Thread: Another class time question

Hi all,

I'm going to start teaching in September (I hope) and I have two choices for class times Mondays from 6-7 or Mondays from 8-9. Which one would you choose? 8 seems better for commuters, but it seems a little late for people to be out and about on a Monday night. 6pm might not work for commuters but ends at a decent time. I'm not sure what to do, but I think I'm leaning more toward 6pm.

What do you think?

Originally Posted by ejaghana

Hi all,

I'm going to start teaching in September (I hope) and I have two choices for class times Mondays from 6-7 or Mondays from 8-9. Which one would you choose? 8 seems better for commuters, but it seems a little late for people to be out and about on a Monday night. 6pm might not work for commuters but ends at a decent time. I'm not sure what to do, but I think I'm leaning more toward 6pm.

What do you think?

Congrats! I tend to start class when it suits my schedule but I work odd hours during the day so there's no way I could begin a class at 6p.

I think the answer depends on a lot of factors:

• Which time works best for you?
• Where are you teaching? Studio? Fitness Center? College?
• Who is your target audience? Working women? College students? People working out at the fitness center?
• Do you already have some dedicated students? If so, which time works best for them?
• Do you need to attract new students? If yes, which age group(s)? Do they live/work/study/workout near there?

Best wishes!
Kara

For me, the later one would work. I currently take classes from 7-9 on Mondays and it gives me enough time to run errands if I need to and get to class on time. I would NEVER be on time for a weekday class that started at 6.
I am also a night person so late night stuff is when I shine. I guess if you are a morning person it might be kind of late tho.

I think it depends a lot of who your students are and when they would be most likely to be available. My earliest classes have been starting at 6:30 with my latest ending at 9:30. It works ok, but the 9:30 end time can get pretty late for my commuter students.

Hmm...maybe the 8-9 would be better. I think the area has a lot of commuters, but at the same time I think the commuters are mostly men. It seems like there are a lot of stay at home moms in the area. I guess either way it would be better to start late because the at home mommies would need to wait for hubby anyway. I was just thinking that 8 sounded so late!

I attend both a 7-9 class and a 6-7:30 class on occasion. The 7-9 class is by far easier to make it to work-wise, but I frequently leave early because I am just too pooped to make it to nine. Also, a class starting at 8 would be the height of inconvenience for me, as I would hate to stay at work until class time, but if I went home I probably wouldn't make it out again for class as I'd get sucked into dinner, bedtimes, etc. I much prefer the 6pm class even though I have to leave work a little early. OTOH, this class is very local, and I definitely wouldn't make it if I had a long commute from work.

So yeah - pinpoint your target audience! :-)

Ah, yes. Stay at home moms will be more likely to make an 8pm class since they'll need babysitter / husband coverage. :)

I have a lot of commuters take my classes in the suburbs and my 6:00 - 7:00 class never does well because of that...my vote is to try out the 8:00 time. Most people like going home, relaxing, THEN heading out the bellydance class.

I prefer a later class (I'm in grad classes from 5:30-7), but I noticed here (Chicago) the fuller classes seem to be the earlier ones.

It could also be coincidental, since the the later classes I attended both dealt with zills and that the earlier classes also seem to be beginner classes

I teach a Monday 6 to 7 class, and it seems to work out well. I also teach later classes on other days, and have had people from the earlier class not move up because it starts/ends too late (7 to 8:15). Personally I think starting a beginner class at 8 is a bit late. As people advance (ie, get hooked on dance!) they will have more incentive to go/stay out later during the week.

I am also in a fairly small city, and a vast majority of my students are coming and going via public transportation. So traffic and stuff is not an issue. I think it gets to the point where you have to do what works for you and the students you actually have. It is impossible to have an ideal time for everyone (as you can see from the varied responses and preferences on this thread!).

I think a class starting at 6pm in LA is too early for most people. A lot of commuters get off work at 5:30 or 6, sit in traffic for probably half an hour on average, then want to eat dinner before heading out. But I'm biased 'cuz I love late classes...my favorite 'sure thing' weekday getaway is to pop over the hill for Fahtiem's class that starts at 9:30pm and usually goes until 11!

i think 8-9 b/c it will be nearly impossible for people to get there on time for a 6pm with after work traffic and household/family obligations.

I did 2 8-9 classes. Gave one up because I wasn't motivated enough to leave home again for that class!! The other one I wouldn't miss.

8-9 would be my preference as a student. Anything before 6:30 is just too hard. Like many moms, I have to pick up my kids and get home and eat (or at least get them dinner) which is really pushing it--and I get off work at 4pm.

Well...8pm it is! (I think) LOL this is crazy!

I'd prefer 7-8 but of course that's already taken! So we'll see how this goes! I'll keep you all updated!

I teach in a suburb of Atlanta and our target market is the 30-something crowd. So, for us, the later classes are more successful since most of our clients are commuters.