Thread: Advertising private classes

Ok, once i get the mirrors up,

i'd like to get more serious about using my home studio for teaching private classes, of all levels.
From january i'm giving up my day job, so will be able to do those in the daytime also.

it now does say on my website that i teach private classes, but while my classes are mostly packed, requests for private classes are minimal. Mostly cause we dont really have the "culture" of it. people think it's kind of weird.

i've worked with a couple of students privately though over the years, and am enjoying it more and more. i've also coached aspiring professionals on a one on one basis (taking them costume shopping, giving them advice), usually without being paid for it, just sharing info. which i dont mind. but i think i can offer more than that. proper coaching and classes.
I'm pretty good at helping people clean up their own choreography, and getting an act more stageworthy. so far i'm not so interested (yet) in making choreo's FOR others, solos that is, i love choreographing for groups.

so, how do i go about advertising them? i feel that sending a mailing to my student base with info on it, well, i dont know, somehow that feels pushy to me (hey, give me more money, classes arent enough).

lol, i think my mother's lessons of not asking for money - that i really dont have a problem with generally anymore, i did when i just went pro but now i've got the mindset to see this IS also a business - but that old education just seems to rear its head when it comes to taking money for private lessons and coaching.

so anyway, just a little rant i guess. i want to teach more private classes and do more coaching and i'm not sure how to go about it, nor what to charge. i've been charging between 35 and 50E per hour, depending on how many sessions booked and the contents of the classes.

Hi- Interesting - I struggle with the advertising issue too- I an amazed by all the spam I get from other instructors in regards to what they are offering- it seems everyone but me has no reservations in regards to telling everyone multiple times about everything they are doing, teaching, offering......and so I feel guilty e-mailing my own students about what I do- be it performing, classes etc..... and I am just about to finish a back room in my house as a dance studio!!!
I think if you just send out an announcement with an excited message about finishing your studio!! and then a photo of how gorgeous it is and include an intelligent description of the benefits of privates and don't mention it again that's OK and not the least bit obnoxious. Otherwise how will your students or anyone for that matter know? and not telling them may be a dis-service. Be informative and sweet .... and let me know how it goes!

Perhaps you could include a section on your "Classes and Workshops" page with more specific information instead of just saying "Private Tuition." By listing examples of what you might do in a private lesson, you give students a chance to think, "There's something I would like to work on," as opposed to leaving it vague, like something that would only appeal to some mythical professional who is training at a very high level, instead of beginners and intermediates (who make up the bulk of the lesson-seeking dance population). For example...

"Private lessons and coaching services are available for dancers of all levels. Artemisia can provide individualized instructions to help you advance as a performer in these areas:

* improving general technique
* addressing specific concerns and performance skills
* preparing for dance competitions
* adding depth to your choreographic or improv abilities
* making the transition from student to working dance professional
[...]"

thanks! both are good ideas already!

The meek and mild do not get the work! It's funny how so many of us dancers love to put ourselves out there and perform, be the centre of attention...but HATE to blow our own trumpet. I'm just the same, but I've come to realise that even the best dancers/instructors don't get the jobs without doing some self-promotion. I try to see it as a necessary part of my job (about as fun as doing the accounts). But yeah, there's gotta be that line of highlighting what you can do for your customers vs over-inflated hype and spamming. It's particularly hard if you live in a culture where self-promotion is seen as distasteful.

My current approach for advertising my 'extra' services to my students (such as kids parties) is to include info about it in my newsletter - a photo, short article and display 'ad'. For eg, I'll write about the recent kids party I did. I try to keep it real - include what was great, what I found difficult - so it doesn't read like an advertorial. Or I might get a student to write about how attending our ballet class helps her progress in bellydancing. I send out my newsletter to current/previous students every term and include all sorts of chatty articles, so hopefully it blends in well. It's just possible that I'm deluding myself and my students don't like this approach, but I feel better about it!

I also put up advertising fliers for kids parties, etc, on my noticeboard. People can read it and take it or leave it, but at least they know the option is there.

Another idea - do you have a student manual? You could include a section on 'services we offer.'

lol, i realllly need to get a decent newsletter sorted. all part of the plan (including new website coming up before the end of the year)

oooh sweeet. this comes in with good timing, i was starting to think about asking you for some private lessons in the course of next year ^^

Originally Posted by artemisia_danst

lol, i realllly need to get a decent newsletter sorted. all part of the plan (including new website coming up before the end of the year)

He he, yes, I've been meaning to replace my grossly outdated website with a new one for *years*. Including a spanky new html format newsletter that clicks through to full content. But I realised it was going to take forever and resorted to putting my newsletter in pdf and attaching it to email. I list contents in the email. I'm sure only half the students bother to open it and read it, but at least it's a start while I procrastinate over the website!

well, my current webmaster is quitting, so i cant procrastinate anymore and need to get it sorted

You are actually doing them a favor, you know, by offering private lessons.

In Louisville KY USA, we have on our website:

Private and semi-private lessons with Ruric-Amari: Purchase one lesson or set up a schedule.
Purchase for a friend with our Gift Certificates.
These lessons are perfect for:
-students who want to progress quickly, or students who have missed class;
-a dancer with a personal dance dream, challenge or choreography;
-a group of friends whose schedule doesn't allow them to come to dance class;
-a ballet or modern dance student who wants to try veil dancing;
-a shy person who suspects she's interested in belly dance.
Private lessons: $25/30 minutes, $40/hr for current students, $50/hr all others.
Semi-private lessons: $50/hr for current students, $60/hr all others.

Google Currency Converter says $50 US = 40 E