Thread: What to charge for this?

An occasional student of mine is actually a dance teacher from a town about 2 hours away. She wanted me to come up to where she lives and teach an introductory bellydance workshop. I told her she had to guarantee 10 students at $40 each, and we would do a 70/30 split. That would have given me a minimum of $280, plus I was charging $0.45/mile (haven't calculated that yet).

Now she is saying she is having a hard time getting the 10 students, and most students seem more interested in just a 1 hour class. So she wants me to come up and teach a regular class instead of "workshop". Basically, 1 hour instead of 2.

Now what should I charge for this? Since she's not calling it a "workshop" anymore, I feel like she is expecting me to lower my fee to a normal class. But this is a one time thing, and it is too much of a drive for me to go up there for $50 plus travel!!!

So, what would you charge? Thanks!

Originally Posted by danielabellydance

An occasional student of mine is actually a dance teacher from a town about 2 hours away. She wanted me to come up to where she lives and teach an introductory bellydance workshop. I told her she had to guarantee 10 students at $40 each, and we would do a 70/30 split. That would have given me a minimum of $280, plus I was charging $0.45/mile (haven't calculated that yet).

Now she is saying she is having a hard time getting the 10 students, and most students seem more interested in just a 1 hour class. So she wants me to come up and teach a regular class instead of "workshop". Basically, 1 hour instead of 2.

Now what should I charge for this? Since she's not calling it a "workshop" anymore, I feel like she is expecting me to lower my fee to a normal class. But this is a one time thing, and it is too much of a drive for me to go up there for $50 plus travel!!!

So, what would you charge? Thanks!

Do you have a rate for teaching at a bachelorette party, shower or hen night? That's what I use for any "one off" classes. If your normal rate for that sort of thing usually includes a costumes performance, you could of course give them a discount in return for the reduced prep time. This thread http://www.bhuz.com/forum/business-b...ching-gig.html had a good variety of suggestions about how to price teaching gigs.

How is she promoting this and how small is the town? I ask, mainly because she might be able to get 10 students if she does more promotion or makes it sound more "fun" than strictly technique stuff. Perhaps you can find out why people aren't interested in 2 hours.

I wouldn't charge less than what you need to make it worth your while. Is it worth it to go up for 1 hour?
I usually have a base rate for 1 hour and then add on from there. My 1 hr rate is $150 ($15 per student for 10 students minimum) and then I charge an additional $8/hr per student ($80/h for 10 students) from there out. Time and travel are seperate
If you originally asked for $28/student I would ask for $20/student at least.

Thanks for the suggestions, ladies.

I'm not sure how she's promoting it - she seems like one of those people that gets really excited about things without first thinking it through, so I haven't heard much about what she has going on at all! The town is not that small, it's just kind of far.

I ask mainly because perhaps she's not advertising it as "fun". Two hours of technique is a lot to ask out of someone if s/he doesn't know what they're getting into.

I don't think I'd do it. One hour is a fun taster class for potential students, and a great marketing tool -- if the students live close to your regular classes.

But if the students are *barely* interested, there's no money to be made by either of you, and no long term students to gain...why do it?

I think I'd back off -- "Seems like the students just aren't interested enough right now to make this worth our while. That's OK, I'm sure something will come up eventually where we can work together -- [change subject]"

Originally Posted by Lauren_

I don't think I'd do it. One hour is a fun taster class for potential students, and a great marketing tool -- if the students live close to your regular classes.

But if the students are *barely* interested, there's no money to be made by either of you, and no long term students to gain...why do it?

I think I'd back off -- "Seems like the students just aren't interested enough right now to make this worth our while. That's OK, I'm sure something will come up eventually where we can work together -- [change subject]"

That's pretty much what I told her - I just sent her an email and quoted my regular teaching gig rate, which is way too high for her to have covered by 5 students. Plus the travel. I told her it would probably be better to wait a while and see if she can drum up more interest.

I mean, I'll do it if she's willing to pay me my teaching gig rate, but she'll just end up paying me out of pocket, which sucks for her. And teaching a teeny tiny class is no fun, which sucks for me. I'd rather not do it.