Fair payment to teacher

[nucat78]

Why do you have to rent at an expensive commercial place ?

As far as I know people will seek you out even to faraway places if your instruction is top class. Well, I will.

If I might be allowed to put my marketing to use:

I have no idea what a real market analysis would look like but I suspect that the majority of business for any studio around here comes from social dancers and wedding couples and they are not inclined to go to an out of the way place. There are enough studios that they will most likely go to the most conveniently (i.e. a visible commercial location) located one unless the instruction is really bad, etc.

The business decision then becomes volume vs higher priced higher level instruction. It's like selling a lot of Hondas versus a few Porsches.

I think there'd be merit in owning an entire micro-mall, keeping one unit for the studio and renting out say the other 3 or 4 units. That way you have a reasonably steady cash flow from your tenants to offset seasonal variations in dance lesson attendance.

That, of course, takes some big bucks and you incur the headaches of being a landlord (and I was one once - it's great if you have good tenants, horrible if you have bad.)

 

[anntennis]

I have been in a situation when I had to request a refund on a package of about 20 lessons and got it. At that time the studio had a serious staff shortage and the only male teacher they had left was a 6-week wonder who's been teaching for maybe 2-3 months. I was dancing for several years by then, so I requested a refund on the grounds that they cannot provide adequate instruction. The biggest prepayment I have done since was to prepay lessons for the current week.

Agree. Huge packages are too much commitment. The studio I bought a few packages did not have any refunds and it was part signed on the contract and if for any reason you can't give 24 hour note of cancellation ( suddenly sick) you might get charged for the sessions in full. I did not get charged, but it was like a big favor done by the studio manager. Who needs that?
Never again I prepay so many lessons. Can become more work than fun.

 

[fascination]

am so happy that both FP and NP are independent...I pay as I go... I practice there as I like...all good

 

[BestTeacher]

mhhhh

just to let you know you shall be charged for a lesson even if you're not on a package.. most of the time the credit card info is given for that reason, to reserve the spot...

this is very common practice not only in the dancing world.....dentists, massage therapists and others use this...

See if you take a popular spot like 9pm slot.. and at 5 pm call and say you can't make it, the studio/teacher looses out on your lesson which probably could have been filled if you gave like 2 day notice or something.
Usually first is forgiven though.

So I don't think it has anything to do with a package....

As for packages, I think they are awesome because they save you money... if you know you're competing in 2 months and going to come in 2-3/week for lessons you could saving $10/lesson with a package as opposed to pay as you..... Thats like $100 savings/month.

Thats a lot of savings.... and of course refunds have to be case by case... most people do refund their students anyways.

Agree. Huge packages are too much commitment. The studio I bought a few packages did not have any refunds and it was part signed on the contract and if for any reason you can't give 24 hour note of cancellation ( suddenly sick) you might get charged for the sessions in full. I did not get charged, but it was like a big favor done by the studio manager. Who needs that?
Never again I prepay so many lessons. Can become more work than fun.

 

[Kitty]

just to let you know you shall be charged for a lesson even if you're not on a package.. most of the time the credit card info is given for that reason, to reserve the spot...

this is very common practice not only in the dancing world.....dentists, massage therapists and others use this...

That is not true.
I have never been charged by a dentist or a massage therapist for an appointment that i did not show up to. NEVER

 

[BestTeacher]

Sometimes they forgive......but in "Theory" they can, and probably should.

I had a student who had 3 lessons booked 2 weeks in a row at the most prime spots, and she could only make like 1 out of 3 each week.... and she would cancel last second too...

She was totally okay with being charged.....

 

[BestTeacher]

Actually sometimes if the student can rebook within the same week he is not charged for it.....but again its case by case, if it always happens... then what can you do

 

[NielsenE]

I've never had my CC on file at any dance studio I've attended. So no I wouldn't expect to be "charged" in that sense. Of course that's different from having a lesson "burned" off a package. Most studios have the 24 hour cancellation policy,,, i haven't seen 2 days anywhere.

I do think studios should offer something closer to 4-6 hours at least in cases of sickness ( yes it will be abused by some, but either your live with that or choose to refuse to accept them as a student again). Some studios informally seem ok with this, but I think it should be spelled out... People who call in at the opening of the studio's business day to cancel an evening lesson should be respected..... After all that's the notice the studio would give a student, if the teacher is out sick.

And Kitty is right on.... I know that's one reason why most doctors/dentists/massage therapists/physical trainers are often very insistent about giving patients/clients reminder cards, calling them the day before/day off, sending out email reminders, etc.
(Especially if a portion/all of the payment is coming from insurance/etc)

 

[dancerman]

I've never had my CC on file at any dance studio I've attended. So no I wouldn't expect to be "charged" in that sense. Of course that's different from having a lesson "burned" off a package. Most studios have the 24 hour cancellation policy,,, i haven't seen 2 days anywhere.

One time charging my credit card without my express approval would be the end of a relationship with me, no matter how long that relationship had been in existance. Having a credit card on file is not an express authorization to charge anything. Period!
I would also seriously question both the legality of it and the ethics of anyone who would perform such a practice at a retail establishment without the student's approval. Buring a lesson is an entirely different matter.

 

[Standarddancer]

I've never had my CC on file at any dance studio I've attended. So no I wouldn't expect to be "charged" in that sense. Of course that's different from having a lesson "burned" off a package. Most studios have the 24 hour cancellation policy,,, i haven't seen 2 days anywhere.

One time charging my credit card without my express approval would be the end of a relationship with me, no matter how long that relationship had been in existance. Having a credit card on file is not an express authorization to charge anything. Period!
I would also seriously question both the legality of it and the ethics of anyone who would perform such a practice at a retail establishment without the student's approval. Buring a lesson is an entirely different matter.

I agree with you 100%. If anyone charges my cc without my knowledge or consent. Not only I will end the relationship but also I will call cc to put such charge in dispute.

 

[Bailamosdance]

Usually your 'credit' of payment (in advance) is then 'charged' (you get one lesson less).

In many service businesses, you get charged full rate for the appt if you do not cancel in time and the personnel was there for the work; it's part of your agreement.

 

[Standarddancer]

That is not true.
I have never been charged by a dentist or a massage therapist for an appointment that i did not show up to. NEVER

I've NEVER even been asked a credit card for dentist or massage therapist.

 

[dancingirldancing]

Funniest thing is that in that horrible chain studio, the teacher is never 'charged' when he is suddenly unavailable and informed me just before the lesson.

What do you think about teachers who double book ?

 

[pruthe]

Funniest thing is that in that horrible chain studio, the teacher is never 'charged' when he is suddenly unavailable and informed me just before the lesson.

What do you think about teachers who double book ?

At my studio, the student will receive a free lesson on top of the lesson not used if it is an error on part of teacher.

 

[Standarddancer]

Teacher double book all the time regardless Franchise or independent studios. We take lessons from very good teachers with strong credentials so they always in demand and they travel so much for their own competitions/dancing/training and they always have hectic schedules so overbooking and last minute cancellations happens all the time to students, they are not being charged. They also don't charge us if we have to cancel last minute because of work or last minute getting sick, etc. so that's 2 way streets.