As many of you know, I taught at Knit Camp as a replacement for another tutor. I didn’t get involved from the start as I had my own concerns after last years’ event. My experience at UK Ravelry Day 2009 in Coventry wasn’t particularly great; it wasn’t awful and I did enjoy myself, but it certainly left me wary. I didn’t speak up about it then as I didn’t think it would do me any favours professionally to do so. Now I wish I had.
My workshop notes had been sent ahead (I only taught one workshop last year as it was a one day event) but they never materialised. There was confusion on the day about whether the workshop was sold out, and people were being turned away when they could have bought the remaining tickets. In hindsight though, a smaller class turned out to be a good thing, as my teaching space was double booked and I ended up teaching my workshop in the foyer. With no notes or samples or teaching equipment and despite the very public location and several interruptions, the workshop still went ahead, and the students were promised a partial refund (via PayPal) as way of an apology. I don’t know if they ever got that refund, and I didn’t really get an apology directly from the organiser either even though I let it be known I wasn’t happy. My wages were paid in full within about 2 weeks and the organiser had paid for my travel and accommodation up front.
Fast forward to March this year, and I was asked to teach at Knit Camp as a replacement tutor. After much discussion with Tom, I agreed. Whenever I teach workshops I generally don’t budget with the wages, yet the money being offered was pretty good. Basically, with a new home to build and refurbish, we couldn’t afford to turn it down.
Leading up to the event, there was little communication. The communication I did receive was all very positive and the organiser was especially friendly, but I had virtually no idea what was going on. I emailed several times and asked about various aspects, including my hours, accommodation, travel and much more, and was always told they were sorting it out or it was on it’s way. I have friends who were involved from the beginning and they’d received a draft contract via email but nothing was sent to me. I couldn’t make any travel arrangements as I didn’t know what day I was supposed to arrive. Basically, I was I kept pretty much in the dark.
The contract didn’t arrive until 3 or 4 weeks before the event was due to start. We were literally about to hit the road with the book tour and there wasn’t time to go over the contract too closely. I’ve since learnt that there were aspects to my ‘job’ that I didn’t get paid for yet others did, which stings a bit. Even when the contract arrived, little other information was provided.
The organisers said they would print workshop notes but they needed to fit on 2 sides of A4. Having spent a fair amount of time preparing my notes, and knowing that my notes hadn’t appeared the previous year, I decided to cover the cost of printing myself. I’m glad that I did, as the printing of workshop notes at the event didn’t exactly go to plan.
2 weeks before the event, I asked again about travel arrangements and the organiser kindly offered to book and pay for my travel. Several emails later and it’s clear that it’s cheaper to fly to Glasgow from Stansted rather than go by train. I gently pointed out that I would need checked baggage with my ticket. The organisers were not keen to pay the extra £15 for checked baggage and I found the suggestion that a weeks’ clothes to Scotland, as well as teaching materials and samples, camera, laptop etc should all fit in hand luggage a little ridiculous. It was then suggested that I arrange and pay for a courier to ship the items ahead of time. To get a courier cheaper than the £15 for checked baggage the items would need to have been sent a minimum of 5 working days ahead of the event, leaving me unable to do any other work in the meantime. Again, I didn’t agree to this. Things went quiet again.
I heard no more from the organiser until less than a week before the start of the event, when I emailed again, still unaware of most details or even if I was going. On the Thursday before the event started, the flight was finally booked, with checked baggage. Unfortunately the cheaper and better timed flights were gone, and I was booked to arrive late Monday night after the festivities had started. I was assured that a lift would there to collect me from the airport.
By this time I suspected that I may not get paid but went ahead anyway; the students deserved that at least. I got on the plane with the full intention of making the most of the week.
My flight arrived at 10pm, 10 minutes ahead of schedule. There was no-one there to meet me as promised. It was too late for trains or buses; everywhere was closed. I honestly didn’t know how I was going to get to the venue or whether I’d be spending the night in the airport. I managed to get hold of the organiser and after several phone calls back and forth, and my lift finally arrived at 12.20am, nearly 2 ½ hours after I had landed. I arrived in my room at 1.40am, by which time I was over tired and unable to sleep and pretty pissed off. No information pack, including details of teaching rooms or how to get breakfast, was left for me. I was due to teach the very next morning and managed 3 hours sleep. It didn’t bode well for the week, and a full nights’ sleep wasn’t had until I got home.
