Just curious as to how much other instructors charge their clients for instruction. I normally charge retail prices for all components including blank and then anywhere from $50.00 to $100.00 flat fee depending on what type rod it is and whether they want to include a butt wrap or not. Overall I fairly flexible. Once they have picked their components I adjust my pricing as to not out price myself.

Do most go bye a flat fee??

I don't charge anything at all to someone willing to REALLY attempt to learn. I even give them a 10% discount on components AND try to find the occasional blanks/components on sale to help even further.

Personally, I am just absolutely thrilled to introduce anyone to the tradecraft ... I think it is the best thing since sliced bread.

That probably isn't the answer you were looking for ... but that's the one I have for you.

That all depends - are you talking about offering rod building classes? I used to do this and charged $50 per head. I only took 5 or 6 students per class, which ran 4 nights, 2 hours at a time, one night per week. That was 15 to 20 years ago. Nowadays I think $100 for a class which includes all the basics would be more than fair. If the student is even remotely intelligent (and the instructor is even remotely competent) then the information that is passed on has to be worth many times over that amount.

The cost for blanks and components, would be additional, of course.

............

I've taught quite a few people how to build and do it just for the enjoyment of getting someone else started in theis great craft!. It might be different if I was actually teaching a class somewhere but as it is, being retired I have the time and get a lot of satisfaction out of sharing what little knowledge that I have and seeing others discover the joy in building a fishing rod.

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

I must say I agree with alot of you willing to teach for free to someone who wants to learn. In re thinking I would probably do the same unless that person intended to go into business for himself. Thank you for the feed back, it gave me something to think about. By the way, I charge civic organizations nothing at all, the sponsoring agency usually charges a nomnal fee. I dont charge for any thing at all. I dont charge individual kids anything either.

Thanks guys.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/27/2009 05:24PM by Vern Metcalf Jr.

Vern I would be limited on additional info. I would charge for (Cork Design, Foam Design and Thread Art or Weaving). Example I have a friend who started picking my brain about a year ago. I showed him the basics of how and the whys of a spinning rod. He did a decent job. Then all of a sudden he is calling for more technical information. Come to find out he is selling his rods which are copy cats. He has not a clue why or what makes a certain blank works better than another even if they are rated the same. One of his stupid questions, How did this rod get a translucent finish on its wraps and the how did they get the almost see threw finish on their blanks. .He thought the graphite its self was colored when it was in its raw stages before making it into a blank, He also wanted to know what thread they used. I told him that those were company trade secrets. LOL Any way he called the company and that is just what they told him. LOL, He now has a sign on his workshop door. He has yet to purchase a book let alone a DVD . He says he can get it all over the net. Hey I am retired, but you can only share so much. We all paid our dues, in purchasing books and seminars. I stared back in the late 70's back then one one shared.

Good Wraps Bob

I teach it to adult education. I charge 140 dollars which includes all meterials. On top of that they have to pay the schools tuition of 60. It is a 6 week two hours per course. In 12 hours they walk away with one finished rod all the tools and knowhow to keep going in the craft. I have a 5 person minamum and a 10 person maximum and have filled up with a wait list most every time. I have created a sylabus outline and tests and mudhole has been great about supplying the material at a resonable rate. Everyone gets a mudhole catalog as well so it's a win win for them and me. Since your starting out you may want to look at there educational package its a good starting point. For those that want to go beyond the course i have gotten them together in my shop for a informal rod building "202" at no charge. I make that up by selling them blanks andcomponents at retail. They save shipping and in most cases get the imeidiate gradifacation of walking away with components.

ethically speaking, (i dont teach people, and in fact, I am looking for mentors) if someone wants to go into business without the know how, it is only right that he should have to probably pay something in order to learn .. it just doesnt seem right to find a mentor, take up his time, learn everything for free and later, turn around and bites the hand that fed him by competing with him in the same trade

-
Give a man a fish, he'll eat for a day..
Teach a man to fish, he'll be broke!

Free rod building classes are available in Southern CA for those who live in the neighborhood.

I know of two different Rod Building classes in Southern California, which give absolutely free lessons to rod building groups. They are located at:

1). 10174 Embassy way, San Diego Ca Phone: (858) 693-9047

Weekly Lessons and tutorials by the sponsors and visiting experts.


2). Glenn's Tackle Shop at 1145 Baker St. Costa Mesa, CA 92626 - Phone: 714-957-1408

Group lessons meet on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month and the 5th when there is one

Principal instructor is Bobby Gowin, who is the Shop owner, plus occasional visiting experts such as, Ken Bushman, Mark Griffin of @#$%& -- et al.

The lessons are given in the Tackle Shop. The attendees are given discounts on all rod-building materials used during the classes. Bill Batson, of Batson Enterprises and Mark Griffin of @#$%&, have both generously donated rod building packages for these classes. These packages included blanks and components.


Rena



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/28/2009 12:19PM by Rena Hall.

I learned to build at a shop that charged $20.00 for supplies (thread, epoxy, finish) and retail on componenents. They would teach you the basics and then let you go. If you desired to learn more they would work with you. They had a very loyal core group of builders, and as most of them developed skills they would teach others. There were no set hours for instruction, just come in grab your stuff, and get to work. I will say they did have some theft problems from people raiding the supplies of others which kind of sucked, but with a better setup it would be a very good way to do buisness.

Billy,
I like the way you run your classes, very simiilar to the way I run larger adult classes, however, individual classes are different as pointed out in Bob's post you run a danger of competition or continued questions that can be found in information poiinted out in the class that I run.

Iam not new to teaching by any means, I simply wondered what others thought of pricing and its interesting to see all the varied responses.

Thanks again
Vern

If you plan on doing a one on one, make sure you have them sign a non-compete at least for the same area within 50miles or so. Most who truly want to learn and have no desire to go into business for it, will happily sign it.

Shops often give classes for free, but there is a profit motive involved (nothing wrong with that). They are hoping that the attendees will return to buy rod building supplies in the future.

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