Ok..here we go. So my dance school post our costume pictures every year at least 1-2 weeks prior to when payment is due. It has been three weeks and I was informed by my office manager that there was a group of parents from a particular class making comments on how unhappy they were with the costume choice. one parent said that her daughter won't wear it because its not pink.....one parent basically threw a fit and came up to our office manager and demanded to know who picked out the costume because she did not like it. My office manager simply stated I'm sorry you don't like it but we can't please everyone and it is the directors/instructors final approval as it has alot to do with choreography and song etc. THe parent didn't leave their name but I know who it is. I was going to contact her to let her know that it is our decision and if shes that unhappy with it that she doesn't have to participate in the recital. But than I decided not to since she didn't leave a contact name etc. It just gets my blood boiling...because its been up from 3 weeks and she paid for it????
I was completely bothered with this and we have dealt with it before in the past. However I feel like it is one person stirring up the trouble. The costume is from revolution dance wear and is a yellow tu-tu style...the instructor is having them dance to "you are my sunshine". Perfect match:)I guess I just needed to vent about it. I'm sure many of you may have dealt with similar situations....any advice or if you would like to share your stories I would love to hear. So I know I'm not alone...lol.
THanks!

All of revolutions costumes are adorable - and especially if its the yellow one I am thinking about off the head that woman is crazy. Maybe in the world that revolves around her the sun is pink?
I'm having these issues right now as well - I have a group being animals in our christmas show and trying to save the parents money I bought cute little animal vests and hats for only 13.00$ they could wear over their leotards. So one parent is unhappy that they aren't fancy enough. Sends me a picture of one she wants to make her child and says how about I just make her this instead. I wanted to send back - sure that would be great - but you'll have to make 12 others as well for all the other students in class, and I'm sure they won't be interested in paying you for them.
Don't you just love parents?

Don't contact any parent. They needed a vent, but obviously not a reply or they would have left a message for that.
Try to get this out of your system.

One day one of my teachers came to me, another teacher (outside our studio) said to her: "You better tell your SO to be careful with what she writes in her column" (I had a column in a dance magazine, venting a lot about how people don't appreciate us enough).
I was mad that she bothered my teacher with that! If she had something to say about me, she had to say it in my face. We were in the same building for 3 days! And I could have told her that I mostly got positive responses to my column ("Finally someone is saying out loud what is happening in our world").

These mothers did not have the guts to address to you personally. They bothered someone who has nothing to do with costume choices. If they would have talked to you personally, you could have told them: "Your child understands why the costume isn't pink and has no problem with that. And Your child adores this costume, it's appropriate and will be worn by the rest of the kids. Why waste your energy on something your child likes?"
But they didn't wanted to hear that. They just wanted to vent.

Ha! The "my daughter won't wear it because it's not pink" comment is great! Ridiculous much? So just because of the one kid, the whole class MUST wear pink... delusional. Is it the yellow costume with the rainbow-ish trim and sunflower? We're using that for "Sing a Song" by the Carpenters and the parents LOVE it! I can't believe there's objection! It's not like it's risque or anything and it totally goes with You are My Sunshine, couldn't have thought of a more perfect costume. Anyway, if the parent didn't leave a name and already paid for it, I would just ignore it and count it as trying to stir up trouble.

She vented-you vented and ultimately youget your way which is that they wear the costume you picked. Hands down you already won...

That costume is beautiful and there is no reason for you to worry at all about it. Some people are just "that way" and all you can do is smile and move on. I bet that costume will make the littler girl love yellow too!

Ah, if parent's would only respect our opinion and experience... As dance teachers, we know (or should know) what will show well on stage, what will match with the dance/song/choreography, and what will look good on our dancers. If your choice was risque or inappropriate, I would totally side with the parent. however, this costume is adorable and perfect with the song.

she paid for it, if she really hated it that much, she wouldn't have. i really do want to tell parents like this that they can have fun explaining to their children why all the other girls get to wear a pretty costume and they don't =) of course i wouldn't, i kill them with kindness, but oh the joy that would bring me!

There is no possible way to please everyone with costumes (or anything, for that matter.) No matter what you pick, someone won't like it; if you pick something Miss Venter likes, I guarantee someone else won't. Those who don't like the costume for their class are certainly entitled to their opinion. But that's the costume, so they'll have to decide whether the dancing or the outfit is more important.

Thanks everyone for the replies. Feels good to know that we all have the same issues. LOL! I just feel that parents feel they can put down costumes, songs etc becasue they are "paying" for it. But I remind them that this is how we run our studio and your well aware of the policies and guidelines and if you don't like it you have the choice to not do it. ..... right ??

Thanks again- I love this forum!

Dear Mrs. Ihavea Brattydaughter,
we certainly appreciate you yet again doing what I am sure is your very best to help us through the difficult task of costume choices. We are so lucky to have you since we have no experience in this field... It's hard to know what you are doing and what is the right choice when you've had only decades of experience instead of your long list of qualifications as a professional shopper and they primary husband money spender of your home. But thank you for fitting us into your extremely busy schedule between hair and the gym and picking up Patty Pinksalot from preschool at Primary Pink Preschool. And please, for all your trouble, please don't worry about paying us for classes or costumes or the shipping to send back all the yellow costumes for the precious pink ones Patty picked out, or the restocking fee or the shipping of the new costumes. We of course, are in no
need of money, that is why we do this for free!
Thank you again for all of your help Mrs. Brattydaughter.
Your incompetent dance teacher.

we never show any costume pics! they just know they have to pay a $30 costume deposit by Nov. 1st and then in the spring i pick one girl from each class to "model" it for the mom's at the end of class, with the proper tights, makeup, hair, etc. the pictures are never as nice as the actual costume. i've never had any complaints!

Dear danceequalslife,
Your letter rocks! I would like to send it to every parent who has ever aggravated me but then I could no longer teach their children!
Love,
J1LL

dancequalslife wrote:

Dear Mrs. Ihavea Brattydaughter,
we certainly appreciate you yet again doing what I am sure is your very best to help us through the difficult task of costume choices. We are so lucky to have you since we have no experience in this field... It's hard to know what you are doing and what is the right choice when you've had only decades of experience instead of your long list of qualifications as a professional shopper and they primary husband money spender of your home. But thank you for fitting us into your extremely busy schedule between hair and the gym and picking up Patty Pinksalot from preschool at Primary Pink Preschool. And please, for all your trouble, please don't worry about paying us for classes or costumes or the shipping to send back all the yellow costumes for the precious pink ones Patty picked out, or the restocking fee or the shipping of the new costumes. We of course, are in no
need of money, that is why we do this for free!
Thank you again for all of your help Mrs. Brattydaughter.
Your incompetent dance teacher.

LOVE IT!!!

I had a parent call a costume company to see if the costume came in another color!!! The costume company contacted me and gave me the name and number of my rude parent an told me if another parent called they would not do business with our studio! I was LIVID, needless to say I asked them to not return to the studio!