Quote: I suggest that you avoid the franchise studios as they tend to be set on selling patterns rather than lessons. Look for a good independent instructor that preferably owns their own studio
While there is a lot that I would blame on the chain studios in general, taken on a case by case basis some of them are really outstanding and do manage to provide an excellent service to the community. It really all depends on the owner - they can make the studio just another node in a faceless commerical empire, or they can choose to make it a real home for dedicated dancers and use the chain angle primarily to help market their social (as opposed to competitive) offerings. It doesn't really matter what face a studio presents to John and Jane who want to dance at their wedding - what matters is what face it presents to people who make dancing a substantial part of their lives.
Quote: So the studio and toilet paper are free? No rent, taxes, electricity, water, paper, computer or accounting documents? Does he download the music off of Napster? What about BMI? NDCA membership dues? Cleaning? Even if he does it all himself, he cannot work by candlelight or he would at least have to by candles.
C'mon, there are still costs that have to be covered and since he and his wife are teachers, the only income must be lessons and social dances.
I re-read my post and I don't see any place that I used the word "free". Basically what I said was that he is able to make money, pay his expenses and still pass on savings to the student. And, yes the money does come from lessons ONLY as all of the parties (or social dances, if you will) that he puts on (holiday's, studio anniversary, his birthday, etc.) are done at his expense, there is no charge to attend. Oh, and lest I forget, at the Halloween party everyone in costume received a certificate for a free lesson and he gives a free lesson for every student's birthday and in the case of couples the anniversary as well.
Quote: It doesn't really matter what face a studio presents to John and Jane who want to dance at their wedding - what matters is what face it presents to people who make dancing a substantial part of their lives.
Not sure how I feel about this statement. It doesn't matter to who? I for one feel like John and Jane should be charged the same price and given equal time as you & partner, if that's what you mean by "presenting a face." And no one, including John and Jane, should be pushed to buy freakin packages. Btw I found it rather annoying as I was shellling out the big dough for my lessons at a chain studio, others, who made the same or more money than I, were given discounts and extra time cause they were alums or somehow affiliated with a team. Then again if I was getting a break myself maybe I'd think this is a perfectly sound policy . Giving discounts to some and not others is bad for business methinks. But what do I know. (Ok, maybe college kids up to 22 should be charged less.) But I don't want to sound like a disgruntled ex student. I sincerely wish the owner much success.
I haven't noticed an intrinsic difference in quality or personality between teachers/owners, teachers who are paid staff, and teachers who merely rent floor space from a studio. I have no experience with a franchise (except for one "intro" free lesson I took at an Arthur Murray when I was in college, eons ago.) From my experience, I offer the following advice:
1- Prices in any given area tend to fluctuate around a certain average. Call around and don't be bashful about finding out what the rates are. Many studios are reluctant to give out such info for people over the phone (I have no clue why), and others will give that gladly. Keep in mind that the same studio may very likely have different rates for different teachers - and that's one probable reason why they don't like to give a straight number over the phone, because of the many variables involved. Be patient and explain that you are aware of these differences. You need to find out what is the per lesson rate for different teachers, if there are any discounts (for packages, for punch cards, for private and group lessons, etc.), and how long the lesson is. You also need to find out of the teacher is available. Some teachers don't have any opening, or will take only more advanced students. Most can be convinced to change their minds, though. The fact that a teacher is "available" need not be a bad sign. It is possible that the teacher recently joined that studio, so he/she is still building up a clientele.
2- As in selecting a doctor, a roofer, or an accountant, you don't necessarily go with the cheapest quote. Find out as much as you can about the background and qualities of each teacher. Also, different teachers have different areas of specialty. Here is where word of mouth becomes helpful. Most teachers can teach basics in most any style, and many can teach advanced skills in a variety of styles. If you want variety, i.e. you want to work on Mambo, Hustle, West Coast Swing and Tango, such a teacher might be good for you. If you want to focus on a certain style, select your teacher accordingly. Darius Mosteika is probably a wonderful teacher, but not your best choice if Paso Doble is your passion. If you are in an area where the choice of teachers is more limited, you still need to find out as much as you can about a teacher before making a commitment.
