I got a chance to see another workshop instructor’s handout on workshop etiquette and quite frankly was flabbergasted.
I can only imagine that the intent was to make participants mindful of saying and doing things the instructor felt may cause problems.
Seriously I hope she is a better painter than presenter of ideas. Every paragraph I found offensive as they were laced with things like…. ‘give the workshop instructor the credit and respect they deserve’, ‘don’t speak too often’, ‘let the instructor be the sole instructor’, ‘give honor to the instructor at all times and ask only pertinent questions that you really want and need answers to’, and at the end a reminder that you are there to ‘listen, learn and make art…not to impress anyone’.
But the paragraph that really got my hackles up is “when artists pay big money to attend the workshop of a masterful painter, the last thing they want is for any of the other students to spout off what they know, challenge the teacher, or even give the other students unsolicited instruction.”
I say HELL YES, I want you to do all those things in my workshops (well challenging me might not be so cool but having an open discussion about other ways to do things is most definitely cool).
When artists gather there is a wealth of knowledge and experience present. We are not children learning something new and need to follow along perfectly. We come together from all different experiences and places. It’s part of what makes workshops so magical.
I can’t tell you how much I have learned from my students, both in the questions asked and in their knowledge of the medium and making art.
So please, please, please when you come to one of my workshops, be open minded, ask loads of questions…..both of me and of the process….and share your knowledge and expertise you’ve gained over the years.
Join me this September at Eatons’ Ranch where all your questions and comments will be welcomed. That’s part of what makes this experience so magical. We all come together to learn and to share. Click here for details.
What are your thoughts? I’d love to hear you in the comments below.
Be well….be creative,
Click to learn more about photo encaustic classes, courses, and workshops.
As a former public school art teacher, I am not surprised that some people need to be reminded of basic civility rules. I have personally not had bad experiences in most workshops that I have taught or participated in. Sometimes students occupy to much of the teachers time and use to many group materials, but that happens. A good teacher needs to be able to adapt to all kinds of situations and hopefully diffuse or redirect situations that are uncomfortable. The teacher sets the tone for the workshop.
Totally agree. And for me that means the tone should be inviting and open. The world is full of different people. Some students take more time, some students use more materials, some students are very quiet, and some are really needy. It’s not always easy. But everyone should feel comfortable and not have to worry about the instructors ego!
Gross. Those words scream “EGO”. I have absolutely no desire to be around anyone who thinks like that, and I especially wouldn’t pay any money to do so. Granted, there are occasionally know-it-alls who can ruin the experience if you let them, but good instructors tend to find ways to shut them down. In the workshops I have attended, the exchange of ideas among everyone, including the other students, has been invaluable.
Right? My first thought went to “ego” as well. I love workshops for the sharing of information, ideas, and getting to know people. I have very little time for ego either.
Yes I agree …. I feel like if you learn one new thing from anyone teacher, peer, etc that is huge and worth so much. Have a fabulous day…
By this time in life we all have so muck knowledge…..it’s wonderful to be able to share!
Wow, Clare. I’m so impressed by your feelings on that particular instructor. That person must have big insecurities and cannot handle criticism or input from other people. People with fragile egos are not prone to having good discourse, exchanges of ideas, and are often not so adept at actual teaching.
I must say I enjoyed your class on photo encaustic and felt your teaching style to be inclusive and positive. I’ve become very busy in my life as of late, but I still enjoy your emails now and then which remind me that there is an art world out there waiting for me when my life slows back down.
Thanks for the compliments Mary. The art world is always there when you are ready to jump back in……and it’s funny how the brain continues to think and process art even when we aren’t actively creating:)
Wow! I’m a workshop instructor (and I have a degree in Adult Education) and this sounds like the exact antithesis of what I strive for in a workshop. I love interaction and synergy among students and with me. Sounds like this person is very insecure. Poor students!
Right? I love the interaction and synergy too. If I had received this I would be totally put off. And this comes from a very well known instructor.
