Should classes always start on time?

[dep]

yes, start on time.
if the organisers believe that the start time is unsuitable then change the start time to something more appropriate.
I always try to get there for the advertised start and do both classes.
Some come along after the inter class and expect 90 minutes of freestyle, but here they always get short changed due to the habitual late starts (and late class finish).

[TA Guy]

I think in the end it comes down to respect.

As a customer, I expect the lesson to start when advertised, and that's whether I'm aiming to do it or not. Likewise, if 90 minutes of freestyle is advertised, then I expect 90 minutes of freestyle.

To make those promises to your paying customers and then not deliver is showing disrespect to your paying customers.

Those that arrive late, of course this happens to everyone from time to time, it's unfortunate, but I've never heard anyone, no matter how many minutes or hours late, whinge at the organisers for the crime of starting on time.


(I suppose a rare exception might be something that delays everybody, say a road accident nearby or somfing. Also, things go wrong, e.g. if an organisers mic blows up, sometimes delays can't be helped)

[Astro]

Originally Posted by Lory

Also another point which I made in the other thread is...
The teachers might be getting a false impression of what's really going on....
Dancers might turn up later to avoid the class only to discover its only just started So they might decide to join in, to simply save them from sitting around getting bored (or drinking too much wine in some cases )

Or freezing to death.

[frodo]

Slightly one side poll that.

Originally Posted by Cruella

Should they always start at the advertised time?
...

I think they should, but the advertised start time should be moved later to compensate for effectively moving them earlier.

Strict (start) timing of the class could be made clear on any advertising.


It is a bit of a lost opportunity, when I could have gone, if only I knew in advance they were going to start late.

[Spiky Steve]

I think it common sense that different rules apply to week nights and freestyles where the times available differ.

For a class night there is usually no dancing prior to a class and it's great if it all starts and ends on time. Whatever that is.

For the freestyle it's a different matter. In the case of Utopia at Ashton's I was happy dancing before the class and I didn't realise the late start.

So I'm not complaining and I'm not complaining whenever there is an extra couple of tracks or more played at the end of the night. I don't believe many would complain at that.

Steve

[DavidY]

(From the other thread)

Originally Posted by frodo

When my travel time exceeds 4 hours, I particularly like a (reachable) class, for the class itself, to start the evening off and to help find people to dance with later.

A class makes travelling less hit and miss, and hence an easier decision to make.

Originally Posted by jinski

For the less experienced and confident the class at the start of the night is invaluble as you get to meet new people ans therefore people to dance with once the evening starts proper!

As a newbe I would always make the class of a free style event so that i could actually dance and not be intimidated. They are invaluable.

If you've travelled a long way and don't know many people there, having a class is a good way to break the ice, especially if you're a newbie. So I don't mind there being a class at freestyles - I think they're a good way to start a night, as long as they are at the start and don't go on too late.

[Martin]

Originally Posted by Trousers

Surely the most important thing in a club night is that the lessons should cease at the correct time. The correct lesson times also being displayed where you pay to remove doubt.

That's the important thing Finish the lesson and start the freestyle on time.

Originally Posted by Trousers

<snip>

This is the point I am trying to make which I think missed you.
<snip>

No I think I got it in my first reply to you...

Originally Posted by Martin

Yes important...

But also important not to leave people hanging at the start time...

So I am not aguing that the finish time is important, as I have said "Yes important".

I fully agree end time is very important

Originally Posted by Trousers

However - regardless of what you meant the start time is still irrelevant.

This is the bit I was discussing, the title of the thread, about start times "Should classes always start on time?"

Originally Posted by Rocky

I think if you really are so pedantic about start times Martin then I personally think that is wrong.

<snip>

I think the sun has got to you mate..

You might have something there - it could be the sunstroke

Originally Posted by bigdjiver

All could practise spinning technique, log walks, triple steps and other footwork, double trouble, attitude, stying whatever.

[martingold]

Originally Posted by Trousers

However the more important part to the majority of the dancers is the freestyle section of the evening.

?

I think you are wrong on a normal class night the majority of the dancers are there for the class.
The freestyle is generally used to practice what you have just learned i would say at chelmsford we only get about 5% (out of between 120 and 150 people) sitting out or comming in late waiting for the freestyle as it is cheaper if you dont arrive for the lesson

Originally Posted by Rocky

I think if you really are so pedantic about start times Martin then I personally think that is wrong. I'll give you an example: Just after the New Year we ran our normal class on Monday night at Twickers and it also clashed with a sporting event on TV. So we not only had the usual influx of extra ladies start in the New Year but we also had a temporary scaricity of men. This meant that we had 2 men and 22 women.

So what we did was be creative. We put on some music explained the delay and Val and I danced about 2 mins with each lady to get them warmed up and to make up for the delay. We then started the class at 8pm whereby we had another 6 men through the door. We then shortened the freestyle between beginners and intermediate class by 5 mins and then also adapted our intermediate class to make it easier so that we could get through it, without rushing, with ten minutes to spare (We have always run a 45min intermediate class at Twickers rather than the usual 30mins anyway). Result, happy customers and freestyle starting on time.

during the last big football event on telly we had more men than women odd eh?
I think there are exceptions to every rule but i do feel that in general the class should start within 5 mins of the advertised time during a lesson night cause as others have said if you start late regularly people will turn up later and later again in chelmsford we have proved that so we always try to start on time

Originally Posted by Spiky Steve

I think it common sense that different rules apply to week nights and freestyles where the times available differ.

common sense??? on a modern jive forum ??

[ben632664]

A couple of weeks ago I started my beginners class dead on time with 6 people. Thats 6 people, not 6 couples!! It was almost a private lesson!!

People will soon learn what venues start their classes late and those that start on time. The number of people at the start of the evening was no reflection on the evening itself as we ended up with over 130. It was just an unusually slow evening to start I reckon the reason for this was the fact that the class was on the Sunday after the clocks had gone forward so everyone was an hour behind, which is why most arrived late

However on an average night I would normally start teaching around 3 minutes into the advertised time just to allow for the people who had turned up on time but are queuing to get in the door.

[Mini Mac]

[QUOTE 8.) Advanced dancers should participate more in beginners/intermediate classes to help new people along.[/quote]

I totally agree with this statement...when i go to stevenage on a wednesday i always take part in the beginners class even though i am now intermediate because they're are always are new people who need some help and encouragement and i try to help my partner if they're not quite getting it

my friend tom never turns up for the beginners class and when i ask him why he always replies that he doesnt need to do it anymore because he's intermediate..well he is fantastic but maybe he could be a lady and let me have a go at leading lol or improve his style...

[Trousers]

This is a heated agreement.

The thread theme was should classes, when staged, be started at the advertised time. Obviously Yes is the answer.

However sometimes things go wrong but as a general aim it's still right.

Personally I think the more important time to keep, is the end time of a lesson.
That's my opinion and I'm allowed it.

As to the virtue of whether you do the class or not that's down to our personal choice. Personally it depends on whether I got out of work on time, whether I was hungry, whether I was busy shagging before hand, whether the moves are rubbish or if there is someone I'd like to socialise with (because of course it is a social event). But remember as long as Ceroc etc offer the reduced price for those that turn up late they will continue to turn up late and not partake of the lesson.

[Martin]

Originally Posted by ben632664

However on an average night I would normally start teaching around 3 minutes into the advertised time just to allow for the people who had turned up on time but are queuing to get in the door.

Well that is the thing.

I would venture to suggest that if you started the class on time, even if there is a queue at the door, that in time, that queue at the door will get smaller, as people realise they need to turn up in "better" time to get through the door, get settled, and be there in time for the advertised start time.

Originally Posted by Trousers

This is a heated agreement.

The thread theme was should classes, when staged, be started at the advertised time. Obviously Yes is the answer.

However sometimes things go wrong but as a general aim it's still right.

A heated agreement here

The problem comes when the starting late, becomes a norm.

Originally Posted by Trousers

Personally I think the more important time to keep, is the end time of a lesson.
That's my opinion and I'm allowed it.

That is great, and I am in full support of finishing on time. The only downer for the eager class participant is having thier class cut down, coz someone could not organise to start on time.

Answer to me is simple, start on time and finish on time.