Thread: How much do I charge for this?

I just got a call from the secretary of the dance program at the local university. She took my class a while back and apparently went back to school and raved about it to the other dance majors.

Now they'd like me to come and teach a one-day class in a workshop format.

I'm thinking 3-4 hours to teach basic moves and a simple choreography to a group of very body-aware beginners with well-developed choreo memory.

But I don't know how much to charge?

what do you charge for taster workshops? just multiply that?

I've never done a taster workshop!

I usually charge $50 for an hourlong class held offsite. Should I just multiply that by the number of hours of the workshop?

Should there be any stipulations on # of participants? Up to 20 this price, then $X more for each additional 5 people? (so I can pay assistants if I need to bring them?)

Well regular workshop fee's run between $150- $300 an hour, I would say you could go a little less, unless they are willing to pay it. Tell them what normal workshop fee's are and then negotiate down from there to maybe $100-125 an hour.

Great information! I think I should go less, since I'm not being invited because I'm world-famous or brilliant but because I'm local!

But maybe somewhere in between my rate for a regular class and the fee for a top-notch instructor would be appropriate.

ah, i do those regularly, for total beginners introduction workshops,
i charge 125E for the first two hours (so also if they only want one hour) and 50E for every hour on top of that, plus travel. and yes, i tell them that's for max 20 people.

artemisia

Originally Posted by Lauren_

I've never done a taster workshop!

I usually charge $50 for an hourlong class held offsite. Should I just multiply that by the number of hours of the workshop?

Should there be any stipulations on # of participants? Up to 20 this price, then $X more for each additional 5 people? (so I can pay assistants if I need to bring them?)

ah, and i set that rate based not on what international workshop teachers charge, but from finding out what a lecturer or so, teaching a one of lecture/course/class would charge (like at university for a 3hour lecture of campus i'd get paid 150€)

since this is at a university you might even be able to find out what they usually pay guest instructors

artemisia

(ps, for my gig with loads of students, teaching on a stage, i just quoted them the performance price, it's something i do regularly when asked to teach for a really big group, and if i cant bring an assistant for whatever reason)

No idea on the fee, but hooray for you!

Originally Posted by Andrea2

No idea on the fee, but hooray for you!

Thanks -- I'm pretty stinkin' happy, I need revenue wherever I can get it.

(and a little intimidated by the idea of teaching dance majors )

Originally Posted by Lauren_

I just got a call from the secretary of the dance program at the local university. She took my class a while back and apparently went back to school and raved about it to the other dance majors.

Now they'd like me to come and teach a one-day class in a workshop format.

I'm thinking 3-4 hours to teach basic moves and a simple choreography to a group of very body-aware beginners with well-developed choreo memory.

But I don't know how much to charge?

ask for "one -- MILLION -- dollars," and then lay a bent pinky to your chin like Dr. Evil.....

or, alternatively, you could google similar daylong master workshops as tuaght by postmodern people, to get an idea.. My university's dance department hosts these periodically, I'll see if I can find one and see how much they charge.

I logged into my school account and there was another "Dance Intensives" notice. THe link:
http://www.dancersgroup.org/programs_summerdance.php

Originally Posted by lotus

ask for "one -- MILLION -- dollars," and then lay a bent pinky to your chin like Dr. Evil.....

..l;, That's my new plan whenever I have to name a price to start a negotiation process!

or, alternatively, you could google similar daylong master workshops as tuaght by postmodern people, to get an idea.. My university's dance department hosts these periodically, I'll see if I can find one and see how much they charge.

Oooh, those are pricey. Wonder how much the instructors are getting? Still, I don't kid myself that I'm on their level. I'm not a master instructor, and this won't be a master class, just a fun little learning experience for them.

I'm so happy that the dance department is taking ME dance seriously, though!

I would interject that if you devalue yourself and your art because it is the University campus, you would be doing yourself a disservice. They did not seek you out because they expected a cheap instructor.

This a valid movement vocabulary that takes years and years to master, for anyone, with natural talent of not. They will not be able to do the movements right off the bat and will need instruction like anyone else. I'm quite sure that the people from the U. would not expect you to charge less than other instructors, and if they did, shame on them.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

Great information! I think I should go less, since I'm not being invited because I'm world-famous or brilliant but because I'm local!