Clare, I agree with you completely. The only request I have for people in my photography workshops is to have their cameras and batteries ready and be prepared to learn and have FUN!
I wish I could attend one of your in-person workshops someday…
Sandra
“Look for the Light”
Oh Sandra, I wish you could too. I would love to meet and work with you. Maybe our paths will cross in SMA someday:)
YIKES, controlling much? LOL (Maybe passable for a room of kindergarteners.)
Kinda puts you off at the beginning of the workshop!
WOW. A very large and very fragile ego. I have taught and been taught many things over the years and find the best teachers are the ones who are willing and enthusiastic about freely sharing of themselves and their knowledge, engage their students and find ways to get the best out of everyone. “Slapping” people down before you even start a class is not a very effective teaching method. Especially in an art class where you want people to express themselves!(I have a Masters’s degree in education). I would not take a class from this person.
Thanks for you comment Dawn. I can’t tell you how much I learn from others. My workshops are open to freely sharing information. I love how you connect it to art and expression. YES, we want people to think about this process and not just do something because someone told them to.
Is it possible that she had a bad experience with one obnoxious attendee who spoiled it for everyone else? We have had 2 incidences over the past 12 year with the photo workshop organization for which I am a volunteer trip leader, in which a participant was so terrible they had to be removed. They had been warned multiple times and ignored the pleas of the trip leaders. I’m glad I wasn’t on either of those! But we have many many workshops so those are rare cases.
That said, in our introductory letter of welcome, we ask that they respect the fact that the photo instructor must spend time with each participant. We also ask that they come to us, the trip leaders with any concerns or problems early on so that we can try to solve them. When together in a remote place for 5-7 days, traveling together, and photographing together, there are bound to be some minor annoyances.
I agree that that painter seems extreme and I wouldn’t want to be on one of her workshops. We had one photo instructor like that but he only lasted 3 workshops before he was let go. There were many complaints about his controlling, angry personality, even though his instruction was stellar.
My goal is to join you at Eaton Ranch in 2022, so please keep it going!
We encourage everyone to ask questions as many times as they want and to share their own insights and experiences for the enrichment of all of us.
I’m sure she did have some bad experiences, but as you know…..you deal with them individually as they come up. Respect goes both ways and a letter with instructions like were listed isn’t giving much respect to the students. I’ve heard so many horror stories about different photographers being protective of shoots they have set up for students, etc, but luckily I’ve not seen any of that in person. Just because you are technically good at something doesn’t mean you can or should teach. It’s a completely different skill set. Unfortunately, not everyone thinks about that when deciding they are going to teach a workshop.
Would love to have you at Eatons’ Ranch. I look forward to it every year!
NO, no, no…Bad start to any relationship; especially one that is to teach and inspire…
Thank you so much for your post and your comments.
I believe I would find that instructor to be very confining and discouraging. I’m pretty flabbergasted as well. How could a student be inspired on any level with that kind of expectation and chastising? Maybe, he or she has some incredible art to share but that would only take most creatives so far. Reading it made me NEVER want to take that persons class let alone interact with them.
On the other hand, reading your comments were delightful, encouraging, and inspirational. I turned around and registered for your class! I am very much looking forward to the experience. Thank you again!
You are very sweet Kim. Looking forward to meeting you in Eatons’.
I’m a marketer and I’ve learned over the years that everything I do should be done to service my customers. This instructor has the focus only on herself and not on what the students need. It’s really tough for some to think about it in terms of their customers. But it’s one of the reasons I think I’m successful at what I do. I’m always thinking about my students and how I can be clear in my communication and give them the best experience possible!
Wow. I agree with you and the other commenters here: Adult Ed requires a completely different approach vs. the more passive-student, “sage on the stage”-instructor model still largely embraced in schools. While I agree with the concept that perhaps student interjections/differing points-of-view might be held until a separate Q&A period arises (depending on the topic) – Peer-to-Peer learning is so rich among adults, and should be encouraged! We all bring unique life perspectives that we can be mutually inspired by.
