Your piano teaching week is almost over and I am sure you’re ready to put your feet up and relax.
But wait! We have a challenge for you… the Extreme Waiting Room Makeover.
It’s not too often we give our piano studio waiting rooms the attention they deserve. The piano studio is always the “bride” while the waiting room is no doubt the “bridesmaid”, rolling her eyes at the gaudy dress she’s been forced to wear.
And, just like a wedding, your studio’s “bridesmaid dress” speaks volumes about your studio.
So, it’s time to give your piano studio’s waiting room an extreme makeover!
Are you ready to “shock and awe” your clients? Over the weekend, make 5 changes to your studio’s waiting room that will improve the experience of those who must wait… most likely, Mom or Dad. More often than not, parents are footing the bill for music lessons, and your waiting room can be one way of saying “thank you”.
I would suggest going for a Zen-like approach. As a Dad of a little girl (and another on the way… 6 weeks to go!) who takes piano lessons, the 30 minutes I spend in the waiting room of our piano school is a safe haven where I get a little time to myself. It represents a 30 minute break where I can wait for my headache to wane and where I can recharge my battery for an afternoon of dress-up, pony rides, blackberry picking, and finger painting.
Is this really that important?
Your waiting room is the first thing your clients see, and it speaks volumes about your studio. If you have a waiting room that knocks it out of the park, I am certain your clients will be thinking, “Wow! Anyone who puts this much effort into a waiting room must be putting ten times the effort into the actual piano teaching!”.
I can’t wait to hear about the changes you make over the weekend!
Great Teachers Sweat the Small Stuff
The waiting room makeover may seem like a trivial task, but it is simply one small detail that, when combined with other small details, can make a world of difference! At our piano studio we have spent years perfecting the small stuff and our now reaping the rewards of all of our efforts.
Deciding where to concentrate your efforts can be a real challenge for piano teachers. There are so many pieces to the puzzle that finding your path to success can be a challenge… but there is help!
Tiffany Jefferson says
September 16, 2011 at 9:53 amMy living room is my waiting area. I’ve actually been making updates over the past few weeks. In the entry way there are coat hooks, a chair for belongings, and a place to leave shoes if necessary. Welcoming wall art and autumn decorations make it inviting. I leave board games and current magazines around, and of course there’s always the table for homework or the couch for relaxing! It makes for lessons without distractions when everyone feels comfortable.
Andrea says
September 17, 2011 at 10:23 amHi Tiffany,
Sounds like a great place for the parents to relax. Great idea to have board games – might be the only time in a busy week that parents have the time for some “family game night” with siblings 🙂
Dorla Aparicio says
September 17, 2011 at 4:39 amIt would be nice to complete a weekly makeover for the waiting area of my studio. Here are 5 things I did Friday evening after my last student, getting a head start on next week.
1. Sweep and mop the floor.
2. Dust the baseboards, lamps, and small table.
3. Wipe down/disinfect door knobs (of bathroom door also).
4. Update music magazines (and popular ones too!)
5. Always have schedule, calendar and things I want them to remember on the bulletin board.
Oh! and as you walk in you will see a nice little note that says “No food or drink allowed!” I really don’t want the place to be a dump for the next person coming in!
Andrea says
September 17, 2011 at 10:30 amHi Dorla,
What a great routine to get into – and I like the idea of a bulletin board being right there. This board is also a place you could post a “student of the month” or other recognition awards so all the parents could see it.