Thread: Paying for time?

During a discussion with a friend, it came up that she had been present in a workshop when a participant asked the teacher a question after the class had finished. The teacher politey explained that the workshop had finished and there had been opportunities to ask at the end.

The person asking had not felt comfortable talking before a large group.

The teacher advised that she go to her website, pay an amount via paypal and then call her at an appointed time. She said would be happy to oblige with the consultation.

I was not familiar with this and wondered if it was common practice, or does it only apply certain countries?

This was not in the UK BTW.

I haven't seen paid consultations for most instructions, so I don't think it's a common practice.

For workshops or private lessons with local teachers, I've been actively encouraged to contact them if things in the workshop or class were not clear. This is from my experience in Boston and Chicago.

I would have to get more info on the situation. If the student had simply said, could you clarify what you were talking about at point X, then I think that the teacher was going over board. If the student was asking for a critique, then yes, a video consult would have been appropriate. It sounds as though perhaps there was much more going on.

As for regions, I know here on the West Coast, many teachers do video consultations. I simply haven't heard of one refusing to interact with a student who had attended a workshop which they had given.

{{{HUGS}}}

My only thoughts are that it might have been

1. A question requiring a complicated and detailed response well beyond a couple of minutes (or)
2. A miscommunication of some sort where the student thought they were asking for one thing and the teacher through they were asking for something else.

In reality, the teacher is correct that if the workshop time has ended, then they are no longer obligated to be working. However, I can't imagine a situation where I would tell a student they would have to pay me for an answer unless they were looking for a full critique or something that would require a lot of work on my part. Anything I can answer in a reasonable amount of time, I am generally happy to share in person or via email.

I have never heard of that in this field, but it is not uncommon for hired speakers and workshop instructors in other fields (politics, business/management) to only be available for the time specified - many will leave the room when the time has ended specifically for that reason. I am glad that this is not the current belly dance workshop culture, but, unless after hours questions were in the teaching contract, the teacher can't be required to do so. (Though I think it is really strange not to interact with the students after the workshop if they have questions.)

Originally Posted by caroline_afifi

I was not familiar with this and wondered if it was common practice, or does it only apply certain countries?

In my 30 years of belly dancing and attending countless workshops, I have never seen this. So no, it's not common.

Although it's true that the teacher shouldn't be expected to stay "on the clock" once she has fulfilled the obligations of her contract, I think it's a good idea for teachers to consider the "customer service" aspect of their decision-making. Belly dancers are overwhelmingly female, and women tend to place a high priority on relationships. Spending an extra five minutes (if that's truly all that the question requires) to provide an answer will do a great deal to create a satisfied attendee who then encourages other sponsors to hire this teacher.

From what i was told, it was a case of the teacher 'switching off' when the class was over.

I have experienced this myself, a friendly chatting teaching suddenly becoming abrupt and introspective when the class was over.

It seems to me that this approach is a 'good business practice' orientated and may have been as a result of business advice/coaching or study etc.

If someone has a business mentor then they will examine management and how to deal with situations which may 'eat' into your working day etc.

The thing is, whilst this maybe good 'business practice', it can appear uncharitable and confusing. OTOH, I can be hard on some teachers who finish a 3/4 hour class and then spend another hour answering questions and posing for photos... should we build this time in when hosting guest teachers if this a much needed aspect?

I did wonder whether this was wide spread and from a few answers here, it seems not?

I don't think it has been an issue in the workshops I've been to so far - the instructors are often available for questions, and signing of CDs, and stelling stuff and taking photos. And I think that it would be a nice gesture from the instructor to spend a little extra... Of course, if someone wants to get personal assesment or discuss some issues at length, you will have to draw the line.

Maybe it is a bit off topic, but... workshop instructors are often under a lot of time pressure. Every bit of small talk and every photo eats up the time you could spend freshening up/having lunch/preparing for the next workshop/getting ready for the show... Which will eventually damage the "service" you were really paid for.

Originally Posted by caroline_afifi

From what i was told, it was a case of the teacher 'switching off' when the class was over.

