The Spark of Inspiration
Despite passionately training 1000s of participants for about a decade on crucial soft skills, I must admit I've been hesitant about hosting macramé workshops. It's not that I don't like sharing my art, but the thought of leading a macramé workshop seemed daunting. My previous workshops were collaborative efforts, each with its own set of comforts and challenges. But, the overwhelming support and interest at A Hundred Hands event made me reconsider. This time, the challenge was entirely mine to accept—from choosing the location and venue to handling marketing and planning the session. It wasn't an easy task, yet something within me was ready to take it on.
Finding the Perfect Location and Venue
The first step was to find the right location, for which I turned to our Instagram community and ran a quick poll. The votes helped me choose Koramangala/HSR as our spot. Then, I began searching for the perfect place. I spoke to a couple of venues and finally decided to go with Art Beat HSR, which my friend Pallavi suggested. It was the ideal spot, fitting 8 people easily for a 3-hour workshop.
Crafting the Workshop
Choosing the project was important. I wanted the workshop to be both foundational and comprehensive, allowing participants to explore the vast potential of knotting. The decision to focus on a plant hanger that incorporated a maximum number of knots was designed to ensure participants left feeling skilled and inspired. To widen our circle, I ventured into digital marketing with Meta ads, reaching beyond my current followers and drawing in a diverse group of eager learners.
The Journey of Registrations
My first participant was a little boy whom I had taught at a Hundred Hands event. His mother had expressed his eagerness to attend our classes, despite my difficulty in traveling regularly for them. I assured her I would keep her informed about future workshops. Upon hearing about the event, the little one eagerly wanted to join.
Another individual showed genuine enthusiasm but faced challenges making an immediate payment. Touched by his interest, I reserved a spot for him, requesting payment at his earliest convenience. Some prospective participants expressed interest but mentioned that the dates didn't align well with their schedules, opting to join next time.
One participant's excitement was so infectious that I eagerly looked forward to meeting her. As registrations trickled in, from repeat customers to midnight enrollments, the diversity of participants shaped the workshop’s soul.
Preparing for the Day
I had to consider the expenses of the venue, raw materials, advertising, and my travel. Two days before the workshop, I had 7 participants confirmed. Just one more, and we would have had a full house. Excited by the prospect, I decided to arrange a small treat box for everyone. Initially, I thought of purchasing chocolates from mart, but then I thought, why not support a fellow small business owner? She's a lawyer turned baker, whom I had previously ordered cupcakes from for Valentine's Day. I reached out to her to see if she could prepare something for my participants. Although I ended up spending more than I had planned, I wanted to give a little something back for my first workshop.
I also sent out a message to all the participants, sharing the venue details and reminding them to be on time. Additionally, I followed up with the participant who hadn't made the payment yet. Unfortunately, he informed me that he wouldn't be able to join due to work commitments. Losing out on a seat at the last minute was disappointing and affected my calculations. Despite my efforts, I couldn't find a replacement in time. It was a valuable lesson learned.
The Workshop Day
On the day, I arrived at the venue half an hour early, only to find out that it would open just 5 minutes before the workshop's scheduled start time. So, I quickly stepped out with my husband to grab a quick bite and have breakfast. We returned to the venue 5-10 minutes before 11, and the studio was open by then. As participants started arriving, I quickly set up.
I learned that two of the participants were running late by 15 minutes. We waited for them, and at around 11:15, I decided to start with introductions so that they could join along. As we began, I introduced myself, and by then, the two participants also joined us. We ran a round of introductions for all the participants which provided a wonderful opportunity to learn more about each individual and their motivations for attending the workshop.
I then started with the basics, taking time to help participants understand the knots they would be using for the plant hanger. I encouraged them to go at their own pace and enjoy the process. Our little hero, in particular, kept calling me often, wanting me to be there next to him to help him out and chat. He enjoyed sharing his little stories, bringing smiles to everyone's faces.
The workshop was scheduled from 11 to 1:30, but we had the room allotted until 2, leaving some buffer time. As it approached 2 PM, I realized that not all participants were going to complete on time. However, to my surprise, none of them seemed to be hungry or wanting to leave. They continued to stay focused and were determined to finish it before they left, especially the little one! The threads have their way of tightly knotting you into it. It was very evident with each participant. I reassured the participants that it was okay if they couldn't finish, as I had already taught them the knot during the basics. Fortunately, the folks at Art Beat allowed us to extend the session until 2:30. By then, we all gathered for a happy group picture. I distributed the treat boxes lovingly made by The Lawful Oven, everyone expressed their gratitude and even showed interest in joining me again for future workshops.
Reflecting on the Experience
Although I was content with the overall experience, I wasn't pleased that I exceeded the expected time. However, receiving messages from participants proudly displaying their plant hangers at home and expressing that they thoroughly enjoyed the workshop, along with their appreciation for the treats, gave me relief.
As I reflect on the journey of this workshop, I'm filled with gratitude for the lessons learned and the connections made. Looking ahead, I'm excited to explore new avenues and embrace the possibilities that lie ahead. Stay tuned for what's next on this creative journey!
-Archana Harish
Click here to watch the workshop reel on our Instagram Page @knotsquare.in
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