Ok....so I finished what I am calling my first 5 official cigar box guitars over the weekend. I've built a few in the past, but they were merely an object that looked and sounded similar to a cbg. So advertising to sell them started and I sold 3. A friend passed my pictures along to a friend of his to see if he would be interested in buying one. As it turns out, this fellow operates an organization called Team Mojo Foundation. They raise money for under privileged kids for things like football camp as an example. They are doing a workshop building cbgs for a group of kids and they asked me to come help out and show these kids how to build them. Of coarse I was honored that they asked, but at the same time, I've only built a few guitars.....and don't have a clue on playing them. So, I feel a little nervous about being the teacher of building these things when I have so little experience. I'm happy to help these kids because I was an under privileged kid myself, plus I would get on the Team Mojo website so that would get me some good exposure for selling my guitars. Any words of wisdom out there?
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You may be interested in viewing this YT vid: it features the Wizard and a middle school teacher who successfully incorporated building CBGs. Very cool. Let us know what transpires.
Thanks for the advise guys! I really appreciate it. All I know about this right now is that it sounds like they already bought cbg kits. Don't know from where, what construction style, or anything. I don't know, but I'm assuming they already have other people helping teach since they asked me after this was already planned. So that makes me feel better. It won't be on my shoulders only. As far as waivers and insurance, I'm sure this is all being handled by Team Mojo and whoever else they are coordinating this with. I have to call the guy to get all the details. I'm very confident in my builds now, but that's nothing compared to teaching one kid let alone a group. Hopefully, I'm just an assistant in this and if so, I consider it a great opportunity and experience. Thanks again guys! This helps me to know what questions to be armed with when I talk to him about it. And yes I agree about being able to play or having someone who can play go with me. I already have someone in mind to ask.....he plays one of my guitars, always has played in bands since he was old enough to cross the street without his mom, and does programs with kids all the time, so he'll be perfect for something like this.
I've done many workshops, and plenty for children - my advice is don't get yourself into this unless you are 100% confident that you can deliver. It took me 3 workshops and nearly 80 students before I had got the process to a stage where it was running smoothly, and that was with a lot of assistance. Gauging the skill level is tricky, and your kit of parts needs to be properly sorted so that you know it will work every time.
Getting all the stuff that makes it work right and to be enjoyable is boring but important. Safety is paramount, so choose the tools and processes carefully to ensure that risk of injury is minimised. I do this all the time, and have a risk assessment process, a well established routine, a safety spiel, a liability waiver to sign...plus a first aid kit and a lot of insurance!! Yes, it's all very boring, serious and grown-up, but if you cover all that, then the activity will be fun, safe and worry free.
It's very flattering to be asked, but make sure you know what you are getting into. If you feel you can rise to the challenge, that's great, but better to be honest and say no rather than bite off more than you can chew. When I did this for the first time (I was asked by a local school) I did a trial build, then did another trial build with the shop teacher and assistant, refined things a bit..and we still struggled to get the kids to complete the task in the allotted time the first session.
In my view it's absolutely vital that you can demonstrate how to play a simple tune, or take someone along who can play, and more importantly, can teach how to play...that's half the fun of making an instrument for yourself.
I don't want to be negative, I'm only being realistic based on my own experience. It's a great thing to do for youngsters, and hugely satisfying to run this sort of activity. The more organised and confident you are in your own ability to carry it off, the better it will go - definitely a case of "Be Prepared".
Replies
You may be interested in viewing this YT vid: it features the Wizard and a middle school teacher who successfully incorporated building CBGs. Very cool. Let us know what transpires.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOA3Uak0mGw
I've done many workshops, and plenty for children - my advice is don't get yourself into this unless you are 100% confident that you can deliver. It took me 3 workshops and nearly 80 students before I had got the process to a stage where it was running smoothly, and that was with a lot of assistance. Gauging the skill level is tricky, and your kit of parts needs to be properly sorted so that you know it will work every time.
Getting all the stuff that makes it work right and to be enjoyable is boring but important. Safety is paramount, so choose the tools and processes carefully to ensure that risk of injury is minimised. I do this all the time, and have a risk assessment process, a well established routine, a safety spiel, a liability waiver to sign...plus a first aid kit and a lot of insurance!! Yes, it's all very boring, serious and grown-up, but if you cover all that, then the activity will be fun, safe and worry free.
It's very flattering to be asked, but make sure you know what you are getting into. If you feel you can rise to the challenge, that's great, but better to be honest and say no rather than bite off more than you can chew. When I did this for the first time (I was asked by a local school) I did a trial build, then did another trial build with the shop teacher and assistant, refined things a bit..and we still struggled to get the kids to complete the task in the allotted time the first session.
In my view it's absolutely vital that you can demonstrate how to play a simple tune, or take someone along who can play, and more importantly, can teach how to play...that's half the fun of making an instrument for yourself.
I don't want to be negative, I'm only being realistic based on my own experience. It's a great thing to do for youngsters, and hugely satisfying to run this sort of activity. The more organised and confident you are in your own ability to carry it off, the better it will go - definitely a case of "Be Prepared".