Dealing with COVID-19 Studio Planning Overwhelm
It’s hard to see a path forward for your studio when the game keeps changing. How are we supposed to plan for the future when things are constantly shifting? Every day it seems like new rules, regulations, or orders are passed, and it’s leaving a lot of music studio owners stressed out.
(Heck, it’s making everyone stressed out.)
So if you’ve found yourself reluctant to form a “game plan” because you just can’t figure out which direction you want to go… this broadcast and blog post were designed just for you.
(And me. ‘Cause I’m #learningoutloud)
Because there will be a next. And as stressful as it might feel to think about it, I’d much rather be prepared and have plans in my back pocket than to feel like I’m flying by the seat of my pants.
The ideas came to me while I was renovating my studio.
It started with realizing that I had to move the grand piano — because if I did that, I had to move several other pieces of furniture. Then I had to move where a singer might stand (in the way off future), and of course that meant rearranging where I had mirrors on the wall…. and then… and then…
(You get the picture.)
So I gave myself permission to do something kind of scary: to start from scratch. And that’s what I’ve been doing for the past two weeks.
In this week’s video, I share 3 strategies I’m using to prepare my studio for what lessons will look like as we finish the summer and move into the school year. They’re helping me to sift through the noise and clutter and to make multiple game plans so that I can wrap my brain around what comes next.
Check out the video for the full details:
Show Notes from the Broadcast:
- Give yourself permission to etch-a-sketch. Starting from a clean slate can help you visualize what a new teaching scenario might look like. If we cling too hard to “what we’ve always done” or “what we thought would work,” it takes much more time and mental energy to create a clear path forward.Yes, that might mean releasing expectations and thought patterns. And yes, it might be frustrating and hard to do. BUT… it will be worth it. Grab a blank document, a piece of paper, or a white board, and allow yourself to start anew.
- Plan out multiple scenarios. Even if these plans are basic outlines, having them in your back pocket will give you peace of mind. What would it look like if I continued online? What would it look like if I partially opened? What would it look like if I returned to in-person lessons?Case out each scenario and think about what might need to happen to make it a reality.
- Preserve your sanity and safety. Keep these top of mind when creating your plans. Do not let clients pressure you into doing something that makes you feel uncomfortable or unsafe. And vice versa: don’t ask your clients to do things that make them feel uncomfortable or unsafe.We’re all in this together, and if we can approach the problems with this fact in mind, we will arrive at solutions that serve all. You are highly skilled as a teacher, and no matter how you deliver those skills: You are enough.
I hope you found this useful.
Best of luck to you and your studio as you figure out the path forward. Do stay in touch and let us know how things are going. Comment below with your plans, questions, or encouragement. Because as I said before: we’re all in this together.
You can continue to catch more free business, mindset, and awesometicity tips on the FB page every Wednesday at 12pm ET.
Stay creative. Stay you.
