After being in the performing arts industry performing on the West End and Broadway, I want to open up my own junior, extra-curricular, performing arts school for economically disadvantaged children who have a talent but cannot necessarily afford to pursue their dreams. This would be government and donation funded from companies who would love to help out with such a cause. it would be means tested from families. I would have a team of 6 people (2 teachers in singing, 2 teachers in acting and 2 teachers in dancing) with a vision of expanding. The ages would be from age 4-16 (from school years reception to year 11) with an annual showcase, whether that be a full musical or a showcase of different dances and songs etc.
My Plan...
At the moment, I could get some part-time teaching work at a dance school teaching children and get an understanding of how teachers teach. I could make notes on activities used to get children engaged in learning in the specialism which I could take onto my own school.
Open up a high interest rate business bank account to start saving as much money as possible to start this company.
Although it is not necessary, I will go back to university doing a postgraduate PGCE teaching qualification course to gain the relevant skills in teaching children such as how children learn, planning, assessment and pupil progress, classroom management (which will be used in a studio of some sort), teaching strategies, working with other teachers, and learning about behaviour in children.
For a year or so, I could apply to work in an already well established performing arts school to gain the experience of what I would be facing and learn for other peoples teaching strategies.
Start a go fund me page and start raising money for the company to start.
Start looking for a deprived location which has a high population of children and look for a building that would be suitable to have 3 studios.
Marketing and Advertisement: come up with a catchy company name and create a logo. Create a website, Instagram and Facebook page with the companies reason and drive for success and show how this company stands out from the rest. Give other companies a reason for investing to helping with such a good cause.
Put out an application for 5 jobs and get a well trusted team of experienced (within the industry) dancers, singers and actors, who have had some sort of teaching experience and teaching experience with children.
Buy/Rent a building with 3 studios and then decorate and get mirrors and equipment.
Get insurance and the relevant checks to be able to work with children and then open up the school.
Creativity: being creative is really important because you will have to design/create a lesson to teach and come up with activities to do with students.
Communication: being able to communicate properly and well is probably the most vital skill. You will have to change the way you communicate with students of different ages.
Flexibility and Open to Change: you may have planned a full lesson but depending on what the circumstances are, you may have to abandon what you have planned and do something completely different.
Adaptability: you are going to have to be able to adapt to children learning needs and work around them and not yourself.
Empathy: you don't necessarily know what is going on in that specific child's life so if they are down, don't flood them with questions, be understanding and take them away from their home life whilst they are under your care.
Patience: some children may have learning difficulties and learn at different paces to others so patience is very important.