No Surprises

No Surprises

When I first started teaching I made a handbook that had the calendar, prices of classes and costumes, recital and rehearsal dates and make up info. When parents would question me about anything I’d say “I think that is in your handbook”. Sometimes they would say things like “Oh, I threw that out.” YIKES!!!

Some of the problems/parents never change and they are the parents who want to argue about their bill, the make-up time, the snow policy, the break at Christmas, the rehearsals for the show, the price of the costume, how much the shoes cost, WHY do they have to wear pink tights, (she has some really nice striped ones that are new), she has to have another pair of pointe shoes?, the hair bun, (I don’t know how to make a bun), and the ever popular: we forgot her shoes, leotard, hair clips, pony tail holder, scrunchie, dance bag, etc today.

You should have a ‘studio policy’ on your web site or in a handbook that you print and hand out, or email that says what you will do about all that stuff. Just put it out there, up front so the parents know what they are signing up for at the beginning of the dance year. All the prices of the classes, the costumes, the recital tickets, the cost of the shoes, leotard, tights, dance bag (if you sell them at your studio), the make-up times (when the dancers can come and ‘make up’ the class they missed). The date and times for all the rehearsals, the show time (when they will need to be there not the actual time that the show will start), the no jewelry policy for the show, and anything else you want them to do or not do. If you require that they pay by withdrawal from their checking account or with a monthly charge on a credit card, put it all in writing. Don’t wait until November to tell them what the costumes will cost. You know pretty much what the cost will be so just decide on a price and then get a costume in that price range. At least they know up front what all the charges will be for the entire dance year.

One the great things about having everything up front is when parents are ‘dialing for dance studio info’ (calling all the names in the computer under dance studios) is you can tell them the prices of your costumes, tickets, classes, shoes, etc. right on the phone. When the call the next studio and the owner or office manages says they don’t know the cost of the costumes yet it seems like they aren’t as organized as you are and might seem like they are hiding something. They know what is expected at your studio when they sign up so there are no surprises.

Remember: There is no crying in dancing school.