Throughout the week, the attendees were amazing. They helped me find my way that first morning to where I could find breakfast and get the necessary information regarding my teaching room and classes – it wasn’t their responsibility to guide me around but they did it anyway. They made the most of my workshops and kept me engaged. They sat and talked and shared stories over dinner or drinks. They didn’t complain when the yarn promised for workshops ran out or when unexpected changes occurred. I did enjoy myself, and met so many amazing knitters, designers and teachers. But I still went home exhausted and worried.
Unlike many tutors, I did receive some communication after the event, but only 2 emails in the space of a month, and only in response to emails I had sent. Again, it was friendly but lacking in detail. I was told I would receive half of my wages via bank transfer and much to my surprise, I did, but only just within the agreed 30 days. I’ve been trying to understand why I received something towards my time when most of my colleagues are still out of pocket for their travel and flights, but rational thought and logic can’t be applied here.
The remainder of my wages is still owed, and it’s still a reasonable chunk of money. I’m not struggling as much financially as many are but things are still tight. Today I’m due to start proceedings through the small claims court; I’m not expecting to see any money I’m owed but it needs to be done to complete the paper trail and ensure my name gets added to the list of creditors.
I was hoping I wouldn’t need to write this post, but here it is. This whole mess has left me feeling sad and angry and pretty fed up. It’s consumed so much time and headspace it’s unreal, and will continue to do so until we all get some sort of resolution. I still don’t know if sharing this is the right thing to do but it needs to be done, to stop it all eating away inside, and help make sure something like this doesn’t happen again. Going forward, I’m going to be very careful about what I agree to and will be standing my ground regards payment and terms. I’ve had enough of feeling undervalued.
I'm not sure it helps, but rest assured you are VERY MUCH VALUED by an awful lot of people.
n
Thank you Natalie x
That must have been an extremely hard post to write. Thankyou for doing so, its nice to have a genuine account of what happened rather than bits of rumours.
The whole episode, although a good time was had by many seems, to have been a nightmare through non comunication and really bad organisation.
I do think you are right going through the small claims court, even if no money is seen it would hopefully stop something like this happening again.
(((hugs))).x
Woolly – you did the right thing.
Those of us in the wool business are terrified this fiasco might happen again some time in the furture.
Every voice that speaks up now, will help warn future customers of the potential problems.
{{Hugs}]
Queenieamanda
Tracey – thank you, it hasn't been easy to write. Lucy Neatby, Deb Robson and others have given me the confidence to speak up myself.
And yes, that was one very good reason for writing – the truth needs to be known.
Queenie – I'm fairly certain everyone will be wary enough so as not to let something like this happen again. At least I hope so.
This sounds like an incredibly frustrating experience. Ugh. I hope that everything gets sorted out at some point in the future.
I think you're doing the right thing.
Thank you for speaking out. I do think it is the right thing to do. This must not be allowed to happen again & it was clearly the organiser's wish that as little as possible came out. As little in the way of financial redress seems likely, she should not get her way in that respect.
As many people as possible need to be aware & thus warned. Even Ravelry members are not all fully informed yet – some popped up the other day who had only just heard about this – and of course not everyone is on Ravelry.
You & others affected have been amazingly professional & forebearing in dreadful circumstances. I hope you will eventually receive what you have earned & be able to draw a line under the whole sorry affair.
Glad you finally unjumbled it all and got it down…
This whole Fiasco has eaten away at the mojo of too many people this year…
Now breathe, and carry on 😉
As always, right there beside you
S xXx
This is awful, really. I'm shocked. Of course you must pursue your claim. Thank you for sharing this, it's so important to know.
Come and do a workshop (or two) in the NE next time you're in the UK. We will look after you.
Thank you for posting this. I hope you get the rest of the money you are owed. Highlighting this fiasco will help to ensure it doesnt happen again. Hugs, Claire.
Thank you!
Annie Modesitt
Thank you for sharing! I will keep my fingers crossed that you vill be payed in full.
I think you all did a wonderful job there at Knit Camp and I think it was worth every penny going there.
