The Tutor Podcast

Effective Enquiry Calls

With lockdown easing many people are looking to get back into face to face tutoring and you need to make sure you’re prepared to welcome both old and new faces. Join Neil as he discusses how you can be prepared for enquiry calls and emails, he discusses the importance of making a good first impression, why having a rough draft is better than having no draft at all and the important questions you need to ask all your potential customers. KEY TAKEAWAYS * Now, with lockdown 2.0 being eased there are lots of people aiming to get out of the house and get into your teaching room. In addition there will be students who’ll want in-room lessons but who opted-out of online lessons, clambering to book a slot. * Right now is a great opportunity to capture and serve new and returning customers. In time all Covid restrictions will be axed and you can go about your lawful business as normal. Make sure all your email templates and phone scripts are up to date because the first call makes a lasting impression on students. * Spend a little time and write down a rough draft of what to say when the phone rings or your email pings. From your rough draft, refine your thoughts and language, craft the questions you’re going to ask the prospective customer. * Important questions to ask are what the customer wants, what got them here, what they dream about playing or doing and any prior experience. Finish your draft by asking them the Miracle Question “if you woke up tomorrow and you were the very best guitar player you could dream of being what would that feel like, how would it sound, and what would you be doing?”. * It’s important to print your script out and have it to hand in the office or teaching room where you can see it. If the prospect seems like someone you’d like to have as a student/customer, and they have told you when is good for them, offer them a choice of two times within their windows. * With a good script or even a fair one the enquiry call runs on rails, most of the time and it happens with less effort than just taking a call and saying any old thing that occurs to you. BEST MOMENTS “the 6 P’s Proper Preparation Prevents Piss-Poor Performance” “bearing in mind they may have spent the last year watching YouTube clips and getting completely confused, focusing on random steps, learning bits and pieces without any structure.” “The script does the work for you – presenting you as an organised, confident, experienced expert who won’t let them down.” VALUABLE RESOURCES * Listen to The Tutor Podcast on the Apple Podcasts ( https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-tutor-podcast/id1369191372 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-tutor-podcast/id1369191372])! * Build Your Online Course Week 1: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/build-your-online-course/id1369191372?i=1000477109724 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/build-your-online-course/id1369191372?i=1000477109724] * Course Planning Week 2: Who Am I?: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/build-your-online-course/id1369191372?i=1000477109724 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/build-your-online-course/id1369191372?i=1000477109724] * Who are They? (Know Your Punters): https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/who-are-they-know-your-punters/id1369191372?i=1000478984529 [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/who-are-they-know-your-punters/id1369191372?i=1000478984529] * Read the Weird Things Guitarists Do book by Neil Cowmeadow, which is available now on Amazon. Link - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Weird-Things-Guitarists-Do-Misconceptions/dp/1519026579/ [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Weird-Things-Guitarists-Do-Misconceptions/dp/1519026579/] * Contact Neil via this website - com [http://www.neilcowmeadow.com/]! ABOUT THE HOST Neil Cowmeadow is a maverick peripatetic guitar teacher from Telford with over 19 years’ experience in the business of helping people. Learn how to start, grow and love your business with Neil’s invaluable advice and tips without the buzzwords and BS! CONTACT METHOD info@neilcowmeadow.com See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

ASSUME NOTHING

All musicians have got to start out somewhere right? Many of them started out teaching themselves and skipped learning the basics. Join Neil as he discusses how you can never assume a player knows the basics, no matter how long they’ve been playing, the importance of understanding the foundations of music and how to change a students life long bad habits. KEY TAKEAWAYS * There’s an old saying that goes “when you assume you make an ass of you and me”. There are many good guitar players out there and it is often surprising just how good they are considering how they learned. Many of them learned to copy the songs the way they sounded in the records rather than the notes and they often emulated their rock star heroes. * Many guitar players understand little, make life hard for themselves, and have no idea what to do when the moment arrives to kick back and let go with a made-up-on-the-spot solo. Guitarists are missing out on so much by not having the basics set up right. Without foundational understanding of the instrument they wrestle with the neck of the guitar rather than letting their fingers dance on it. * Foundations matter. No matter what you teach, you had better make sure that the basics are there, because if they’re not, you are clutching at straws and hoping that something sticks and the lights, somehow, go on. * As tutors you should assume nothing is well-understood. Regardless of a student’s experience or apparent ability you should always be checking that the basics are there and that the foundations are in place to be built on. BEST MOMENTS “So the best of luck to us all as we try to begin all over again.” “ they cannot play with a capital P.” “My own assumptions were a big problem in the early days of my teaching life..” VALUABLE RESOURCES * Listen to The Tutor Podcast on the Apple Podcasts ( https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-tutor-podcast/id1369191372 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-tutor-podcast/id1369191372])! * Build Your Online Course Week 1: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/build-your-online-course/id1369191372?i=1000477109724 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/build-your-online-course/id1369191372?i=1000477109724] * Course Planning Week 2: Who Am I?: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/build-your-online-course/id1369191372?i=1000477109724 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/build-your-online-course/id1369191372?i=1000477109724] * Who are They? (Know Your Punters): https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/who-are-they-know-your-punters/id1369191372?i=1000478984529 [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/who-are-they-know-your-punters/id1369191372?i=1000478984529] * Read the Weird Things Guitarists Do book by Neil Cowmeadow, which is available now on Amazon. Link - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Weird-Things-Guitarists-Do-Misconceptions/dp/1519026579/ [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Weird-Things-Guitarists-Do-Misconceptions/dp/1519026579/] * Contact Neil via this website - com [http://www.neilcowmeadow.com/]! ABOUT THE HOST Neil Cowmeadow is a maverick peripatetic guitar teacher from Telford with over 19 years’ experience in the business of helping people. Learn how to start, grow and love your business with Neil’s invaluable advice and tips without the buzzwords and BS! CONTACT METHOD info@neilcowmeadow.com See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Entrepreneurial Trials and Tribulations

