom.

How are you creating OIL moments for your students (once in a lifetime)?

*Greg Hipskind QC Rock*

Flipped Classroom – Saul Kahn “Kahn Academy”

Michigan school in 2011 went from 30% failure to 10% failure by changing to a flipped model

Flipped Model Mixed with Peer to Peer learning has the greatest effect…

Kids are sponges…their minds are much sharper than adults.  

Goals of Mentor: FAB Five

1. Giving Historical Perspective
   1. Me and my mistakes and successes
   2. Music/Instrument
   3. Genre
   4. Artists
   5. The Businesses
   6. Schools…etc.
2. Being a Great Role Model
   1. Inspiration
   2. Insight
   3. Motivation
3. Hold Student and Yourself Accountable
   1. Are they practicing
   2. Are they moving toward their goals
   3. What habits are they developing
4. Helping Set and Reach Goals
   1. This could be curriculum
   2. Performance
   3. Ensemble (Try outs …)
5. Helping  build the habits to facilitate Students own learning

At Los Rios Rock School we have built our renown Live program over the last nine years step by step.  Now we help hundreds of students play 250+ songs at over dozen professional venues per year.  For more information please visit:  www.LosRiosRockSchool.com or see live performances on our YouTube.

Listen to “Creating an Amazing Performance Program” on Spreaker.

FIRST AND FOREMOST – Our Mission, Vision and Values as a culture and school are adamant upon selecting who we will enroll at our school.  WIthout the right student/families the extraordinary results will not happen.

• No price on website

• Phone call with owner

• Owner led tour designed for the student

• Student Sent home to think about it and see if this is TRULY for them and are ready to truly invest into who they are and who we are as a school.

Private Mentorship is the core foundation

• 1 hour a week lesson private lesson program/ High Trust Mentorship
• Tuition, Communication, Learning and Practice through TeacherZone
• Access to live rooms during privates with multi instrumentalist instructor – working on actually playing and experiencing what they learn across from their teacher.
• Learning to speak the language of music with another accelerates
• Learn to count in – song structure – Good tone – good rhythm
• Mentorship on how to interact with other musicians
• Mentorship on how to lead or be led in jamming environments
• Ultimate Gear etiquette knowledge – keeping gear in tip top shape and sounding its best
• Instructors help students prepare and execute required audition video for the desired level of performance group

Recent Promo Video From Our Shows…

Jam 100 (for beginners if needed)

• 1 hour every saturday with RSVP available to all new students (rsvp ensures the right amount and types of instruments to work together
• No live show – So no stress for the nervous students
• Students already understand how to play together due to their private instruction with their teacher and live room experience
• Curriculum/Songs are the audition material to get into our Jam 101 Live Performance Group
• 1 to 2 LRRS directors with help of advanced Jr Counselor lead the youngsters through the sections of the songs together in one of our live rehearsal rooms or stage.
• Kids get to meet other kids in the same boat and level and start to form friendships

Player Audition and Selection Process – Program Director

• Audition Videos to be turned into Program and Curriculum director 30 days before the next show if you’re new or you want to move to a more advanced group
• VIdeos Reviewed and and results sent to the family via teacherzone
• If kids do not make it their instructor is informed and starts the mission to find out why and keep moving forward to prepare for next audition.
• 150 students are placed into their groups.  Many stay in the same groups and some move around for different reasons.

• TEACHERZONE groups are created by our ops manager and the CHAT is initiated before the big meeting to get the kids ideas flowing for the next production

The BIG MEETING

• (1st 45 minutes) Players and their families gather in our Lobby/Performance Venue (around 100 or so make it on average out of the 150)
• Owners and Staff all on stage with a microphone welcoming everyone!
• We have the Rookies come on stage with all the LRRS staff and owners and they introduce themselves to the owners.  Their name, age, school, music teacher, and a fun fact (sometimes up to 20 rookies)
• Then we have the veterans take the microphone and give the rookies advice.  The under 12’s first and then the over 12’s
• Then we review the last show season (quality, attendance, flow, etc)
• Then we talk about the theme for improvement or change for the new semester.  How can we be better?

