I own a studio and I am the only teacher at my studio. I give the opportunity to all my dancers to compete at competitions. As long as they have taken 2 years from me and I feel they are ready, they can go. I don't have a "competition team." My question: I have owned my studio for over 7 years and I have always eaten the cost of competition traveling. In other words, I have never charged the parents more then there competition entry fee. I worked a "day job" and never noticed that the traveling to competition to competition was financially expensive. This year will be different. My day job has changed to owning my own retail business and the paycheck is not there. By not having the pay check I don't have the funds to support my traveling. I tell all my students that they may choose as many competitions as they feel they would like to do, I will follow them. Some choose two, others that are die hards, choose 4-5. I had one mother tonight at class make the suggestion that I charge the parents a fee for my traveling for competition so that it covers my expenses. Here is my problems: I will not have the same amount of dancers at every competition. There may be times I will only have a soloist or two; while other times I may several soloist and duos, and groups going. How do I make the parents pay for the traveling and how do I make it more for some and less for others? How do explain the fees to parents? I already have parents complaining about monthly tuition, this may put them over the edge. I don't care if they leave, I care more about trying to explain it to them. I also feel a little odd, because my son competes as a duo as well and when I travel for his competitions I hate asking for parents to pay my way because I would be going anyway. Any suggestions would be great and thanks!!

I pay my own way. I do not add any extra fees to competition fees. I do add onto costumes and other things, but not competition fees.

We add an extra $2 onto each competition fee and keep it a set fee throughout the year. So for a group we say it is $32 when at some comps it may be $27 of $30 we still gain money. I would suggest having your extra competitions be local so that you dont have to travel for them.

The first thing I would do is establish the number of competitions you will be going to. Understandably some kids will want to go more than others, but make an agreement, of say 3 to be in the middle, and stick to that. It is too much hassle for you to go to a competition because you have 1 or 2 students that want to do their solo's, but the rest of them aren't going. As far as increasing the fee's, you can do it but in moderation. First of all, since you will be at the competition, parents may get upset if they are having to pay for you to be there since your son in there anyway. I can see that and it makes sense. Also keep in mind that some competitions post their entrance fee's and charges in their program, so parents have access to see it and if you are overcharging them on everything they will notice. I might suggest charging like $5 or $10 additional per child or family if you wish. This can be listed as "administrative fee's" which would be considerred coverring the cost of your time for the entrace paperwork, mailing and everything that you need to do to prepare to even go. This can also be used to cover the cost of your travel for the day.

We attend 3 regionals plus one nationls. Every other year nationals is out of state. Students pay $10 for the 1st number plus $5 for each additional # in competition. This is to cover the studio expenses such as mailing, taping music, hotel if needed plus I give the teacher a small stipend for her time if she attends the competition & warms up the group goes over spacing etc. The first 5 years & did not charge anything extra. I then added $2 per dancer per number, once other teachers were involved I started this policy & no one has complained. I know of one studio in my town that double the entry fees. However I do not feel right in doing this.

I sit down at the beginning of the year and figure out my expenses (hourly, insurance, travel and rent). Then when I see how much I am going to owe for the year, I figure out the fees from there. Do you charge for comp rehearsals or do you just take their class dances? If you are charging for rehearsals fees, I see no problem with bumping the price to cover your butt. I always say that if I can't be paid what I need to paid, I won't be able to live in this town. If I don't live in this town, they won't have this oppurtunity in the first place. On the other hand, I live in a very small town with no other dance teachers, and the closest comp studio is over an hour away.

I appreciate everyones point of view on this subject. Please keep your advice coming. I am taking it all in.

I wanted to add a few things. I am a small studio 18 kids, small town, and there is nothing around us for competitions, we have to travel a bit to all of them. I am also the closests studio as well. They are looking at a 30 min or so trip to get any kind of dancing.

I don't charge for practice rehersals because they are part of the actual classes. I do like the idea of adding a little extra to their entry fees or even the suggestion of adding $10 per number and $5 for any additional.

Thanks for your suggestions!!