Piano teaching lessons can be learned in the unlikeliest of places. Check out what I learned about advertising piano lessons while on a visit to IKEA. T93T8EDJCBZ7
I avoid IKEA like the plague. But unfortunately the plague has affected my wife… and since it is not in my DNA to abandon my sick wife, I unfortunately have made my fair share of trips to the biggest of box stores. My only respite from going “big box crazy”, while on my adventures into the fiery pits of… IKEA, is to watch other customers salivate over IKEA’S 99 cent breakfast.
The IKEA restaurant on any morning is booming. People love the value of the 99 cent breakfast. They talk about the 99 cent breakfast while eating the breakfast, while shopping after the breakfast, and during the weeks between shopping trips where they will undoubtedly eat the breakfast again.
IKEA is known for their cheap breakfasts as much as they are known for their affordable, assemble-yourself furniture. It is one reason why this massive big box store stands out from the crowd.
So what does IKEA have to do with my piano studio?
IKEA has found a simple way to stand out from the rest of the big box stores. The 99 cent breakfast is not the reason people shop there, but is is one of the reasons people talk about going there. It is that “something special” that gets people talking.
Does your piano studio have that something special?
What is it about your piano teaching studio that stands out from the rest? Does your studio have “something special” that no other piano teacher is offering? Does your studio have “something special” that parents tell other parents about?
If not, brainstorm a few “something specials” that might really stand out for parents and customers. Make sure that “something special” communicates the correct message you want for your piano teaching studio.
IKEA’s 99 cent breakfast, although cheap, sticks with the company’s desire to give their customers value at an affordable price.
What gets people talking about your studio? At our piano school, students regularly participate in My First Gig evenings where they have the opportunity to play their piano pieces for customers of local coffee shops and bistros. Parents love it, café owners love it, and café customers love it. Our My First Gig evenings generate a lot of positive buzz about our piano studio.
If you have a “something special” please share it with us in the comments below.
I’ve been thinking about this for some time, but have not implemented anything yet. But after reading your post I have decided to get busy. Half of my students are enrolled in group piano. What is “special” about a group? You can make music together! I need to get them working on being a “Piano Orchestra” – we have music, we have keyboards, the keyboards make different sounds – I need to get them playing different parts, etc. It will be MORE work – but I will have my something “special”.
Thanks for the reminder…
Hi Dorla,
What a fantastic idea! Piano can sometimes be such a solitary instrument and to have your students collaborate with their peers will really create a sense of community in your studio. This is the perfect example of offering “something special”. I can just see the mom’s on the playground now saying “Well…we’re off to Piano Orchestra!” and the interest that will generate amongst other parents. Great work!