Submitting Your Proposal

The deadine for proposals for our 2012 season has now passed. We will begin accepting proposals for our 2013 season starting in January and until June 30, 2012.

Hollyhock programs are 3, 4 or 5 nights in length. For a 3 night program there is generally about 16 hours of instructions, for a 4 night program about 22 hours, and for a 5 night program about 28 hours.

The following information is required for all submissions:

1. Presenter contact information including: name, address, phone number, email address, and website address.

2. A brief and descriptive title of the program.

3. A detailed outline of the program, including: Length;  Intended audience; Minimum and maximum number of participants;  Production, supply, or meeting space requirements, if applicable.

4. A brief (150-200 word) description of the program as it would appear in promotional materials, including presenter(s) bio.

5. A detailed one-to-two paragraph biography of the presenter(s).

6. Detailed Marketing plan: Programs with a clear, detailed and robust marketing plan have a greater chance of being accepted. Please share with us:

The number of contacts on your electronic mailing list(s); The average monthly and annual hits on your website; The publications, or media outlets where you would advertise (this could include free event listings); Your social media statistics and addresses (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, etc.); Any other promotional initiatives you would undertake to ensure the success of this program.

7. Past Enrolment Statistics.

Provide a list of retreat centers or other institutions where you have taught this program. Inlcude: Location, Length, Dates, Enrolment (paying participants) for each program.

Example: Retreat Centre Name / Location / Start Date - End Date / Number of days / Number of paying participants plus 2-3 brief participant testimonials. The following information is optional for all submissions:

Information about the presenter(s) including:

  Resumé and other material or information related to your work.

  Professional references from 3 or 4 other people familiar with your work.

  A copy of any books, tapes, DVD’s or CD’s that you have authored or produced. Please email your proposal to Leslie Hoffman. Email: leslie.h@hollyhock.ca

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Can I meet / speak with the Program Director before submitting my proposal?

A. Due to the high number of proposals and enquiries we receive about teaching at Hollyhock, we aren’t able to speak with you in person or respond to specific questions over email. Upon review, and if your proposal is accepted, we will be happy to answer your questions at that point. Thanks for your understanding.

Q. How do presenters get paid?

A. Presenters are typically paid a per-participant honorarium. We are unable to provide a detailed financial proposal until a proposal is accepted and the budget is established.

Q. What criteria are used when evaluating proposals?

A. There are several things we consider when reviewing a new proposal:

·      How well does this program support Hollyhock’s mission of inspiring, nourishing and supporting those who are making the world better?

·      How strong is this presenter’s marketing plan / promotional strategy (will they be able to attract enough people to make this viable)?

·      Has this program been successful elsewhere?

·      Is the presenter recognized as a leader in their field (do they have a strong following)?

Q. Will my proposal be considered if I haven’t taught this particular program before?

A. It is very rare for a proposal to be accepted if the program has not been taught successfully elsewhere. We consider a program to be successful if it has been offered at least three times in a residential, multi-day setting and attracting on average 20 paying participants. Programs / presenters with a following on the west coast have a greater chance of being accepted.