The Key to HOSTING a Healthy Class

HOSTING? USE THE INFORMATION IN THIS ARTICLE TO HELP FILL THE CLASS.
BEING HOSTED? TAKE THIS INFORMATION AND MAKE IT YOUR OWN TO HELP YOUR HOST FILL YOUR CLASS.
This article is dedicated to people who are hosting, people that are being hosted, and to help students see what goes into hosting a healthy class. 

Brian and I started hosting outstanding instructors at our Dahlonega, GA range in 2014 and we went 10 years strong with selling out our own classes and when hosting others. In 2024 we closed the Dahlonega range and in 2025 we moved to Jasper, GA. Our time hosting was fun, challenging, and educational.

We took hosting very seriously. We know what it is like to put your faith in another person. We know what it is like to have your paycheck be dictated by the efforts of another. We know what it is like to travel and spend an ungodly amount money on flights, gas, food, rental cars and hotels. We also know what it is like to be separated from the ones we love in order to do WHAT WE LOVE, be a teacher and help others. Because of that, I made up a "Guide to a Healthy Class on Your Turf" protocol to help fill classes that we hosted. I followed this for years and I believe that you could benefit from my efforts as well so I am sharing my system with yall in the hopes we all have successful future classes. Please understand that this is my opinion only, you may have a different spin on the hosts duties. That's just fine, maybe this will trigger an idea that helps fill your classes. 

I personally believe that our hosts are the most important piece of this puzzle. They are amazing human beings that want to bring an outsider to their community. They want to make it stronger when it comes to protection of self and others. What an incredible gift they are offering...the gift of training! I am in awe of what drives them to be so selfless! If you are a past, current, or future host....I respect you and your time! Thank you!

I also believe it is the hosts responsibility to put butts in seats. LOL! We help for sure but the host knows the lay of the land, they know their community, what is reasonable and customary in their area, the local ranges, the women's groups, the die hard students, etc. Since it's their turf, I feel that I am more of a support system than a front man. That being said, I am with them every step of the way. I have added a couple flyers to show you what I build for a class or event. At the moment I am NOT using QR codes or embedded links to register for class. We are getting slaughtered in social media because  the "powers that be" are tracking "gun stuff" so I am going back to "old school" with info written in the flyer. With this system, I have noticed that our posts don't get pushed down as much and people are sharing...because they can now SEE IT. 

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When someone says "I want to host you", the first thing I do is send them 2 links that are published on our webpage. 

1. Want to HOST us?? This page is dedicated to the people that are interested in hosting. It touches base on Brian's abilities to "morph" to different hosting locations, expectations, discounts, a link to "Guide to a Healthy Class on Your Turf", the registration process, all the classes we offer, and basic needs. 
2. To Our Hosts. This page is dedicated to the people that are officially our hosts. This page confirms a few of the most frequently asked questions, plus it lists each class and what Brian needs the host to supply on the range or in the classroom. 

If everything looks good to them, we move forward on picking the class that they want to host, pick the dates, open registration, make marketing flyers (see examples in the article), and make a Facebook event. I have the easy part. Now, they have to get to work on marketing the class. Below is my "tried and true" guide that helped me lay the groundwork to being a healthy host for 10 years. I whole heartily believe in this system. 

Guide to a "healthy" class on your turf
 
Below is The Complete Combatant’s simple approach to getting a successful healthy HOSTED class with FREE marketing. The keys to filling classes are to build honest relationships, be you, offer classes with good content and to follow up on all leads! I hope this helps you become a wonderful resource in your State for hosting instructors. As a host, it would be wonderful if you filled everyone’s classes, and not just ours.
 
Attention Hosts:

• First, let people know you are there and hosting awesome trainers!
• Email/Contact your personal and professional resources a letter of introduction specific to your business and add links to any marketing materials
• Tell people about your location. Indoor? Outdoor? AC? Bathrooms? Cover over range? Closest town? How far from airport? Etc.
• Colorful flyers attract attention
• Communicate with the person you are hosting to see if you can offer a FREE class or discounts to specific people. Can you offer a “buy one, get one FREE” to specific people?
• I am a big fan of starting your intro letters off with a “Definition of Success”.
• Ask the instructor’s alumni to write a review. Post on social media and GOOGLE Reviews. TAG YOU
• Email/Contact your local Sheriff, Police, Fire and State Patrol offices a letter of introduction and add links to any marketing materials.
• Email/Contact your "Prepper" communities with a letter of introduction and add links to any marketing materials
• Use every social media resource available (professional and "like minded" groups). Schedule POSTS about this class weekly (ish).
• Ask the person that you are hosting to build an EVENT in FB. Make you admin on the event. Invite people. Post once a week at that EVENT and share often. 
• Google radio stations in "your state". Introduce yourself (FREE class for a few shout outs?)
• Google all stations in "your state". Introduce yourself (FREE class for all shout outs?)
• Google your city's "official site" and place this class on their Community Event Calendar. "Friendly" class descriptions only.
• Place this class on your Chamber of Commerce Community Event Calendar. "Friendly" class descriptions only
• Google "gun stores and ranges" within a 30-mile radius and send them a letter of introduction and add links to the marketing materials
• Build a simple letter that has a list of hotels and restaurants within a 30-minute radius of your class location. Encourage travel and attach to all emails, etc.
• Think outside the box! PTA? HOA? Scouts? Medical Personnel, Teachers, ETC. Offer DISCOUNTS & FREE classes to people that you think will refer
• Reach out to women’s shooting groups that are in your area.
• Remember, in most live fire classes, we offer a $90 discount to our TCC alumni.
• At the end of the day, it is usually “word of mouth” that fills classes

 
Contact/email/post on social media using the marketing TIME guideline below:

• When you have confirmed the class date with me: "Save the Date"
• When we open registration: Registration OPEN
• 16 weeks prior to class: Get Registered!
• 12 weeks prior to class: Get Registered!
• 8 weeks prior to class: Get Registered!
• 5 weeks prior to class: Have you registered yet?
• 3 weeks prior to class: Get Registered NOW! Spots are still open!
• 1 week prior to class: Last week to get registered!
• The day before class: THIS WEEKEND! Join us!

DOWNLOAD "GUIDE TO A HEALTHY HOSTED CLASS ON YOUR TURF" 

Once again, I am putting this out there for all to see. I hope that all of our hosts understand the trust we put into them, I hope other instructors find this information important and pass it onto their hosts, and I hope that all of our students see what goes into hosting a class so the sooner you register, the better.

Shelley Hill