As a costume manufacturer I feel that I have to add my two cents.
How much you charge your students is completely up to you of course, and it varies from area to area.
HOWEVER...
I feel that you are entitled to a fair profit without gouging or being unfair to your students.
Think about what it takes to order costumes!
First of all, you receive dozens of catalogs and then (at night after you have spent the whole day working in your studio) you have to read
each of these catalogs and think about the costumes you might need. I cannot imagine how many hours this must take.
Now you have to spend time at the studio looking at all the classes and making a decision as to which costumes fit that particular class and
the music you have chosen.
When you finally decide which costumes you want, you have to now sell them to the parents, explaining why you like the costumes, how well they
will go with the dance and the music, etc.
Now you have to try and collect the money for the costumes; sending home letters, making phone calls etc.
Once you have done some of the above, you have to MEASURE all the students. This is a long, tiresome and frustrating experience and takes lot
of time and effort.
When all this is finally done, you have to send the orders in to the various companies which means more time spent filling out the order
forms, totaling the money and finally sending the orders in.
NOW.. Weeks later, you are probably on the phone with some of us asking WHEN WILL THE COSTUMES BE SHIPPED? THEY ARE DUE NOW AND I NEED THEM!
More hours that go unpaid.
FINALLY! The costumes arrive and now you have to sort them out, look at them to be sure they are the ones you ordered, possibly steam some of
the costumes and finally start handing them out.
HOPEFULLY they look great and they all fit and the students and the parents are happy, which means you are happy.
What I am trying to point out is the amount of extra work that dance teachers do besides the difficult but rewarding job of teaching day
and night in your studios.
I personally believe that you are entitled to a fair profit for all this extra work and you should accept that profit gladly, and with no
apologies. The dance teacher is one of the hardest working people in the community. You spend day and night teaching and training all these students and
spend more time with them than most of their parents.
You certainly have earned anything you get and I congratulate you for it.
Sincerely,
Art Stone
ART STONE/THE COMPETITOR ®
Column Sponsored by Art and Nancy Stone
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