This yr has been so bad, I can't believe how many times I've been asked this.

Parent: "Miss Triskit, can you give little suzie something to practice with at home?"

Triskit: "Didn't I already make a copy of the music for you?"

Parent: "Yes but there are parts of the dance she forgets when she's practicing at home."

Triskit: "I'm sorry, I don't know what else I can do"

Parent: "Well can I buy a DVD for her to practice with?"

Triskit: "ummm....I make up the dances on the spot in class, there is no dvd...."

Parent: "how about a youtube video?"

Triskit: "If you would like, you can come in the last 5 mins of class next week and record the dance for practicing at home"

Parent: "uuuhhh....you want me to record it? no you don't understand....I just want to buy the dvd"

Triskit: "I'm sorry there is no DVD.....like I said, I CHOREOGRAPH these routines IN CLASS." what I'm really thinking is - "stop wasting my time and get the f out of my classroom!"

We had another parent complain to the office staff when she asked for a copy of her kids music, we copy it for free if they bring in a blank disc otherwise we charge them $2. She flipped and said it was a rip off because there's not even a video with it. Ummm...if you don't want to pay $2 just bring in your own damn cd! What the heck!

What are these people expecting!?!

This is the effect of the "dumbing down" of society.

Everything is a rip-off and too much trouble for them to do themselves.

I had a mom one year that would wait for someone in the class to take it upon themselves to do something (buy the music, videotape the routine, alter their costume) and then ask them to do hers as well! Some people did it and others just got a good chuckle out of her "do-for-me-die-for-me" attitude for everything.

You just gotta laugh! It is our guilty pleasure as dance teachers to go home (or here) and share our sometimes unbelieveable stories and give everyone their smile for the day!

onlocation wrote:

Everything is a rip-off and too much trouble for them to do themselves.

If sex would be a rip-off too and also too much trouble to do themselves, we wouldn't have so many stupid parents to deal with.

Here is my personal theory on why all parents have become especially irritating, stupid, and disrespectful to the dance teachers and studio owners. You can agree with me or not, but this is honestly what I think...

The whole "the economy is so bad" thing is really getting to everyone's heads. Yes, it's terrible, it's been terrible for a while. They assume that because people are having money issues, that means they should complain about EVERYTHING POSSIBLE to try to get some sort of compensation out of it. I've been getting complaints about buying the shoes and not wanting to pay for it, I had a complaint from a mother about "paying for her 45 minutes of class so we shouldn't move the class up to 4:30 because her child can't make it that early" mean while, the kid is late EVERY week anyway so she's never getting the full "45 minutes she is paying for" anyway.

To be honest, when all of these parents are dropping their children off at the dance studio, carrying their louis vuitton, coach, dooney & burke etc purses, driving Cadillacs, Lincols, Acuras, BMWs and all of that jazz, I have zero pity about their "money issues" or their inability to "afford new tap shoes".

So, in conclusion, I believe parents are all using the bad economy (while they may not come out and actually SAY IT) to act like complete jerks and morons.

The End

^^AMEN!^^

lidwina wrote:


If sex would be a rip-off too and also too much trouble to do themselves, we wouldn't have so many stupid parents to deal with.

LOL!!!!!

I don't think it's the economy, I think it's been happening for the past few years and it is getting worse. Kids are disrespectful to their parents and it's allowed, I have kids being that way in class and if I say anything to anyone, "Oh, my daughter is sensitive, she thinks you don't like her, you're always picking on her". How about "your daughter is always talking in class and I always have to ask her to be quiet and pay attention". Parents always think we're trying to get more $ out of them somehow (if they only knew how much work was done for free). It used to be a couple of parents here and there, now no one is held responsible. Children can do what they want to do!!!!!!

I'm lucky this year, I have a lot of keen parents (with 3 & 4 year olds) who just need guidance. They are very interested in the welfare of their child. It is the disinterested ones that turn out to be stupid because they are too lazy or don't care enough to even seek out the information they need. I teach a lot of younger ages and I have parents who I don't even know because they don't even come into the building, or run in, grab their kid and leave...no hello or goodbye, no interest in how their kid is doing.

Ha ha ha ha.... love it, yes!!!

I invited two girls who are new, but quick learners and have the natural gift, to do a duet for nationals. Both moms were thrilled and accepted. I told them the entry fee is only $15 and we'll deal with costuming and props down the road. Well, we're down the road and I told them to pay their $75 each to cover costuming, props, and entry fees. One mom just stood there looking around and after 10 minutes of us standing there she said, "Oh, I thought it was only $15." WTF WOMAN???

