Job Discussion Forums

Nmarie · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Posts: 85 Location: Paris

Does anyone else loathe doing them??

Perhaps I've just had rotten luck, but they are incredibly inconsistent. I've experienced the following tendencies:

- They book regularly for a few weeks and then completely disappear, or

- They are regular for awhile, disappear, and then come back (with a repeated pattern of this), or

- They are consistently...inconsistent! This week yes, the next two weeks no, back again, etc...

I have one woman who used to be fairly regular, 1.5 hours per week. Lately, she has been attempting to divide this same 1.5 hrs into 2-3 telephone sessions per (inconsistent) week. Nooo!

I am tempted to refrain from giving any further private lessons -- They hardly seem worthwhile. Any feedback on this?

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Unfortunately, typical. And not just in France.

mdk · Joined: 09 Jun 2007 Posts: 425

Hmm, how are you arranging reimbursement? I have heard the best course is to collect a month in advance with 24 hour notice needed for a cancellation if they want credit.

What do you think?

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Sure, that's a good approach. But few potential students are going to take such a chance on YOU, unless you've been around long enough to build up some serious local reputability.

Nmarie · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Posts: 85 Location: Paris

Mdk,

You make a valid point. I will do this if I decide to take on new clients (Not sure how to broach this with the ones I've had for awhile now!). I have been reluctant to enforce such an arrangement, fearing it may cause strain and pressure on both sides. I just assumed that if people were serious about learning they would adhere to a regular schedule. I see now that I have to either change my outlook or refrain from privates altogether.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Nmarie, I wasn't actually posting that for you. Sorry to hijack your thread!

I believe from your history of posting that you're based relatively long-term and you probably have the local reputability. I agree that Mdk's advice would likely work for you.

I was actually referring to something off-topic, which is that Mdk, if I recall, is a person who plans to bounce around quite a bit, counting on privates all the time. I may be mistaken about this! But in the case that it's true, my message was that, if you're going to be somewhere just a year or less, relying on private students probably won't work in terms of providing a regular income.

I've found over the years that private students tend to work in cycles best, like for three months at a time, then away, and then back. You might try setting up such a schedule, maybe even with something specific in terms of an agreed curriculum, and give a little price break if the student attends all (or some reasonable percentage) of the lessons.