Rick answers some of the most frequently asked questions posed by teachers, principals, event organizers, sponsors and aspiring inventors:

PERFORMANCES (including school assemblies and festival, corporate, museum and arts presentations):
What's the difference between a performance and a workshop?
Which show is best for my group?
How large an audience can you work with?
Do we need to provide any special equipment?
Do you need a stage?
What are your performance fees?
How much set-up time is required?
Can we combine a daytime performance with an evening Family Workshop?
How long are your performances?

CLASS WORKSHOPS (curriculum-based, daytime programs held in schools):
How large a group can you work with?
How much do you charge?
How long is the workshop?
What kind of space is required?
How much set-up time is required?
Do you need parent volunteers or helpers?
Do we need to provide any additional materials or supplies?
What grade levels are your workshops best suited for?
How do schools fund workshops?

FAMILY NIGHT BUILD-A-TOY WORKSHOPS:
What is the difference between a Family Night Workshop and a Class Workshop?
Can we combine daytime programs with a Family Night?
We're thinking of combining a Family Night Workshop with a Pizza Night, PTA meeting or other family function. Will this work?
How large a group can you work with?
How long is the workshop?
What is the best time of day to hold our workshop?
What kind of space is required?
Do you require a stage?
How much set-up time is required?
What are your fees?
Do you need parent volunteers or helpers?
What toys will we build?
Do we need to provide any additional materials or supplies?

ON BECOMING A TOY INVENTOR:
Do you review new toy ideas from other inventors?
Are there any good books or resources about toy inventing you can recommend?
What about invention submission companies?
What is a toy agent and how do I find one?
Should I hire a patent attorney and/or get a patent?
I'm worried about someone stealing my idea. What should I do?
Should I build a model or prototype of my invention?
Do you have any other general advice about trying to market my new toy idea?
My child loves to invent. Can you recommend any good resources?

 

PERFORMANCES (including school assemblies. festivals, corporate, museum and arts presentations):

Q: What's the difference between a performance and a workshop?
Performances are large-scale shows designed to motivate, inspire and entertain young audiences. They are highly interactive, involving lots of audience participation,"minds-on" learning and FUN. Performances are not, however, hands-on building experiences in which participants construct their own toys. For information on Rick's hands-on workshops, click here. (top)

Q: Which show is best for my group?
All of Rick's performances are top-notch educational entertainment, guaranteed to be among the most memorable and meaningful programs your group has ever experienced. Each performance stands on its own, but can also be adapted to fit particular themes. The Gears of Invention has a strong emphasis on science, technology, invention, the creative process, writing and persistence. Wonderglobe features toys and stories from many cultures, earth science, creativity, imagination and cooperation. Incredibook emphasizes Northwest history, the Oregon Trail, timelines, survival, and the concept of pioneers past, present and future. Many groups ar so pleased with Rick's performances they invite him back year after year to present a new show each time! (top)

Q: How large an audience can you work with?
Rick is comfortable performing for large or small audiences and will work with your group to determine the best audience size and makeup. Schools typically hold either a single show or two consecutive shows, depending upon available space, schedule, budget and enrollment. Smaller group sizes bring the audience a little closer to "the action" and allow Rick to tailor his presentation to particular grade levels. However, if time and budget are limited, invite the whole school!(top)

Q: Do we need to provide any special equipment?
No. Rick comes prepared with his own professional-quality sound system, microphones, and all the gear required to make your performance a top-quality experience. Host organizations may be asked to provide one or two folding tables for Rick's performance.(top)

Q: Do you need a stage?
For school performances, Rick typically does NOT use a stage, preferring instead to work at floor level, with students seated in rows on the floor. For festival, corporate, museum or arts performances, a low stage is helpful but not required.(top)

Q: What are your performance fees?
Performance pricing depends on several factors including audience size, travel expenses, number of shows, and program schedule. Please contact Rick for pricing and availability in your area. (top)

Q: How much time do you need to set up?
Rick typically arrives an hour before a performance to set up. He can work around other activities taking place in the performance space, however it's nice to have 10-15 minutes of "quiet time" for sound checks and final set-up before a show begins. (top)

Q: Can we combine a daytime performance with an evening Family Workshop?
Yes! Many groups have found that combining daytime performances with an evening family workshop is an ideal way to involve the whole community! Ask Rick about his "multi-program" discount if your group is interested in combining programs.(top)

Q: How long are your performances?
Shows typically run 45-60 minutes depending upon program, audience and venue.(top)

 

CLASS WORKSHOPS (curriculum-based, daytime programs held in schools):

Q: How large a group can you work with?
Rick can work with groups as large as 150 students at a time (given enough space in a gym, cafeteria or multi-purpose room) or as small as a single class at a time. Smaller groups tend to allow for more individualized attention and have more flexible space requirements, while larger groups, on average, have a lower-cost-per-student. Rick works with each school to find the best balance of group size versus cost per student. Please contact Rick to discuss your school's particular needs. (top)
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Q: How much do you charge?
Prices are based on several factors including number of students, number of sessions and distance traveled. In general, the cost per student will go down as the number of participants increases. Rick works with each group to determine the best balance of cost vs. group size, taking into account the age of your students, available space, and budget. Please contact Rick with your school's specific needs. (top)

Q: How long is the workshop?
Ninety minutes is Rick's most popular format for daytime, curriculum-based workshops.This offers the most in-depth experience for students at the best value. However, other workshop lengths (e.g., 45-, 50-, 60-, 75- or 120-minutes) are a better fit for some schools' schedules and can be arranged. Contact Rick with your school's specific needs. (top)

