Not to spark another pro-am debate, but I have some questions

[Laura]

It depends on what you mean by "am-am." If you mean the so-called Student/Student single-dance events that are run as part of the rest of the Pro/Am program, yes, they'd be about half the price because you aren't paying a teacher to dance with you. In fact, they'd be about 1/4th the price, because you and your partner would split the cost of the entry fees between the two of you.

If you are talking about the regular amateur events, then they usually are a LOT less, and aren't usually run as single-dance events. For instance, at a competition that has Pro/Am, Professional, and Amateur events, my total cost would be about $50-$75. That was my share of the entry fees, plus my entry ticket to the ballroom during the sessions for my events. I think the most I've ever paid for an Amateur competition was $100. I used to dance in a college events (even though I am not a college student, and in fact my partner and I were old enough to be parents of college students), and those would cost me $20 for all the events I was eligible to dance in.

 

[Dancefever]

With this teacher I won't have to pay studio fees, plus she won't have me pay for idiocies like "she could have been doing something else instead dancing with me". I can't believe teachers/studios would charge for that, has gotta be franchise studio thing.

So for in between 6 to 10 heats, say 8, I would expect the cost to be around $600-$800.

Teachers at my studio work 6 days a week. One averages 4 lessons per day and charges 55 per lesson and 15 of it goes to a floor fee. So each day she makes 40 x 4 or 160. So go to a Th/Fri/Sat comp that is 480 bucks she would have made. Her rent doesn't go down when she is out of town. She can't make all her meals at home so she has to eat somewhere.

So anyone that lives on 160 a day really doesn't have the resources to just give that up for 8 to 10 dances.

People should get paid what they are worth and those that have been in the business with a proven track record are allowed to charge more.

But for 1 day, 10 heats 600 to 800 is fair, but not if your teacher is Jim Maranto or Eddie Ares. Teachers like that almost come with a guarantee of placing well. If you place well with a new or unknown teacher, you know you did well on your own.

 

[fascination]

my cost for that would be roughly 35 a heat plus 10 a heat for pro on top of that...mine is cheap...plus the cost of whatever pkg I buy and my share of pros expenses which locally are miniscule........like 100 bucks

 

[DancingJools]

Hmm, I have a hard time figuring out if pro-am is worth it to me.

Welcome to the club, Man.
There are pluses -
- You get to learn faster than without pro-am, but a lot of that will depend on your own determination. This fast track makes more sense the older you get.
- You get to dance with someone who dances much better than you. Some people find that gratifying. (Some, btw, don't like that feeling at all because it inhibits them).
- There's a considerable ego thing involved ("Look at this phenomenal man/woman on my arm". The down-side is that there is a considerable ego thing involved. ("Don't I just look crappy next to this phenomenal man/woman on my arm?)"
- For pro-am women, mostly over thirty, this really could be the only chance they will have at competitive dancing. No ands, ifs or buts about it. I must say it's not that much easier for men, either, in that age group.

The "competitive" part is the key, here. It appeals to the competitive spirit, and there is also all the glamor attached to the business, which can be a bit addictive, and not just for women. I know a fellow in his early thirties who did a lot of pro-am, and he wasn't terribly rich, either. His argument, "Where else would I get a chance to wear such fancy tails and come out so well groomed?"

 

[mamboqueen]

my next one is costing me $715 which includes: 10 single dances, 2 scholarships (= 10 dances), plus the package fee (which gets me one meal and two admission tix into my events). Then there's airfare and hotel to add on top of that....about $450. I don't think that's awful compared to some of what I've read above. I count my blessings every day that I have my teacher.

 

[SexyMan2Cha]

my next one is costing me $715 which includes: 10 single dances, 2 scholarships (= 10 dances), plus the package fee (which gets me one meal and two admission tix into my events). Then there's airfare and hotel to add on top of that....about $450. I don't think that's awful compared to some of what I've read above. I count my blessings every day that I have my teacher.

that sounds really good. It's still a large amount to spend but it sounds like you get a lot out of it too.

 

[mamboqueen]

that sounds really good. It's still a large amount to spend but it sounds like you get a lot out of it too.

I don't think it's awful, comparative to what I know others spend for similar competitions. The really good upsides for me are that I get to meet some fellow df'ers, and at my last comp, I visited with a cousin I hadn't seen in years and at the upcoming comp, my very earliest childhood friend is coming to spend the weekend with me. So, I try to get more out of it than just the comp itself, if possible. Sometimes, you're stuck in the hotel the entire time and don't get to see daylight, though.

 

[SDsalsaguy]

:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

WHAT???

You mean the sun is still coming up when I'm inside at competitions???

Is this information widely known? And, if so, why has no one ever told me???

It's a conspiracy I tell you!!!

 

[lynn]

Yeah, and the sun sets as well :shock: :lol:!!!

 

[mamboqueen]

LOL! Boy, it really hurt that I couldn't set foot outside the hotel in Atlanta in October...really hurt.

 

[pygmalion]

:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

WHAT???

You mean the sun is still coming up when I'm inside at competitions???

Is this information widely known? And, if so, why has no one ever told me???

It's a conspiracy I tell you!!!

ROTFL!

 

[SDsalsaguy]

You mean you knew about this too Jenn???

 

[fascination]

LOL! Boy, it really hurt that I couldn't set foot outside the hotel in Atlanta in October...really hurt.

woman...THIS year we are going to do that town up right....after we trounce all of our competition that is...and break several hearts and kick back many margaritas...and go pro shopping ...ooo and dress shopping

 

[dressgirl]

I'm sorry,......did I hear that some people leave hotels during dance competitions? First the sun coming up thing is blown and now I hear about people leaving the "zone" - I will have a hard time sleeping tonight. My system is so used to hotel conditioned air, that I almost have to retrain my lungs when a comp is over.

On topic, I think Jools has made valid points and honestly, I think it comes down to why you compete. I did pro-am because I could be rewarded for dancing at my highest level. If I had danced am, I would have danced only as well as my partner. (Please don't kill me am/ams.) I faced this when I became a pro. As a newer pro, even with comp experience, I couldn't just go pick any guy to dance with - they already had partners. So I took a newer guy and basically trained him. And it was frustrating to feel like I was going backwards. In the end though, it was very rewarding.

 

[mamboqueen]

woman...THIS year we are going to do that town up right....after we trounce all of our competition that is...and break several hearts and kick back many margaritas...and go pro shopping ...ooo and dress shopping

Don't forget the salsa party. It's not to be missed.

*cheers*

Oh - and (hijack coming)...I meant to tell you...did you notice who is appearing at the Chicago Star Ball, also in October????? It made me wonder if your Hotlanta plans might just change.