Being an entrepreneur is different to what most people do for work and it allows you to break from the norm and do what you love every single day, sometimes it may not even feel like work. Join Neil as he discusses the trials and tribulations faced by many entrepreneurs when it comes to the work/life balance and what it really means. Neil discusses the responsibilities of a business owner, the strains it can take on relationships and how to accept the change and transcend social expectations. KEY TAKEAWAYS * Being an entrepreneur is fundamentally different to what most people do and how most people are. Entrepreneurs are a breed apart and there will be problems when their worldview and your entrepreneurial worldview collide. * Being an entrepreneur means that because it’s your business and you are responsible for your own success or failure, it’s inevitable that at some time you will have to put your commitment to your students and your business ahead of social activity. You can’t be everywhere and do everything, so there will be choices to be made and some of the people around you are not going to like your choices. * Many people around you won’t understand that you enjoy your job, because it’s so far away from how life is for them. For them, work is an unpleasant inconvenience that interferes with their social life, whilst for you, it’s a fascinating mission, an intrinsically fun thing to do. * In some circumstances, this can cost you a relationship but you have to do it because your business and your living shouldn’t take second place to just about anything else. Be discerning and selective about what you say “yes” to; make “no” your default answer to non-priority social happenings and anything which pulls you away from your vision, your business and your values. * Accept the change and transcend social expectations. Remember that ‘Eagles fly alone’. It is important to have your own life and honour your own values. BEST MOMENTS “what’s the point of doing less of what you love in order to do something you like less?” “ Work hard in your business and love every minute of it” “This is the toughest part of being in business for yourself, but it gets easier over time.” “When this happens, your identity has shifted – you’re not the same person you used to be.” VALUABLE RESOURCES * Listen to The Tutor Podcast on the Apple Podcasts ( https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-tutor-podcast/id1369191372 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-tutor-podcast/id1369191372])! * Build Your Online Course Week 1: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/build-your-online-course/id1369191372?i=1000477109724 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/build-your-online-course/id1369191372?i=1000477109724] * Course Planning Week 2: Who Am I?: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/build-your-online-course/id1369191372?i=1000477109724 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/build-your-online-course/id1369191372?i=1000477109724] * Who are They? (Know Your Punters): https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/who-are-they-know-your-punters/id1369191372?i=1000478984529 [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/who-are-they-know-your-punters/id1369191372?i=1000478984529] * Read the Weird Things Guitarists Do book by Neil Cowmeadow, which is available now on Amazon. Link - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Weird-Things-Guitarists-Do-Misconceptions/dp/1519026579/ [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Weird-Things-Guitarists-Do-Misconceptions/dp/1519026579/] * Contact Neil via this website - com [http://www.neilcowmeadow.com/]! ABOUT THE HOST Neil Cowmeadow is a maverick peripatetic guitar teacher from Telford with over 19 years’ experience in the business of helping people. Learn how to start, grow and love your business with Neil’s invaluable advice and tips without the buzzwords and BS! CONTACT METHOD info@neilcowmeadow.com See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Coming Out of Lockdown

