Thread: Workshops - rates for teaching?

I did a search for this, but didn't find much and don't recall I have read the answer before, sorry if this has been rehashed repeatedly:

What are rates one should ask for for teaching a 1 1/2 to 2-hour workshop? Is it common to go with a fixed rate, or a percentage? It would be my first attempts at getting my feet wet with that, so I have no idea about that. It would be in a local start-up coffeehouse, which is open towards hosting events like that. They would provide the location and handle the door, as well as advertise through their general channels. Additional advertising would be required to reach the dance community, though.

I suspect that the venue does not have the same expectations when it comes to pay a dance teacher as most Bhuzzers have, and they are just starting out - so I feel it is important to be informed and not screw up ;-)

What makes this a bit more difficult is that locally, rates for teachers can be fairly low, the community college pays $16 per class, and I heard about a low-qualified dancer teaching for free at a local restaurant - oy vey! The venue's event coordinator also has taught occassional dance classes, below the median rate in town.

I am very well-qualified for the topics I have in mind (several ATS workshops, zills), despite being new at workshoppering. And, hey, I am trained by Bhuz ;-)

In this situation, rather than asking for a per/hour fee, you might decide to split the revenues 70/30 (you/venue). That way, everyone makes something for this first (of hopefully many!) events.

Yes, that sounds like a good arrangement in this situation.
And make sure that they don't sell the workshop too cheap or you will be left with little money again.
It's better to have 10 students who pay a lot than 20 students who pay little...

And the pay depends a lot on the venue. A community college will never be the place to make big money for sure!

Normally, the rate per hour for a guest teacher is higher than for a teacher with a weekly class.

MEISSOUN

Hmm as a promoter I never do more than a 60/40 split (and indeed I've never been asked for more than that - even from top stars) If I did 70/30 it really wouldn't be worth my while. It takes an awful lot of hard work, planning and stress and anxiety hosting someone to do workshops.

depends what's included. we are doing a 70/30 spilt with one of our instructors, but she pays her expenses (hotel, travel) from her share...

I think a minimum fixed fee would be a better way to start out, the percentage split is something that can't really be monitored and can lead to bad feeling if the teacher thinks she's been done out of money.

If it turns out that the event is poorly attended, and you feel you want to help the promoter out, you could change things at that point (if you still wanted to).

top pros charge $250+ an hour for workshop instruction, sometimes with another $150+ tacked on to dance in an associated show.

for a very small scale local event, I think a minimum expectation of $75/hour is fair. you can offer a 70/30 split after expenses or $75 (or whatever)/hour, whichever is greater. if you don't ask for a minimum and they only get a couple students, you don't fairly get compensated for your time.

if you're the sponsor, do be sure to specify *after expenses* so you don't end up losing money! I also don't pay to take a workshop I'm hosting. worst case scenario, if after expenses I only break even, at least I haven't come out in the hole and I got to take a great class..

on the other side of the books, workshop fees should start at $15/hour - so a 2 hour workshop should cost at least $30. $17.50 is better, $20 is more so. $40 for a 2 hour workshop is still a good value. if you've got a 6 hour series, that can be a bit too spendy for your average consumer in your area and you'll probably want to bring it down.

Thanks all for the advice, it helped me very much in talking to the venue today. It was nice to go there with a bit of professional knowledge in my pocket.

It's a local coffeehouse that doesn't have much risk in working with me, and we agreed on a 75/25 split, with the understanding that I will encourage everybody to have their beverages (which is a no-brainer for me - their coffee is addictive) and actively promote the event in addition to the venue's advertising (which is a no-brainer, as well - I'm doing this for the fun anyways, and I love to have a full house of happy dancers).

So far so good. We also agreed on giving ourselves enough time to properly promote the event. I hope that everything continues this positively! Keep your fingers crossed.

I've agreed to host a workshop at my studio and have agreed to 70/30 split. I know the instructors (they are local - and very good at what they do).

But for another workshop that am hosting - (not bellydance, but bellydance related) the person instructing is pretty well known in their field and expects x amount per head (I'm adding a small amount onto this for my studio [$5 more for pre register, or $10 at door])

I am also looking to host one of the "known names" in bellydance come the fall
who requires a significant amount, plus hotel/airfare, and extra for a show
(if having one). I will most likely only break even on this event


So things can really vary from event to event...
I am fine w/ each of these situations, and my little studio will benefit greatly
(if not monitarily - at least promotion wise)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
I need to add
that the instructors on the 70/30 split are getting the 70% side of the deal...

I agree with Sunshine, I just wouldn't bother for a 70/30 split. As it is, I earn about 5 times less doing promoting work than my day job, and I spend about the same about of time (if not more time) doing the actual promoting work. I do it because I love it, but there are limits to my love :-)

There was a thread on tribe about this a while ago. I think it's important to try to be fair to everyone; the teacher of the workshop, the promoters/sponsors and the participants. Because of this each scenario may be different.
Steffi- in your case- there is no promoter/sponsor- so I think the split you worked out is fair. You are essentially paying rent to the venue in a percentage split.

Hm. Speaking as an organiser, I didn't like dealing with percentage splits, because it added more headache to my calculations. In the main, most of the teachers I hosted told me their fee, and I paid it. I also provided travel and accommodation. That was much easier for me than having to calculate a split and wonder whether it would work out worth it for either of us...

So when I'm teaching, I teach at a flat rate and have never asked for a percentage. My workshop rate is £50 per hour, which is in line with other workshop teachers in my area. I'll drop that to half for charities that I support, but generally that's my standard rate. I get paid less by my college for my regular weekly classes, but that's to be expected.

Originally Posted by elisagamal

top pros charge $250+ an hour for workshop instruction, sometimes with another $150+ tacked on to dance in an associated show.

for a very small scale local event, I think a minimum expectation of $75/hour is fair. you can offer a 70/30 split after expenses or $75 (or whatever)/hour, whichever is greater. if you don't ask for a minimum and they only get a couple students, you don't fairly get compensated for your time.

if you're the sponsor, do be sure to specify *after expenses* so you don't end up losing money! I also don't pay to take a workshop I'm hosting. worst case scenario, if after expenses I only break even, at least I haven't come out in the hole and I got to take a great class..

on the other side of the books, workshop fees should start at $15/hour - so a 2 hour workshop should cost at least $30. $17.50 is better, $20 is more so. $40 for a 2 hour workshop is still a good value. if you've got a 6 hour series, that can be a bit too spendy for your average consumer in your area and you'll probably want to bring it down.

All the very top pro's that I have spoken to charge two or three times that, and up. Some will not come without a full Orchestra with them too, and some want to bring their own orchestra, and you pay for travel, accomodation, meals for the band and the dancer.

I teach a lot of workshops, and I won't do split, I have a set hourly fee, with a minimum of 4 hr/day. This way you are protected in case you get a sponsor who doesn't advertise and ends up with low attendance, you will get your salary regardless. The splits just seem greedy to me, as a teacher I have to put in X amount of work to prepare, but it's nothing compared to the work a sponsor put in.
I feel it's important to make sure the sponsor makes some money as well, so if she sells out my workshop with 60 dancers, and only has to pay me $175-200 an hour, she is going o come out on top, which is what I want. I never want my sponsors to lose money, or feel that it was so much work with no benefit.