how much do you pay for a private class?

VanillaryPuff started this discussion · 4/2/2013

Hi guys! I'm wondering, how much do/would you pay or how much do you charge for a private lesson in pole? I have been teaching in studios for 2 yrs now and am quite fed up with "studio bitching", so I'm thinking about doing it on my own, either at home or I would come to the student's house, if they're in my city. I only know how much studios charge - that's usually 70-100 euros (slightly more if converted to US dollars ;) ) for 60 minutes. I would take less, for sure - just wanted to know what you think. So if any of you have taken or given 1on1 lessons, I would be thankful if you shared your knowledge with me :) xoxo gingercake

22 replies

chemgoddess1 · 4/2/2013
I have seen prices from $30 to over $100 for a private. It kind of depends on your skill level and aslo what is typical in your area. Where LA and NY herre in the states can get away with higher charges, most of the Midwest cannot.
Charley · 4/2/2013
I have adopted a system that Shadow has used for years because it's pretty brilliant. She has/had different prices absed ont he level you are at. I don't remember the exact $ amounts but I have teired system too. I have a flat rate for regulars and a different rate for non regulars and I have a rate for beginner/int/adv. I'm probably going to develope a choreo rate as well but we will see.
Elektra Vallens · 4/2/2013
The two pole studios in Boston- Super Shag and Boston Pole Fitness both charge $100/hr for private lessons, the last time I checked. In my opinion, that's way too high. The circus school that I take acrobatics classes at charges $60/hr for their private lessons, which seems much more reasonable for a similar value. Likewise, I took a private gymnastics lesson at MIT, and it cost $60/hr. When I teach pole out of my house it's mostly to friends, and I only charge them $20/hr which I know is probably undercharging. Truth be told, I'm more comfortable when I can come up with a barter arrangement, for example one of my students is a masseuse, and she gives me massages in return for lessons.
Monicasaerialadventures · 4/2/2013
Where I work at Love Pole Fitness in Bellingham is $40 for 1 hour private
Monicasaerialadventures · 4/2/2013
I have also paid for up to 100 for a private with certain pole stars
Lee lee · 4/2/2013
The studio I go to charges $40/hour for beginner to intermediate level and $50 for advanced.
VanillaryPuff · 4/3/2013
Thank you ladies! Would you make a difference in the costs of a) teaching at your own house (it's only my living room, not a special polestudio or something, but it's nice and clean of course 😉 and I would provide mats and tea and the like) and b) coming to the student's house (where I would also have to bring my own mat)?
aliceBheartless · 4/3/2013
I would likely charge more to travel. Because it still takes your time and resources when you are traveling and setting up in another space, even though that time is not directly translating to a 1 hour private session. I think that if I were going to start teaching privates, I would try to keep them to my home/a dance studio. Because you can control your environment there in ways you absolutely cannot in other people's homes. IE, taking care of the pole on a regular maintenance schedule, checking its mount, having everything you need as far as mats and cleaners etc, being comfortable in your space (no random other people just showing up or hanging out), and starting on time! If you start traveling to other homes, its possible for some of those things to be sacrificed. Plus, students showing up late is one thing... the teacher showing up late is another (I only say this because I personally cannot get anywhere on time, not because I worry that you don't). I have paid from about $50 through $90 for private lessons with pole stars where I went to the hosting studio. Don't sell yourself short because your time is worth something, but I would think minimum $40, and more if you are traveling.
MellyMelody · 4/4/2013
I know some pole pros that charge over 1000.00!!!!! I'm like kiss my butt. I don't care how good you are. Or how many comps you won. That's just robbery!!!! And yes 1000.00 for 1 lesson the whole day. Which probably is 5-8hrs!!!!
RobynPoleDancer · 4/4/2013
1000 seems pretty extortionate. When Felix came to the UK, her privates were over £200 for the hour. I've paid £190 for 2:1 with Jenyne. Stars that travel a long way to get to you have to factor in their travel and accomodation costs as well as studio hire, before you get to actually charging for expertise. I feel that my privates are priced fairly, but once I've take out the studio hire (and I don't even factor travel), I don't think I'm getting much for my expertise level. I don't want to charge any more, as I think I'd get fewer people booking. I might start using a tier system like Charley. Thanks for the idea. xxx Please be aware that teaching from your home may invalidate your insurance. There are threads here that have advice on this.
Kobajo84 · 4/4/2013
1K seems pretty high! Someone must think highly of themselves! With those prices, I'm going to have to decline in feeling/thinking the same about them. I thought anything more than $50 USD was a lot when it came to workshops...$75 or $100 for privates seems reasonable but you won't see this chick dishing out that much or booking a lesson anytime soon. I like to see my money- either hanging in my closet or on my vanity! LOL. I've taken enough workshops now to realize that half the stuff in the lesson I'm going to forget any way and there's only a few good things I'll actually take away from the experience which is hardly worth the price I initially paid. That's just me though. Most of the time, I'm good with learning old school style and I can just figure things out by watching a video and asking my time with the movement.
