Correction,



Tell me more.

I'm interested.

Your teacher must be getting paid somehow. Do you buy drinks at the Clubs, etc.?

I might be in LA soon and would like to come to these clubs (only I'm an older man, 56, LOL!).

OB

Yes man!
These night clubs pay the teachers in the same way they pay the music bands.
They do this to attract people to their clubs. They make money by selling drinks, food, etc.
But there is no obligation to drink or eat anything.

Operabob. I believe you wrote that your club doesn't have a permanent home. Have you aproached your local authority to see if there is a Heritage building that you can use and take care of. This is fairly common in Europe where the Amateurs are the club and the teacher is an employee.I would create an image that you are helping the community of all ages. Then hit them with , are you willing to help. This can be a good vote catcher at election time especially if you can show a 1000 membership. Thats a lot of votes. That can be trippled with parents or other relations.
I am told that in Germany the clubs are in charge and teach competition dancers. They never teach Social dancing. The Social teachers never teach competition. There is a hands off understanding between them.I can see that any government is not going to donate a building to a Professional. But an Amatuer group that's different. Just some food for thought. good luck with your club.

What would you say to someone who has spent $1,500 on a showcase number only to experience the instructor forgetting several steps throughout the performance?

I'd say you need to find a new teacher who doesn't buckle under the pressure and ask that you be refunded some of your money or be compensated by way of some free instructional time to make up for the irreparable damages to both your enjoyment and integrity.

Not all teachers are evil devils out for money - I get paid for the quality my students put out, not quantity. The better my students understand the working knowledge that I have passed on to them and continue to demonstrate that through regular progress checks and occasional competitions or showcases, the more I am compensated both monetarily and emotionally.

You have a right to secure your enjoyment through dance, no doubt about it. But the instructors also have a right to protect our passion for what we do.

It happens sometimes. The more important issue is - how well did the couple recover? That's the true test.

Arthur Murray is a world chain. The dance world is ALL about the $. If you want to have the best training, you are going to have to pay. Even dance dresses, shoes, accessories, everything for dancing is expensive. All I have to say is, if dancing isn't what you really want to do, find something else! The only reason why I am at Arthur Murray is because I want to become a Professional dancer. Plus, it's a great outing. You know...they have the parties and our studio has student night out. All the students at our studio and two of the other local Arthur Murrays, go out. I really think that dancing isn't that important to you. If it was you would suck it up and get over it. I am not trying to be mean, but it's the dead truth. In the dance world most people don't get a good glimpse of reality. So this is your dose from me.

"What would you say to someone who has spent $1,500 on a showcase number only to experience the instructor forgetting several steps throughout the performance?"

I'd say don't spend that much money on the expectation of performance inconsistent with human nature.

If the experience of preparing for the showcase was worth $1500, then it was a good buy. If it wasn't, then it was a bad buy.

If there's a business foul here, it's not in the very understandable error, but in the marketing of the actual performance as a discrete goal, rather than in selling a good learning opportunity with more enduring rewards.

anymouse is being too nice.

I'd say that if you are stupid enough to spend $1500 on a showcase performance with your instructor then you pretty much got what you deserve.

How many lessons could you have purchased from an ethical instructor with that money? They're out there but you have to make the effort to find them.

jj

I'm just reading this now after getting into the AM system for already 10 months. I wish I had read this sooner to gain persepctive and save myself some money before I went in knee deep. But after my first lesson with the studio I feel in love with the atmosphere that it provided and the love of ballroom that I gained day after day.

I started to analyze what I was paying and went to every group class that they offered and it helped me move up in levels..but everyone is different. I've been dancing since I was little and I'm not saying Im a good dancer but you know your abilities. Also, everyone loves to hear they are good at something, you should just be honest with you teacher..if you hear a sales pitch be strong enough to tell them straight up...they probably don't hear that often but it's good to get them back into reality too..just be strong and don't give in all the time

I agree that if you love dancing...you would dance regardless and if the studio that you're in isn't for you then leave...just make sure you keep on dancing

I'm not going to bad mouth AM cause it's open the doors for me in so manyy ways that I never knew possible, and I learned alot about myself and the art of ballroom...it's hard to suck up the cost at times with the cost of living rising but my passion for dance is what keeps me there and the friendships that I've gained.

I've grown fond of my instructor and I can see how people get caught up in some of the BS that some instructors give and feed off your fantasies..just try to be strong..it's hard when you grow an attachment and you can't to close but remind yourself that its their job and if you do care for them and what they have done for you then you wouldn't mind paying for that cost.

it's sad to hear that there isn't many good AM studios out there but in northern CA there are a few and I'm happy I stepped foot into mine...