Thread: promoting through workshop

So I am starting classes at a well know belly dance studio in our area. To help kick it off I want to do an introductory two hour workshop. The week prior to the class starting. I call it the Meet the instructor workshop.

I am honored that the owner feels I have something to offer since I'm not a big star dancer. I am teaching Classical American Cab...

Any way I was wondering how many instructors I would be fluffing their feathers if I offered this workshop at half price to participants.

My usual fee is 8 dollars an hour and the class is an hour and half long so 12 dollars per lesson. Would it be conceived as undercutting if i only charged 10 dollars for this two hour workshop? How would you feel as a competing instructor. I've already burned some bridges in my community and would not want to burn any more. Should I charge a higher fee?

We would be covering my format, and the level specifics so students could decide which level would be appropriate for them if they were interested in taking class and that way they don't have to spend money on a six class card to find out its just not for them or waist a 15.00 drop in fee to check out the class.

Any and all feedback welcomed.

Hey there,
I'm not part of the PDX community, so I can't speak for them, but I can say that $12.00 is already cheap for a two-hour workshop so you definitely shouldn't charge less.
But that's just my opinion :)

I wonder if an hour intro to the instructor would be long enough? And charge $10 - still pretty cheap.

Congratulations and I wish you success with your classes!

Some people are going to like what you do and there will always be some people who won't, that's just a fact of life. Still, it is good that you try to be diplomatic. Have you talked to the studio owner about pricing?

Originally Posted by Razia

Hey there,
I'm not part of the PDX community, so I can't speak for them, but I can say that $12.00 is already cheap for a two-hour workshop so you definitely shouldn't charge less.
But that's just my opinion :)

Word. It's cheap for a regular weekly class, never mind a workshop.

Odd as it sounds, I think a one-time free 'meet the new instructor' class would be easier to swallow than a $12 two-hour workshop. At least that's obviously a marketing ploy and doesn't quite trigger the same "yet another undercutter appearing on the scene" warning bells. It's more likely to bring people in to give you a try, too.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

Word. It's cheap for a regular weekly class, never mind a workshop.

Odd as it sounds, I think a one-time free 'meet the new instructor' class would be easier to swallow than a $12 two-hour workshop. At least that's obviously a marketing ploy and doesn't quite trigger the same "yet another undercutter appearing on the scene" warning bells. It's more likely to bring people in to give you a try, too.

Yes, I did this at all my venues a week or two before regular classes began. Try a free class, get a small discount for registering early. Plus, there are many more advertising opportunities for plugging something that's free vs. something with a fee attached.

Originally Posted by Halima-Dances

Yes, I did this at all my venues a week or two before regular classes began. Try a free class, get a small discount for registering early. Plus, there are many more advertising opportunities for plugging something that's free vs. something with a fee attached.

I would agree with this approach. Other instructors would not like your giving a low-ball price on a workshop because they'd be afraid of your setting a precedent for low priced workshop. However, if you offer a free get acquainted with the teacher "class" (not "workshop"), I think that would be accepted as a common advertising ploy by the other teachers. Also, as someone else asked, have you talked with the studio owner about your plans?

I have talked to the studio owner, All she is concerned about is me reserving the space and paying the rent and the damage deposit. That is as far as her interest goes. Since I'm an independent contractor and leasing the space it appears that she does not care what I charge.

Her hired instructors charge 10 dollars an hour/class and drop ins are 14.00...

I'm just going by my previous instructors rates. Maybe I will just charge 12.00 my regular rate. and just use the last 1/2 hour for sign-ups and answering questions. Then it won't be under cutting.

Originally Posted by AngelaDiCaprio

Her hired instructors charge 10 dollars an hour/class and drop ins are 14.00...

I'm just going by my previous instructors rates. Maybe I will just charge 12.00 my regular rate. and just use the last 1/2 hour for sign-ups and answering questions. Then it won't be under cutting.

I'm misunderstanding something here, or not tracking. The other bellydance instructors are charging $10/hour ($14/hour for drop-ins) and you're charging $8 an hour?

You're charging $12 for an hour and a half one-time drop in class when they get more than that for a one hour class on a drop-in basis?

Why are your classes cheaper than other teachers in the same studio? Or am I misreading something?

Thank for the wake-up call, Lauren. I needed that slap in the face

Maybe I should increase my rates. I just did not feel comfortable charging more than my previous instructor charges.

As for the workshop, I feel that there would be more of a scandal if I offered it for free... Really I do. People are already critisizing me for charging rates that they believe I don't have the experience and expertise (Master Instructor). I should not charge the same or more than the master Instructors in my area. Even though I feel they are the ones under charging..w.:

I didn't mean to slap you, sweetie. But it seems more important to me that you charge the same as the other teachers in the same studio -- unless they're teaching master-level material to advanced dancers, maybe, and you're coming in to offer a rec class for beginners.

Otherwise, undercutting the other instructors *in the same studio* seems more of a priority to me than undercutting instructors from around town.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

I didn't mean to slap you, sweetie. But it seems more important to me that you charge the same as the other teachers in the same studio -- unless they're teaching master-level material to advanced dancers, maybe, and you're coming in to offer a rec class for beginners.

Otherwise, undercutting the other instructors *in the same studio* seems more of a priority to me than undercutting instructors from around town.

I agree. So I will increase my regular rates. I think I'm going to charge my Drop-in rate 15.00 for the intro workshop..... Then we will see what happens.

You've invested a lot of time and money into your training and you really want to offer the best instruction you can, so yeah, increase your rates--you're worth it!

Thank Razia

I needed that emotional boost.

I've decided to bite this one in the pockect book and write it off for my advertising expenses. I will offer the workshop for free as others have suggested. Yes I will be raising my class rates....

we have a 40 min free taster class at the beginning of every school year, in september. at the same hour etc as the normal class... (that's important too!, you want people that are free the time you give your regular class, not that are free the time you gave your one off workshop).