Is There a standard rate for teachers at a Music School/Store

[Bassman8416]

Hey Everybody,
I went for an interview to teach out of a small Music School/Store. The owner told me $11.50 per half hour and that the first lesson with new students are free,if they come back I get payed if not we "both" take the loss.Does this sound like the norm or is this person being tight....I believe he charges $25 per half hour.
Thank You for your time..........Peace

[RiddimKing]

He's trying to rip you off. He's also probably breaking the law. If you have to show up at his place of business, at hours he specifies, then you're an employee and not an independent contractor. He has to pay you for the hours you work--it's his business, he can't (and ethically shouldn't) ask you to "share the loss" of his loss-leader come on of a free lesson. I'd go elsewhere, or place a Craigslist ad and take on your own students.

[DocBop]

Originally Posted by RiddimKing

He's trying to rip you off. He's also probably breaking the law. If you have to show up at his place of business, at hours he specifies, then you're an employee and not an independent contractor. He has to pay you for the hours you work--it's his business, he can't (and ethically shouldn't) ask you to "share the loss" of his loss-leader come on of a free lesson. I'd go elsewhere, or place a Craigslist ad and take on your own students.

There is nothing illegal about what the store is doing. He might be taking a larger cut than most, but nothing illegal, you are not an employee, you are an independent contractor. Stores take a cut because (at least the ones I've taught at) took care of collecting the money from the student or parents. I would still get paid if a flaky student didn't show because the store made students pay a month in advance. They also informed me of cancelations to save me time. They cleaned up the lesson room and kept decent gear in there. They did adverstising that they offered lessons. I just had to show up and teach. If you have taught privately that is worth give a reasonable cut to the store for.

[MikeBass]

When I taught, the shop charged me a "rental fee" for the room.
It was something like $3 of the rate- which was $15 half hour.

Sort of like what hair stylists have to do. They "rent" their chair in the salon.

They also had a policy of the first lesson free, but they paid me my $12 and didn't get anything from me.
Their thought was the students are going to come back, buy strings, maybe a new bass or amp, set-ups ect....

This guy sounds like a tool.

[dulouz]

I teach at a local store where they charge all of the teachers $2.25 per lesson rent. You are expected to pay rent even if the student does not attend, or pay for, the lesson. The teachers are free to set their own rates. They range from $16-$20 per half hour.

You might do better to go out on your own or find a different store. There are some big advantages of teaching from a store though:
1. They get you students
2. They provide some gear
3. They cove any liability, we hope.
4. There is access to most anything the students need: books, strings, repairs, etc...

Good Luck.

[Bassman8416]

Thanks for the input gentlemen. I do think $11.50 is just too low.Perhaps another store and getting some more private students seems to be the direction I'll head towards.

Namaste