Poor you 🙁 The whole experience sounds horrible. I hope you will get your full payment soon and that you can get a speedy resolution you feel happy with.
Thank you for writing this Woolly I know how hard it must have been for you as integrity is your middle name (unlike some) I hope that getting it on paper helps you to move on. I think you and most of the other tutors have been honest and above board throughout and it is a pity that one womans incompetence and poor business sense has soured what should have been a marvellous week
Hugs
Thanks Woolly for that.
The more the truth comes out the better it is for everyone.
I did enjoy meeting you at Knit Camp and was so impressed with the professionalism and commitment of the tutors. It contrasted well with the organisation of the event.
Hugs
Sadly there seems no rhyme nor reason regarding any part-payment people are receiving. Thank you so much for your professionalism in all of this, like the other tutors who have chosen to say something, you've obviously thought long and hard about it. I hope by speaking you all feel a little better mentally and I wish you all the best. It make me very sad to know that so many of you have been put in a precarious financial position. Sending you positive thoughts, Nic x
Thank you for letting us know the trusth about what happened. I hope writing this all down has helped you sort things out in your own head. As others have said it is a brave post but one that very much needed to be written. And as for feeling undervalued – you were only undervalued by one very incompetant organiser, we all value you very highly indeed!
I've heard so many awful things about this event, and hard though it is I think its essential that people affected tell their stories so that futire event organisers can learn from them. I sincerely hope everyone affected gets their apologies or payments in time, but even more important is that it gives a huge heads up about just how much organisation needs to go into events and how far the network reaches.
I'm with Natalie…meeting you (and your hats!) was one of my KnitCamp highlights. I hope you manage to get at least some of the money owed and that it doesn't put you off sharing your knowledge with others permanently!
How sad that you had to write this post. I was watching, aghast as you sat waiting at the airport, and travelling a fair bit myself, couldn't believe the apparent lack of basic organisation re travel and accommodation (how could any tutor be at their best under those circumstances – not to mention the confusion over classrooms, notes, scheduling and everything else). Despite that, I'm glad you (and the other tutors) managed to dig in with the attendees and have what sounded like great classes and workshops in the face of chaos.
I hope it won't put you off other events – I am dying to take a class with you, or just sit in fangirl awe if you do a trunk show up in the NE of England. Your work is amazing.
Thanks for adding your voice to those tutors who have spoken up; I do remember bumping you on that first morning before the first cup of coffee! You, and all the tutors, were magnificent and really made the experience for those of us who were there as participants; and it's both annoying (and, to be honest, pretty embarrassing for those of us who paid for classes etc. in good faith) that you've been shafted in this way.
I think those of us who didn't know about the problems with Coventry last year certainly had our eyes opened this year. On one hand, the spirit of those who attended and the things which went right (great tutors, great knitters) show that this sort of event is a goer in the UK, given an even remotely competent organising team with realistic business plans and expectations. On the other hand, it was a total shambles in the execution, and the lack of payment is just completely shameful.
I hope that a very large number of people in the UK, and worldwide, knitting community become very well aware of this event and the people involved, and that those people are never able to become involved in a similar venture again. I know tutors will be much more cautious, and it seems from comments above that vendors will be too.
And it was lovely to meet you again in Stirling and at I Knit. All the very best for the autumn months!
Thanks for adding your part of the story. Good luck with the Small Claims.
Really sorry to hear how you (and others) have been treated. Hope it works out for you.
I'm so sorry it's actually come to the stage when you have to write about it like that. I didn't do too badly out of it all, but I have such sympathy for those who got burned. You've put it all so well.
I really enjoyed having a stall next to you at Stirling and sharing the coffee run!
You cheered me up one day in a hallway with your smile during knit camp. So take heart we will survived this, you are valued there are people such as JanKal who have organised a Tutor Fund to help those who value you to make a donation.
Thank you for writing this and letting all know what went on.
I do hope that it won't put you off totally as I like to meet the Celebrities of the knitting world.
Best wishes.
