Hello Everyone!
As most of you know, things have not been running very smoothly at the kwoon with financially related matters. I have students who come and go (in one month ... out two ... back for two ... out for three, etc.) and only about four students who are consistently attending classes. As you may guess, this is not getting the bills paid for the kwoon!
I have been thinking about what to do, and have discussed this with those who ARE actually showing up for class. We decided that (1) I am not charging enough for people having the privilege of learning Jeet Kune Do from me and (2) some are interested in having class two nights per week. When people are looking into something "different" like Jeet Kune Do, much is based on what is called "perceived value". They go to the local tae kwon do school and find the fees to be around $100.00 a month, then they come to us and find out that our fee is $60.00 a month. Rather than consider the actual ART that they have the opportunity to learn, they may instead think ... "Hmmm, tae kwon do costs more so therefore it must be better!" When in reality (as we all know), NOTHING could be further form the truth!
I have suddenly come to realize (to the horror of any cheapskates out there) that I have been charging WAY LESS than I should have been charging for classes for MANY YEARS! I have always tried to keep my prices down to make the classes available to those who could not afford much, but by doing so I have been cutting my own throat! A soft heart does not a good businessman make! I have come to realize that I have to start thinking on a more practical level, and charging what the class is actually worth!
Starting in October I will be charging a flat fee of $100.00 per month for class, and class will be held two nights per week! After careful consideration of the nights available, I have decided that I would like to have class on (my first choice) Monday and Friday nights from 7:30 to 9:30, (my second choice) Tuesday and Friday nights from 7:30 to 9:30 or (my third choice) Tuesday and Thursday nights from 7:30 to 9:30. Those of you who seriously plan to continue training with me think about these nights and let me know.
I personally like the Monday/Friday plan the best. That way the days are spread out better between classes and on Fridays we could all go to the China Wok after class for dinner (they are open until 11:00 on Friday nights). I miss the old days where we had a Friday night class and eveyone would go out for some good food, fun and discussion after class. I would love to have that again! Also, if we have class on Friday nights, those who come in from out of town for weekend events could come in on Friday and participate in class! These are just my thoughts, though! I would like to know what you are thinking also!
Once again, this plan will start in October, so I need to know what you all are thinking! Please share your thoughts on the forum or send me an email ( Sifu@HardcoreJKD.com )letting me know your thoughts! I hope this plan will work, and I look forward to seeing more dedication and involvement from all students! We can do this!
Keep Blasting!
Sifu Lamar M. Davis II
Senior Instructor
Hardcore Jeet Kune Do
Sifu@HardcoreJKD.com
JKD@windstream.net
http://www.HardcoreJKD.com
Phone (205) 296-7070 (Incoming Only)
"Hit Hard, Hit Fast, Hit First - ALWAYS!"
"What is Jeet Kune Do (JKD)? Chinese martial art, definitely! It is a kind of Chinese martial art that does away with the distinction of branches, an art that rejects formality, an art that is liberated from tradition." __Bruce Lee
