In this tough economy, has anybody noticed that it's harder this year to collect costume & recital fees?

And a related question - Which is better, book an order early to get the biggest discount (and collect the money later), or wait until all the money is in hand (and get a smaller discount)?

Just curious to see what everyone's response is. Thanks!!!

You will get so many different views on this. Some will say don't order it until its paid in full, others will say order them to save the money, but if you do that then you are stuck wiht it if they don't pay. I would suggest doing costume deposits. If your average costume cost is $65, collect say $35 or $40 per costume before you order them, and the remainder is due upon delivery. No deposit means you don't order the costume and there is a chance they can't dance in recital. If they pay the deposit and then don't pay the balance, at least your only stuck with half the cost rather than all of it.

Also - make the costume deposit NON-REFUNDABLE. In BIG BOLD TYPE, and stick to it. That way, if they quit after you've ordered it, they can't ask for their money back. Plus, I would make the deposit a little higher. With the previous example, if costumes average $65 for you, then charge a $45 or $50 deposit. If the vested interest is higher, they'll stay. And, what might have been difficult to come up with early in the year....will leave a nicer bill later - wouldn't it be nice to only have a $15 balance to cover??

When I stopped taking deposits and asked for the costume fee in full I never ever had another problem. When I decided a costume that's when they got the bill. They got 2 weeks to pay it. No costumes were ordered without payment.

In your liability disclaimer which they have to sign add that they understand and agree to abide by the Costume Policy. Put the Costume Policy in your brochure and in the disclaimer. If they sign and don't read - tough. It's legal and binding. I'd do this whether they pay a deposit or in full.

Our costume deposits are non-refundable, and we also have a clause in our handbook saying that if you quit, you lose your costume.

Something I've had to do starting this year (because I'm in various rooms, and I'm the only one at the studio that seems to know) is post on the wall how much everyone owes for competition fees, costumes, etc. I finally got so aggrevated at the families that I know personally are wealthier families that haven't paid, that I went to Wal-Mart and bought neon index cards and wrote the mom's name and how much she owed. That has been the best thing because there are moms that appreciate how easy it is to know what they owe and others that get so embarrassed that they are a month behind that they pay me what they owe me on the spot and go take their card down.

I've never ordered without full payment. Too risky. If they know they have to pay, 99.9% will comply.

At my studio we include the costume and recital fee in the tuition. So that way I have the money in September and can order costumes in Dec. It is so much easier this way.

This has been such a tough issue, it has been like pulling teeth to get the families to pay. What I find so upsetting is that we have fundraisers that are optional for anyone, the money can go to pay for your costumes, recital fee and competition fees.

These families turn there nose up to the fundraisers packets offered to them, but then they say the can't pay the deposits for the costumes. Are you kidding me?

I have been a stickler this year no costume deposit to no costume, no recital, Period!!

If there is a balance on costumes and recital fees your dancer cannot dance. They can attend class but not dance, it really has made a huge difference.

We know many are struggling but it's not fair for these families to say please order this fancy costume, let's attend 3 comps and etc. But not pay and think it's okay we all need to take a stand on this. Regardless of the relationship with these families, they need to pay their bills. Or at least try to do the fundraisers offered or offer some assistance at the studio.

Thanks to everyone for your replies and helpful suggestions.

We have 1/2 costume deposit in October and balance due by December 15th. This is the same every year, they are told at registration, so they know what to expect. They are also told the price or estimated price. I have my teachers pick out their costumes and music over Thanksgiving break and I order and pay in full all the costumes during Christmas break. Costumes are non-refundable. If they quit, they can keep their costume(they paid for it). You get a good discount if you pay in full. We receive lots and lots of costumes books but I go through them and narrow them down to about 4 or 5 to order from. That way, the more you order from one costume company, the bigger the discount!

We have had a lot of problems with non-payment in the past and decided to crack down on it this year. We required that a $30 deposit per costume be paid by a particular date and stuck to it. We did not order costumes for anyone who had not paid on time. We ordered early to get the bigger discount and are in the process of collecting balances. We never give anyone costumes before we have received full payment, but always end up with a few costumes we have to swallow the cost of.
We are talking about requiring the deposit earlier next year and having everything paid off before the holidays. We will see how well that works out!

Sometime in November - we provide a costume total for each student. We require a 50% deposit by the last lesson in December and then order - Usually recieve before the end of Feb. in time for pictures. However, the remaining balance is due the 2nd week in Feb. and must be paid before cotume is given to student.