What do you do if the student does not turn up?

i use to take lessons while playing drums so it can relate i never missed a lessons or phone in to cancel at a short notice but if they phone up to cancel again tell them that you will not book in another lesson but tell them to phone up later when they wanna book it. Just they might feel bad and unsure about the date so give them time to think it over.

I have a 24 hour cancellation policy, and try to have the majority of students pay per term ( 10 weeks)- this means the non-cancelled lessons can be payed for easily.

Go round to house and slap on head hard.
If don't turn up again go round house and hit with spade on head.

The student pays every 4th lesson.  They pay 4 lessons in advance.

This means on lesson 4, their next payment is due, not on lesson one.

If they don't show, they've paid for that lesson.  They just didn't take it.  They will still be due on Lesson 4.

When you start out with those ground rules, you'll find a lot of issues go away.

Let's say though, that once in a while someone just flubs...especially after youve been teaching a while, you learn to be graceful...sometimes life happens.  But you'll come to know those who are sincere and always do things, from those who are flaking.

I dont think a guitar teacher should ever feel bad about asking for the fee, or even what they are asking.  We are not beggars for alms, we are legitimate service providers and professionals, and we are worth what we ask.  We should never put ourselves subordinate to others, as if we are just begging for their scraps.  People will walk all over you.

If you go get fuel in the car does the attendant have to beg us to pay?  No.  If we eat at a restaurant, does the cook have to come out and beg us to pay? No.  Neither should it be with ourselves as service providers, if we truly believe in what we do, and that it is a legitimate service.

As long as we are seeing ourselves as professional, others will as well.  Never beg for your bread, amigos.

If I have a student that continually calls in or misses, I gently suggest that I may want their time slot for someone that can make it more, not in a shaming way, but why keep this prime slot if you can't make it.  Tell you what, next time you're free, call me and I'll tell you what I have available.

9-10 times, they get the point and the problem is solved.  They make their lessons more regularly. 

Instructor

Erm?

In this recessionary time, just getting a new student is bad enough, let alone get them to pay up front!

I haven't enough students to lay down the law, but I have a friend who teaches SAX (and gets £60 /hr!!) She charges cancellation and they bloody pay up!

Sadly, there are far toooo many Guitar teachers and students are spoiled for choice. Thus, I get a lot of 'one-offs'. Typical case:

A guy in 40s is bought a £99 all in one amp/strap/guitar set for Xmas and thinks he knows guitar cos he had one once before(!) but Can't get it, or himself, to sound like Guthrie Govan now! So comes to a lesson thinking one lesson will sort him out... he doesn't say this, but is usually the tone of whole lesson. I inevitably have to do on-the-fly intonation of their their plank(!) de(out-of)tune my guitar to have some semblance of in-tuning between us(!) and find they can't even strike an E cleanly... Then spend more than the allotted time showing basic basic basic but improved technique and secrets... And then they never come back!

http://rockriffs.jimdo.com

I think it is right to charge if they do not turn up. I'd personally give one warning. As long as they are made aware of the fact before it happens.  It is your time & worth it!  Advances do not hurt.