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As I reflect on my own experience in adult workshops, I think it can also be helpful to state explicitly to learners that they are in charge of their own learning experience, to include non-classroom details: eg, they don’t need “permission” to skip an afternoon session if they’d rather take a walk (although they should notify the instructor so they’re not holding up the class); or leave the classroom to use the restroom, etc. Also, the need to incorporate adequate breaks, and just time to lounge. I’ve found many retreat instructors aim to fill every minute in the name of “giving people their money’s worth” – then the student goes home burned out.
Thanks for sharing this piece – it was a good reminder of what’s important!
Gail, you are my mentor when it comes to creating all my online and workshops. Your insights have stayed with me for so many, many years. Thank you for that my friend.
My guess is that students who behave in an “unacceptable “ way would not pay much attention to these notes anyway. I believe it is the instructors job to guide the class not dictate – otherwise it is a lecture and not a workshop.
YES, so true.
Clare, you rock! As for workshops, I love the exchange of ideas, techniques, differing perspectives, laughter, learning by my and others “mistakes” or rather take 2 or take 3.
Seems I learn lots from the instructor (which is why I show up), but learn lots also from each participant. Keep on keeping on!
Robin D
Thank you Robin. Mistakes are the best. Some of the work I love the most started as mistakes:)
After seeing the list, you must have felt pretty grateful that there wasn’t any space for you to attend. Sounds like you had an inspired time on your own self guided exploration. I saw some of the photos, beautiful!! Eatons Ranch sounds incredible, it’s on my bucket list!
Yes, yes, yes, make that bucket list a reality this year. I would love to have you come to Eatons’:) As it turns out my friends had a marvelous time and the instructor wasn’t as hard-assed as the etiquette indicated.
Oh my! I think if I was in that class that might lead me to forget about etiquette ( snarky emoji here)
I’ve always found that participants are at different levels and since the last instructor can’t be everywhere at once it is nice to get help, give help, ask opinions and share ideas with my fellow students.
Exactly:) To me that is what workshops are all about…….both giving and receiving.
At the risk of offending anyone I have to say I have been at workshops where the instructor was unable or unwilling to control/ direct THAT one person. The one that is an expert/ or slowing the flow to make sure they understand or worse that everyone else does. There is always one no matter how “adult” we all should be.
My guess ,like others have stated , there must have been a very bad experience to make this part of workshop rules and is trying to just make people think . It is I am sure, a fine dance for teachers and instructors to walk this line of being available to all and yet not allowing disruptions to the course. Maybe she/he just does not realize how bad this comes off.
I would be curious how the attendants felt the class moved and IF they felt that there really was no room for discussion and questions.
Totally agree Shelly. It’s up to the instructor to manage the group. Unfortunately a lot of artists don’t have the skills necessary to manage groups. Just because you have the technical knowledge doesn’t mean you should teach. I think a blanket workshop etiquette that seems ego driven sets the tone for a workshop and has the potential to stymie creativity. It’s a risk I’m not willing to take. My first and only responsibility is to my students and providing them instruction, holding space for them to learn, and making sure everything in my power runs smoothly. These etiquette rules mention how students should leave their ego’s at the door. I think the instructor should as well.
Seriously funny… “The master painter” probably had an experience of a difficult participant in a previous workshop. To me good teaching is a dark art and under recognised skill in itself. Better if this “masterful painter” stays in the studio and not try to run a workshop.
Agreed:)
Wow! This one sparked a lot of discussion . . . Just popping in to say that I agree with you on this “When artists gather there is a wealth of knowledge and experience present. . . .I can’t tell you how much I have learned from my students, both in the questions asked and in their knowledge of the medium and making art.”
I have learned so much from my students – including how to be a better teacher! Encouraging experimentation, admitting when I don’t know everything, encouraging students to take classes from other instructors, and even asking students to share their experiences – yes, they’re there to learn from me, but being in a group setting means we get to learn from each other.
Nicely said Bridget:) Thank you.