I often get asked how to run beatboxing workshops and lessons. Firstly, there is a big difference between a workshop and a lesson. Lessons are on-going, require careful planning, depend on the students, and really only work with a small group of beatboxers - usually six or less. A workshop is a specific period of time, usually between 30 and 120 minutes with a group of people who probably aren't destined to become world-famous beatboxers but who want to have fun! Workshops work better with larger groups and I have run them with as little as four people and as many as sixty! I have run beatboxing workshops in festivals, schools, companies and youth events around the UK.

Have a plan

Know the time

Before you run a workshop you need to know exactly how much time has been allocated. There is a big difference between a 30 minute and 2-hour workshop. If you are new to running workshops and you get asked how long you can do a workshop for, go for a shorter workshop. Start with 30 minutes and work your way up as you get more proficient. I get emails from people telling me they have to do a 2-hour workshop and have no idea how to fill it!

Know the audience

The audience makes a difference. I have done workshops to pre-school kids (aged 2-4) as well as to corporate executives (aged 30-60)! You may need to tailor the content to the audience.

Know the space

Make sure you have the right equipment. These days, I take my own rig and microphones with me. I have a pair of Mackie SRM450s, a NuMark CD mixer and two Shuhre Beta58s. Two microphones is a minimum as we shall see later! Also ensure that there are enough seats for everyone and that the space is adequate for your needs. Most of the time I don't use any visual aids but occasionally I'm asked to provide PowerPoint or use a white board.

Know the content

Always plan to have enough content to fill the workshop and some extra content as a contingency! I have turned up to workshops and discovered that my time allocation has been extended by 10 minutes. This is a long time to keep a crowd happy if you're not prepared. You never want to leave a crows without something captivating their attention.