But maybe somewhere in between my rate for a regular class and the fee for a top-notch instructor would be appropriate.

IMHO going less is selling yourself short.... Your better than that. I know I've seen your video's.... Charge regular workshop rates.

Aradia posted that a normal workshop fee is $150-$300 per hour, so if you feel uncomfortable charging a "master" instructor rate, go for the lower end of the spectrum or close to it. When I teach a one time lesson to a group (that means no performance, no costume), I charge $50 per 1/2 hour, which is in that neighborhood. I've never been asked to do more that one hour though - they usually have come to me with a budget, and I tell them I will only teach for X amount of time for that dollar amount.

I agree with what others have posted - don't sell yourself short. You may not be Hadia or Aziza, but you do have expertise and teaching skills that the college wants their dance students to experience. Keep in mind it's not just the time you spend at the workshop that you're being compensated for. Knowing your level of professionalism, you will likely put a lot of work into planning the workshop and choreography.

Don't fall into the "they are *real* dancers, and I am just a poser" trap - that's how I wound up working for peanuts at the dance studio from Hell.

OK, thanks all! I feel a lot better about charging more. Galatea's right, 'not Hadia or Aziza' is exactly what I was thinking, but I can charge the minimum going rate for workshop instructors. I'll probably adjust it a bit for the lower cost of living in my area and go more for the $125-negotiate-possibly-to-$100 range.

But if I think of that as the minimum rate, and the other end as the 'Aziza/Hadia' rate, then I'm comfy with it. And yeah, if I didn't feel like I could do an adequate job I wouldn't take the gig, so I deserve the minimum rate!

Congratulations, Lauren - I did just this last year at a local University (although it was 2 shorter sessions rather than 1 long one)...here is what happened to me, it might help?

- Firstly, the uni didn't ask me to quote, they just paid me their visiting lecturer rate. I had to sign some forms so they didn't deduct tax, etc, but they paid me through their payroll. It was more than I would have quoted for! If you have been asked to quote, I would agree with those above who say find out what the visiting lecturer rate is and quote something close to that.

- Movement vocab. The group I taught STRUGGLED. It didn't matter that they had all been pirouetting in the womb. They struggled with the difference of bellydance. Some of them acknowledged it was harder work than they anticipated,r:; . I would allow for this, both in terms of what you plan for the first half of the day and what you teach in the choreo.

- In all likelihood your dance majors will be pretty experienced in Western dance forms and will pick up a choreo like nobody's business. This is good, in terms of what you think you can teach them before the end of the day. With the group I taught we learned an entire choreo during 2 x 2 hours sessions. With my class that took 5 x 1.5 hours classes.

D

Dudes. This is still happening!

Looks like I'll be doing a 3-hour university-wide taster workshop on Saturday, then a 1.5 hour advanced class with the dance students the following week -- roughly a 20-minute lecture on styles/history/cultural context and the rest a challenging movement bit.

Wheeeeeeee! I'm so excited.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

Dudes. This is still happening!

Looks like I'll be doing a 3-hour university-wide taster workshop on Saturday, then a 1.5 hour advanced class with the dance students the following week -- roughly a 20-minute lecture on styles/history/cultural context and the rest a challenging movement bit.

Wheeeeeeee! I'm so excited.

This is so cool, Lauren! How did it go?

Deborah

It hasn't yet. We're looking at dates around the end of September, early October.

I'm pretty excited, though!

At 3-4 hours intensive I think a UK dancer would want at least £150 /£200 and top up expense if s/he were travelling any distance. I paid an expert teacher £200 for 2 hours and a dance set of 20mins ( she paid her own travel expenses and we B&B'd her )We considered her well worth it!

OMG - congratulations, Lauren! That is wonderful news, and such great exposure for you.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

It hasn't yet. We're looking at dates around the end of September, early October.

I'm pretty excited, though!

Oops! My mistake . . . must've misread something!

Well, good luck when it does happen! ..g.: