Hi everyone,
I have been suffering from a burn out for a while now. I am trying everything to spark up my passion again for teaching but I find it really hard.
The reason is that numbers have dropped in my classes over the last 3 months and I don't know why. I just feel like I am doing something wrong and all new students just don't come back after one class.
I am blaming myself in a way, as there is clearly something I am doing wrong, which makes it into a vicious circle because I seem now insecure whenever I start the class and there are like 4 students in my classes. My spirits are low and because of that, numbers drop even more because I don't seem like an inspiring teacher at the moment.
Having thought a lot about this, I think this all might be because of the following reasons:
-I give the option to do drop in class AND pay for example for a 5 week course. Often before, when I still had only course money, and didn't accept drop ins, people would drop out as well, but not so frequent, as paying for a course motivated them to take that step out of the door. Dropping in is more expensive, but it is only a small difference and if you would have missed one class out of 5, it is already cheaper to just pay for drop in classes, so many people now choose for this option. On top of this, I give people the opportunity (if they paid for a course) that if they missed one class they can catch up in one of my other classes later in the week. This way I try to motivate them to pay for a course instead of drop ins, but it is not working.
- my beginners classes are too hard. I started with really basic beginners classes, but over the years my beginners class became more like an improvers class, because of the level of the people went up as well. My intermediate students still take my beginners classes for extra practise, but I think this scares people off in the beginners class, so new people leave straight away. In response to that I started organizing a rotation course that just teaches the basics, an 8 week course that introduces people into belly dance and after one course, where all exercises in the improvers classes are well taught and explained, people can move on to the next course. This course is going really well, it is fully booked, and it is a real motivator to bring in new students in my improvers classes. One of my long term students came to one of the classes the other day and she told me she could see the difference when I teach, I seem much more confident and more like a teacher. So I think this was a good decision, and hopefully people will then move on to the next course from there.
- I teach too much? I teach 4 evenings a week. 4 classes are beginners/improvers classes. So instead of having all students into one room they seem spread over 4 different nights. I used to teach only one night a week for 4 hours, and classes were packed. now I make almost the same money as before, but I am teaching 4 nights. Something just doesn't add up... BUT I also offer more different styles now, and I want to offer people those different styles too, so they can choose which style suits them best: tribal fusion, ATS or Egyptian dance. and then there is the absolute beginners course that covers all 3 styles, so people can then choose which direction they want to go in. Am I offering too much? I must say that my beginners Egyptian dance and tribal fusion are slowly emerging, because technique is as good as the same. It is just different arm positions or just different music that I use. I am now considering to have the Egyptian dance and tribal fusion together in one group and just focus one course on one style and another course on another style.
SOOOO my question is: shall I stop doing drop in classes? I mean, if I went to the gym and paid only when I got there, for a one off thing, I would never do the effort to get to class, but if I pay for a monthly description I want to make the most of it and make sure I go to as many classes as I can, so is it maybe a motivator to get into class? Shall I have people pay up front as well, so from the moment they decide that they want to take up belly dance, they can pay me (via paypal for example) so people are motivated to come to the class that starts 2 weeks after they booked. A friend of mine said to me, that you have to see it as a business and that you shouldn't offer so many things to your students in order to please everyone.
and second question, shall I put Egyptian dance and tribal fusion students under one roof? Most of them just want to learn to dance, so they enjoy both styles anyway.
Sorry for the long mail, I just thought it gives you more of an insight :)
anyone had the same issues in the past?
thanks
I have been suffering from a burn out for a while now. I am trying everything to spark up my passion again for teaching but I find it really hard.
The reason is that numbers have dropped in my classes over the last 3 months and I don't know why. I just feel like I am doing something wrong and all new students just don't come back after one class.
I am blaming myself in a way, as there is clearly something I am doing wrong, which makes it into a vicious circle because I seem now insecure whenever I start the class and there are like 4 students in my classes. My spirits are low and because of that, numbers drop even more because I don't seem like an inspiring teacher at the moment.
Having thought a lot about this, I think this all might be because of the following reasons:
-I give the option to do drop in class AND pay for example for a 5 week course. Often before, when I still had only course money, and didn't accept drop ins, people would drop out as well, but not so frequent, as paying for a course motivated them to take that step out of the door. Dropping in is more expensive, but it is only a small difference and if you would have missed one class out of 5, it is already cheaper to just pay for drop in classes, so many people now choose for this option. On top of this, I give people the opportunity (if they paid for a course) that if they missed one class they can catch up in one of my other classes later in the week. This way I try to motivate them to pay for a course instead of drop ins, but it is not working.
- my beginners classes are too hard. I started with really basic beginners classes, but over the years my beginners class became more like an improvers class, because of the level of the people went up as well. My intermediate students still take my beginners classes for extra practise, but I think this scares people off in the beginners class, so new people leave straight away. In response to that I started organizing a rotation course that just teaches the basics, an 8 week course that introduces people into belly dance and after one course, where all exercises in the improvers classes are well taught and explained, people can move on to the next course. This course is going really well, it is fully booked, and it is a real motivator to bring in new students in my improvers classes. One of my long term students came to one of the classes the other day and she told me she could see the difference when I teach, I seem much more confident and more like a teacher. So I think this was a good decision, and hopefully people will then move on to the next course from there.
- I teach too much? I teach 4 evenings a week. 4 classes are beginners/improvers classes. So instead of having all students into one room they seem spread over 4 different nights. I used to teach only one night a week for 4 hours, and classes were packed. now I make almost the same money as before, but I am teaching 4 nights. Something just doesn't add up... BUT I also offer more different styles now, and I want to offer people those different styles too, so they can choose which style suits them best: tribal fusion, ATS or Egyptian dance. and then there is the absolute beginners course that covers all 3 styles, so people can then choose which direction they want to go in. Am I offering too much? I must say that my beginners Egyptian dance and tribal fusion are slowly emerging, because technique is as good as the same. It is just different arm positions or just different music that I use. I am now considering to have the Egyptian dance and tribal fusion together in one group and just focus one course on one style and another course on another style.
SOOOO my question is: shall I stop doing drop in classes? I mean, if I went to the gym and paid only when I got there, for a one off thing, I would never do the effort to get to class, but if I pay for a monthly description I want to make the most of it and make sure I go to as many classes as I can, so is it maybe a motivator to get into class? Shall I have people pay up front as well, so from the moment they decide that they want to take up belly dance, they can pay me (via paypal for example) so people are motivated to come to the class that starts 2 weeks after they booked. A friend of mine said to me, that you have to see it as a business and that you shouldn't offer so many things to your students in order to please everyone.
and second question, shall I put Egyptian dance and tribal fusion students under one roof? Most of them just want to learn to dance, so they enjoy both styles anyway.
Sorry for the long mail, I just thought it gives you more of an insight :)
anyone had the same issues in the past?
thanks
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Re: demotivated - students dropping
Wed, April 16, 2008 - 5:46 AMI think what you're experiencing is normal. It is cyclical. Sometimes offering students a chance to give written feedback at the end of a session or every 8 weeks or so will give you new ideas and insight into what is keeping them there or what is taking them away. You might also try a pre-class survey, asking just the basics, dance experience, and what their expectations are of the class. Sometimes that helps you fine tune your teaching to fit needs of the majority of the students. With all this said, never ever try to please everyone. You will end up pleasing no one, including yourself. If you are suffering from burn out, you might try modifying your lessons to help you become more enthusiastic about the topic and class. I think right now we are experiencing a down cycle, you might use this time to try out something new with the smaller classes. When I have a really small class , sometimes I will ask them if there is anything specific they want to work on or we might play a game. New music can give you new inspiration as well. Watch a dance video or rent one from the library just to get yourself motivated or give you a new perspective. The point is, think about ways that you will be inspired and regain some of your enthusiasm and in turn you will pass that on to your students. But remember, sometimes it's not you, it's them. -
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Re: demotivated - students dropping
Wed, April 16, 2008 - 7:26 AMSounds like burnout, for sure. Time to regroup, revamp your classes? That's a good thing - you'll be glad you did. BTW did you take a spring break vacation this year? Maybe you need some time off :-)
Beginners drop like flies anyway, & you've spotted the problems with too many options, too many classes, drop-ins, a recipe for frustration!
Unless you're in a really big city, try one (at most, two) beginner classes a week.
I know people are always like "I'll come to a ______day class if you offer it", don't go for that - pick your best night & time & let them arrange their schedules for it, instead of trying to offer mutliple times & days.
Then after a couple of months or when you think they're ready to move up, they can go to the next level & stay motivated to learn, while you stay really slow & simple in the beginner level class.
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Re: demotivated - students dropping
Wed, April 16, 2008 - 9:54 AMIt can also be the economy and the season.
If you have not publically performed recently, the advertisement and interest in your group may not be forefront in a persons mind.
Drop in students are not committed - they tend to tip a class feel just because they are not dedicated like those who are willing to sign up and pay one lump sum.
Its easy to pay per class - when your in the mood go sort of thing.
Much harder to make sure you attend a class because its important enough to make room in your life to do so.
And - This stuff happens. I go through it a few times a year. The trigger always changed but the need to step away and try to find joy beyond other peoples needs will happen.
Good luck. -
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Re: demotivated - students dropping
Wed, April 16, 2008 - 11:11 AMWow. I got burnt out just reading your post! It could the economy and season. I'm in MI where everyday people are losing their jobs and having their homes foreclosed. For the first time ever, I didn''t have enough people to run my beginner's class. Beginners typically drop like flies anyway.
You can't please everyone. Do the style that you feel you do the best and gets you the most excited. What's your passion? Focus on that. I wouldn't mix the styles either. I think that would be confusing to a beginner.
Drop the drop in. Can you just pay and come as you please for a college class? Of course not, you have to pre-register and pre-pay. The place I work for allows 2 weeks to register or drop. If you drop after the 3rd week, your out the money. Somebody who wants to drop in won't have the level of commitment you want to have in your students.
My own teacher has long term students. She teaches girls who want to be professional and she's in high demand and people are on a waiting list. She recently started having problems with people promising to sign up for a session then not showing up. She finally had to get tough. From now on, no matter how long you've been with her, you have to pre-pay for the next session. If you can't make the next session, if you want to keep your spot in the class you must pay for that session you miss. Otherwise you get cut from the class and must wait for the next available opening.
Now most of us don't have that problem but the point is, this is a business.
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Re: demotivated - students dropping
Thu, April 17, 2008 - 7:30 AMI would agree with cutting the amount of classes, maybe down to two beginners a week. This way they still have options, just not so many. Also, if you have enough intermediate students, give them an intermediate class, keep the beginners class beginning level. They will still come for the experience. Beginning drills are good for everyone.
And for yourself, what motivates you? Maybe you need to take some workshops? Take someone else's class? Take a little break? Having no motivation will drive your students away, find what you need to fill this.
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Re: demotivated - students dropping
Thu, April 17, 2008 - 3:07 PMHey Darling! ditto what most others say..... people are afraid of $$ issues right now and they forget we need to take car of our body & soul (with dancing).... And it's spring.... ahhhh the sun is outside (a rare commodity in West WA)......
Definitely squeeze down to 1 0r 2 Beginner classes.... and keep them at beginning level and let peeps decide when they want to move up (with your encouragement for some) if you wish have a intermediate class or go straight to Egyptian Styling or Tribal styling..... I truly believe if you keep to the heart of both styles they can not be mixed.... Or name a Advanced / performing class something else... if you want to combine Egyptian & Tribal.... give the forum it's own name and blend as you wish.....
I would keep the drop ins but raise the price & do not cater to drop in students... those whom are faithful get your upmost attention... Drop ins will never walk away with all they can get out of you.....
When you do plan your sessions I would say Any class without X # of students in it registered will be canceled..... This gives you time to practice, take a class, play with your family or whatever you wish to do.....
Hope all our advice werks.....
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Re: demotivated - students dropping
Thu, April 17, 2008 - 10:32 PMWell, a lot of people responded with great advice towards class/student issues but when I think burn out for a teacher I think burn out of personal creativity & time devoted to their own dance endeavors. Do you still have time to do that? I've noticed that when my troupe director is inspired that it infuses the rest of the troupe and her students. The same goes for me and my class. If I am personally juiced and into it, then my students feed off my energy and seem to have a better time and come back for more. You sound a lot like our Troupe Director with all the classes and time that you spend with focus on other people. In the case of my Director, she feels such a need to sacrifice herself/ her time to devote to students and troupe that she barely has time for her own personal goals. As a result she gets into what she calls slumps and gets no personal satisfaction. And we all get used to demanding from her so continue to ask for a little bit more of her time and energy. She has recently dropped a few things like an advanced class that we bagered her into but no one attended. Now she seems to have a little more time to focus on the things she wants to do. As a result she is more inspired, she has started this AMAZING choreography, and has even started dancing with the troupe at events again which is such a gift to us because she is an incredibly wonderful and graceful dancer. As a result we have all enjoyed the energy that she is putting off and you can tell that the troupe members and students are more inspired to do their personal best. Perhaps if you make sure to cut yourself a slice of that devotion you are giving to your lucky students, then they will still get the benefit from your energy and personal inspiration. Cheers - Roz
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Re: demotivated - students dropping
Fri, April 18, 2008 - 5:35 AMI would def consolodate classes...
makes for larger fuller classes when they are held - and frees you up for a needed night off (or for a performance/gig). Also, as I have found to be the case, provide performance opportunities (if not reg recitals - there are alway local community events). It's not paid work - but gets your students/classes promoted out there (and helps draw in new blood).
You could always use the newly freed up night to begin a troup or something
Ummm, I would NOT put your Egyptian and fusion under one roof.
might be fine for your Fusion students - as blend diff styles of dance/music anyway.
But might taint the Egyptian class - which needs to remain a pure form. -
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Re: demotivated - students dropping
Sun, April 27, 2008 - 5:59 PMHello,
Student here. In some places, the teacher does one class with the option of drop in or pay up front:
for example, let's say you want to work with 6 :
-Student pays for 6 sessions off the bat, and gets a class card
-the class card expires in 8 weeks, so if she has to miss class, she can do it within that 8 weeks time, but still get six class sessions out of her money
-A discount is offered for the card- a better one than the drop-in rate
- drop-in costs a couple dollars more, but the class really is a card class. If you're going to come consistently, you have to buy a card
- the class is run in an open format, so if there are people who miss one week, it won't be like they missed a whole part of a routine, and whatever you worked on will come back up eventually
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Re: demotivated - students dropping
Sun, April 27, 2008 - 9:51 PMi can totally relate. burnout sucks and when your students stop showing it makes hard to feel motivated. i posted about this not too long ago.
bdinstruction.tribe.net/thread...26abb64
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Re: demotivated - students dropping
Tue, April 29, 2008 - 4:00 PMHello,
I just took 10 days off to go to the International Bellydance Conference of Canada in Toronto. The energy there was soooo positive and wonderful that I can't wait to see my students again and share everything I learned, saw or heard.
Take a break, go somewhere fun, sign up for Yoga or some other fun exercise class and come back with new energy and relaxed.
I'm a paramedic beside the BD teaching and I know burn out.
Good luck and Happy Dancing !!
Sadira
www.arabianmountainspice.com
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Re: demotivated - students dropping
Sun, May 18, 2008 - 6:40 AMHi Sarah
I think you are suffering what we all do at times. I'm in Tasmania, Australia - same deal here.
I have been teaching here for 16yrs & there are ups & downs, same as we experience in all areas of our lives. There are now more teachers everywhere - guess these students we teach need to move on to their own things eventually! So for me, I find that my own school while it is steady with the number of students, I can't seem to build the business, despite there being far more interest in belly dancing, the students are spread out among more teachers. Having more teachers means there are more workshops being run, more workshops means there is always something on offer so if students have a choice of what they are doing on the weekend, they start to think "oh we 'll go to the next one", etc etc. So while we have fabulous teachers visiting to offer workshops the attendance is down. So that's my frustration of late.
For a while there I consolidated my classes as I like the energy of a larger group. Now that the numbers increased a little I have more classes on offer again. I generally find that there is ONE time slot each term that the numbers have dropped so I use that time slot next term for new beginners & the current students consolidate in another time slot. Beginners tend to be more flexible whereas the continuing students want to stay in "their" time slot. So maybe that is an option to consider.
As some of the others said - i wouldn't start consolidating styles - if anything, pick the style you love & focus on that. It can make a difference too if you are renting by the hour - makes more sense to consolidate groups, but if you are paying a weekly rental then you may need to offer those different styles so you are paying the rent & take advantage of the space you are paying for?
In the long run, you have to do what works for YOU.
I have had students fill in feedback forms & state when they want to learn what style, etc etc. Have planned my term around that feedback to then have the ones that said "OH I want to learn a stick choreography on Monday at 6pm" then tell me at enrolment time - "OH I can't come Monday now, can we do stick on Wednesday" Of course Wednesday studnts then are doing Veil & don't want to change so then the stick girls decide to wait til next term, by which time they have then decided to take up Pilates or something! Sound familiar? Can drive you mad - sooooo DO WHAT WORKS FOR YOU & it will all slot into place.
