fascination
Site Moderator
right...frequency, on any deal breaker, is the point...people are human...for me, once a month is pushing it...for just about any major deal breaker....
Rescheduling lessons, a nuisance or a dealbreaker?
- Thread starter mindputtee
- Start date
DanceMentor
Administrator
In our area there are so many wonderful teachers that if one seems to be preoccupied with other activities or is having trouble staying organized, there are plenty of others to choose from. Obviously, if I have been working with someone for a while, I would be a little disappointed if there were constant scheduling issues, but there are many other good choices should that be a problem.
Having experienced this as a student myself, I strive to be organized and on schedule with my students. The result is more students that are consistent with me. They get on a standing time, and I don't have to even think too much about my schedule as it is pretty set each week.
Having experienced this as a student myself, I strive to be organized and on schedule with my students. The result is more students that are consistent with me. They get on a standing time, and I don't have to even think too much about my schedule as it is pretty set each week.
fascination
Site Moderator
yep...it is certainly a benefit to live where there are numerous options
dancelvr
Forum Master
My DP (independent) has only rescheduled once at the last minute (over 5 years), and that was because he became very sick, very quickly. And, it was mostly my decision to cancel the lesson.
But, if a pro was frequently changing a lesson time at the last minute, it could very well be a deal breaker, even though my other options locally are slim to none.
But, if a pro was frequently changing a lesson time at the last minute, it could very well be a deal breaker, even though my other options locally are slim to none.
fascination
Site Moderator
ftr, I have never danced with someone who wasn't independent so all of my experiences, good and bad, have nothing to do with franchise issues
danceronice
Forum Master
Ditto, or rather they may own/be associated with a studio but it is not a franchise or subject to franchise-style rules. Though come to think of it except for a couple months at the start all my teachers have also been the owners so if they WANTED to, I guess they could make up the rules as they went. But they never have. I think last week NP asked to move a scheduled lesson back an hour (often when stuff like that comes up it's to do with his kids so I don't mind) and that's the first time in probably a year he's needed to move/cancel on short notice.
twnkltoz
Forum Master
Wow...I've never experienced this, but most likely it would be a dealbreaker for me if it were that frequent. For myself, I rarely cancel or reschedule without ample notice and a good reason. I guess spending years in customer service and business environments taught me how to give better service than that.
chomsky
Well-Known Member
So so funny this thread has come up now. I have been experiencing this the past month; it all started with a serious injury and a break from lessons from my pro. And I keep changing my mind about what to do. Wow. I'm still in two minds though to tell you the truth one cannot always be perfect, one is only human afterall. so, in my case not a deal breaker I guess.
No, I'm sure. 
No, I guess. 
No, I'm sure....
No, I'm sure. No, I guess. No, I'm sure....I echo everybody on frequency, professionalism, reasons, etc.
What bugs me is that if a student did this, they'd likely have to pay for the hour they missed- a lot like not cancelling a Dr. appointment within their appropriate 'window' and incurring late fees- and that's with a good excuse or not.
I always believe in the "extenuating circumstances" leeway. If it's a busy season at work coming up though, and you know you might be running late to something regularly, tell your teacher/students about this as a courtesy, so they're not surprised when it starts happening, and when it settles down again, it's business as usual.
It's hard not to personalize some things, but tardiness to me says it's a lack of respect for the person waiting on you, and for some people, I know for a fact it's a little bit of a power play, because it's come out of their own mouths that the situation isn't a priority to them.
I believe chronic tardiness is very much like chronic accident-proneness: It's more carelessness than anything.
What bugs me is that if a student did this, they'd likely have to pay for the hour they missed- a lot like not cancelling a Dr. appointment within their appropriate 'window' and incurring late fees- and that's with a good excuse or not.
I always believe in the "extenuating circumstances" leeway. If it's a busy season at work coming up though, and you know you might be running late to something regularly, tell your teacher/students about this as a courtesy, so they're not surprised when it starts happening, and when it settles down again, it's business as usual.
It's hard not to personalize some things, but tardiness to me says it's a lack of respect for the person waiting on you, and for some people, I know for a fact it's a little bit of a power play, because it's come out of their own mouths that the situation isn't a priority to them.
I believe chronic tardiness is very much like chronic accident-proneness: It's more carelessness than anything.
gilded_lili
New Member
This. Exactly this.
I make every effort to show up to each lesson on time and ready to work. I don't think it's unreasonable to expect the same from an instructor. Having said that, of course we make exceptions. Everyone has had to cancel here and there, and sometimes it's bound to be short notice. It's forgivable on occasion, particularly when it's something outside of their control (crazy weather, illness, car trouble, etc). But when the frequency of the cancellations/reschedules increases, and reasons start sounding more like excuses, THEN it's a dealbreaker, IMO.
I agree with the others. It all depends on the frequency with which it occurs. Stuff happens and we're all human. As long as it was occasional and as long as common courtesy was extended both ways, I think most people wouldn't think it a big deal.
If one suspects that perhaps they are not being given the proper diligence from the instructor, with regards to respecting the student's time and efforts to make lessons, maybe a polite, factual conversation with the pro would clear up any misunderstands or expectations. I've learned that a simple conversation, when in doubt, can save a person lots of undue angst.
If one suspects that perhaps they are not being given the proper diligence from the instructor, with regards to respecting the student's time and efforts to make lessons, maybe a polite, factual conversation with the pro would clear up any misunderstands or expectations. I've learned that a simple conversation, when in doubt, can save a person lots of undue angst.
Most of the pros I know have a policy regarding the time period you must cancel within to avoid having to pay for the lesson. Of those pros, I think most the them will give their regular students a break and not charge for a lesson if it wasn't canceled in time as long as cancelations are not a regular occurrence.
Lyra
Active Member
In recent years I've been lucky. in fact, I can only think of one occasion in the last five years when my instructor has cancelled, and that was because he'd been rushed into hospital with appendicitis so I think he deserved a break on that one!
It's happened to me previously though and I lose patience very quickly. Once a month or more over a three or four months period and it's a dealbreaker.
It's happened to me previously though and I lose patience very quickly. Once a month or more over a three or four months period and it's a dealbreaker.
chomsky
Well-Known Member
did this. communicate communicate communicate! all is clear, both of us were responsible, and both of us really enjoy our lessons. so, hubby df and pro helped once again! and on, top of everything else exceptionaly magical lesson today; I am just proud I communicated my emotions about the lessons I missed, I just realized how wrong in my assumptions I had been! you people do the same, it helps when you clear things up!