letsdance101
Active Member
Ha I wish a showcase number costs 100 dollars to perform. At my studio you pay $500... No lie. That doesn't include costumes and lessons leading up to the show. This also doesn't include the $30 DVD or tickets to the show.
Studio showcase economics
- Thread starter etchuck
- Start date
Shanae_87
New Member
Hi! I'm new to this forum and I'm also new to dancing. I was told to try it in May and have been enjoying it since then. I have a great teacher and I trust his judgement but he suggested I perform at the showcase (Mid November) and I was quite keen on that until I heard the price. So, it basically starts from 10AM and finishes by 11:15 PM and in between that time there is.
Coffee, Rehearsal, smooth events, a lunch break, rhythm event (freestyles & solos), cocktail, reception, dinner banquet & certificates presentation, medal awards and general dancing and than a finale of the professional dancers from the studio performing.
So basically its 930 bucks for the whole event if i upgrade my two tickets. which means I can attend from 5PM to 11:15PM. I get that, its basically an event that last the whole day and that a lot happens in that day but it is pretty steep. I could just have the option of staying until our dancing is over but then I'm paying 475 bucks and need to leave by 5. I'm at Arthur Murray and like I said, I'm new to dancing which is why I'm so shocked by how much these showcases cost. With what I previously mentioned, does this price make sense? was your showcase around the same price? I'd appreciate any help you can give me. Thanks
Coffee, Rehearsal, smooth events, a lunch break, rhythm event (freestyles & solos), cocktail, reception, dinner banquet & certificates presentation, medal awards and general dancing and than a finale of the professional dancers from the studio performing.
So basically its 930 bucks for the whole event if i upgrade my two tickets. which means I can attend from 5PM to 11:15PM. I get that, its basically an event that last the whole day and that a lot happens in that day but it is pretty steep. I could just have the option of staying until our dancing is over but then I'm paying 475 bucks and need to leave by 5. I'm at Arthur Murray and like I said, I'm new to dancing which is why I'm so shocked by how much these showcases cost. With what I previously mentioned, does this price make sense? was your showcase around the same price? I'd appreciate any help you can give me. Thanks
Last edited:
Terpsichorean Clod
Forum Master
Welcome to Dance Forums, Shanae_87!
It depends on a number of things that could make it anywhere from $30 to $3000 or more.
What is the venue? How elaborate are the decorations? Lights? Staging? Makeup?
How many performances are you doing? How much special choreography are you getting? How many lessons are included in the price?
How much general dancing is there? Is there an expectation that all the instructors do their best to keep any students from sitting out?
And ultimately, how much is it worth to you?
It depends on a number of things that could make it anywhere from $30 to $3000 or more.
What is the venue? How elaborate are the decorations? Lights? Staging? Makeup?
How many performances are you doing? How much special choreography are you getting? How many lessons are included in the price?
How much general dancing is there? Is there an expectation that all the instructors do their best to keep any students from sitting out?
And ultimately, how much is it worth to you?
regis
Active Member
Welcome to the world of ballroom. Any of your competitons/showcases are going to be costly. They are tons of fun though. If you can afford it without going into serious debt I recommend it. If the money is an issue for you but you would like to compete then maybe wait for a team match to come up (if you are in an area where they have them).
fascination
Site Moderator
zomg....wow...I have never paid more than a few hundred bucks for a showcase...that includes a full dinner...I do recall however that we have another thread on this that does in fact go into the legitimate costs of some of these larger productions...bottom line is to always find out the full cost before you commit....ultimately it is up to you
open_mind
Active Member
Studios here charge ~$200 or so do a showcase, and $10-$15 for an all-day ticket. Sometimes $200 includes a simple meal, but in general, events here tend to be a bit more casual.
However, this $200 fee does not include lessons to prepare a showcase routine. Since it's not unusual to spend 8-10 private lessons to prepare a good routine, the total cost including the lessons and the showcase fee is close to what your studio charges. I imagine some people can get ready for a showcase in much fewer lessons, so the total cost varies depending on how much time and money one is willing to spend. I don't know how AM works, the most important question is whether the $930 fee includes lessons and how many.