Yes, parents are getting stupider and more oblivious to the arts and also discipline.

But as an aside, if you've got parents dumb enough to pay more money for a dvd from you that you can make for like 50 cents, then take some free time and make it! Self marketing is where the money is at man! (and it will shut them up)

Oh, I know parents have been acting like idiots for a long time now, but for some reason I feel like this year it has been severely magnified.

A lot of it also has to do with people thinking they are better than everyone else. All of a sudden a ton of the parents have a champagne taste with a beer income (so maybe I should pity them while they're driving around in cars they can't afford while carrying purses that probably caused them to not be able to properly feed their children for a few weeks). I just feel like all of a sudden parents are thinking everyone around them, that they pay, are servants to them one way or another.. does that make sense? They want everything done for them by anyone OTHER than themselves, spouses and children. And if it's not done the way they want it to, they'll b**** and moan about it, ask for a refund and then some, and then most likely ask you to do it AGAIN at some other time, pretending the fiasco never happened.

Honestly, I guarantee you if I started some "hair in a bun for $5.00" service, they'd pay me to do it...hmmmm

I just don't understand parents sometimes. They don't get that you have to deal with soo many students and their parents as well not just them!

I was calling a class today to remind them of the meeting time for an extra performance tomorrow and the mother asked, "when is it?" and I told her, "tomorrow." She snapped, "we're not going. Goodbye." and hung up!!!!


argggghhhhh the irriatation right now!!!!

Jeannie1 wrote:



Honestly, I guarantee you if I started some "hair in a bun for $5.00" service, they'd pay me to do it...hmmmm

Lol... A parent of mine this week came up to the desk all concerned about how we are requiring the ballet class to have their hair in a bun (which has been a requirement all year-but this time it has to be neat!) She said "I went to the my usual hairdresser and they are going to charge me $50. Does that sounds right to you? I hate to pay all that money when she needs to take it right down for her jazz dance."

So I would up your rate before you even get started!

And I also totally agree with you on the crying poverty front. It's a shield for their stupidity. I had a mother this week who's daughter is in 6th grade and going through puberty so she needs to wear a bra with her halter dress costume. All she owns are white sports bras. Her mom doesnt want to buy her a bra and the kid is crying because mom is complaining about her boobs in the middle of the lobby and her solution is to take extra green fabric from the dress and use it to cover up the sports bra. So when I say Uhh no, she will look different from everyone else and that simply won't work, she goes on and on about her lack of money and she's wildly waving around her airbrushed acrylic nails, trying to emphasize her point. Grrrr!!!

Jeannie1 wrote:

To be honest, when all of these parents are dropping their children off at the dance studio, carrying their louis vuitton, coach, dooney & burke etc purses, driving Cadillacs, Lincols, Acuras, BMWs and all of that jazz, I have zero pity about their "money issues" or their inability to "afford new tap shoes".

THIS GETS ME SO MAD! Parents walk in, a month behind on lessons, or expecting us to order tights and shoes without them paying before...

UGH. Frustrating.

DansnDiva2 wrote:

she goes on and on about her lack of money and she's wildly waving around her airbrushed acrylic nails, trying to emphasize her point.

That's another thing that drives me zonky...

When I was growing up, we didn't have a lot of money. But my mom made little sacrifices for me for dance, because it was one of the few things I did do that I really enjoyed. And I wasn't a brat in return. She knew that by putting me in this activity, there were going to be things I was going to need. It wasn't a half-in activity. All or nothing. So many parents now just don't see that. At all.

I just can't believe some parents. And people in general. I listen to our SO complain about having absolutely no money pay her rent or utility bills (while waving around her airbrushed, acrylic nails), playing with her $400 cell phone that costs $300 a month to use, adjusting her 23rd new Victoria's Secret bra, and showing people pictures of the new SUV she just had to have.

I guess I'll just never understand.

And also, we just printed up these papers for each of our classes with what costume pieces they need and how their hair and makeup is to be for competition this week. It's been said for the past month in class, but you wouldn't believe how parents are STILL making complaints. If you did NOT want your child to do these things for competition... WHY did you fight me so hard on putting them in a competition group?!