chemgoddess1 · 4/4/2013
8 hours at $125/hour is $1000. Depending on what all is involved I really do not think that is too crazy for privates. I have paid $50-80 for a 90 minute workshop where there were many others in the room so an intensive one on one for an entire day at that price I don't think is out of line. Would I pay it, no, but not out of line.
JenLFG · 4/4/2013
i have never taken a one on one private lesson but i have gone to workshops & paid $75 - $100 for 1 hour with 7 other girls in the workshop with me. that was with a pro though.
Kira · 4/4/2013
I saw a high profile poler do workshops in Sweden for £50 per hr (after conversion from Swedish Krona) but when she was doing workshops in UK it was £90 per hr! There's only 2 hrs difference between these 2 countries for flights, I can't believe the price difference :( the classes would be booked out either way because of how famous she is so I can't imagine what's with the price hike. Anyway, I've seen local studio owners charge £35 all the way up to £100 for a 1 hr private
chemgoddess1 · 4/4/2013
Most studios will bump the price of a workshop if the polebrity allows it. Some say they cannot and just give a percentage of their total take. There was a studio I was considering going to for one of Alethea's workshops until I saw the price, and I know full well that there was at least $25-30 per person tacked on to her normal price.
MellyMelody · 4/4/2013
Some people are just down right crazy charging that much. I'm sorry but I don't care how awesome you are. No one should be charging that much. Thats why I will always learn on my own. YouTube and studio Veena....
Lina Spiralyne · 4/4/2013
Raven Kai: Maybe this instructor (whoever she was) went for a lower price in Sweden thinking that so would be needed to attract students? Pole isn't as big here as in the UK. Perhaps she charged more in UK because she knew that she could? Agree 90 pounds an hour is a lot though, agree on that.
LiveOnceMuseFitness · 4/4/2013
I think you need to remember that one on one any where, even in fitness, is aprox $80 per hour with an experienced trainer. This is standard. If someone was charging less, I would question their expertice. I dont think paying around $80 for a one on one is out of line. To be honest, I think pole lessons are even more specific than personal training at a gym. If you hired a trainer that was "sports specific" you would be paying even more than that.
yogabeachbabe · 4/5/2013
If you are teaching privately (outside of a studio), make sure you've got proper insurance! Even if your clients sign waivers, if something goes horribly wrong you still liable. If you are not under the general liability insurance of your studio, you need to have individual insurance. I would only teach out of my own home if I were teaching privately. As the above posts stated, you can control your environment and it's standards. You wouldn't have to travel (which wastes time and costs you money). You also would have equipment that is not necessarily mobile (you may have several poles with different diameters or made of different materials or a crash mat which is important in terms of your liability). I think that a lot of private instructors charge according to their own accrediation and certifications. The more experience someone has, the more knowledge they are likely to have and therefore may have more tools in their toolbelt to help each client individually. I've gone to studios and have taken privates for between $65-$100. Sometimes it's been "worth it" and other times it hasn't. But if you are traveling to other people's houses, you've got to figure in travel time and costs into your fee for sure!
MissFit · 4/5/2013
I agree that pricing should be in line with what personal trainers would be charging in your area. At my studio, I consider 1 on 1 pole training on par with personal training, and charge accordingly. I have different pricing dependent on the number of sessions the student wants to do, ranging from $55-$65 per session. As a side note, I'm now very hesitant to bring in guest instructors, no matter how well known they are, because of the amount they charge. Most ask the studio for a large per head, anywhere from $40-$75 per student, they require a minimum amount of heads per workshop, which the studio is responsible for covering should registration not be met, and to top it off, we are asked to charge no more than $15-$20 on top of their per head, of which we are using to pay their airfare and accommodations. The last guest instructor I brought in,myself and my instructors busted our asses for our studio to profit a whopping $200. High workshop prices are not always a case of the studio gouging...
Kobajo84 · 4/6/2013
Some of you noted that lessons at 1k were for 5-8 hour lessons. I'd like to just say that any lesson for this duration, no matter how advanced you are, seems like a bad idea and a recipe for injury. It just seems negligent of a trainer to one on one an individual for this long. Advanced students are still prone to injuries, if not more because they are more likely to put themselves into riskier situations due to their competitive nature and desire to get the most from their experience. Every one on one situation I've encountered, the material moves faster than a traditional class format and a lesson 5 hours or more I would expect to work just the same. Over use injuries are very serious and long private lessons just seem to be a great way to acquire one or many of these.
ShonaLancs · 4/7/2013
With my instructor a 1 hour private 1-2-1 is £20, with a more advanced instructor I think it's £25. I'm about to do a workshop with Sarah Scott and that's £38 inc room hire in a group class. It seems a lot more expensive to pole in the US!