Should classes always start on time?

[Cruella]

Due to a discussion on this thread after this post I thought it would be interesting to see what others thought about classes starting later than advertised.

Should they always start at the advertised time?

Is it OK to start late if the teacher thinks that there should be more people in the class to make it worthwhile?

Do you arrive late on purpose at freestyles to avoid the class?

Should freestyles have classes at all?

[Northants Girly]

Yes
No
Yes
No

[Cruella]

Originally Posted by Northants Girly

Yes
No
Yes
No

There's always one that's too impatient to wait for the poll

[Yliander]

I think all classes should start on time - if simple out of respect for those that have showed up on time to do the class - those that arrive late will soon learn that they need to arrive on time if they want to do a class.

as to classes at freestyles - I think at speciality freestyles that is is good for those new to the speciality to have short taster class early in the evening - as it makes the speciality more accesible to those that are new to it. But it should start on time.

[martingold]

Originally Posted by Cruella

Due to a discussion on this thread after this post I thought it would be interesting to see what others thought about classes starting later than advertised. Should they always start at the advertised time? Is it OK to start late if the teacher thinks that there should be more people in the class to make it worthwhile? Do you arrive late on purpose at freestyles to avoid the class? Should freestyles have classes at all?

Classes on lesson nights should always start on time as people will always turn up later and later if the teacher starts the class late to accommodate them we found this in chelmsford and it cuts into the freestyle time.

as for classes on freestyle nights sometimes (special nights) a fun class could be a good thing but in general i think there shouldnt be a class

[jeanie]

I think classes should start on time (unless there is a problem getting into venue/setting up). People will always turn up during the clas and it's upto them whether they sit out or join in.

[Martin]

Originally Posted by Northants Girly

Yes
No
Yes
No

[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.

[Lory]

Originally Posted by Yliander

I think all classes should start on time - if simple out of respect for those that have showed up on time to do the class -

If teachers start to accomodate those who arrive later and later, what kind of message does it send out?

It starts to set a precedent and has the potential to get worse and worse each week!

IMO its rude and ignorant of dancers, to expect the teachers and other dances to wait!

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 )

[Cruella]

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.

Pedantic! This is the reason to be punctual in starting the class, then they will finish in time, without having to skimp on the lesson.

[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.

Yes important...

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

[Lynn]

Classes should start on time cos if not, as already pointed out on the other thread, people expect them to start later and therefore arrive later and so on.

At freestyles - personally, as I'm still introducing new people to dancing (not that I have many friends who I haven't invited to dancing!) a short class early on can give them some basics if they haven't danced before. And I can see some sense in there being a specialist class at an event like Utopia. But have these early in the night, as it is meant to be a freestyle night, not a class night.

I see no point at all in a 'fun' class at a freestyle as the people who want to learn some useful moves don't get what they need and the people who just want to freestyle have to wait.

Yes - they need to be on time. Most people turn up after the class on a freestyle night. Having the class later means people will arrive later, which means less people on the dance floor and the whole thing starting later.

[Trousers]

Originally Posted by Cruella

Pedantic! This is the reason to be punctual in starting the class, then they will finish in time, without having to skimp on the lesson.

Typical woman - You really need to say what you mean.


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

You must know that feeling of dispair when you watch the run through of the ensuing lesson to see a walk or a seducer lead and you know that there is no way on earth in the average venue that it will be taught in full in 30 minutes.
It's an old charter or something. Walks = Overrun

So at the posted time the routine should be terminated in the must effective manner and freestyle started.

[Agente Secreto]

Yes
No
No
Yes

I like classes as icebreakers on freestyles. I accept that many of the people on the forum are 'hardened' dancers, and don't need help to get loosened, some of the newbies do and a short sharp fun class can do this.

For instance at the Jive Nites Spring Ball Adam and Tas taught a fun class about an hour into the night. By the time they'd finished everyone was laughing and the party mood had been well and truly cemented. They taught a swing class - and we were dancing MJ so it was not about teaching but all about getting people into the right mood.

[Cruella]

Originally Posted by Agente Secreto

. I accept that many of the people on the forum are 'hardened' dancers,

Only on the good, frotting nights!

[Martin]

Originally Posted by Trousers

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

No the start time is relevant...

Many times I have turned up, and start time has been put back... me and many others have waisted our time for inconsiderate people breaking the contract of advertised start time.

[Rocky]

Good grief... how did I know that the poll would be skewed based on how it was categorised...
The posts that started this was based on a very specific event and to therefore generalise it to encompass all classes makes it irrelevant. So, this is how it should be titled and conducted if it is to be relevant to the thread whence it came:

Should Classes that form part of a 5 hour freestyle allow for 15 minutes discretion by the teachers in start times?

1.) Yes, they should always start at the advertised time regardless of the length of freetstyle subsequently on offer.
2.) It's OK to start up to 15mins late (but no later) if the teacher thinks that the gender balance is incorrect.
3.) I arrive late to avoid the class.
4.) I turn up half way through, sometimes and the I join in.
5.) I turn up half way through to avoid doing them.
6.) ALL, Freestyles regardless of the genre of dance style, shouldn't have a class.

and the 2 extra sections.

7.) Freestyles that cater for a specialist sector of the market should have lessons to encourage new people.
8.) Advanced dancers should participate more in beginners/intermediate classes to help new people along.

[Trousers]

Originally Posted by Martin

No the start time is relevant...

Many times I have turned up, and start time has been put back... me and many others have waisted our time for inconsiderate people breaking the contract of advertised start time.

Explain because I feel you are just arguing because you want to argue.

[Dreadful Scathe]

Not starting the class at the right time (on purpose) is lying to your customers. Customers don't like that Would a train wait for "a few more passengers" ? They do seem to up here sometimes