Thread: Registration issues

I need a reality check! I'm a little stressed from my student show last weekend, the new session starting this week, and some estrogen issues ..c:: and I may be crabby.

All of my classes, bellydance and yoga, run in 6 week sessions. I have a new session starting this week. People have been able to register online since June 24, and of course my regular students had the opportunity to register any time by handing me a check.

Today I went through the registrations and made class rosters. No one is registered for my level 3 class -- NO ONE. Normally I'd cancel the class -- except I'm certain that anywhere from 4 to 8 people will be showing with checks in hand that night. Of course, I could be wrong and only one or two people might show up and then I'll have to send them away and they will have already missed the first week of the Technique class they could have moved to. I have the same issue with one of my yoga classes.

Only 2 people signed up for Alternative Bellydance, and they're both in my Level 4 class, too. That's not enough to pay the instructor, so this morning I cancelled the class, notified the instructor, and set up for her to teach an alternative style choreo to the level 4s instead, and notified the level 4's that's what would happen. Tonight two people who came to Technique class with checks in hand wanted to sign up for Alternative!!! I wish I would have told them it's cancelled until next session, but I caved, so now I have to switch everything around again.

AAARGH!! I can't plan my sessions this way, but I can't afford to turn people away either.

I'm thinking of having a Late Registration Penalty after the Friday before each new session. Just to encourage people to preregister. (I know it would be nicer to call it an Early Registration Discount, but I'm already offering too many discounts).

Am I just being cranky? ..c:: Do I just need to accept these headaches as part of running a studio? Or is a Late Registration Penalty reasonable? $5? $10?

I think a late fee of $10 or even $15 is reasonable. It is your time they are messing with when a student does this to you. I know your time is worth more that $15 but it will help your students take the deadline more seriously!

In my past experience, getting people to pre-register is like herding cats. People don't do it. Even with a penalty/discount. Very annoying, imo, and you have every right to be frustrated. When I do workshops, this sort of thing makes me cranky all the time... then I catch myself doing it for other workshops that I want to go to!! I'm not sure what it is... human laziness? Poor planning? Low available cash funds?

You could try to say, "Registration is CLOSED on xx/xx/xxxx. Classes without sufficient enrollment will be canceled at this time." Then you got to stick to it! You may lose a couple of sessions, but after that students will take the deadline more seriously.

Lauren,
I'm dealing with this right now too (I have a session starting next week), so I feel your pain. I have a feeling many are just procrastinating till my registration deadline. I don't have a late fee in place, but there is still a natural consequence for procrastination...my studio is very small, and if I do get a flood of last-minute drop-ins, it's going to be totally first-come, first-served.

I just hate cancelling classes (and I am a complete wimp about making the "call" about whether to cancel a class), and registration procrastination makes it sooo hard to plan a structured curriculum let alone know whether classes will even run.

Anyway, not much else to offer, just wanted to commiserate...

I'll join the commisseration! I'm dealing with this too!

I hate cancelling classes, but sometimes you have to do it to prove a point. Can you contact the people you *think* might be registering and ask them? Tell them you might have to cancel the class and you need to know if they are going to sign up. It happens to me EVERY time - just last week, first session of 6 weeks, I thought I'd have to cancel as I only had 3 people register. Wasn't I shocked to find that I was slammed! I ended up with 11 people in the class!

I always run the class the first night. If I don't get the min., I cancel the class and (ugh) refund. In my area, late registration penalty would not fly, as many of the schools/community centers actually back-date registration fees for late comers! And as a business person, I see no reason to offer early reg. discounts on classes (except workshops). The University doesn't, the Colleges don't, other dance schools don't - why should I? Its about building credibility and respect with students- you're a proper professional school, not a drop-in center. It SO hurts to turn away students, but hopefully it won't happen too often.

And it *is* summer, which is a weird time for classes/students commitments. Maybe you'd have better luck with a Beginner class? Or a workshop series? I feel your pain. Hang in there.

