systems Archives - Music Studio Startup

Computer Backup the Easy Way

March 26, 2018

automation, insurance, organization, productivity, studio management, systems

A while back, I shared my Tech Disaster Preparedness Checklist. This list covered all the things I do to protect my tech from all the typical disasters: power surges, stolen devices, failed hard drives (all of which I have personally experienced!) and more. Now, it’s time to get real. Did you tell yourself, after reading…

3 Ways to Track Your Mileage for Tax Purposes

March 12, 2018

personal finance, systems, taxes

I’ve mentioned before that being a self-employed music teacher allows you to take advantage of some pretty valuable tax perks that our employed counterparts don’t get. One of these is the mileage deduction. Here’s how it works: For every mile you drive for business (driving to lessons if you’re a travel teacher, teacher meetups, conferences,…

My Business Goal-Setting Process

January 22, 2018

focus, goals, introspection, productivity, studio management, systems, time management

In my last post, I talked about some of the questions I reflect on when evaluating my previous year in business. After I’ve finished looking back, I get to do the fun part…looking forward and planning the future! When I threw out the idea of starting new year’s goals on January 1, I also threw…

Using a Style Guide to Speed Up the Graphic Design Process

December 18, 2017

branding, graphic design, marketing, online marketing, systems

In the last blog post, I shared five SIMPLE ideas for marketing your studio to take advantage of the spike in students searching for lessons around the new year. Maybe you’ve already implemented some of the ideas (way to go, you!), or maybe you’re a perfectionist, like me, and you’re still trying to get that…

Gift Guide for Entrepreneurial Music Teachers

November 27, 2017

goals, holiday, organization, productivity, studio management, systems, website, WordPress

With the new year just around the corner, I’m thinking a lot about the goals I have for my studio and business. Some of these goals require investing in equipment or software. Call me boring, but I’ve always been a big fan of practical gifts. When I put together my wishlist for the family gift…

Tech Disaster Preparedness Checklist

October 30, 2017

automation, organization, productivity, systems

They say the only certainties in life are death and taxes, but I’d like to add “technology failures” to that list. Someday it will happen to all of us: our laptop will crash, our iPad will take a dip in the pool, or a homeless guy will steal our phone while we’re at a church…

Scheduling Emails to Automate Recital Communication

October 2, 2017

automation, organization, productivity, studio management, systems

Last week I described how I communicate recital information to my studio families. This process includes sending a series of four emails to my studio families in the weeks leading up to the big day. I could put reminders in my calendar to send those emails on specific days, but why do that when I…

Recital Communication: A Week-by-Week Guide

September 25, 2017

automation, organization, productivity, studio management, systems, time management

I hear stories of teachers getting inundated by last minute questions from parents about recitals. “Where is the recital?” “What is Emma supposed to wear?” “Is Jack playing this piece or that one?” I confess, I have a hard time relating. It could be that I’m spoiled by exceptional studio parents (I think they’re pretty…

How a Weekly Review Keeps Me on Track

July 10, 2017

introspection, organization, productivity, studio management, systems, time management

I’ve mentioned before that I use routines to manage my time and eliminate decision fatigue. “Use” might be a bit of an understatement. I probably abuse routines. I’m a routine addict. Whether it’s for blog writing, marathon training, recital planning, or birthday card sending, I have systems and routines in place to keep my business and…

A Simple Studio Policy: 5 Points to Include

May 8, 2017

studio management, systems

What to include in a studio policy. This is one of the first topics new teachers ask about. Basically, a studio policy should include anything relevant to the business relationship you have with your students. This document will probably change over time and it will be influenced by your life situation and priorities. Topics to Think…

What Was Missing from My Goal-Setting System

January 2, 2017

goals, systems

My Goal-Setting System For the past five or six years, I have made monthly goals and tracked them in a Google Sheets spreadsheet. This worked alright, but I found the system less and less motivating (and effective) as time went on, especially for the tougher goals. It was too easy to just push any unaccomplished…

Simplify Studio Email Communication with Yet Another Mail Merge

October 24, 2016

productivity, studio management, systems, time management

I discovered a new tool this summer that has me super excited because it has solved a major limitation in studio email communication. It’s a Google Sheets Add-On called “Yet Another Mail Merge.” Sounds sexy, doesn’t it? The Painful Way to Send Studio Emails Have you ever had to send and email to your whole…