I am glad to be reading this thread right now because I am on the opposite side of the fence of this issue- I am planning to open a studio about 25 miles from where I teach now- there are students who will want to come to me and would travel the 10 miles to my studio. I have a few people who are willing to give me the informations I need to mail my flyers to some of my former students. I figured that this was wrong- but if they are giving it to me and I am not taking it from the studio myself- it is a fine line- I am in a unique situation becaue the studio I work for changed hands this year and the new oweres are literally running it into the ground- they have already lost 50 students due to their lack of professionalism.... I don't feel any loyalty to them since they are new employers to me this year- I am very conflicted about this whole situation- I should let you all know that my pln to open a studio has nothing to do with them- I just feel that it is time for me to do something for myself and my family to make a better living and be my own boss.

any advice?