[Dave Rutherford]

Hey

Lots of ideas, usually they say you get less than a 1% return on flyers, it’s time consuming and can have costs.

The key aspect is branding, such as tying together:

Email address
Name (even if it is just yours)
FB page updated regularly
Interactive media – videos are better than photos and attract more views on social media
Twitter (if you want)
FB promoted posts – especially on a good video, I did #14 for one week and got 36,000 views and lots of bookings
Do what other local tutors do not do – especially online, be seen to be proactive and “on it”.
Use the same artwork across the board – social sites, cards, flyers and so on.
Strike a deal with your local music store – buy an instrument there and they get a free or half price lesson from yo
Offer deals, I do 99 quid for 5 one hour lessons – one s free basically.
First lesson half price also works well
If a student gets you a lesson – they get one half price or free…. works well
Local music stores/pubs/pizza shops and so on for posters.
Try and get some students on a gig with a basic backing band – always pulls in lots of new clients.
ANything that makes you different – use. Who have ypu played with, where did you learn, what are your qualifications and so on – all helps build an approachable profile.

Im not a big person for flyers, Id get 20 printed and locate them in local pubs and take outs though. ALso make sure you are registered on ALL teaching sites for your instrument.

Hope that helps

[Dave Rutherford]

Hey Matt

I have had back problems for a long time now due to leaning over teaching. I have been to physio before, one said keep your hips higher than your waist – this is a myth dont do that.

The latest physio i went to, for a while actually, made it very clear its just occupational, and you are going to get it from time to time.

He recommended:

1- Getting up from time to time to move around
2- Putting your palms on the wall and pushing backwards to arch your back and stretching regularly.
3- swimming. He said it will loosen it all brilliantly.
4-hugging your legs when laid on your back

Re seating for you, an office chair that you can drop the arms down on is best, and you can lean back when you do not need to play

Re seating ofr students, fold away plastic ikea chairs do the job fine, its just a simple chair with no arms.

i have a drum stool and students always swop it for a chair.

Hiope that helps Im happy to talk further.

[Dave Rutherford]

Hey

I have ran lots of these. Some at a big win and some at a big loss.

Things to consider:

Space – where and how much
Tickets – how much, advance works better as its more guareteed.

I use my band to back the students, and some singing students from schools I work in.

You can offer to film and put it on DVD and sell that – makes more money for you.

I just make sure they are rehearsed and have notice – 2/3 months that it’s going to happen. Xmas time is great, early Dec, also a few weeks before kis break up, or end of Sept term.

I would put other acts on after so the students see ‘how its done’, parents and students also feel part of a real gig.

Dave

[Dave Rutherford]

Hey guys, just had a go over this thread as Summer has approached – more cancellations happen. I also think to kick start anything new September is a great month to do so when everyone is in ‘back to school’ mode.

I ask for 72 hours notice, and this is in the header that’s on all of my music sheets.

However, it is still becoming a problem, even though I am quite strict with it.

As an example, I let one guy off with his fee as him and his sons mother don’t get a long, and the lesson is their bonding/father-son time. His mother had messed him around and they cancelled 15 minutes beforehand. Since then, he has let me down more and more… and always says before I can say a word ‘I appreciate it mate you don’t charge me I know you know it’s difficult.’

On one hand – OK, on the other hand I am super busy, and a 6:30 slot on a weekday is like gold dust to some clients.

What I want to discuss, and develop, then put in here as a potential model for others, is a cancellation policy that covers as many bases as possible.

This would be the same message, in different formats, for example.

1) Website, the cancellation policy is clearly shown on the website Matt has for us, if anyone says they didn’t know – it’s on the site they came through ( I do all of my bookings via the site and do not use my own phone number until I know a student is who they say they are – personal choice / situation).

2) A printed copy of those terms upon the first lesson OR/AND

3) In the header of music sheets, a brief description of the policy, and ‘full cancellation details are available on http://www.guitarlessonsmiddlesbrough.com‘

4) In the footer of all email contact.

