The Scam Called Kid Recital Videos
Posted on 07 23, 2007 under Doodads by Noodad |
[editor's note] This article spawned a follow-up article on choosing a dance studio after a fierce-turned-friendly-flame war in the comments.
Videotaping your kid's soccer game or ballet performance no longer means carrying a typewriter-sized box on your shoulder. Gone are the days where every school holiday concert is filed with dads in the aisles trying to catch the best angle for their Spielbergian masterpiece. But the absence of these situations is not because of the smaller video cameras out in the market. No, it is because companies are hiding behind their "value-add" and "professional quality" facades and gang raping parents in the auditorium.
So this is one of those critical junctions in the article where I have lost you or you already know where I'm going with this. Here's the deal.
My 4 year old daughter takes ballet lessons. Cool right? And she totally gets into it. She's got the shoes, the leotards, the tights, the whole nine yards. So at the end of the year we get to go watch her perform with her class. This mind you, is a performance where every class from every age group in the entire dance studio performs.
Now I can on and on on how you have to not only pay for the classes but you need to pay for the costume, the fancy sweatshirt with the embroidered name on the sleeve, the professional pictures with her in costume, and even the tickets to the show but that may make you think this is all a scam. I don't mind paying for the costume…or the tickets for that matter (although it is sort of a rip off because they know people aren't going to miss the performance no matter how much they charge).
{mosnooad}That is all reasonable. What isn't reasonable is the following situation. You are not allowed to take pictures or video during the performance. Why? Well, because the dance academy decided to hire a professional video production company and by forbidding personal cameras you had to purchase the professional one.Sucks right? Well, here is where we get to the gang raping part. My daughter was awesome! I'm sure every parent thought the same for their kid. I couldn't take my eyes off of her for the entire performance. Which is a good thing because my memories is all I will ever have. You see, after spending $30 (yes, $30) and waiting 4 weeks for delivery, the video I got barely showed my daughter. Her class was pretty big and the dance line stretched across the stage. So the entire performance had the camera panning back and forth. I basically saw my daughter 4 times in a 3 minute period.
Here's what gets me pissed off:
-It's one thing to give a value-add video option for people who want it but don't tell me I can't videotape my own daughter after I spent over $200 for all the other supplies.
-And if you do tell me I can't videotape, don't screw me by charging $30 for it. That is crazy. I could buy a doubledisc Special Edition movie for $20, so why is a rinky dink operation like this charging me an arm and 2 legs?
-And if you do charge me $30 at least separate out each performance as a separate track and make a frigging menu screen instead of just a file naming screen.
-And if you don't take the time to at least give me something remotely like a professional disc, don't insult me by saying this is a professional recording and it is unlawful to make copies.
You know what? I'm making copies. I'm burning copies for every person in my family. I'm posting them on YouTube. I'm selling the master to some dude in China so he can sell them on the streets of Beijing for $5. I'm bit torrenting them. I'm sending them to public access TV, I'm sending it in to America's Funniest Home Videos. And most importantly, I am sending this article to Dateline NBC so someone can do something about this scam.
So Noodads, take this as a warning. If you see a restriction like "No videocameras", consider bringing a small camera and shooting yourself anyway.
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That\'s $.4838 per second.
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As for the recital video, we don\'t allow parents to videotape the night of the performance as the auditorium is very crowded and raised camcorders would block the view of others. However, we do allow parents to videotape the night of the dress rehearsal. It\'s a clean run-through, so the only difference in a dress rehearsal video is there are fewer folks applauding at the conclusion of each number. Parents can even position themselves in front of the stage during their child\'s performance to make their videos and take pictures.
We do not allow flash photography at the performance as it makes the experience more difficult for students who are nervous about performing. We do allow it at the dress rehearsal since there are fewer nerves that evening and we do want parents to be able to take pictures.
Recital tickets are $2, and each family receives two at no cost. Programs are $3. I do the recital DVD, and it is $20 but includes the holiday recital video (with the chapter markers you mentioned), the dress rehearsal, and a picture slideshow.
I don\'t know what dance studio choices are in your area, but I hope you can find one that provides a better value for your investment.
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Just FYI.
A) the video company charges me $3000 YES that\'s $3000 to video tape and copy the DVDs. (don\'t believe me? go through your phone book and call a few companies randomly and ask how much it is)I make ZERO from this video.
