A teacher who’s living the dream in beautiful Bali reveals what it takes to start a singing teaching business abroad.
Gia Morgan had a thriving singing studio on the Channel Island of Jersey, but something was missing from her life.
She loved her students but worked six days a week and felt guilty when she took a day off.
“Jersey’s lovely, but it’s expensive, and I was working a lot,” she says. “I wanted a slower pace of life, and to find a better work/life balance.”
So, Gia packed up her studio and moved to Bali, Indonesia.
Was it hard saying goodbye to her loyal clients and starting again on the other side of the world? You bet.
Does she have any regrets? None at all.
“My advice to anyone thinking about it is follow your heart and take that leap of faith,” she says.
“Life is sweet on the other side. If you really want to live somewhere else, give it a go.”
If you’re thinking about starting a singing studio abroad, here are a few things to consider.
Local laws and regulations
It’s important to know if your dream of establishing a business abroad is viable in the country of your choice.
Gia and her partner had to apply for a PMA business licence, which allows foreigners to work legally in Bali.
However, every country has its own rules regarding work permits and visas.
Gia advises being “faithful to the country” you’re moving to; otherwise, you risk having your business shut down.
And if you offer complementary, holistic services such as acupuncture, you must also ensure that your qualifications will be recognised in your new homeland.
For more advice read this guidance.
Have online teaching as a safety net
When Gia closed her studio doors in Jersey, she said goodbye to many – but not all – of her 90 students.
About 20 clients committed to continuing with online lessons, providing Gia with a steady source of income to rely on while establishing her new business.
It means Gia works on weekends (something that she’d vowed not to do in Bali). But Gia is grateful for the money it brings in and loves staying in touch with some of her Jersey students.
Pricing
Gia charges the same for online lessons as she did in the UK, and slightly less (“about ten or twenty pounds less”) for students based in Bali.
“I know that some teachers in Bali charge less than I do, and I did feel a bit weird about that at first,” she says.
“But I offer something different. Along with voice lessons, I offer vocal massage and vocal health support.
“Most of my clients are not local, they’re digital nomads or travellers. People keep booking on, so I think they can see value in what I offer.”
Web presence
To spread the word in Bali about her new studio, Gia invested time and effort into building up her social media profile (you can find her on Instagram at baliholisticvoicestudio). She also paid for a few sponsored posts.
“I had to get on social media and spend time making Reels – and it really does work.”
Listen
To hear more about Gia’s move from Jersey to Bali, listen to the full interview on the Singing Teachers Talk podcast.