I flat can't afford to turn away students -- this is how I support my family, and especially in summer business is slow. So that would be an empty threat.

I think I need to do a better job pushing the registration for the next session during the last week or two of classes. Maybe I need a sign to put on the door, or on the mirror, where people will see it!

i think your website and all your advertising should say "pre-register only", and make clear your students understand that unless enough people pre register classes will get canceled.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

I need a reality check! I'm a little stressed from my student show last weekend, the new session starting this week, and some estrogen issues ..c:: and I may be crabby.

All of my classes, bellydance and yoga, run in 6 week sessions. I have a new session starting this week. People have been able to register online since June 24, and of course my regular students had the opportunity to register any time by handing me a check.

Today I went through the registrations and made class rosters. No one is registered for my level 3 class -- NO ONE. Normally I'd cancel the class -- except I'm certain that anywhere from 4 to 8 people will be showing with checks in hand that night. Of course, I could be wrong and only one or two people might show up and then I'll have to send them away and they will have already missed the first week of the Technique class they could have moved to. I have the same issue with one of my yoga classes.

Only 2 people signed up for Alternative Bellydance, and they're both in my Level 4 class, too. That's not enough to pay the instructor, so this morning I cancelled the class, notified the instructor, and set up for her to teach an alternative style choreo to the level 4s instead, and notified the level 4's that's what would happen. Tonight two people who came to Technique class with checks in hand wanted to sign up for Alternative!!! I wish I would have told them it's cancelled until next session, but I caved, so now I have to switch everything around again.

AAARGH!! I can't plan my sessions this way, but I can't afford to turn people away either.

I'm thinking of having a Late Registration Penalty after the Friday before each new session. Just to encourage people to preregister. (I know it would be nicer to call it an Early Registration Discount, but I'm already offering too many discounts).

Am I just being cranky? ..c:: Do I just need to accept these headaches as part of running a studio? Or is a Late Registration Penalty reasonable? $5? $10?

all my classes and workshops are pre registering. and they do it. they know it's the only way to be sure of a spot...

Originally Posted by aazura

In my past experience, getting people to pre-register is like herding cats. People don't do it. Even with a penalty/discount. Very annoying, imo, and you have every right to be frustrated. When I do workshops, this sort of thing makes me cranky all the time... then I catch myself doing it for other workshops that I want to go to!! I'm not sure what it is... human laziness? Poor planning? Low available cash funds?

You could try to say, "Registration is CLOSED on xx/xx/xxxx. Classes without sufficient enrollment will be canceled at this time." Then you got to stick to it! You may lose a couple of sessions, but after that students will take the deadline more seriously.

I think a late registration penalty/early registration discount is fine. Have you ever talked to them about the importance of registering?

I know my dance teacher has canceled things due to low attendance, but I don't know what you can do if it is your only source of income

OK, I'm better now. Level 3 class was tonight, and of course everyone I was expecting showed up and I have enough for the class. And the Alternative class is ironed out now.

I need to do a better job reminding all my classes that it's time to preregister, the session just got away from me this time and I was too busy with the student show.

I don't have a problem with newer students, I'm very firm with them about preregistering. But once they've been around for a while, they all think 'Oh, Lauren knows I'm coming back.' They forget I've got 100 students to keep track of and I don't read minds!!

do you send out reminder emails? and i tell them at the end of each series to register by X/X/XX for the next one. but yes, it's the hardest with the long term students.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

OK, I'm better now. Level 3 class was tonight, and of course everyone I was expecting showed up and I have enough for the class. And the Alternative class is ironed out now.

I need to do a better job reminding all my classes that it's time to preregister, the session just got away from me this time and I was too busy with the student show.

I don't have a problem with newer students, I'm very firm with them about preregistering. But once they've been around for a while, they all think 'Oh, Lauren knows I'm coming back.' They forget I've got 100 students to keep track of and I don't read minds!!