Today we’d like to introduce you to Jillian Krohne.
Hi Jillian, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My mom taught me how to play Mah Jongg when I was 8 years old, on the 1992 NMJL card. My grandmother had a weekly game with the women at our synagogue They would take turns hosting at each other’s homes and it was apparently a joke that my grandfather could never know where they were playing because he might show up to heckle (they played for money).
Time passed, I fell out of it when I was in high school, and then went to college and started my career in theatre. But then, years later, towards the end of Covid when it was becoming really popular, friends and neighbors asked me if I’d heard about. I purchased a set of my own, got all the books, and the NMJL card and refreshed my knowledge.
I taught friends first with my mom, who now teaches in Florida, when she was visiting. Then I slowly started teaching others. Everyone encouraged me to start doing it as a business, which I resisted. But then after attending a class, and seeing how fun it was, I thought maybe I could do it. I found my business name right away, but took months creating my own teaching materials and figuring out the best way to present the game that felt like me.
I’ve been teaching for about a year and a half now, and I just wrote a strategy workbook called “Play Smarter. Screw Your Opponents.” that can be purchased on my website.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
For the most part- a smooth road. The trickiest part is scheduling classes that work with a busy home-life schedule. I’m a mom of two young boys, my husband is still in the theatre world, and I also have another job. The balance is tricky, and the home/work balance that so many people struggle with is something I struggle with as well.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I teach American Mah Jongg and I specialize in teaching beginners, and strategy. I am most proud about teaching strategy- it’s something not a lot of teachers do, and I have hosted workshops for instructors to teach them how I teach strategy in my own classes. I created and produced a strategy workbook for players to work on improving their skills. There are hundreds of books about learning how to play Mah Jongg, and the history of the game. There are even some about strategy. But as far as I know (and I searched a lot!) my workbook is the first of its kind- it takes all the ideas and puts them into practice.
The part of the workbook that I’m most proud of is a section called the Mah Jongg Mysteries. In it, I’ve created a murder mystery of sorts, like the game of Clue. But instead of Colonel Mustard in the library with a rope, it’s South with a pung of 5 craks in the end game. Those who are doing the workbook are given information about a game, and then they need to try and figure out what is happening at the table. What hands are all the players potentially going for, and what is the outcome of that game situation.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
All are always welcome to my classes. I work really hard to ensure that everyone who signs up for a class, or event, is welcomed and knows that I am happy they’re there. This is something I’ve had several people who return to my classes and events tell me: they felt comfortable immediately.
Pricing:
- Beginner Class: $65
- Beginner Class Series: $100
- Strategy Class: $50
- Open Play: $15-20
- Practice Makes Mah Jongg: $40
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mahjeltovwithjillian.com
- Instagram: @mahjeltov
- Facebook: @mahjeltov