I have experienced this myself, a friendly chatting teaching suddenly becoming abrupt and introspective when the class was over.

It seems to me that this approach is a 'good business practice' orientated and may have been as a result of business advice/coaching or study etc.

If someone has a business mentor then they will examine management and how to deal with situations which may 'eat' into your working day etc.

The thing is, whilst this maybe good 'business practice', it can appear uncharitable and confusing. OTOH, I can be hard on some teachers who finish a 3/4 hour class and then spend another hour answering questions and posing for photos... should we build this time in when hosting guest teachers if this a much needed aspect?

I did wonder whether this was wide spread and from a few answers here, it seems not?

I would think it depends on the room and class situation. If it's a workshop that that instructor alone is giving, and the room is available, then staying to chat a bit is fine (for a reasonable length of time -- if you're starting to cut into their dinner time or make them late for another appointment, or just use an hour more of their time ! that's not reasonable).

In every single academic guest lecture I've attended, the visiting scholar is happy to answer questions after their talk even beyond the scheduled question period. Sometimes the room is needed for a class or something afterward, and the conversation is moved to the hallway or elsewhere, but they're still willing to continue conversations, swap contact info, etc.

In a multi-teacher workshop where teacher A is holding up teacher B by staying in the same room for chatting/photos/autographs, etc. then that again seems unreasonable. But just 'switching off' as soon as the bell rings, that seems unnecessarily rude.

Originally Posted by Teophania

I would think it depends on the room and class situation. If it's a workshop that that instructor alone is giving, and the room is available, then staying to chat a bit is fine (for a reasonable length of time -- if you're starting to cut into their dinner time or make them late for another appointment, or just use an hour more of their time ! that's not reasonable).

In every single academic guest lecture I've attended, the visiting scholar is happy to answer questions after their talk even beyond the scheduled question period. Sometimes the room is needed for a class or something afterward, and the conversation is moved to the hallway or elsewhere, but they're still willing to continue conversations, swap contact info, etc.

In a multi-teacher workshop where teacher A is holding up teacher B by staying in the same room for chatting/photos/autographs, etc. then that again seems unreasonable. But just 'switching off' as soon as the bell rings, that seems unnecessarily rude.

Yes, being a teacher myself In know there are often many issues with regards to time at the end of a workshop.
Sometimes I barely get one my dance clothes off and I am answering questions half naked.
This sort of situation could go on for some time if it was not for needing to exit the room.
I dont mind talking to people at the end of class..it's not a problem but I guess teir needs to be a cut off point. I would not think of charging for this.
I guess the question for me was more about being curious to this sort of practice. I was wondering how business orientated some aspects the dance scene were becoming.

It seems this was not common practice after all..

Originally Posted by *Shira*

In my 30 years of belly dancing and attending countless workshops, I have never seen this. So no, it's not common.

Although it's true that the teacher shouldn't be expected to stay "on the clock" once she has fulfilled the obligations of her contract, I think it's a good idea for teachers to consider the "customer service" aspect of their decision-making. Belly dancers are overwhelmingly female, and women tend to place a high priority on relationships. Spending an extra five minutes (if that's truly all that the question requires) to provide an answer will do a great deal to create a satisfied attendee who then encourages other sponsors to hire this teacher.

I´m very happy that my main teachers didn´t and doesn´t "switch off".
In case of video critique or coaching after workshop time,I understand that a fee may be in order...

Originally Posted by caroline_afifi

Yes, being a teacher myself In know there are often many issues with regards to time at the end of a workshop.
Sometimes I barely get one my dance clothes off and I am answering questions half naked.
This sort of situation could go on for some time if it was not for needing to exit the room.
I dont mind talking to people at the end of class..it's not a problem but I guess teir needs to be a cut off point. I would not think of charging for this.

Heh,in that case I would feel a little stalked too

I was so proud when Bozenka&Samantha Emanuel was here,both because *they* hanged out at the studio being approachable kind(and super cool&funny)women,they seemed genuinely happy with answering questions and just chatting friendly+ the *students* were very polite to them and content with having 1 group photo instead of 10 000 separate "me with famous teacher"-pics.