Thread: How much to charge?

I've been contacted by a mother's group that would like to meet at my studio for a lesson, just once, for their monthly meeting.

Hmmmm...

I used to teach private groups in my studio for $50/hour but that was with a 6 week commitment prepaid.

A one-time event like this is more like a party, which I'd typically charge about $175 for.

(I know my rates seem low to some of you, I'm in a small town in a depressed portion of MidAmerica and these rates are actually high compared to comparable businesses around me)

This group does meet the 'could draw students' criteria that makes me willing to do it for less than a full party rate, and I don't have to perform or costume up.

Somewhere in the middle, maybe?

Or should I set a price per participant, slightly higher than my drop in rate? Hmmmmmm!

Will this lesson require you to close the studio to your regular class? How many women have already said they will for sure do it? If it's 10-15 women or more, I would charge per person at a SLIGHTLY higher than average rate. If you have to close the studio or open on a day you are not normally open, I would charge signifacantly more.

i charge 125€ for these things, with a max of participants. i prefer that to a per head.

Originally Posted by artemisia_danst

i charge 125€ for these things, with a max of participants. i prefer that to a per head.

Maybe a combination of "per person" with a minimum fee? This way, you'll get your minimum with the possibility of making more. A little trickier to do the math, but not bad . . .

Deborah

when it's a group, i just find it easier also when one person pays me, and i dont need to handle small change per participant... and to make them in charge of organising the whole thing, and pay you as a guest instructor, rather than as if these are students coming to a workshop you organise...

i charge like a third less than the party rate, as i dont have to perform/put on costume. but i charge more than if i'm hired somewhere as a per hour instructor. as it is more of a party, and i also try to make it one (hipscarfs, picture taking etcetc)

Originally Posted by artemisia_danst

when it's a group, i just find it easier also when one person pays me, and i dont need to handle small change per participant... and to make them in charge of organising the whole thing, and pay you as a guest instructor, rather than as if these are students coming to a workshop you organise...

i charge like a third less than the party rate, as i dont have to perform/put on costume. but i charge more than if i'm hired somewhere as a per hour instructor. as it is more of a party, and i also try to make it one (hipscarfs, picture taking etcetc)

Yeah, the per person part can get kinda messy; the only thing that might save it is if the organizer of the group is responsible for paying in a lump sum . . .

Deborah

Lauren, I think we live in areas with similar rates. For private groups, I charge $50 per half hour for a lesson with no costuming, makeup or performance. For me they always take place off-site though, because my home studio only holds about 5 people.

My area sounds similar to yours. Other areas would have different pricing depending on market.
For the type of club/meeting "one-time" that you describe, I charge $125 for a 1 1/2 hour class for up to 15 people in a group. For me, an hour seems too short, 2 hours too long for them. If there are more than 15 people, I arrange a rate ahead of time with a $25 additional per 5 additional persons per range. Also depends on the type of group, but the large ones are when I go offsite to their meeting place, so that's a whole different thing.
I have the contact person pay the whole amount in a lump sum.
I loan out hip scarves during and wear fancy teaching gear. I also give them ea a coupon for 1 free class within a time frame.

I'm so glad I asked, I'm getting great feedback here.

I'm thinking I'll charge something like $125 for 10 people, with am upcharge of $_______ per additional person (thinking...) and give them each a coupon for $5 a session a session of classes.

She's saying there will probably be 10 to 15.

This way it's not *too* discounted off a shimmy party, so if someone wants to book a party they won't fall over at the difference in rates.

BTW, these type of gigs, when i answer the email i offer them a version WITH performance (225E), or just class (125E), sometimes they go for with performance!

OMG, you are going to do a mini lesson shame on you..l;,..l;,..l;,

LOL

Originally Posted by faaria

omg, you are going to do a mini lesson shame on you..l;,..l;,..l;,

roflmao