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Date Posted: 11:15:07 02/06/24 Tue
Author: school owner
Subject: Before you get all up in arms about St Patrick's Shows.
In reply to: 's message, "St. Patrick's Day shows: how does your school handle these? Do your dancers recieve payment (fundraising for majors) or are they unpaid labor? Does the income go to a nonprofit/tax shelter or to the school business?" on 08:27:26 01/25/24 Thu

Not all schools are making bank at St Patrick's Day. I own a dance school and we do MOST of our St Patrick's Gigs gratis. I know some schools figure out how to make money... but a lot of us doing it as part of our overall program, to give the dancer's performance opportunities and to contribute some community service.

If we are dancing at Senior care units,Schools, Service club Fundraiser dinners, etc I do not charge a fee. I do charge a small fee (under $200, sometimes a LOT under) for private events, public events that are not fund raisers and some higher end fundraisers or fancy Senior Living communities. I try to give parents some gas money if they have to do a lot of driving but I can't do that if we are doing the show gratis. Sometimes the hosts give the kids small tips and I do pass those to the kids.

I have been working way more than full time since late December (my school is small and is not a "full time" job during some parts of the year). It is a lot of work to organize and train dancers for a bunch of different shows. Advanced dancers can pick up show routines quickly, but little beginners need to be trained and I put a lot more thought into my lesson planning this time of year in order to make sure kids are prepared.

I promise you, I am not getting rich on St Patrick's Day. If I counted the extra hours I work on prep, I wouldn't be close to breaking even. Emailing, phone calls, signing up kids, explaining things to new parents, dealing with last minute changes or cancellations, dancer's missing class due to St Patrick's falling in the middle of flu season, costuming, etc etc. It is a lot of work.

I do try to have some opportunities for ALL dancers of ALL levels including teeny tiny's and adults. It isn't that hard to create a few shows at memory care units or pre-schools which are great venue's for brand new/young/nervous dancers. Obviously, the big higher profile shows go to the Advanced dancers... but everyone should have a chance to get out and perform!

I was a music kid growing up. I performed a lot. I seldom got paid. I LEARNED valuable lessons and gained experience that assisted me in my professional life. I actually don't think amateur youth performers "need" to be paid(if the funds are there sometimes, then great...but).They are gaining experience and offering some community service. Most kids like to perform, and are having a fun time with their friends. They aren't the ones doing all the prep work, or sitting up at midnight sewing the costumes, answering emails or re-figuring the show because one kid cancels.

Parent's give up a days work, and drive their kids around all the time. It's called being a parent. I'm lucky I guess. The parents in our school thank me for putting all the shows together and are happy to help. If they need help with a carpool... they ask, and I do my best to help organize that. Get to know the parents in your classes and work together to make it happen for the dancers! It can be done! Teachers really do appreciate parents and families that are their to support their kids performances. Thank you!

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