So Whats Your Proper Job? (All Teachers)

[Phil Schneider]

Anyone else been asked “So whats your proper job ?” I always give my 40 hours of opening times a week to clients and still people thinks its a side line or hobby. Which I do find a little insulting. I would not ask any other professional skilled worker this. Is it just the low value that teachers and muscians a combination which spells relatively low pay given the high skill levels required for both professions (brick layers are earning £1000 per week) are held in.

[Alan Richardson]

Great comment Phil. I get that one a lot. It really is insulting but I use it to point out that there are a lot of people doing lessons on the side and that mine is a proper business.

[Kat Hunter]

Haha, I know the feels. I’ve been teaching full time for more than four years now and I still occasionally get the question “so do you do this full time?”, which is funny. It happens less though now that I charge more. I used to get it all the time and I think that was partly a sign that I was undercharging.
Also maybe a sign that my decor at the time wasn’t as cool as it is now. I think for whatever reason the decor of the room you teach in seems to make a difference!?

[Eliza Fyfe]

The thing I find annoying and offensive is when people assume I have an easy life as I “only work between 4-8pm” as my teaching hours.

Let’s not forget that I also do all day Saturday and have at least 20 extra hours of managing the business!

[Tom Warner]

I’ve only had it twice. I guess I make myself seem busier than I actually am.