Q: What kind of space is required?
Every child should have space at a table or desk where he or she can work on their projects. Chairs are optional. It's also helpful to have space on the floor away from the worktables where students can sit and listen to directions between projects. Space requirements are very flexible. A workshop for two classes (40-50 students) can often be held in a single classroom. Some groups choose to gather as a whole group in one common area for demonstrations and discussions, then go back to their classrooms to build their projects. Larger groups often find it most convenient to hold their workshop in a gym, cafeteria or other large common area, when available. (top)

Q: How much set-up time is required?
Rick usually arrives 30-45 minutes early to set up for a Class Workshop. He is happy to work around other activities taking place in the workshop space. For very large groups (100+ students), it's helpful though not required to have a full 60 minutes of set-up time. (top)

Q: Do you need parent volunteers or helpers?
It’s always helpful (though not required) to have a few extra adults on hand during the workshop to help pass out supplies and lend a hand where needed. Parents and support staff often enjoy being part of this super-creative learning experience. Volunteers are invited to join Rick 15-20 minutes before each workshop to help set up the workspace. (top)

Q: Do we need to provide any additional materials or supplies?
No. Rick brings all tools and materials needed to make your workshop a complete success. (top)

Q: What grade levels are your workshops best suited for?
Most of Rick's school-based workshops are for students in grades K-8. Workshops are tailored to the specific needs and abilities at each grade level. Preschool and high school workshops can also be arranged. Contact Rick for details. (top)

Q: How do schools fund workshops?
Funds for Rick's school-based programs come from a variety of sources including PTSA grants; field trip budgets; classroom enrichment funds; District Schools Foundations; Arts Commission Grants, private and corporate donors, and contributions from families. Many schools combine resources as well. (for example, a PTSA grant plus an affordable contribution from each student’s family.) Rick accepts payment in the form of checks, credit cards and purchase orders. (top)

FAMILY NIGHT BUILD-A-TOY WORKSHOPS

Q: What is the difference between a Family Workshop and a Class Workshop?
Family Workshops are held at night (or occasionally, weekends) and are designed to entertain and engage a wide range of ages from preschoolers all the way up to senior citizens. Intergenerational creativity and play are emphasized. Class Workshops on the other hand are daytime programs targeting narrower age ranges and specific curriculum topics. Although adults often attend Class Workshops as volunteers (see below), children are clearly the "stars" of these daytime programs. (top)

Q: Can we combine daytime programs with a Family Night?
Yes! Many schools bring Rick in for daytime assemblies and/or Class Workshops, then invite families back at night for a Build-A-Toy Workshop. Ask Rick about his "multi-program discount" for booking more than one type of program a day. (top)

Q: We're thinking of combining a Family Night Workshop with a Pizza Night, PTA meeting or other family function. Will this work?
No problem! Just be sure to add enough time to the schedule to accommodate these extra activities. Food--like toys--is always a big draw! (top)

Q: How large a group can you work with?
Rick can work with any size group, space permitting. Most Family Night Build-A-Toy Workshops range in size from 100-500 participants. Larger and smaller groups are also quite common. (top)

Q:How long is the program?
Seventy-five minutes is the standard evening workshop length, although longer or shorter programs can be arranged. (top)

Q: What is the best time to hold our workshop?
Many groups find that 6:30-7:45 p.m. is the best timeframe for their Family Night Build-a-Toy Workshop. This gives families time to have some dinner before the event and still get students off to bed at a reasonable hour after the workshop. Occasionally groups prefer a 6 p.m. or 7 p.m. start time, which also works well. Rick will try to accommodate any schedule that works best for your group. (top)

Q: What kind of space is required?
The ideal setup is a gym, cafeteria or other large, open area with tables and seats for every participant. Tables should be positioned to permit the best possible viewing of Rick's demonstration area.

Q: Do you require a stage?
Rick does use a stage for Family Night workshops if one is available. If a stage is not available, Rick adjusts his presentation and works at floor level. (top)

Q: How much set-up time is required?
Rick usually arrives about an hour early to set up for Family Nights. For extra-large events, a longer set-up time is often arranged in advance. (top)

Q: What are your fees?
Family Night Build-a-Toy Workshops usually include a base price, per-toy charges and travel fee. Per-toy charges are often collected at the door, but can be subsidized in full or in part by the sponsoring organization. As with Rick's other programs, exact fees for this program are based on a variety of factors including group size, number and types of programs being booked, and travel considerations. Please contact Rick for a price quote based on your group's specifics. (top)

Q: Do you need parent volunteers or helpers?
It is helpful to have three or four adults or responsible student volunteers assist Rick for about 30 minutes BEFORE the Family Night Workshop begins. Once the program is underway, no assistants are required since parents/guardians typically work alongside and help their own children. If per-toy charges are to be collected at the door, you'll also want to arrange for an adult to welcome families as they arrive and collect these toy fees. Often this person is the PTA Treasurer, President, a staff member, or other individual who’s comfortable handling money and making change.(top)

Q: What toys will we build?
This is one of the fun surprises of Rick's Build-a-Toy-Workshops. Each year Rick visits a site, he brings a different "Mystery Project" guaranteed to delight, amaze and entertain audiences ranging in age from 4 to 104. One year he may bring a whirling acrobat project, the next year a mesmerizing optical illusion toy. Upon request, Rick can provide projects with specific themes or curriculum connections. (top)

Q: Do we need to provide any additional materials or supplies?
No. Rick brings all the tools, materials and enthusiasm needed to make your Family Night Build-a-Toy Workshop a memorable, fun-filled experience for all. (top)

 

ON BECOMING A TOY INVENTOR: