[Mark Palmer]

If you think the attitude is rottten tell them the debt will remain on file.Small claims court or at least the threat of legal action may change their perspective.You need signed paper work to show they agreed to the cancel policy. Write it off as bad debt in your accounts. You need to factor non payment into your business model

[Mark Palmer]

Hey all,

Over the last 12 years I’ve had similar experiences to you Eliza and I can empathise.

The push and pull of sticking by your policy/giving them a pass… If you don’t charge the first time it happens are you setting them up to expect the same the next time?

Ive tried various methods, and its particularly stressful when you have made it completely clear when they began lessons of your cancellation policy.

One method ive used over the years is the first time pass. This is an opportunity to show a kindness but with total clarity of your payment policy no matter what the circumstance after the first incident. If the student really does want to continue they’ll appreciate you showing compassion(and will remember it in coming times too) but most importantly is punctuated by reminding them of your policy going forward. In all its very reasonable, and puts you, the teacher in a strong position in any other following recurrences.

In the event of someone stopping lessons in any case…To echo what Matt mentioned, often people jump on these situations as a way of stopping lessons, for reasons that are likely unrelated to the performance of the teacher…e.g. Money/child not practising/stopping lessons as poor behaviour in other areas of their life!!

Its hard not to take it to heart, I always remind myself I don’t want to deal with/teach people who aren’t willing to show respect for my time and income, hence making room for another student who will.

I hope it works out

Mark

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[Mark Palmer]

Implement a Pay when you book policy. Since I adopted this payment system I haven’t had any problems. Its a neat way of weeding out people who think its ok to mess you about. If you don’t value your own time then how can you expect anyone else too. Sounds harsh, but anyone who is worth teaching will understand and respect it.:)

[Mark Palmer]

I do simple drills for all my students.

1. Playing a scale along to a metronome; beginning slowly and increasing tempo upon success until unable to. Logging the highest bpm and aiming to improve the following week. Ive found it gives the student an objective target to aim for(thats they can also replicate in their own time too). Plus, it functions as a diagnostic when the bpm speed is just out of their reach it highlights the good/bad aspects of their technique, which can then be addressed.

2. Timing common chord changes in a minute, Loggin the result from one lesson to the next. Again the numbers are a focus and are an objective result. If the numbers go down form one week next we can address the what the potential causes etc.

I think these approaches work because anyone can tell someone how well they’re doing and stroke people egos etc. Numbers/result cant be the whole story, but they’re a useful indicator of progress. Im sure in the beginning we’ve all felt like we weren’t improving from one day.week to the next. Ive found this gives the student a way of mapping their progress, or encourages adjustment to make the most of their practise

[Mark Palmer]

This is a a repost from the Cancellation policy thread which might be useful to delve into

I used to be super chilled about people cancelling lessons i.e. i wouldn’t charge for cancellations at all, people would pay at the end of the lesson etc…. after a few years of teaching i encountered a few of students who seemed take my relaxed approach as a liberty. It seems that by me being super chilled they too could be super chilled about too, in other words if i don’t value my time then how can i expect them to? I decided to implement a ‘pay when you book’ policy, with the understanding if they cancelled ahead of time within reason(Them forgetting doesn’t qualify!)I would always try to rearrange the lesson if possible to another day close to their original booking.

What i don’t indulge is someone who sees me on a weekly(or any other variable) recurrence to rearrange the missed lesson to the following week(or variable), that i explain respectfully is missing the point of the policy. I made people aware of this at the first lesson, and i explained v nicely that they were booking my time and that was their commitment to it. The implications of booking my time and not being able to make it for something unforeseen was: It stops other potentials students booking that slot when they’ve booked it(so other people have to wait longer or goto a later slot in following weeks)and i also turn other engagements down(music or otherwise)once they have chosen to book my time.

I want the student to have the lesson and for them to not feel like they’re missing out(i do have a <3), thats why i offer the solution of them being being able to rearrange if possible, they hopefully see the goodwill in me doing so, even though i might still miss out if i cant book someone else in the missed time slot booked.

Any student who respects this and truly understands, never quibbles and they offer before i have to nicely remind them of the understanding we came to when they began booking my time. Like all things in life there is room for mitigation, if i have a good relationship and their reasons are extraordinary(bereavement etc) i do often waive the lesson to the following recurrence or credit with the lesson i booked, I’m not a faceless business or complete robot, but thats personal to my judgement of the situation at that time.

Just my two cents worth. thanks