Likely, "what they wanted" wasn't to live in some rural out of the way location in the US!
Drama at the Studio - Opinions
- Thread starter CrackerMonkey
- Start date
Likely, "what they wanted" wasn't to live in some rural out of the way location in the US!
dancingbecky
New Member
Yet Morris is only 1 h 40 minutes from Chicago, and traffic looks fairly bad right now as I mapped that. Sorry, I lived in Chicagoland for most of my life, and my first reaction was "Morris isn't that far out there."
Now that I live in Virginia, I find it very sad that the Chicago area doesn't have any chapters of USA Dance.
wahoo_foxtrot
Well-Known Member
They will violate the contract with their employer on non-compete terms...
wahoo_foxtrot
Well-Known Member
In your examples, those trainers are not contractual employees with studios. We have some like these in the US, but just not a lot.
I thought... don't they? I think they used to. I never joined.
But I see these at the chapter listing, so I guess not
Illinois
2039 Northern IL serves the area of Rockford
2047 Quad City IL serves the areas of Rock Island & Moline IL; Davenport IA and surrounding communities
I'm pretty sure they existed-- but maybe they fell apart during Covid? That killed lots of things that weren't thriving.
1 hour 40 minuts there and 1 hour 40 minutes back is a long way to drive for lessons. There are some people who would do it. But those aren't people stopping by a franchise and looking for entry level lessons. It would be difficult to dedicate 3 hours and 20 minutes just to driving back and forth when what you want is to take a 45 minute entry level or intermediate lessons. Most people have jobs, family and so on.
Toastfrenzy
New Member
Hope you don't mind a bit of a slide away from the OP topic.
We've been having lessons with a local dance instructor, very good indeed and have been attending privates and groups lessons with her for 3 years. She's a competitive dance instructor and has been very successful and is a very busy instructor. Very informal and approachable, she unfortunately doesn't have a regular studio, so it's sometimes a challenge to arrange lessons, studio, hall availability etc. Along with her commitments to her competitive students and events are also a factor.
Anyway, never looked at dance studio's per se, we have now.....the rules along with the can can't do's
Copied from one studio's T & C's
We've only been dancing 3-4 years and only know one other local friendly studio.
This is a whole new aspect of instruction that we never even knew existed. Of course understand why, protection of business income etc.
Feels a bit impersonal and very far removed from how it's been.
Anyway, thanks for reading!
We've been having lessons with a local dance instructor, very good indeed and have been attending privates and groups lessons with her for 3 years. She's a competitive dance instructor and has been very successful and is a very busy instructor. Very informal and approachable, she unfortunately doesn't have a regular studio, so it's sometimes a challenge to arrange lessons, studio, hall availability etc. Along with her commitments to her competitive students and events are also a factor.
Anyway, never looked at dance studio's per se, we have now.....the rules along with the can can't do's
Copied from one studio's T & C's
Prohibition of Personal Communication with Dance Instructors.
The Client agrees not to engage in any personal communication with Dance Instructors.We've only been dancing 3-4 years and only know one other local friendly studio.
This is a whole new aspect of instruction that we never even knew existed. Of course understand why, protection of business income etc.
Feels a bit impersonal and very far removed from how it's been.
Anyway, thanks for reading!
'Booking' will, in some legislatures, be construed as a 'contract' (I'm not a lawyer, but I'll include the disclaimer to seek appropriate legal advice! A verbal contract isn't worth the paper it's written on! - Mayer, co-founder of MGM). If you're booking through a studio then you're likely entering a contract - even unwritten. And that can apply in reverse - like the floor was poorly prepared for purpose so you slipped/wrenched your knee but you had a 'contract' with them to expect a suitable environment. Depends how litigious that group is!
When we have private lessons with some teachers we've also had to sign a disclaimer for health, injury, etc - and contracted to pay. Never had one regarding personal communication, but I guess in today's world both parties may seek privacy and protection (from stalking?). There are creeps around!
opendoor
Forum Master
Only had privates on the black side, and I had quite a lot. Even studio owners prefer informal collaboration.
Tracy
Well-Known Member
If said teacher is an independent contractor, (and it sounds like she is) you shouldn't be held to any studio rules. Do you pay the teacher directly? That said, be careful. This is one area that when I was looking for a new teacher/studio I specifically asked about because as an advanced competitive student dancing pro am, I felt like it is important to get to know my teacher in order to trust them and be vulnerable enough to make enough progress in my own dancing.
Depends on the legislature, the nature of the 'studio', and the nature of the 'black economy' where you are. Also how litigious clients are, or suspected of being. I've come across both options, but more formal from one with experience of the US. Possibly different where it's another side-hustle. Maybe some clients want to ensure they're not stalked, or worse, and studio feels the need for a 'duty of care'. There have been cases which justify that 'privacy'. People are a problem!
It's not that easy, because these sorts of under-the-table deals preclude meeting the teacher in their studio. And for ballroom dances that travel, especially, it is difficult to find an appropriately-sized and -equipped space outside of a studio.
Not to mention the fact that the dance community is not that large and everyone knows each other. So even supposing you do find an appropriate neutral spot to meet a teacher for lessons, it is only too easy for word of the meeting to get out, and then the teacher might be in trouble for violating the terms of their employment. So not only can you not meet in their studio, you probably can't meet in any nearby studio!
I was going to say precisely this. Unless you meet in your own living room, getting lessons on the sly is going to be difficult. The teacher will almost certainly be caught and likely fired. Depending on the non-compete contract, the consequences for the teacher may be worse.
Sadly, while independent contractors technically can work for themselves, it's not clear the studio a teacher worked for would remain in a voluntary association with them if the studio felt the teacher poached clients. The studio may not be able to "fire" them-- because they aren't employees-- but there is nothing that says either has to continue with a contract the find not beneficial. The studio can cancel the contract often for nearly any reason. I can't help but think they would do so.
Heck.... well... I could talk about what can be the 'reality' for 1099 contractors affiliated with studios. It's not necessarily dissimilar to the 'reality' for 1099 contractors on now common apps and so on.
For the student? The studio might ban you. But regardless of contract, you remain a potential source of $revenue$. So they might talk to you and "forgive" you.
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Tracy
Well-Known Member
I just reread my post and realized it sounded like I meant to be careful if you pay them directly. That is not what I meant. That is ok depending on individual situations. I meant be careful when encountering all those fraternization rules.
opendoor
Forum Master
The teachers I had privates with (in BR, salsa, tango) were always at the height of their success and didn't need to be hired by a studio. They traveled the continent, skimming the cream. Studio owners were always grateful and subservient when such a star showed up.