However, this $200 fee does not include lessons to prepare a showcase routine. Since it's not unusual to spend 8-10 private lessons to prepare a good routine, the total cost including the lessons and the showcase fee is close to what your studio charges. I imagine some people can get ready for a showcase in much fewer lessons, so the total cost varies depending on how much time and money one is willing to spend. I don't know how AM works, the most important question is whether the $930 fee includes lessons and how many.
fascination
Site Moderator
certainly also many studios bring in coaches to choreograph showcase events....I have never had that or done that or wanted that, but I can see how someone would and that will certainly hike up the price
clumsy fellow
Active Member
That price is ridiculous even if you can afford it... Curious, were you told the price in May?
fascination
Site Moderator
well, here's the thing...I was going to say that....then I thought about it....and the price of a one day comp wouldn't neccessarily be much different...even if one was dancing minimally at the comp...so, even though I don't see a showcase format as being of that kind of value, I think I am on pretty shakey ground having definitely spent more than that in a day at a comp.....it has to be weighed...I wouldn't do it but I understand it
Last edited:
DanceMentor
Administrator
It would be interesting to get a break down from them exactly what you are purchasing. I assume you would have already paid for the lessons, so this is just for that day. I assume you will be dancing with your teacher for some period of time. How long? Are we talking $475 for 20 minutes of actual dancing with the instructor? I assume maybe you'll get dinner and an award, and the studio will be made to look pretty. Maybe there will be an out of town coach doing critiques. If it is well within your budget, maybe you'll feel it is a good thing to help support the studio, as well as help your instructor get a good commission on the sale.
On the other hand, if this is not in your budget, it is likely there will be more they will ask for in the future, so you'll need to be prepared for this financially. Maybe the lessons are fun and are enough for a while. Or maybe you can do a small performance at one of the parties instead of spending so much on a showcase.
On the other hand, if this is not in your budget, it is likely there will be more they will ask for in the future, so you'll need to be prepared for this financially. Maybe the lessons are fun and are enough for a while. Or maybe you can do a small performance at one of the parties instead of spending so much on a showcase.
So am I correct in assuming you would do one showcase number with your instructor in there somewhere, and also get to rehearse it once in the morning at the venue? I assume also you would get entry in to the event until 5pm it sounds like. And you are paying $475 for that?
Since this basically sounds like a studio event (rather then a stage production put on by the studio) in comparison, I work with an independent pro who was a finalist in his field at the US Nationals. His rates are on the expensive side for a pro. I would expect to be charged somewhere in the realm of $300 for the performance at a showcase. Add on an entry fee of maybe $30 and entrance to the event at maybe $15. Which comes to a total of $345.
Now remember, I am talking about dancing with a national/international pro champion. In general Arthur Murray does not field pros of this caliber (though I have heard there are a few that do - but personally I do not know of them).
Shanae_87 said:
Which means the remaining $455 of your cost is for the cocktails, reception, dinner banquet, awards and pro dancers performing.
The most I have paid for a pro show in an evening session at a comp is $65 for top quality pros (and again, most Arthur Murray studios don't seem to field top pros). So is it worth around $400 to you to have cocktails and dinner of unknown quality?
Personally, in my case I would pass.
fascination
Site Moderator
fair point...then again, lots of those same pros charge more than my national finalist pro for lessons as well...shrug...I wouldn't do it but I see lots of folks who seem really happy doing so...
clumsy fellow
Active Member
No, welcome to the world of Arthur Murray.
My butt hurts just reading some of these prices. Seriously, people, just because someone pats you on the head and invites you to do something, doesn't mean you HAVE to. By doing so, you're fueling The Machine everyone (well, everyone without husband's disposable income) is griping about. It reminds me of those fundraisers they stick kids with at grade school. Every time you turn around, poor Madison Skyler Ashtyn is wagging home samples of wrapping paper, or Thomas Kinkaide knockoff tins of brownies and popcorn, and if they don't sell it, they don't get to do the super cool reward thing all the other kids are doing. I fully believe in and support spotlight dances, showcases, etc. but studios and pros really need to stop wringing out every penny they can from people. IMO, on a beaten-to-death topic, and I'll "be quiet" now. Or try to.
vulgar language removed
vulgar language removed
Last edited by a moderator: