Thread: Do you require a minimum # of students to run a program?

Hi Instructors! Just wondering if any of you require a minimum amount of students in order to run your programs? Thanks in advance for your input!

I know a lot of people do if they are having to rent a facility themselves because this keeps them from getting stuck paying more than they are earning. I would say have a regular rate for pre-pay and an elevated rate for those who don't.

I have a minimum of 6.

For a brand new class that I'm trying to get off the ground, or a good class having a slow period. I'll run it with as few as three.

I will run a class of 5 or 6. From what I've seen in my area, studios tend to require a minimum of 5 students; if a teacher was renting space, as opposed to being employed by the studio, then the teacher would make the determination.

I have worked for one community center that required a minimum of 1/2 of the maximum. Therefore, if the space could hold 20 people, the automatic minimum would be 9 or 10. This really fries me because in order to be able to have classes of as few or 5 or 6, I have to set my minimum to 11 or 12; then if for some crazy reason I get that many, I can't have any more than 12 even if the room can accommodate it. It's really crazy. I'm starting up with them again this fall, there's been a change in management, and I hope they've fixed that ridiculous requirement . . .

Deborah

5 is my minimum (18 my maximum for beginner classes). Upper levels have no maximum limit, but I keep a 5 minimum for those too. As I work days and my class pay is based on a split of registration fees, I'm not going to tie up my nights too unless I'm assured of making at least some profit! I work for a great Parks & Rec/community center and they are very flexible about allowing me to run a class under my minimum if I decide it's worth running.

7 would be mine and my classes last (academic!!!) year ranged bewteen 6 and 30. 30 was toooo big and 12 is ideal! Up to 20 very welcome.
I do have a nice big hall but no mirrors so I like to be able to keep an especial eye open as they cannot judge their image themselves so 10-12 is a good number to handle.
But hey ho I'll not complain.

yes, minimum of 6

Originally Posted by lizajuk

12 is ideal! Up to 20 very welcome.

I agree, 12 to 20 is PERFECT class size! Big enough to feel like a group, so individuals don't feel so awkward, but still manageable. (20's my max, due to the size of my space).

Originally Posted by kat

(18 my maximum for beginner classes). Upper levels have no maximum limit

Very interesting! I allow up to 20 in beginners (25 when I teach in bigger well-mirrored spaces) but I'm about to start capping my top-level class at 15. I find my higher levels need to travel more, use more props, and are more inclined to actually *use* the mirror and need to see themselves.

I'm guessing your opposite approach is because the beginners need more individual attention and the upper levels are more independent? Space is such an issue for me, but if it weren't I might take a different approach, too.

The community center I work for is 4.

I do a 70/30 split per student with my teaching venues, and have found that I need to have a minimum of 5 to make a profit. With gas as expensive as it is, I should probably revisit that at some point, though.

I also don't like to teach less than 5 because from week to week I'll have at least a couple of absences, winding up with only 2-3 students in the class. Although it doesn't hurt me financially, it tends to affect the energy of the class, both for the students and myself. The venue that I'm quitting at the end of this session technically has 6 people enrolled, but I've never had more than 3 show up simultaneously at one class, and I really feel the lack of student camaraderie present in my larger classes.

12 - 15 students is my ideal class size, although I can go up to 20 if the room is large enough. Anything more than 20, and I feel I'm not able to give adequate personal correction and attention when needed.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

I'm guessing your opposite approach is because the beginners need more individual attention and the upper levels are more independent? Space is such an issue for me, but if it weren't I might take a different approach, too.

Nope. I don't have an upper limit because I have rarely come up against an upper level class that was above the 18 person maximum! ..l;, The beginner classes always test the maximum limit, and the intermediate class sometimes nudges the upper limit, but beyond that it's never been a worry. When prop use/number of students is an issue (usually only a problem with assaya, veils or wings), we solve the space problem by practicing the arm movements w/o the prop and then trade off working with the actual prop in smaller groups, with the non-working group(s), watching and offering suggestions. I've found that "watching" often helps the students to see necessity of arm placement, body alignment etc. better than when they're actually drilling -- so it's all good.

I used to have a minimum of 6 to teach a class. Then, as prices rose and I realized that the economy probably wouldn't support me raising my class prices, I increased my minimum to 10.

I have also consolidated some of my classes so I'm not traveling quite so far to different remote locations to try to keep costs down.

Nope! I work for the Y and they pay me hourly regardless of class size. I actually make more than when I was renting a studio, my classes are larger, I can teach as many as I want and I don't have to do any promotion. Yippee!

My instructor owns her own space so she doesn't have a min. Actually, most weeks it is just me that shows so I get the benefit of a private with out the cost!
I know that when she teaches at the different universities, they set the max and min. At the U that I attended, we had a rediculous number of students. It was something like 50 at the beginning. Way to many.

Yes. I always make sure I have enough students so I can pay for the studio and turn at least a small profit. The minimum number of students all depends on the cost of the studio and how much im charging for lessons.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

I have a minimum of 6.

For a brand new class that I'm trying to get off the ground, or a good class having a slow period. I'll run it with as few as three.

Ditto.

And my max is 15, due to studio size, insurance, and fire regulations.

My min. is 4.