Student no-shows

[Kmaz]

I just had a student not show up for his guitar lesson. Would have just been his second session with me. A phone call would have been nice.

I'm pretty new to the game and am wondering how others handle similar situations? He is an adult, btw.

[derekd]

Pay up front for the month. I hand them a piece of paper that details expectations, which includes if they no-show, they are out the $. If they call to cancel, I will do my best to accomodate a make up with in my schedule. If I cancel, refund/credit.

If it was a dire emergency, death, fire, famine, then I will be fine. Otherwise, irresponsible imo.

[buddastrat]

I charge without 24 hour notice. Unless it's something extreme. But if you didn't tell him this before, you might want to give a freebie, this time.

[Zero G]

Give him a call and be straight up with him. Tell him that if he misses any more lessons without appropriate notice, that you can no longer provide your service to him. That, or tell him to pay in advance. Also, let him know that when students don't show up, you lose money and you can't afford to have this happen. Don't get upset with him. Just act professional and let him know what the deal is up front.

[dantedayjob]

I pretty much agree with the other posters. I tell people up front; you pay for the month, if you need to cancel let me know at the earliest possible time. I tell them they aren't as much paying for the lesson as they are paying for my time. No show/no call/no reason=I still get paid. If they give me sufficient fore-warning OR a major life-issue (i.e. death, illness, car accident) occurs, we'll make the lesson up later.

[sinner]

If it was his second lesson with you that he "missed", I bet he's not planning on calling or coming back at all.

I think many people have good intentions when they start a lesson plan but when they realize the work and seriousness of it they flake out. Many people are shy and/or afraid to look stupid, especially adults. Some will always be that way, but perhaps a way to lessen this is have your first lesson really nail down the whole goal plan of the student and show them how working with you can realize those goals.

I not presuming you, the OP, didn't do any of this or you are lacking in any degree as a teacher, just throwing this out as a general statement to all teachers about the importance of listening to your students and sometimes interpreting what you hear with all your wisdom and experience and helping them understand their own goals in a realistic but exciting way.

[Kmaz]

Thanks for your opinions. I have been collecting my pay at the end of each lesson thus far.

Rocco, I agree with you that I'll likely not hear from him again. My impression at our first (and only) lesson was that he was not really interested in putting in the time/effort to be successful.

We all know that learning the instrument takes time and hard work.

[dantedayjob]

Originally Posted by Kmaz

Thanks for your opinions. I have been collecting my pay at the end of each lesson thus far.

I seriously recommend that you take the payments for the month in advance. You really get a more serious attitude from your students and far fewer cancellations. I have been doing it that way since about '93 or so and it really has made a difference.

[?&!]

Get paid a month in advance, for sure. People are a lot more likely to show up when they have already forked over the cash.

[sinner]

The first few lessons are the toughest, but I bet a lot of the "quitters" would stick around if they paid in advance, once they got through the first few lessons and saw how it really does work.

[mcdonaldkd]

My instructor always gets paid a month in advance. If I have to miss a lesson because I am travelling on business, etc. we try to reschedule but no promises are made that we will be able to reschedule.

[james russell]

Music stores charge by the month in advance because it works. Folks are a lot more responsible about communicating when they have paid for the time.

If you are starting out, may I recommend that you print up copies of your "Guitar Lessons Policy" practices that you give to every student when they start taking lessons. Go over your policies at the first lesson with each student and parent, and it will solve most of the issues. Sometimes they get creative in stiffing you, like not calling or showing up on the first week or two of the month and then expecting to not have to pay for the first week's lessons. I have a waiting list, and I dump the flakes pretty fast. Respect yourself. Tell them what you expect, and then hold them to it. After all, you are showing up for them at the agreed upon time. Your time should be respected by them.

[Jahn]

i agree - in advance.

[Jazz2Punk]

Whenever I cancel a lesson without being able to give 24 hour notice I always expect to pay.

[Swain]

I always collect before the 1st. of the month. That way, you don't sit there on the first week of the month, waiting for students to show up only to find they've quit, and you could have filled the "empty" time slot with a new student.
Late Payments, if accepted, include a late fee $5.00 more than a lesson would cost. So, they pay as much as a 5th. Lesson plus $5.00 would've cost. Helps to keep students from saying "I'll bring it next week", etc. I tell them, "Okay, but you'll need to add another ....... to the amount."
If they are late more than 2 or 3 times and I keep them as students, I tell them that they must now pay for 3 Months at a time. In advance. I'm not going to be a Bill Collector.
If I haven't received Tuition before the 1st. of the month, I will call someone who is waiting for that time slot, and offer it to them.
If someone drops out and didn't give me any notice, (if I take decide to re-start with them) I put them on the 3 Months at a time payment plan.


Also, monthly tuition does help to motivate students. And if they can't get a month's worth of $$$ together, I tell them to wait a month, save the $$$, and call me when they do have it. It's not that expensive. So, if they can't find the scratch for a month at a time, they probably aren't serious enough to actually work with.

As far as "Make-Ups"? That's an impossible concept. You can't get that time back, once it's past. Students pay (in advance! ) to reserve a specific time slot.
So, it's a simple equation: They miss, they pay. I miss, I pay.

Of course, death in the family, tornado, etc. are exceptions. But, I can't afford to pay for everybody else's vacations, soccer games, sicknesses, etc.

This brings up another point. If they are sick, I will not allow them to come to my Studio. Stay home. I don't need to catch whatever they have, just to miss work, lose $$$, and infect all of my other students.

Write up a "POLICIES" Sheet, and make sure you hand one to every new student. Also, post it on your Studio door. That way, they can't say they didn't know the score. The POLICIES SHEET is staring them in the face, during every session.

This probably all sounds pretty hard core, but it's just how I protect myself. And it's never a problem with anyone, just business.

I also hand them another sheet that talks about setting up a practice space, setting a practice schedule, getting their guitar, etc. out and tuned up before each session, bringing CDs, Mp3 Players, Music Books, etc. Those types of things. Basically, how to be prepared for each lesson. I find people really appreciate these ideas for "Making The Most Of Your Lesson Time".

Hope this helps!