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I’m struggling with last-minute cancellations – what should my policy be? (All Teachers)
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Great points Matthew. Bang on about increased innovation. My system, prices and policy is in correlation to the new ideas I’m putting forward all the time (at least I hope it is!)
@Sally – I have to say, if there’s competition in Brighton for teachers, I wouldn’t have thought a 1 week cancellation policy would encourage students to pick you over someone else! While I completely agree that you have to value yourself and others have to respect the business, this would completely put me off booking if I was the client. At the same time, you know your worth and I’m sure you’re better than all the others!! Good for you for being strict..! However, I would say YES make sure students realise this is your income, but it’s still a services business, which, whether we like it or not, IS something that has to be at least a little flexible.. it’s just finding the line, isn’t it!
Having said that Sally, you’ve actually given me an idea! So as I’ve mentioned before, this is what I have in place: Cash in hand for the first lesson, then block monthly payments in advance, with 48 hours’ cancellation policy for any lesson. But maybe I should do a 1 week notice cancellation policy for those that don’t want to refresh the block?
Thoughts?
Also, let’s elaborate more on putting ourselves in the student’s shoes, as Matthew suggests. I actually book lessons for myself with a vocal coach now and then. It’s funny – I am actually a total hypocrite, as I haven’t committed to a singing teacher before… but that’s because they haven’t minded me seeing them flexibly (quite bizarre that I’m using their skills to better myself and my teaching and with a better system in place than they have..!) but if they told me they had a policy that was the same as mine, I would totally respect this and be more than happy to pay for a month upfront because I know I would probably get a decent amount done in that time and it would probably be more beneficial than random lessons anyway! Then I would decide whether to do another month thereafter.
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Great advices and ideas here guys.The matter of cancellation is always a difficult one and every student seems to have their own ideas but 48 cancellation I find is a must and always give me a good result Thank you all.:)
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I’ve just found this while researching different lesson policies… what are your thoughts?
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Hi guys
Another thing I have run into with cancellations that I just want to check out.
A lady who has a lesson with me tonight cancelled this morning because she has the flu.
I have a policy of if you cancel less than 48 hours in advance then I still charge for the lesson, which I see is pretty standard.
However, she is kicking up a fuss because it is the flu and out of her control, which I understand, but i’ve always been in the view that it is not in my control either but I’m committed so turn down other lessons and things that people ask me to do.
I have had this issue before and almost even lost a student because of it.
So I just want to know if you guys charge for cancellations even if it is because of illness or if I am being unfair?
Thanks,
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Wes – that’s a really good point and one that comes up for me a lot. I’ve got quite a loose view on the cancellation policies – I’ll often let students off if they’re ill, especially if they kick up a fuss. You’ve got to take the long view – is charging this student now going to cost me in the future?
Because, yes, they’re nominally wasting your time (though you can usually spend it productively, hacking away at the admin mountain) but the real goal is about maximising the student’s value. You don’t want to alienate a student who might come for 10, 15, or even 20 more lessons – which is an astounding amount of time (and money) that they’re investing in you.
So I don’t know – maybe looseness is better?
EDIT: Having quickly scanned the forum above – I’ve noticed that this opinion is quite rare among us! Maybe I’m too soft-hearted. Must watch more Game Of Thrones.
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