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Re: Arthur Murray Tactics
Posted by terence2
8/4/2007  3:16:00 AM
I am not employed by any chain school at this moment in time-- however -- the usual sweep with a large brush, paints everything in sight .

It would be unequvically incorrect , to make blanket statement about ANY chain of businesses, by the practices of one franchised unit .

Of course there are schools that are below par, that is far from the cry of all.
I , personally have taught and coached over many yrs, numerous A / M and Freds schools in the states .

The quality of the instruction does vary, thats a given. That can also occur in independant operations ( know many where that is the case ).

This topic seems to re appear with " newer " students, who have discovered alternate institutions for learning .

Yes, price, the main bone of contention-- is very often less ( not always ).

One should realise , the reasons many people attend the chain school, is as much for the social aspect, as it is for the lesson .
Re: Arthur Murray Tactics
Posted by Guest 1
8/8/2007  3:59:00 PM
terence2, I know you want to make your point of view as unbias as it can be, but you are a coach for them and you have an interest in them. I agree that you cannot make a blanket statement by the practices of one franchise unit, but if you have a mass of people complaining about about each individual units, that speaks volume about the franchise that those individual units make up don't you think?
Re: Arthur Murray Tactics
Posted by terence2
8/12/2007  10:18:00 AM
Actually, i havent worked for any franchise since 2002.

One can only speak of ones experiences.
As i said , there are good and bad operations, in all franchised establishments.
There are close to 7/800 franchise schools world wide . IF every one was as bad as people seem to think-- how come they have , and do , exist , as long as they have ?

its always the bad ones, that get the press. ! ( and deservedly so )

I have known some pretty bad independant operations-- they seldom seem to get a mention .( you are aware of the recent Hong Kong debacle ? )
Re: Arthur Murray Tactics
Posted by denverite
8/12/2007  11:15:00 AM
Not to mention the independent tango teacher here in Denver that was fondling all of his students and went to jail.
Re: Arthur Murray Tactics
Posted by show83
8/8/2007  4:59:00 PM
Arthur Murray has a reputation for being sales-driven, while not provide a quality product. In the dance community, AM is seen as a joke.

Arthur Murray is known for hiring people with little or no dance background, training them for 2-4 weeks and then those are the instructors that you pay ridiculous amounts of money to take lessons from.

That's why everything in AM is inclusive. They try to keep their students sheltered from the "outside dance world." That's why they have their own competitions. Most (not all) Arthur Murray dancers have lots of variations, but lack any technique.

If you're serious about your dancing, stay away from AM. If you want to save money, stay away from AM. If you want to get quality instruction from a legitimate coach, stay away from AM.

Get the point?
Re: Arthur Murray Tactics
Posted by great19
8/9/2007  1:02:00 AM
Sorry show83, you obviously have no clue what you are talking about.I have been to independents, Fred Astaire, and AM. And much like many of my AM fellows, I always returned. There is a reason AM is the largest dance studio in the WORLD. They have their own competitions so that there are more opportunities and because people like you, filled with nothing but brimstone, are ruin the occasions. So grow up and tell the good things and don't bash things you obviously have no clue about.
Re: Arthur Murray Tactics
Posted by show83
8/9/2007  4:47:00 PM
Great19, I'm not an instructor so I have nothing to gain financially from bashing AM. I'm telling you how the dance community in general views AM. AM instructors are viewed as the used-car salesmen of the dance industry.

I used to have several friends that were instructors at AM. So I'm getting my information from inside sources. Every one of them quit because it's sales driven and not service-driven.

I've also known dozens of people who started from AM and left once they realized what a scam it was. (Including my current dance partner)

I don't think any studio has the right to tell a student what they can and can't learn. If the student is paying for the commodity, the student should be able to determine what they want to learn. Any instructor that genuinely cares about their students needs will allow them to choose what direction they want to take their dancing. (Including what classes, dances and patterns they want to learn.)

IMO, the ONLY thing AM provides is their own little fraternity. But, is that worth the ludicsrous amounts of money people pay? Personally, I don't think so.
Re: Arthur Murray Tactics
Posted by great19
8/10/2007  4:28:00 AM
I'm sorry your friends had bad experiences, could it be they went to the same studio? My teachers may not have tons of trophies, but they have them. They have always been "Teachers" first and "competitors" second. They always pushed my technique and have never taught me steps I wasn't ready for...even if I begged. I have never felt pressured to buy. And being college educated I understand why commitment is crucial to education. The problem with the "dancing community" is that MOST people just want to have fun. The people on this website do not represent the majority of the dancing community. Lastly, it is all about the experience. If you enjoy your instructors, the people, you learn, and you get better...that's really all there is.
Re: Arthur Murray Tactics
Posted by rhythm4ever
8/10/2007  5:41:00 AM
to show83,
I am impressed to know that you have been to the inside workings of every am studio worldwide, and know everything about every one of them, considering that there are well over 200 of them. You must be really busy!!!!
I was not going to post because I feel like that is in a sense fueling the fire for bashing, but you have obviously NEVER been to the AM studio where I have worked (by the way, I have been doing ballroom for the last 12 years, since I was young) and I am highly qualified to teach and have trained (and still do) with the best of the best. I am going to ask you nicely not to make blanket statements about AM. I have had students that were with us for years, but then went through nasty divorces or lost thier job for whatever reason and could no longer afford lessons. Do you know what we did? We let them have a free lesson every week until they were back on thier feet again, and everyone is welcome to our studio no matterif they can afford lessons at the moment or not. Do you know why? Because WE LOVE OUR STUDENTS. And we really do. They are not just lessons to us, they are our family and we love to see them in our studio everynight. If you would like to visit us at our location please feel free to contact me and I can get you directions so that you can see what it is REALLY like at our AM studio instead of bashing us when you do not even know us or what we are about.
Re: Arthur Murray Tactics
Posted by ConnerBallroomDance
8/13/2007  8:55:00 PM
Show 83 is right on! AM is full of teachers that are barely one step ahead of the students they charge those ridiculous rates to LOL. I am a 5 time US Champion and have taught for Fred Astaire Studios, Murrays and Independents heck i have owned 2 schools. A.M. is getting the money because people are naive...it's as simple as that.
There are a few legitimate teachers in their organizations, generally one per studio(usually the owner haha) but face it people will pay, so they will ask. Show 83 is RIGHT ON especially about the competitions! They don't want you to see the Dancesport Competitions because Murrays teachers would get embarrased bigtime. I charge $70 per hour as an independent and as i said am a Pro champion. I get calls ALL the time from people disenchanted with AM. When i tell them i charge $700 for 10 lessons they sign up and are elated! I taught a student who had been taking lessons with AM's best for 3 years...She had NO technique and was supposed to be Silver level and couldn't dance worth a dime. She saw the student i was teaching right before her and said WOW how long has she been taking? She's really good. I said (NO JOKING HERE) this is her 3rd lesson!!! She was like i wasted my money didn't i? I said past is past let's REALLY learn how to dance.

David Conner www.connerballroomdance.com

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