SONG SELECTION

• (next 60 minutes) PLAYERS THEN BREAK OFF into their groups and start the song selection meeting with their directors
• They put their songs in the mix and the director adds them to a Spotify playlist
• They go through each song choices played through the PA speakers and start to vote on songs
• The final verdict is a 5 song jam 101 list or a 11 song 102/advanced set list
• QC check on the set for vocal range, music skill level, inappropriate content etc

SMARTSHEET

www.SmartSheet.com

• Band Directors log all players into smartsheet by Song Name, Student Name, and instrument.  They may be on a few different songs and a few different instruments. Maybe even a few different groups. (such as horn sections that travel to each group)
• Once complete the directors give the green light to the program director.
• In all private lessons the instructor searches smartsheet by that students name and EVERY project he or she was assigned to will come up with options for notes and direct line item project updates from band director to private instructor and vice versa.
• Charts and music are gathered or made by private instructors and assigned in TEACHERZONE
• Students practice all required material through teacherzone at home and with their instructor in the live rooms or private offices

Jam 101, 102, Advanced, Classic Album Series, Holiday Shows, Special Invitation Shows…etc.

Jam 101  – Beginner Live Groups

Audition Requirements with full Multi-Media Video Lessons in TeacherZone

• 7 to 10 students per group (guitar/bass/keys/drums/vocals/back up vocals)
• 1 hour rehearsal with a Director and Jr Counselor every Saturday (CLOSED 1st SATURDAY)
• They pick their own 3 to 5 songs with their directors help
• Each player plays on at least 2 of the songs especially the one they chose
• Director QC’s the song list (no swearing, or inappropriate content, and especially making sure the players are within the songs skill level to succeed.
• Average about 9 to 11 rehearsals
• Perform at the BIG SHOW!  Pro show Real Venue Friday or Saturday nights

Jam 102 – Intermediate Live Groups

Audition Requirements with full Multi-Media Video Lessons in TeacherZone

• 15 to 20
• students
• 11 songs chosen by the group
• 2 hour rehearsals Saturdays (closed 1st Saturday)
• Two band Directors
• 9 to 11 rehearsals
• QC set list
• Perform the Big Show

Advanced Live Groups  

• 15 to 20 students
• 11 songs chosen by the group
• 2 hour rehearsals Saturdays (closed 1st Saturday)
• Two band Directors
• 9 to 11 rehearsals
• QC set list
• Perform the Big Show

1.  Creating an Experience for your Students
2.  Embracing Technology
3.  Attracting the “right” customers

RETENTION of our Roster and Staff!

Here is an outline of some of what was discussed:

#3 Student Systems and Retention

Book = Tribes Seth Godin (Follow His Blog)

The Top Ten Benefits of Customer Retention

• It’s Cheaper than Acquisition. …
• Loyal Customers are More Profitable. …
• Your Brand Will Stand Out from the Crowd. …
• You’ll Earn More Word of Mouth Referrals. …
• Engaged Customers Provide More Feedback. …
• Customers Will Explore Your Brand. …
• Loyal Customers are More Forgiving. …
• Customers Will Welcome Your Marketing.

Mark Canlis: 

Mark Canlis (Canlis Website): When we interview people, we ask lots of questions with 1 initial purpose, to make them feel safe.  We line them up for primary question: How will working here help you become, who you aim to become?

When you build an amazing culture, the team will police itself.  No one is too big to wash dishes… we are a team where everyone has each other’s back.

Simon Sinek – The Power of Why: “People Don’t Buy What You Do they Buy Why You do it…” TED Talk

Creating a business that last starts with a RETENTION Strategy!

Starts with buy In: Our Tour…

Student Sales Cycle Onboarding:

• Payments (must be automated, NO exceptions)
• Contracts (what’s expected)
• Scheduling (who is their mentor…and when)

Current Students and Retention:

• Automated Payments
• Communications (Constant Contact, TZ Chat, TZ Reminders, Social Media)
  • Broad What’s Going On
  • Fun – Event Based
  • Automated Reminders (lessons, classes, practice, assignments)
  • Social/Friends/Connections with other students
• Fun but mature (we treat children as musicians NOT kids)
• Scheduling and Attendance
• Cancellations and Make-ups

What is your why?  What is the goal they are working toward?

• Learning
• Practice
• Show Cycle
• Tryouts (Live Program and Classic Albums)
• Accreditation and night classe,
• Play at Schools and Festivals
• Large Venue Shows
• TZ Lesson/Practice Reminders
• TZ Chat

Marketing and Sales Strategies for our Studios