I've just started searching around my local area to see if there are any workshops available or meetings with like minded folks. No joy yet!
I did find some workshops and courses much further away but nothing really interests me,mainly because they cost a LOT of money and that's not including my travelling expenses.
I thought it best to start looking into some well known organizations like Pagan Pride and PFI , thinking that they would have links to some decent courses available that are running in or near my area.

For example:

-A Weekend Wicca Worshop (plus lodgings) is 195 euros

-A weekend Shaman Seminar :200 euros and 100 euros Extra for lodgings.

-Membership to XXXX Temple :Corrispondence 50 euros per semester + every lesson 30 euros + 60 euros when attending a class.

So I'm sat here thinking that some of these courses are really quite lucrative and it's put me off actually. But there are people who are quite willing to 'fork-out' on the above, that I personally think shouldn't cost so much. I did find a few Moots that I could possibly go to, at least they're free, sort of!

So my questions to others are:
-How much have you paid or would you pay to attend a workshop/Seminar?
-Did you think that it was worth the money and why?

We decided this weekend we would plan a Weekend Wicca workshop, probably next April-ish. We charge £70 for the weekend, including all accommodation and food, as well as the classes and handouts/materials. We hope this is a reasonable price, as long as we cover our costs we're happy with that - none of us have ever made a penny out of all the stuff we run. But we usually break even over the course of a year.

The courses you mention are more expensive than ours, but they aren't the most expensive ones I've seen - I've heard of some that are around the £500 per weekend price range, which to me would be far too much to charge and taking the piss somewhat as well!

It depends as well if the organisation who does the courses are running them as a business, in which case they'll be making a decent amount on top after expenses, or if they're doing them purely for fun and to meet new people, which is why we run them. Ours might not be the most polished and professional workshops you'll ever attend, but we do all right... at least, people keep coming back to our events so we must be getting something right

I have some friends who are willing to run weekend workshops and, as far as I know, charge little more than to cover the accommodation and resources costs.

I feel that people are entitled to charge for their own time. The problem there is how they price it. For example, does one price by their ability in teaching (as, out in the professional world), or on their ability as witches? The worth of the former can be easily judged, but the latter is more difficult.

I've never attended a workshop. It doesn't mean they aren't worthwhile, just that I prefer, on the whole, to learn at my own speed.

When I was a tutor, my rule of thumb for a new course was: multiply the time of the course by at least 3 in terms of preparation time. That means that, to be fair, one either spreads the prep time cost by running the course several times over and accepts not recouping costs until about the fourth or fifth course, or one tries to recoup the costs in one go. But then, if one does that, and doesn't drop the price of subsequent courses, the profit level is outtasight on those later courses.

All that aside, I've never heard of anything being covered in a course which isn't avilable online or in books. And even - if you can find one - in a very good moot.

€175 is ridiculous! Unfortunately being where you are in terms of country and the religious climate there, it probably will be expensive because I take it Pagans are a bit thin on the ground? Not much competition or a big name usually means huge costs.

It sucks.

Why do you feel that you need to go to a workshop?

It's not a need, but rather something that I want to do and it feels right. One can read books and do things to a certain point depending on their situation, but I feel that going to a workshop will be beneficial to me as some things need guidance.
So why do some choose to join a coven? Some feel that they can benefit from sharing experiences and some have no need at all and stay solitary.
We are all born with certain innate gifts (talents) from birth, and some of us need to find them again.

Yes it sucks indeed. But where there is a will, there is a way



Thanks Moonhunter. The idea of a very good moot is one that I had been pondering on already . I also have to thank another person who has been very helpful with this

As Elswyth pointed out, with the religious climate and perhaps a lack of competition, over-charging for such things and taking advantage is IMO, going to put a lot of folks off when it's already difficult. As I wrote, there are those who are willing to pay that much and can, I'm not one of those people .

[quote=Athena,Nov 2 2008, 08:51 PM]

Why do you feel that you need to go to a workshop?

It's not a need, but rather something that I want to do and it feels right. One can read books and do things to a certain point depending on their situation, but I feel that going to a workshop will be beneficial to me as some things need guidance.
So why do some choose to join a coven? Some feel that they can benefit from sharing experiences and some have no need at all and stay solitary.
We are all born with certain innate gifts (talents) from birth, and some of us need to find them again.

Yes it sucks indeed. But where there is a will, there is a way [/QUOTE]

So in a sense you have a need for guidance? For knowing that you are on the right track? I get what you are saying. Words in a book can be so open to interpretation that is it hard to know if you are interpreting it right. And then there is the luxury of having someone to give feedback and to bounce ideas off.

You know... have you tried contacting these folks that did this vid?
Pagan Pride Italia

Maybe the best way to go about it would be to just slowly build up contacts until you find some people with experience that you could learn from?

[quote]Moonhunter
...All that aside, I've never heard of anything being covered in a course which isn't avilable online or in books. And even - if you can find one - in a very good moot.[/quote]

Thanks Moonhunter. The idea of a very good moot is one that I had been pondering on already . I also have to thank another person who has been very helpful with this

As Elswyth pointed out, with the religious climate and perhaps a lack of competition, over-charging for such things and taking advantage is IMO, going to put a lot of folks off when it's already difficult. As I wrote, there are those who are willing to pay that much and can, I'm not one of those people .

[/quote]

Now Elswyth that is a good idea! I can see the advantages of that and how the gold coins around my waist would be attractive
The video is good though. Thanks.

Yeah back in the 90s, working hard to network and make contacts was usually your best bet. Sounds like Italy is similar.