So, you guys know I teach classes at a local craft store. A couple months ago they paid for me to get Copic certified so they could expand their offering of coloring classes. There's already a Copic instructor at the store, but she was only able to offer 2-3 classes a month. Now we're scheduling 1-2 per week.
Yesterday the store owner wanted me to meet with the other teacher so that we could compare notes and make sure our basic curriculum matched up. He wants the basic, intermediate and advanced classes to cover the same topics so that if people take the classes from different teachers the material doesn't overlap. Makes sense to me.
So I go in expecting a simple discussion about what we'll introduce in each class. Instead, I get ambushed by this other teacher. She's offended that I never introduced myself to her (even though since I started teaching, she's never been at the store at the same time as me). She's worked for two years to develop her classes, she had no support from other teachers in the area when she started, and she doesn't see why she needs to be supporting me. She's going through a divorce, she has two young kids, these classes are her livelihood, and I'm just there stealing customers from her.
Ya'll I was floored, and had no idea what to say. It had never even remotely crossed my mind that we were in competition. I came on and we added more classes. She's still teaching the majority of them. For one thing, back in September I took a class from her, and SHE TOLD ME that I should get certified and come teach there. Yesterday, she said she'd never met me (which is fine, you don't necessarily remember every person you teach, though you'd think you'd remember telling someone they should come work with you). Second, it's not like her classes are getting cut. We're offering basic, intermediate and advanced 4 times a month. Before I got there it was every 2 months at best. As the store owner said, the intention in bringing me in was to have a dedicated Copic team so that the store could have expertise above the other shops in the area. If anything, I'm bringing her more customers just by being there.
I'm caught between being mortified that she thinks I came in with some plot to usurp her, and livid at her "crafting is cut throat and we're not friends" attitude.
IDK, back when I was a tour guide we had 6-7 guides who knew each tour. We made a schedule at the beginning of the season, and we got paid for the tours we led. If something came up and someone needed backup, someone else stepped in. We were all there for the love of the city, not because we were out to make more money than the other people in the organization. I just assumed crafting would go the same way. Maybe it's my fault for looking at it as a hobby job and not a legit source of income.