The one mother came in for the first time in over a month and a half, and read her daughter's paper. Their one costume piece needed to be rhinestoned. Which every other mother did during class time three weeks ago, as they were informed to do two weeks in advance. Including her. Well, she complained her's wasn't rhinestoned and asked if I could do it for her and she'd pick it up with her kid after class. I handed her the glue bottle, a bag of rhinestones, and someone's finished piece for reference. She stared at me with her jaw dropped. It was hilarious in one breath, and I wanted to slap her in the other.

DansnDiva2 wrote:

Lol... A parent of mine this week came up to the desk all concerned about how we are requiring the ballet class to have their hair in a bun (which has been a requirement all year-but this time it has to be neat!) She said "I went to the my usual hairdresser and they are going to charge me $50. Does that sounds right to you? I hate to pay all that money when she needs to take it right down for her jazz dance."

So I would up your rate before you even get started!

$49.99 it is!!!!

But seriously, when will these parents learn about the beauty of gel, bobby pins, and a good ol' hairnet?

Pony tail, twist, pin, cover. I suppose that is sort of like rocket science.

I could make a killing if I offered a bun service...wow! I'm seriously considering this...hahaha

Bun service is genius!! If only I had $5 for every time i told someone how to make a bun.... or apply eyeliner.

Some parents are helpful and wonderful, others are just disgruntled and miserable and nothing we do can ever make them happy.
I had 2 parents threaten this week to pull their kids out of the recital unless they were in the particular show time that was convenient for them. I simply said "the only one who would suffer in that situation, is your daughter who worked so hard all year." I refused to budge and they were first online to buy their tix. Some people just want to see how far they can push....

Triskit wrote:

lidwina wrote:


If sex would be a rip-off too and also too much trouble to do themselves, we wouldn't have so many stupid parents to deal with.

LOL!!!!!

I triple LOL that!!! LOL LOL LOL... and then some!!

No, it is the drive-thru, get your stuff in sixty seconds or less mentality. Everything is instant!!

Not only that but remember when we had to research, long and hard, for things? Now, just click on google and it is yours!!

No one has to or wants to think or work. Ok, not no one, dance teachers are exceptions (LOL) but really, that is how I see it.

I have one favorite answer that I have used, sometimes...

"Are you kidding or do you really mean that?"

We just had our annual recital this weekend and I observed many of the "stupid" parents first hand.

What do you mean little susie has to go to dress rehearsal? Can't I just bring her to the show with me?

3 veteran students, in the opening number no less, showed up for dress rehearsal 5 minutes after dress was supposed to start.

My personal favorite, 2 dancers couldn't participate in the show because they had to go to the airport to pick up their parents...they'd only known this for the last 6 WEEKS! We had to call them to find this out, after they missed their on stage rehearsal the day before the show.

This past weekend we were at a local competition that only our senior girls attended. There are 4 younger girls in the sr hip hop that were asked to be in the class this year. They were allowed to perform the dance at a previous competition in April and were also allowed to attend this one, even though the rest of their routines would not be going. One of the girls didn't pay her fees but promised she would so my SO paid them for her. She came to all the rehearsals and the mom even called last week to ask how much the fees were and said she would bring in the money. Last Thurs. we handed out the admission bracelets, but told the girl who hadn't paid that she would get hers if she brought her fees with her or dropped them off between then and the competition. So Sunday she didn't show up, didn't call, and finally 2 numbers before they were on, one of the chaperones got a hold of her and found out she wasn't coming. Apparently the mom decided she didn't want to pay the fees (which were really low compared to the other comp we had just been to) and so didn't let her daughter come. Never mind that it panicked the rest of the class (looking for her 2 numbers before) and they had to rework a partner part right before they went onstage. It was inconsiderate of the group to say the least. If we had known she wasn't going even a week before, then the group could have at least prepped knowing she wasn't going to be there.

Tappergurl... that is the reason why we have a deadline for fees, once not paid, they are automatically pulled from the dance, no exceptions. You might mention that to your SO as I fell for that only once, and never again.

Yeah, it's not something we're in the habit of doing, this comp just ended up being a last minute thing and we cut a few people some slack on it.

Yeah, I get it.

I was at competition recently with my studio and another studio there decided after the first day they didn't want to compete the second day because they felt they were not being scored high enough...these people got no refund and instead the SO made a big stink and teaches her students that its OK to quit like that. What parents are OK with this? I'm glad they don't attend my studio! I heard them in the bathroom and dressing areas all day the first day complaining about everything! ugh..."Sorry that you didn't get a platinum on your group honey-we just won't come back to do your solo tomorrow. Then you won't have to worry about getting a high gold."