3- You do that by going to a couple of studios (or more) on a trial basis. You can take group lessons if they are offerend, or a limited number of private lessons, before making any commitment. And do certainly attend the parties, though many of them can be quite boring. This is your chance to talk to other dancers and let them know you are interested in setting up an arrangement. You'd be amazed at the wealth of advice and possibilities out there. Intro lessons will help you to find out which teachers suit you better. Use that opportunity also to ask the other students what they like about their teacher, or why they don't take lessons with that other teacher. Don't ask a student if her own teacher is good. Of course she will say he is wonderful. Instead, try to phrase your questions in a way that will provide a more meaningful answer.
4- As with most things in life, there is more than one right answer, and more than one good teacher. Chosing one person does not mean you have decided the others are bad, and everyone in the business understands that, so don't be worried about "hurting someone's feelings". But try to be courteous. Most students will end up taking lessons with more than one teacher, at more than one studio, at various times in their life. So keep in mind that a place or an arrangement that is not suitable right now might be perfectly acceptable two years down the road.
5- Teachers/studios WILL try to sell you lessons, or packages, or comp arrangements, openly or by suggestion. It's their job to do so, regardless of whether they are owners, employees or independent contractors. How they do that is another story. You are the best judge of what kind of sales policies you are comfortable with. In general, quality places do not use hard-sell tactics, mostly because they don't need to.
6- Try not to make any major financial commitment until you've been at one place for a year. This may be hard for most people doing pro-ams, and not because of the "sales pressure", as many non pro-ams imagine, but because pro-ams often have an intense sense of competition, so they want to take more lessons/do more comps, etc., and of course there is a price tag attached. As long as you make an intelligent and informed decision of how much you can afford, and what you are likely to receive in return, this can be an extremely rewarding experience. It isn't cheap, though. On the other hand, for every pro-ammer who spends 24k/annum on dancing (and that's an average figure for an active competitor) there are many who keep their expenses closer to 6k/annum. You can get by with less than that if you take fewer lessons, and accept the fact that this will leave you without the full benefits of the pro-am system.
Quote: Btw I found it rather annoying as I was shellling out the big dough for my lessons at a chain studio, others, who made the same or more money than I, were given discounts
While I can understand how this could be frustrating, I think it's necessarry to make a distinction between 'discounts' and the going rate in a town for various types of dance training. Dedicated amateur couples, be they student or adult, generally try to economize, are immune to marketing campaigns, and are only willing to pay premium rates for teachers of international stature - as a result there is remarkably little price spread on local options. Wheras pro-am and wedding prep are image-conscious luxury services that, when you get right down to it, are not something that the budget constrained should be trying to pursue very intently. Studios simply charge what they can/have to in order to be in whatver markets they desire to be in (teachers are people too, and may enjoy different types of work to varying degrees)
I am soooooo tempted to deflate your ego, Chris. What you are suggesting, not too coyly, is that: a- students are smart and picky, as opposed to vain pro-ams; and b- amateurs and students are a pleasure to teach, so quality teachers give them a break. How about this, instead: IF there is a net price difference charged by the SAME teacher for the SAME kind of lesson (focus and length), and that's a mighty big IF, the rationale is not that the poor teacher is allowing him/herself this indulgence of teaching on the cheap for the thrill of having some interesting students. Rather, students and college teams are a useful marketing device: they are an excellent way to have a larger group of people feel familiar with your services and come back for future lessons, including after they graduate, and there's a nice cache to claiming that one coaches a college team, or that members of a college team receive coaching at this or that place, etc. And, all in all, it makes for good PR, especially in an area with an active college dancing scene.
And I know I shall kick myself within seconds of posting this, since I have promised myself never to get dragged into those arguments. It must be the weather.
No, I'm afraid you don't understand what I'm suggesting at all.
It's simply this: if someone wants a non-trival number of amateur couples in their studio, they are going to have to charge something fairly close to the local average for that type of service. Other types of dance training are different services, priced in different markets based on different factors - at some studios the rates and teachers may be the same as the best amateur couples rate, at others they may not. My usual coach actually charges very slightly more if I show up without my partner, on the theory that it's more work to dance with a student than to mostly comment from outside.
What factors motivate a teacher to pursue or not pursue various market segments are really beyond the scope of this thread.
. Giving discounts to some and not others is bad for business methinks. But what do I know. (Ok, maybe college kids up to 22 should be charged less.) But I don't want to sound like a disgruntled ex student. I sincerely wish the owner much success.