This to me covers new students, as well as existing ones. I use block bookings and they are very effective, however 9/10 students do not understand if they cancel they lose a slot off their booking, I have had an ongoing problem with this, I think the printed version would cover that.

5) Also to state if YOU cancel that it is not the other way around and they are not ‘owed a cancellation’ free of charge. I had that before too.

If I was to draft a general letter people could adjust it to their business terms and put their own letterhead on it.

Would anyone find this helpful?

Thanks!

Dave:)

guitarlessonsmiddlesbrough.com

Guitar Lessons Middlesbrough

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[Dave Rutherford]

Hey guys

I have dealt with this for 14 years now. However… I feel I have it sorted now.

I do a 72 hour cancellation policy and always offer to rearrange the lesson, if they say “no we can’t do any other day”, I say something like this:

“Not a problem if you can’t do another time, however I must remind you all lessons are subject to a 72 hour cancellation policy, if you could bring today’s lesson fee along next week that would be fantastic”.

Usually, the reply is “I understand see you next week”. Typically short but not usually any real problems.

If I get a reply that’s along the lines of “sorry I wasn’t aware of that and I can’t help it if they’re ill”.

I would say “I do understand that, I can offer do do an hour next week to make it up (if the lesson is 30 minutes), or add half an hour onto your next two lessons (if it’s 60 minutes), otherwise sadly I’d have to still charge you.”

I give no explanation of “it’s my living, it would be same if it was a driving lesson – nothing. As if they don’t “get it” then it’s not a lesson I want long term.

I have spoken on the phone with a few who have asked to let it slide this one time and “now they’re aware” we can move forward with that in place, to thisi say I’m sorry, no, it’s how I run my business and I can’t charge other students and not you.

I have ” all lessons are subject to a 72 hour cancellation policy ” in small text in the header of all of my handouts, so they know. It’s also common courtesy.

Hospital visits, being sent home fo m school poorly, family emergencies I play ball and still offer a rearrange, but don’t charge.

Take
No grief with it at all is key in the situation. Once you have charged the Said lessons once – they will quick smart stop messing you around.

I would pop it in the header of your handouts. You don’t have to offer a rearrange, I just do as I really want to students to get their lesson.

I hope that helps a bit!

[Dave Rutherford]

Hey guys,

I have had some issues with this over the 13 years I’ve taught.

1) Tried the week in advance. People forget, especially when they have had lessons without issue for a long period of time. You still don’t avoid the conversation of “You missed your lesson so now need to pay a week ahead again before I will book you in”. So really it’s quite a short term solution, ie. for one missed lesson.

2) Charging in advance is great, given an incentive, I do 5 lessons for the price of 4 as a startup plan, then you can pay monthly if you’d like. I stipulate from the get go – if you miss a lesson I will charge you for it. It does not work both ways if I cancel you – you do not lose a wage.

3) A written agreement – I am just putting these out now after having it out over the course of 3 weeks or so with a very difficult parent. The trick I found was be ready and willing to let that lesson go if they do not abide by your rules. Once the weak link in the chain – they will always be the weak link in the chain. Why should you take a fee off a lovely lesson and let them off? If word gets around (which is easy to happen) – you look bad. I always say “It’s the same rules for everyone, and no different if this was a dentist or solicitor appointment, I can’t take a fee off others and not you, I can recommend another tutor if you really don’t want to continue, but I wouldn’t want you to do that…. etc.

4) I offer this: You must pay for your lesson if you cancel within 48 hours, or don’t show up, unless you can rearrange it to another day. I say “I would rather you get what you pay for and I’m not in the business of taking money off people who didn’t have a lesson, however I am very busy so it’s not always possible”. This way, I look good to the student/parent, and if they cancel on Monday, and I can fit them in Thursday the same week – no problem. Most of the time I can rearrange, but I won’t put myself out to do so, it’s more of a gesture, and most of my students are spot on. I’ll post my agreement in here shortly. Hope this helps some of you.

Stand your ground, it’s your business, your rules, your way – or they can go elsewhere, which won’t be as good anyway.