Many course topics are believed to be “unteachable” online. Tom Hart teaches one of them — cartooning. Not only that, his school operates as a nonprofit. But despite bucking conventional wisdom in both ways, Tom’s school has been comically successful.
Tom Hart is a graphic novelist and the founder and executive director of The Sequential Artists Workshop, a non-profit school and arts organization located in Gainesville, Florida.
In this episode, Danny, Abe, and Tom discuss:
How Tom’s courses have evolved over his years in business
The importance of marketing
Course pricing
Employing additional instructors
Tom’s school’s nonprofit model
Student emotions and providing community support
Addressing student mindset challenges
Tom’s advice for aspiring course creators
Acquiring students
“Forming a community is actually one of the best things we do for people. They don't really know that going in — they don't realize one of the main things they need is a support system of readers and fellow learners.”
— Tom Hart
Tom Hart is a graphic novelist and the founder and executive director of The Sequential Artists Workshop, a non-profit school and arts organization located in Gainesville, Florida.
Since 2001, he has been a teacher at the School of Visual Arts in New York City as well as Parsons, Brooklyn College, the University of Florida, and a host of other institutions before starting his own school in 2012.
His graphic novel about his daughter called Rosalie Lightning was a New York Times #1 bestseller and has been translated into numerous other languages, was featured on many “Best of 2016” lists, and was also nominated for two comics industry Eisner Awards.
Credits: Hosts: Danny Iny and Abe Crystal Producer: Cynthia Lamb Assembled by: Geoff Govertsen Executive Producer: Danny Iny Audio Post Supervisors: Evan Miles and Christopher Martin Audio Post Production: Post Office Sound Music Soundscape: Chad Michael Snavely Making our hosts sound great: Home Brew Audio
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Music credits:
Track Title: Bossa BB Artist Name: Marie Writer Name: Chelsea McGough Publisher Name: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION
Track Title: Coo Coos Artist Name: Dresden, The Flamingo Writer Name: Matthew Wigton Publisher Name: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION
Track Title: Grace Artist Name: Shimmer Writer Name: Matthew Wigton Publisher Name: BOSS SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONS