[mr1303]

Hi all

I currently offer my services to a university bridge club for free. I was happy to do this without issues. However, they have started advertising free bridge classes to the wider community, and some have started attending. I feel a bit agrieved at this, as I could (presumably) earn money for teaching these non-students.

Any suggestions? Say I were to insist on a fee, what is the going rate for a 2 hour bridge lesson?

[mikeh]

mr1303, on 2010-November-02, 08:54, said:

Hi all

I currently offer my services to a university bridge club for free. I was happy to do this without issues. However, they have started advertising free bridge classes to the wider community, and some have started attending. I feel a bit agrieved at this, as I could (presumably) earn money for teaching these non-students.

Any suggestions? Say I were to insist on a fee, what is the going rate for a 2 hour bridge lesson?

I also give free lessons, altho only for 1/2 hour a week, at a Q & A session before a weekly game. If you are doing it because you want to give something back, or for other altrustic reasons (as seems to be the case), my suggestion would be to ask for a nominal fee. The fact that non-club members are coming to your lessons is not a reason, imo, to change your attitude to a commercial one. In fact, I'd see it as a compliment to your abilities as a teacher. And surely the more players you bring into the game, the better you will feel about what you are doing.

Now, if the increased attendance is placing demands on you to be more structured, or to take more time preparing and so on, then something more than a nominal fee might seem more appropriate.

I hope these thoughts help...and thanks for doing what you are doing.

[Trinidad]

I learnt to play bridge when I was in university (MSU, Go Green! Go White!) in the nineties with the ACBL series by Audrey Grant. AFAIK our teacher was paid by the ACBL for teaching university students. I think he charged a fee for non students. Since I was a student ACBL paid for my lessons.

I don't know whether ACBL still offers this program. I can imagine it is limited to ACBL accredited teachers only (I don't know if you are), but it should be worth a call to Memphis.

Rik

[Phil]

I've been directing a game for about a year on Friday afternoons. I would give a free lecture before the game, although I would not spend any time in lesson preparation so the lecture was mostly seat-of-the-pants. The topics focused on card play and bidding judgment about the prior weeks hands (we have hand records).

I never though it would turn into anything profitable for me, and I did it to try to build attendance at the game, although it did not have any measurable impact. I would have 5 to 15 people at the lecture, depending on my turnout at the game which ranges from 22 to 30 tables.

Several people came up to me and requested that the lessons be more structured and that I charge. So beginning 10/1, I ended the 'free' lessons, and started charging $10 each. Its a good bargain (I think) for a two hour class with a 9-12 page handout. I have had as low as 8 and as high as 25 so it definitely augments what I make as a director, and I expect it will grow to 30-40. One lady who teaches a B/I series generally gets 70-80 for her classes (also charges $10), and she has three different time slots so it can be very lucrative.

I know of several professional players that run bridge camps and getaways. While they do well at these weekends, these classes are fertile ground for developing a client base for pro dates. I have already been approached about private lessons from several of the attendees, and I'll likely pick up some client partnerships as well. A few years ago, I was supporting the other four Claytons by playing and teaching, but I haven't done much of that until this started.

So, go ahead and do it for free, but do not be be surprised if you get overtures about doing it for pay. I would not feel slighted if you are getting free advertising either. Even if nothing substantial ever comes from it, you are getting your name out there, and it may morph into another opportunity some time.

One more thing: Teaching will definitely improve your skills, especially if you are preparing lesson plans. At lectures, you have to think on your feet, which also will make you a stronger player.

[Venom]

One evening, back in 1969 when I first started playing duplicate bridge, I asked one of my opps (reputed to be an excellent player) for advice on how to bid some hand. His arrogant response still rings in my ears like a poison (and I don't mean fish). He told me, and I quote, that he "charges a fee for his opinions or advice". I was only 19 at the time, didn't have a clue bridge-wise, and felt like "what a mean snob that guy is". And this occurred before the advent of professional bridge players during the 70s. I swore to myself that I would never treat another person like this guy had treated me. Not that I have the credentials imo that would justify charging another person for lessons.

I currently have one student on BBO who is not being charged a penny. It's sort of an experiment for me to see if I can actually teach and to see how a student might respond to my methods. The feedback so far has been good. However, even if this experiment is a success, I see no reason to charge people for teaching them how to reason and think. Most of the material is available in written form anyway: what is different might be how I've assimilated and present it. I am quite willing to share what I know and/ or think without strings attached. And, many of you who know me know that some of my ideas are not "traditional" although I teach more basic issues.

I guess this all places me in the category of one who is just trying to give a little something back. I only wish that I had the money that some of these people who hire these professional have.

DHL/ DON aka Double !

[Echognome]

I have a lot of sympathy for the poster. Having taught pro bono at a University, I did it because I wanted to give back specifically to the university where I worked. I would not have been happy if the club advertised Free Lessons without consulting me. If I would have been approached about the suggestion, I would have declined, since I didn't want to be in the business of giving lessons for pay and wanted to specifically focus on university students with my teaching. I think teaching university students is quite different than teaching a more general and likely older crowd. I also did not have any desire to profit from my venture. So, I would have politely declined and pointed the people in the direction of a bridge club or even BIL on BBO. I do think it's great that people are giving free lessons, but I certainly understand not wanting to offer lessons for free to just anyone.

For the question at hand, I think you have three options. You can decide to allow for the outside "students" and give free lessons to the larger group. You can accept outside "students" for a fee. Or you can politely decline. You need to do what makes the most sense to you. I would also have a talk with the university students that posted you are giving free lessons, since it wasn't right for them to make such an advertisement without consulting you first.

[kfay]

Trinidad, on 2010-November-02, 09:15, said:

university (MSU, Go Green! Go White!)

Oxymoron, imo. GO BLUE!

[Trinidad]

kfay, on 2010-November-02, 15:29, said:

Trinidad, on 2010-November-02, 09:15, said:

university (MSU, Go Green! Go White!)

Oxymoron, imo. GO BLUE!

Let me just state that I admire your loyalty.

Rik

[NickRW]

mr1303, on 2010-November-02, 08:54, said:

Hi all

I currently offer my services to a university bridge club for free. I was happy to do this without issues. However, they have started advertising free bridge classes to the wider community, and some have started attending. I feel a bit agrieved at this, as I could (presumably) earn money for teaching these non-students.

Any suggestions? Say I were to insist on a fee, what is the going rate for a 2 hour bridge lesson?

I wouldn't feel agrieved (though I can understand you feeling that way) - so long as you're not finding it is any extra burden on your time.

One teacher near me (in the Sussex area) is charging £8.50 so I'm told.

Nick

[gnasher]

If I were you I'd feel more than a bit agrieved. I think it's quite astonishing that the club thought it was OK to do that.

I suggest that you have a fairly robust conversation with the people who created this situation, saying that what they've done is unacceptable, that you're not prepared to give free tuition to anyone except the students, and that if there are any outsiders at the next class you'll refuse to teach them.

[655321]

Arrgh, now even gnasher is doing it, I can't bear it any more, so I will just say that I would be aggrieved too.

[Free]

I definitely wouldn't like that people do this without informing me up front. It feels like they're taking advantage of your goodwill.

I'd have a good conversation and make it clear that this is unacceptable. As far as I understand, you're willing to give free lessens to university students only, so explain this to them. They've created a mess, they can fix it.

[gnasher]

655321, on 2010-November-05, 04:21, said:

Arrgh, now even gnasher is doing it, I can't bear it any more, so I will just say that I would be aggrieved too.

At least I've found a good use for one of my votes.

[helene_t]

We charge gbp 6 for a session which I think takes two hours, maybe a little more. But this includes gbp 1 for coffee and cookie. Not sure if the teacher gets any part of the revenue though, it is possible that the club gets it.

[NickRW]

655321, on 2010-November-05, 04:21, said:

Arrgh, now even gnasher is doing it, I can't bear it any more, so I will just say that I would be aggrieved too.

Velly Solly. Eye normuly trie nut too giv peepl enee aggro. My spallin iz normuly impeckibull.

Nick

[blackshoe]

Since the club created this mess, it's up to the club to fix it. If a bunch of outsiders start showing up for lessons, the club should bear the cost of the lesson. Let's say you decide to charge $8/hr/person. 5 outsiders show up. The club owes you 40 bucks. I would make this clear to the club well before the next session, and if that's unacceptable to them, they can find another teacher. But I wouldn't refuse to teach that next lesson if I haven't said anything to the club, and find that such people have shown up. I might explain the situation to the outsiders, and offer them the chance to pay or leave, but I wouldn't simply refuse to teach them.

[mr1303]

Thanks for the advice.

I have called a committee meeting for tomorrow night. I'll let you know how it goes...

[gwnn]

so how did it go?

[mr1303]

Ah yes. I agreed to charge £5 per class to non-students, split 50:50 between me & the club.

Although my contract hasn't been renewed for next year: -(

[Elianna]

mr1303, on 2010-December-14, 17:06, said:

Ah yes. I agreed to charge £5 per class to non-students, split 50:50 between me & the club.

Although my contract hasn't been renewed for next year: -(

Sounds like a good compromise