Thank you for speaking out and adding your voice to those cataloging this sorry tale. As many people as possible need to know what happened so that the so-called organiser cannot do this again to anyone. I wish you the best of luck with your claim. I thoroughly enjoyed my two classes with you and the notes you provided have become treasured guides to technique; I hope to take more classes with you in the future should you ever come back to Scotland or I get the chance to go south (I am a British knitter, but I do travel!)
Would like to echo everyone who said it's not only your right to tell your story, it's a moral imperative. Good for you for trying to make the students' experience a valuable one. There is an aristocracy of behaviour as well as birth, and it sounds like you behaved in the noblest possible way.
I was really upset at hearing so many people did not get paid. It was an amazing week being with knitters and enjoying fantastic classes. It was thoroughly spoiled by the aftermath and the sheer audacity of the one person responsible. I did three classes in all and learned so much, all the tutors were very valued for their work by the people attending. I agree everyone will be far more cautious but I hope this fiasco does not stop the many well run events and wokshops we have up and down the country. I was really pleased to get to meet you and chat about your gorgeous hats, your many new friends appreciate you and I am sure you will enjoy an even better following for any future classes
Oh, I'm so sorry that things went so badly for you. It's very good that you wrote this post so that the truth can be known. I was at knitcamp and had a wonderful time. You and the other tutors conducted yourselves so professionally and gave such wonderful classes that I had no idea what you were enduring. It seemed pretty disorganized on the part of the organizer, but you really did a fabulous job in spite of that. Going to court is definately the right thing to do. And please don't doubt yourself about writing this post. You have waited a very very long time without reimbursement, and have conducted yourself with utmost professionalism and patience of a saint!
I'm impressed by your choice to always put the knitters first throughout this hard experience. Very well done.
I am honestly very let down by the whole debacle. Mainly becauseof the financial troubles the teachers are now in. It leaves a very sour taste in my mouth. I hoped for the best and naively thought the organisors wouldn't make such a mess of the whole event. Alas they did. I hope to have classes from all the teachers again in the future and also the ones I missed but only if the teachers are properly rewarded.
Thank so much for speaking up and telling the truth about Knit Camp. It's not pleasant to write negative posts, I know. But I think that speaking up is the only way to prevent things like that from happening again, and the hopefully make a change for the good. Thank you and may your outcome through small claims court be favorable. All the best!
I'm a bit late, but wanted to add my support to the others here. As an early poster said, you are highly valued by we who love your designs and your blog posts. Big hugs of caring from me in Canada, and wishes that this all gets straightened out quickly for you.
Sometimes Woolly, you have to speak out.
I think it must be poo on a designer month, or year, or something.
I have had minor problems too, with being commissioned for work then getting it dropped and then getting any info out of the publishers….have also had one publisher just disappear and become uncontactable with two of my projects….in fact, it got to the stage where I wondered why I was designing.
I have had bad stories from everyone who went to KnitCamp, and have heard the attendees were amazingly patient and understanding and had a good time despite the shambles.
I feel really ashamed to be a British Knitter when I hear this sort of thing. What is wrong with us? Why can't we get things going like the US? Why do we have so few LYS, so few events…when the demand is there?
We have very muchn a DIY social scene and event thing with knitters and I think in the end, it is the organisers of these things as well as bigger companies who lose out and miss a trick.
Perhaps next year, you can either
1. Organise your own classes and do a tour.
2. Take time out of teaching, to write tutorials and books instead….and produce some fruitful designs.
You probably don't need the exposure, although you probably feel you have to get out there to have contact with your customers….but I do think you don't need to teach if it causes stress.
How about going to some of the US events instead and teaching there? It could be more fruitful and interesting.
Remember the US craft market is the biggest in the world….it oustrips all other countries put together.
Thank you for speaking up. I, as a fellow designer & industry newbie, really appreciate this type of information. At every point we will all get caught in something poorly done, but knowledge helps history from repeating itself. I commend you on your ability to give the most you could to the students who were there to meet you!
My goodness, what a shambles :o(
Like everyone else i had heard rumours but i hadn't realised quite how bad it was for everyone involved! I do hope it won't put you off teaching over here again as i am still hoping to make it to one of your classes one day!
Sending {{{hugs}}} and hoping that you are feeling much better about it all now x
I loved your workshop last year, even in the place we ended up. And I can still remember how to do it :o)
My socks and toes love you!