How to set up a mini workshop.
Pick a date - Pick many dates that may work well for the event. Try not to conflict with other main events on your city, especially another dance event.
Research Locations
-- Most venues tend to book any where from 3-8 months in advance. Good venues (for dance functions) are slim picking in some cities. Your are looking for a decent-sized dance floor with minimal posts in the main dancing area. Square footage is important depending on how may people attending the function.
Find an instuctor
-- Do your research. Find out what they charge and if they can be booked for the weekend of your choice. Some instuctors may be booked a year in advance. Check their availibility.
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Some instuctors are exceptional Ballroom instructors, but if it's Argentine Tango that you want, then make sure you research instructors that teach the dances you want taught at your workshop. (Remember- you don't want your Waltz to look like a Two Step or your Cha Cha to look like a Swing.)
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Another main consideration is the Level of instuction! If the people you will be teaching to are all beginner or novise, then to bring in a world champion is overkill! (Unless they live nearby.) You don't have to fly someone in from England if you have access to qualified instuctors within a reasonable distance.
Picking a date, researching the venues as well as the availability of the instuctors all go hand in hand. You may want to have three or four dates to work with when you book the hall and the instructors as some of the dates you want may not be available to you.
Budget
-- Generally, most instructors will charge by the hour and many instuctors will have different packages that you can pick from. The cost will range between $75 - $100 if alone to $100-$150 per hour if they come with an assistant. If an instuctor is driving to another city, most will have minimum hours that they may want to teach to make it worth their while.
-- The cost of the venue may range any where from $45 per hour - $500 per day. (Convention/ballrooms may range from $500 - $1000. Remember!! People are wanting to learn how to dance. A convention centre may be overkill!! The size of the event will determine the size of the hall and the
A bar is nice, but not necessary. Ventilation is necessary! If it's a hot time of year, ensure there is adequate air conditioning and industrial-size fans. Consider parking and nearby restaurant access. Consider if you would like to have more than one workshop going on at a time, you will need more than one room. You can save room rental costs by holding any private lessons at someone's house - basement studio, hardwood dining room, etc.Research venues before you announce the event.
Dance Dimensions asks for a minimum of 3 hours for out of town locations. (Within the Okanagan.)