With the Lockdown restrictions promised to soon be easing, it is very important for you and your tutoring business are fully prepared to get back up and running in line with the law. Join Neil today as he details how you can practice face to face whilst maintaining ‘Covid safe’, how to adapt your pre-existing teaching style and how much you and your students are going to love getting back to doing what you both enjoy. KEY TAKEAWAYS * Many students are eager to get back into the classroom to learn and your tutoring business is required to teach in a covid safe environment. You are still going to need to wear facemasks and figure out how to interpret cues from different facial expressions. You are also going to have to listen more closely to language and your students’ body posture. * You will also have to adhere to social distancing measures and stay 2 meters away from your students where possible operating a no-touch policy. As a tutor, it is common to have to adjust your player’s finger positions (if teaching guitar) and ensure everything is in the right place for them. This is something you are no longer allowed to do. Ensure there are copious amounts of hand sanitiser available for you and your students. * Wherever possible you can still continue to teach on Zoom until the time comes where there is no friction in ‘face to face’ teaching. However, most students will agree that whilst Zoom lessons are good, they are nowhere near as good as the real thing. Zoom lessons are not as much fun. * For now, the story goes that we will be getting some of our freedom back in April. When we get it you should be ready. BEST MOMENTS “We should be planning our escape.” “I think it should be called ‘anti-social distancing.” “My job is to cover my arse as best as I can.” VALUABLE RESOURCES * Listen to The Tutor Podcast on the Apple Podcasts ( https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-tutor-podcast/id1369191372 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-tutor-podcast/id1369191372])! * Build Your Online Course Week 1: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/build-your-online-course/id1369191372?i=1000477109724 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/build-your-online-course/id1369191372?i=1000477109724] * Course Planning Week 2: Who Am I?: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/build-your-online-course/id1369191372?i=1000477109724 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/build-your-online-course/id1369191372?i=1000477109724] * Who are They? (Know Your Punters): https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/who-are-they-know-your-punters/id1369191372?i=1000478984529 [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/who-are-they-know-your-punters/id1369191372?i=1000478984529] * Read the Weird Things Guitarists Do book by Neil Cowmeadow, which is available now on Amazon. Link - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Weird-Things-Guitarists-Do-Misconceptions/dp/1519026579/ [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Weird-Things-Guitarists-Do-Misconceptions/dp/1519026579/] * Contact Neil via this website - com [http://www.neilcowmeadow.com/]! ABOUT THE HOST Neil Cowmeadow is a maverick peripatetic guitar teacher from Telford with over 19 years’ experience in the business of helping people. Learn how to start, grow and love your business with Neil’s invaluable advice and tips without the buzzwords and BS! CONTACT METHOD info@neilcowmeadow.com See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Choice of Business Structure

Are you looking to start, scale and grow your tutoring business and looking which is the best way to do it? Join Neil today as he discusses the three business structures your tutoring business could fall under, and the benefits and risks they pose to you. Neil talks through sole trader businesses, limited liability partnerships and limited company business structures, the importance of paying your taxes, and the tax benefits a limited company can offer. KEY TAKEAWAYS * There are three big decisions you can make when deciding on a structure for your company. The easiest one for many people is operating your business as a sole trader, in essence, you register as self-employed with HMRC and you get on with it. Three is no real separation between yourself and the business aspect of what you do. * You must notify HMRC on the first day you begin trading, especially if you are in a day job. Pay your taxes and you can sleep at night. You won’t worry about getting found out for tax evasion. You are not likely to be subject to an HMRC audit which is extremely hard. Your tax liability as a sole trader is blended with your day job and you will only pay tax on the total combined incomes. * Secondly, you could have a limited liability partnership. This is an agreement to operate a business between one or more persons. The limited liability partnership is set up to make a profit. It is highly favoured by people in professions such as accountancy and it is favoured for a reason. It runs different tax regulations than limited companies for instance there is no corporation tax and is owned by the partners themselves. * A limited company is one of the most popular business structures in the UK. It is a separate legal entity from you. The people who own these companies are stand alones, this gives the owner some separation from the company itself and protects your assets. It is pretty simple to set one of these up via the company's house. * If there are multiple owners of a limited company you will need to figure out who owns what. Whilst 50:50 looks great on paper, 49:51 sounds better as long as you have the bulk of the shares as then you will get to call the shots. * There are big tax advantages to having your own company. If you die with a net worth with over £325,000 your children of beneficiaries are going to be paying 40% tax on that. If you put it all in a company structure then there is no inheritance tax until the shares are sold. The heirs only pay capital gains tax if they pay the shares. BEST MOMENTS “As the owner of the business, you have unlimited responsibility.” “You could lose a lot of money that way, which means you could get a tax rebate.” “You get a company number, and off you go Kido.” “That is a great way of heading off tax.” VALUABLE RESOURCES * Listen to The Tutor Podcast on the Apple Podcasts ( https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-tutor-podcast/id1369191372 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-tutor-podcast/id1369191372])! * Build Your Online Course Week 1: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/build-your-online-course/id1369191372?i=1000477109724 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/build-your-online-course/id1369191372?i=1000477109724] * Course Planning Week 2: Who Am I?: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/build-your-online-course/id1369191372?i=1000477109724 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/build-your-online-course/id1369191372?i=1000477109724] * Who are They? (Know Your Punters): https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/who-are-they-know-your-punters/id1369191372?i=1000478984529 [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/who-are-they-know-your-punters/id1369191372?i=1000478984529] * Read the Weird Things Guitarists Do book by Neil Cowmeadow, which is available now on Amazon. Link - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Weird-Things-Guitarists-Do-Misconceptions/dp/1519026579/ [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Weird-Things-Guitarists-Do-Misconceptions/dp/1519026579/] * Contact Neil via this website - com [http://www.neilcowmeadow.com/]! ABOUT THE HOST Neil Cowmeadow is a maverick peripatetic guitar teacher from Telford with over 19 years’ experience in the business of helping people. Learn how to start, grow and love your business with Neil’s invaluable advice and tips without the buzzwords and BS! CONTACT METHOD info@neilcowmeadow.com See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.