I was offered $20 an hour to try to teach little rich brats how to unicycle. I feel like a sell out, but I need the money. I don’t think they’re even that interested in the sport, but oh well. Anyway, any sudgestions on lessons? Should I teach them the way I learned (against a wall)?
Heck, who cares how bratty they are, $20 an hour go for it!
A wall works pretty good, or maybe two tight ropes one either side…I’ve never tried that before with people, but it sounds good.
when i first learned i tried to use the tight rope method… doesnt work to well, too wobbly. The best thing that i found was a wheelchair access ramp that was pretty long, handels on both sides and the right height for learning. I still use it for new tricks. If possible find a long hallway that has railings on both sides close enough to lean how to ride a unicycle and reach both at once. otherwise find a ramp
well since it usually takes about 10 hours to fully learn at 20 bucks an hour… I’d go for it.
I’ll trade ya my job for it 
I recommend threatening them. Children respond well to threats. They’ll learn fast that way.
Tell their parents that to teach them effectively, you need to hire two friends…one to grab an arm on either side of the brat to help keep him upright while you provide criticism of his technique. Tell the parents that your friends also need $20 per hour. Then go find two friends and tell them you have a great job for them that pays $10 an hour…
get the money up front, thats my advice. Most people that offer money to unicyclists think that we are all nice and friendly…theres a good chance these rich folk are penney pinching misors banking the faux pa of good natured one wheel-ism.
bend like a reed, but do not break.
I mean how little are we talking here…7? 12? Do you have a unicycle they can practice on that is their height? And yes, I agree, get the money upfront.
I’m thinking harper and tomblackwood are on to something, mabey a combonation of the two. They look like somewhere between 4-6, I have no idea. I think my 20" Schwinn with a really short seatpost should work, but I am going to tell their parents that if they are serious, they should get their own (I’ll sudgest the Torker CX 16").
As for payment, Jagur, I don’t think I’ll ask for it up front, because It’s happened before that when I was teaching a kid to juggle, they payed me up front, but then he asked me to go over the hour they had paid me for, and I never got the full payment.
Oh, and evil-nick, sure I’ll trade jobs, it’s in Canada right?
$20/hour or so is fair
For their own benefit, I suggest 5-10 hours of theory first before any physical lessons 
If you’re going to get paid to give lessons you should be prepared beforehand with a printed lesson plan, printed tips, and other info.
I’ve got some links to sites that have some learning info. Look in my Megalist of Unicycling Bookmarks under Unicycle Learning and Tips. Print out some of the guides and be familiar with the different learning and teaching methods.
I don’t know what method is ultimately the best. Just going for it from a wall suits some people but not others. Riding with support from someone walking beside the rider suits some people but not others. There is a whole range. Be familiar with the different methods.
I started out by the trial and error method (launching from a wall) and wasn’t making progress. Then I found Jack Wiley’s book The Unicycling Book which had a nice 12 step method and that helped me a lot. See if your local library has Jack Wiley’s book. It’s out of print now so it’s hard to get.
One of my favorite tips in Jack Wiley’s book was to put a brick behind the wheel to help with mounting. I carried a brick or block of wood everywhere I went to practice.
I would also suggest not giving them a list of internet links that includes this site lest they manage to stumble upon this thread. 