AND get away & do some workshops with other people for yourself. When you do something new that excites YOU, then that excitement will feed back to your students.
I recently started a drumming circle - it's a bit of fun for me & the students that are interested are joining in & we get together one night a week & have drinks & dips & learn some rhythms. I'm not great drummer but I am enjoying doing something a little different that still relates to the dance & out of that we now have a basic piece we are going to play at our next hafla for the others to dance to. I've started including about 5 mins of playing the drum at class & showing students what they can do so they aren't as reliant on copying me dancing all the time so that little bit of fun for me is evolving into something different for my students & evolving my teaching as well.
Feel like I have rambled a bit here but basically am trying to say that if you try something new for yourself & do what pleases you, then ultimately it pleases your students. Hope that helps a little.
Adriana
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Re: demotivated - students dropping
Sun, May 18, 2008 - 6:45 AMOH forgot to say - you have to make the commitment to being there each week so students should enrol for the course & make the commitment too. Too easy to get home from work, light the fire & settle in & miss a class otherwise! I only advertise courses & I make the course fee affordable. I allow people to make up missed classes at any of the advertised time slots within the current term but I do not advertise casual classes. If a student comes to me & tells me they are a shift worker or maybe they are pregnant & feeling tired etc & cant commit to the course I offer them a casual option. I also tend to make the casual option dearer so that it is more appealing to opt for the course . Most people make the effort to complete their course & if they don't, at least your rent is paid!
Adriana -
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Re: demotivated - students dropping
Mon, May 19, 2008 - 12:24 AMI think that you nailed it when you said your beginner classes are too hard and that intermediate students were attending. These classes are no longer beginner classes but a refining your technique class and beginner students could be intimidated by more "experienced" dancers being in class with them.
Beginner classes need to be aimed at beginners - then when they have 12 months or so under their belt they can move up to the next level.
On a personal level I have found that my beginner class has responded best to being taught Egyptian style, (with an emphasis on folkloric), then when they move up into the intermediate level they get more varity. I teach two intermediate classes on the same night as the beginners class. Each term one intermediate class will focus on tribal fusion and the other on an Egyptian style dance. The following term they begin to learn a choreography (or improvisation to a piece of music) in another style. If they don't "get" the style or it is new to them, then we spend more time focusing on it (sometimes it can be nearly two terms). It keeps the classes full - the students know that if they don't like something that we are doing at the moment something different is coming next term. I have found a lot of students actually stay for both intermediate classes, they figure they are out, both classes are different so they aren't repeating the same thing in both classes.
Previously I had tried to offer an Egyptian style class as well as a tribal fusion - didn't work, tribal was "too hard!" and numbers dropped off. The compromise I have found seems to work for me.
Good luck...... oh and for the record, my numbers do fluctuate in winter.
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Re: demotivated - students dropping
Tue, May 20, 2008 - 2:01 PMHey Sarah--
I hope you realize by now that everyone goes through what you are going through! My biggest advice would be not to take things personally. More often than not, someone doesn't return to class for reasons that have nothing to do with you. Family, work, lack of motivation, sprained ankle...you name it, I've heard the reason why someone has stopped coming to class.
I totally hear your worry about beginner classes being too hard. I have a lot of int/adv students who still come to my beginning class for technique review/extra workout. I am constantly having to remind myself what the class is about--teaching basic technique to people who have never belly danced before. I have to dismiss the worry that my more advanced students might grow bored. THEY know its beginning class, just sometimes I forget...
There is nothing wrong with consolidating your classes. You certainly don't have to make a change permament either. What if you just said your summer schedule was going to be abbreviated? Then you could rejuvenate and relax and come back in the fall excited again...plus I always get a post-kids-back-in-school-bump of moms.
Regardless, keep your spirits up and shimmy on!
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Re: demotivated - students dropping
Thu, May 22, 2008 - 12:54 PMI've never had a large attendence numbers, but I've always had committed students. I had to start an intermediate because they were so good that they were scaring away the beginners. I also did it because I didn't want the intermediate students 'assistant' teaching my class by answering questions directed to me.
I would drop down to few classes and if one style is really flourishing more than others or one has really poor attendence you may consider getting rid of it or growing in that direction.
However, yes - the economy sucks right now!
