Please allow me to make a minor modification to make sure your understatement receives the attention it deserves ...
How much would you pay for training?
- Thread starter Rastoff
- Start date
Please allow me to make a minor modification to make sure your understatement receives the attention it deserves ...
The law allows for some flexibility on the part of what an issuing authority may wish to do ...
CA Codes (pen:26150-26225)
I dunno about down south, but many of the classes conducted by SO's I've heard about in the northern end of the state tend to run toward the shorter end of the permissible range.
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I am going to answer your whole post but I especially want to answer the part I bolded. I never said I wasn't willing to pay for training I said I wasn't able to pay for it.
In your post you mentioned paying to go out to eat or go to the movies but not being willing to pay for training, I don't go out to eat (maybe twice a year) and I haven't been to movie in over 5 years, we don't have cable and I don't have the latest smart phone (I have a 100$ phone that I got free from Cricket).
there isn't a luxury item I could cut from the budget to pay for training, it's just not there. My wife and I think we're living high on the hog because we get to keep our thermostat at 65 this year last winter (our last in the house) we turned it down to 50 and wore our coats in the house.
So, allow me to put the question another way. What dollar figure would change your mind and make you say, "Yeah, I'd pay that for some training"?
It doesn't matter what the dollar figure is, I have to pull money out of the budget to buy 3 or 4 boxes of ammunition when I do get to go train.
If the money was there I'd gladly pay 50+ bucks an hour for the training I get through the church but the money isn't there.
There is another aspect here. I would gladly train folks for free and have done that in some cases. However, I or any instructor has to spend some money to do the training. Range fees, targets, materials, equipment
The first time I went to a training class I paid the range fee after that the church paid for us all (6 to 10 guys each time). I would gladly pay the range fees but I'm lucky enough that the church I attend doesn't feel like I (we) should have to pay to serve them.
My experience that if you don't charge something, the students don't value it. Further, it has been my experience that if you don't charge something, the students don't value it. Therefore, they don't take it seriously and the training is largely wasted.
Normally I would agree but I guess I'm the exception because I do value the training I receive and I take it very seriously because I know that this is all the training I'm ever likely to get.
OP
Rastoff
US Veteran
OK, I'll give my spin on things here. First, if you follow the letter of the law, the initial CCW class could be given in about 20 minutes. The law says it may not exceed 16 hours, but doesn't give a minimum. It does say you have to cover some stuff so, the class cannot take zero time. Most CCW instructors around here teach an 8 hour class for initial and a 4 hour for renewal.
I don't currently teach a CCW class. The sheriff limits the number of CCW instructors the county. Apparently they have all they want.
I am a certified NRA instructor for Pistol, Shotgun and Personal Protection Inside the Home. All of these classes are good, but none are well rounded for self-defense.
Knowing how to use a gun is great. Knowing empty hand defense it also good. Knowing how to use both would make for a better prepared student. Many here have criticized an 8 hour or one day class saying that it doesn't make a person competent. I agree, but you have to start somewhere and most have no training. So, a one day class is the beginning. Hopefully, it would spark enough interest so the student would seek further training.
My concept is simple, well rounded training including empty hand and firearms. That is broad and cannot be taught in one day. Just like a martial arts class is usually a once a week thing, why is it that there are no shooting schools that do the same? So, start with a one day class to impart some basics and follow with a regular class once a week or every other week to hone those skills.
I realize that not everyone can afford the time or money to do that so, I intend on offering two or three individual classes. The first or basic class would go over basic handgun fundamentals. This would be a requirement before going further. You might be surprised at the number of shooters who don't know those basics.
Anyway, this is the plan. I'm trying to find a price point that will make some money while not driving students away. That is low enough to bring them in, but not so low they don't value it. I want a class that is simple enough that students will retain what they learn, but involved enough that they feel they are getting their money's worth.
In the classes I've taught so far, both martial arts and handguns, I've offered to return the money to anyone who didn't feel it was worth it. No one has asked for their money back yet.
I'd love a weekly class like that, especially if over time it incorporated all the other classes I mentioned.
Hi Rastoff,
I benefit more from a weekly class or training event, which gives me some time to think about/implement what I've been taught. $25-$50 per hour based on the content seems reasonable to me.
I vote two 4 hour classes.
Unless...the training is primarily repetitive drills, then intensive is good.
What about offering a short (reasonable cost) intro class to get new shooters involved and in to see you?
You could offer a whole series of classes.
I do hope that leg is healing well!
I benefit more from a weekly class or training event, which gives me some time to think about/implement what I've been taught. $25-$50 per hour based on the content seems reasonable to me.
I vote two 4 hour classes.
Unless...the training is primarily repetitive drills, then intensive is good.
What about offering a short (reasonable cost) intro class to get new shooters involved and in to see you?
You could offer a whole series of classes.
I do hope that leg is healing well!
OP
Rastoff
US Veteran
Yes, indeed, over time it would incorporate all that stuff. If I had students that were dedicated enough, we'd even take field trips to individual homes to talk about specific defense of that particular house.
Thanks for the comments. I will have to think about the "intro" type of class. It has to be enough to give a broad look, but not so simple that we don't cover vital aspects.
The leg is the most frustrating thing I've ever dealt with. It wasn't healing after the first surgery. The doctors called it a non-union. 8 weeks after the second surgery it's still not healing like I think it should. I'm very frustrated.
It's cutting into my ability to teach. I can teach most of the pistol stuff, but when it comes to movement or empty hand stuff, I can't do it. I'm using this time to polish up my lesson plans and develop new stuff, but even that is limited.
Old TexMex
Member
Question 1: $5200.00
Question 2: i prefer full day instruction.
OP
Rastoff
US Veteran
Well then, you're my kind of student. At that price I will include round trip airfare, transportation from and to the airport, a night at a local hotel, lunch and ammo.
I too am an NRA Instructor in Rifle, Pistol, and Shotgun, as well as an RSO.
I don't have much time to instruct, but am sometimes approached by people who make me offers which I cannot refuse. Those offers are $100/hour. That's pretty much the number that turns me into a "sure we can go this weekend" kind of guy.
I don't have much time to instruct, but am sometimes approached by people who make me offers which I cannot refuse. Those offers are $100/hour. That's pretty much the number that turns me into a "sure we can go this weekend" kind of guy.
JJEH
Member
Those offers are $100/hour. That's pretty much the number that turns me into a "sure we can go this weekend" kind of guy.
David Radulovich for instance charges $125/hr for individual training. So your potential customer is not that far off
