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Looking for some classes? Have you tried The Amazings yet?

[Photo credit The Amazings]

Cute name! The Amazings is a platform for marketing classes and workshops on a whole range of subjects including arts and crafts. But to stand out from the crowd all The Amazings teachers are over 50 years old. Most of the classes the teachers run are offline, i.e. they run in real life (I know – there is a real world honest!) and most of them in London but The Amazings are now launching their online classes.

So The Amazings asked if I would like to have a look at a couple of their online classes and tell you guys about them and in return you guys can get your first class free – but more about that later! 

I got to check out two classes, the ‘Upcycle a Man’s Shirt into a Summer Dress’ by Judith Paris from Thrifty Couture and ‘How to Make an Altered Book’ by Jacqueline (no link as I could not find any other contact or even her surname – sorry Jacqueline).

[Photo credit The Amazings]

Well first off the production standard of the classes were Amazing! The whole website is beautifully designed and that production level can be seen in their online classes too.

The style was very relaxed and in both the classes I watched there was the teacher taking someone through the steps. The two-person-style online classes can lead to some interesting banter and exchange of ideas. But it can also make the class a little long if you are looking for a quick answer, but they are selling an experience more than a quick answer.

The classes are split into segments showing different stages in the project and each segment can be anything from a couple of minutes to just under 15min long. There are also tips left by the teacher in the online ‘classroom’ area and a place to ask questions to fellow students or the teacher.

[Photo credit The Amazings]

With my student hat on, both the teachers I watched came across really well and as I said the production level is top notch. I like the idea and probably like yourselves have watched many paid-for and free online workshops and classes over the last few years, but for me to part with cash the class does need to offer me something I can’t get elsewhere whether that is content, connection with a teacher I admire, connection with fellow students in a virtual classroom or downloadable and extra content. For me The Amazings online offering isn’t quite there yet, but I will be keeping my eye on them.

I’m guessing (but might be wrong) that The Amazings is planning to build an online community where you can upload your makes, as more people join, which would be great. Be aware that they have a clause in their sign-up that states that anything you post as a student can be used by them, so may end up in their marketing materials (this is not an unusual clause for most things you do online unfortunately).

I have a feeling that the classes are aimed at teens/twenties/early thirties with the whole ‘wisdom from elders with amazing life experience’ philosophy of The Amazings. So probably geared more towards complete beginners, well at least the ones I watched were, and would be great for someone starting out in the crafty/arty arena. Maybe as they grow there will be a range of classes directed to different levels of experience – that would be good.

[Photo credit The Amazings]

Putting my teacher’s hat on for a second (as I know a few of you make your own workshops and tutorials), the teachers get 30% royalties from the online classes (more for the offline classses they run and The Amazings market). I don’t have any numbers for their reach but they are doing a big marketing drive at the moment and, if that keeps up, then it may be a good platform for anyone who doesn’t fancy doing all the marketing and video production themselves – neither of which are particularly easy I can tell you! So if you are over 50 and looking for a way of reaching people then have a look at their Teacher FAQ so that you can compare it to other online classes and workshop platforms. This Teacher FAQ is directed more towards the offline classes at the moment but worth keeping an eye on as their online classes grow.

So back with my student hat on! If you fancy trying out the classes for yourself, the online classes start at £8 and are around 1-2h long and here are their current classes on offer:

Make Natural Beauty Products
Three Retro Hair Dos
Make a Mosaic Flower Pot
Learn to Patchwork Quilt
Try Altered Books
Turn a man’s shirt into a summer dress
Create a Silver Metal Clay Butterfly
Loom knit a woolly hat

You can try your first class for free if you follow this link here and sign up. I would love to know what you think!

Enjoy
Kim

[Disclaimer Time: I was not paid to write this review however I did get access to two classes and a link for my readers to get a free class. But as with all my reviews I always try to give you my honest, unbiased opinion. (Prices correct for the date the blog post went live).
ps. all the photos in this post are courtesy of The Amazings.]