Hi Nancy- I just started my "cookie workshops" in February of this year. My very first class had 13 women. I have found that 8 is a good number and that if you can get a friend to help you during the class it is very helpful. I am not sure if it is appropriate to give out my website but there are lots of pictures of these events there.
I did 2 in Feb, 2 in March, and 2 in April. I plan to do them every month. I also do free classes for children aged 5-14- monthly at the local Farmers Market. I don't really want to have kids in my home classes so I offer it free at the Market and that seems to make everyone happy. It also gives me free marketing for paid classes. Another way I attract students is that I give free demos at my local Williams-Sonoma. I use their mixer to show how to make royal icing and I bring my own cookies and color. I give some examples and then they make it their own.
For the in- home classes, I provide 6 cookies to decorate and all the supplies. I am still tweaking things, but I have been using the following supplies:
-kraft (light brown) shirt boxes I bought at a local box supply, I buy 100 at a time and they cost .48 each- I line them with some white waxed paper sheets to absorb the oils
-a 1/4 sheet cake board for them to ice the cookies on before transferring to the box to dry
-a recipe for royal icing, a regular and chocolate cookie recipe (I always make both for the class)
- parchment for them to decorate on.
-Icing spatulas, skewers to show marbling techniques
I make it more like a party- so I decorate the table according to the season, and I lay out example cookies for them to get inspiration. I put all the sprinkles and sugars in heart shaped ramekins with mini spoons in them. At first I just used them in the bottles, but it looks so much prettier this way.
I encourage them to bring some wine if they want and I provide a light lunch if its from 10 AM- 1 PM class or light appetizers other times. I always do 3 in one week when I do them because it's easier when you already have it all ready. I do Sunday 2-5 pm, Monday 10-1 pm and Wednesday 6:30-8:30 pm.
The first 2 I charge 30.00 per person; in March I increased to 45.00. As soon as I get a following I will up it to 60.00 for awhile. I have already have ladies that come to each series. May I am doing Mothers Day cookies.
