Bolo, as an instructor, why do some instructors insist on on signing up students for long term contracts like 1 year? I know a benefit is it guarantees income for a length of time.
But from a student's perspective it stinks.
class schedules are subject to change, they can change to something that is not convenient to me. classes could even be canceled - for instance twice a day to once a day.
tough to gauge the chemistry you have with the instructor and other students from a single introductory class.
personally, i like the month to month contract.
Most people lack discipline and consistancy. This is a simple fact. That is why fitness gyms, cell phone companies, etc.... all require contracts.
A martial art school is first and foremost a business. If the instructor is not able to make a consistant enough income to cover all his expenses and make a decent take-home income, there will be no school for you to train at.
It is not about what you like, it is about what an instructor has to do to make a living and keep his school open.
perfectly said bolo. i am going to use that.
contracts = bad
Rule of thumb (for me) any instructor who requires a contract for you to sign up is bad news. This goes for anyone including Rickson.
I totally understand the need for an instructor to make money, however I've been through and seen horror stories when dealing with contracts.
A majority of times when something bad happens with contracts, it is because the student did not read the contract carefully and do not take responsibility for their own actions.
If the instructor does not have a structured payment plan
(contracts, 3 months in advance, etc), the instructor is
usually ripped off by some of his/her students.
I have seen many instructors try to be the nice guy and
get taken advantage of so many times.
One of the clubs I train at used to be casual payment - even well meaning guys would occasionally forget to pay... plus it meant the instructor had to waste an extra 30min of his time trying to account for everything and sort out change... There's also more commitment from beginners if they know they're paying for a longer period as well...
2c
Tim.
Let me put this question out to you guys, all theoretical:
What if you encountered a school where at first you liked the instructor, everything seemed like all that you expected. You even took a weeks worth of classes before signing up officially. You sign your contract for a year and everything looks good.
A couple weeks later you find out you have a lazy ass instructor that is not running a martial arts school, but rather something that resembles a cult.
What would you say then?
Haa! Haa! I'd say that you better quit BJJ because a majority of BJJ instructors and schools are like that. :)
Actually, document exact situations and times in which you feel the instructor is not providing the proper service. If you know of anyone else that is not happy with the service, get them to document too. Most contract payments are collected by billing companies. Call the billing company and ask them what happens if you are not being given the service that your contract agrees you give payment for. Tell them you want the contract cancelled because the the school did not hold up their end of the contract and simply stop paying.
I hear what your saying Mike but that whole process is very stressful and time consuming.
There are BJJ schools that take monthly fees without a contract, Renzo Gracie Academy NYC for example.
I believe Renzo's fees are also very expensive. There is no way that a non-Brazlian and non-Gracie can survive teaching BJJ at a school, without any other sources of income, and make a full time living without contracts.
contracts are part of business - all health clubs, tennis and swim, golf clubs, etc. - require contracts for payment. month-to-month contracts are usually at higher rates. but you asked, "why long term contracts?" it's because the brazilians have quickly learned the american ways and applied business fundamentals to running jj academies. these methods should be applauded.
...Provided business practices like punctuality, reliability, customer service, attention to detail, etc. are also learned and applied... :)