Since I have a conscience and its my choice to have this professionally done, I allow the parents to video tape the dress rehearsal. No one wants some obnoxious guy jockeying for position to tape his kid while you are trying to enjoy the show....not to mention the geniuses to refuse to stay in their seat but have to go to the foot of the stage to video tape, completely distracting not only their own, but every OTHER 4 year old on the stage.....leaving them staring at Susie\'s Daddy who is waving and trying to get Susie\'s attention instead of remembering their dance.
B) I can control who comes in and tapes at dress rehearsal . Anyone can buy a ticket for the show. That means anyone , if you had your way, would be able to video tape your little girl and plaster it all over You Tube. Where have you been? Don\'t you get that its a pedophiles dream to do what you are suggesting?
C) If you think dance studio owners are getting rich doing what we are doing, think again. Yes we charge for recital tickets and costumes. Its called trying to pay 12 months of bills on 10 months of income. While your little one is off at summer camp for 2 months, I am sweating it out still trying to pay my rent, utilities, music licensing rights, insurance plus losing money on the pitiful summer courses trying to keep the teachers employed so they won\'t go out and get another job so your kid will have both a teacher and a school to come back to in the fall.
Get the whole story before you go shooting off your mouth.
:(
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- Fantastic! This what you\'re job is - making her happy and finding what she excels in.
So at the end of the year we get to go watch her perform with her class. This mind you, is a performance where every class from every age group in the entire dance studio performs.
- Oh, so everyone else is piddledinks to your four year old standing there picking her nose, shuffling around. Got it. Screw the older kids with amazing training and their parents wanting to see them, it\'s all about your pants wetter.
the professional pictures with her in costume
- This is always optional, so take your own, Noodad. This is where you start stretching.
or the tickets for that matter (although it is sort of a rip off because they know people aren\'t going to miss the performance no matter how much they charge).
- I\'m sorry, how else do you expect them to pay for the auditorium? Get a clue, Noodad!
You are not allowed to take pictures or video during the performance.
- Okay, so you want EVERYONE to be standing, waving, blowing kisses, yelling for their kids\' attention to take video and photos. That would be utter chaos. You are so ignorant, Noodad. It\'s not all about your and your ankle biter.
Her class was pretty big and the dance line stretched across the stage. So the entire performance had the camera panning back and forth. I basically saw my daughter 4 times in a 3 minute period.
- That has nothing to do with the videographer. Blame the dance teacher for choreographing a dance this way. Anyone who thinks of the grand scheme of things will not line the kids up for this specific reason.
The demands you make for a quality video is all in the price. You\'re going to have to pay more for a video if you want extra time spent. They work hard those four weeks getting out all of those dvds just do you can rip them apart. You want MGM quality, give them time and throw a couple more bucks into it. Yeah, you can buy a special edition doubledisc for less than $30 because they are mass produced. You are an idiot, Noodad!
I\'m posting them on YouTube.
- So you\'re cool with some nasty guy beatin\' off to your little girl? Good one, Noodad! This is also another reason to not allow everyone and ANYONE to tape your little girl. Grow a brain!
If you see a restriction like \"No videocameras\", consider bringing a small camera and shooting yourself anyway.
- Refer to the above comment.
Noodad, you\'re a jerk and an idiot. I feel sorry for your little girl, espcially after she\'s been plaster on the net for the world to do with as they please. I think I just threw up a little in my mouth.
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I just want you to know that most of us studio owners, who you think are making millions, do what we do for the love of dance and your children. Most of us do not drive new fancy cars or live in fancy houses. Most of us do not even take much of a paycheck, if any at all. Plus most of us work a full time job besides the full time job of running a dance studio so that we can survive. Get a life. Let us attempt to make a living and make your child happy. Why is it that the general public expects us to do a great job for their kids, but doesn\'t think we should make any money??????? By the way, I make absolutely nothing from the sale of videotapes of my shows.
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I also just spent over $4,000 on my one and only \"vacation\" for the year, at a dance conference for teachers so that your little girl can benefit as much as possible from her dance classes.
I can speak for your daughter\'s teacher and say that I am not doing any of this to make money and I am definetly not doing it for you! I am doing it for your little girl who has an idiot for a father in hopes that she will somehow manage to come out of it a better person.
The above poster is right, get a clue before you go mouthing off about things when you really don\'t know what you are talking about.
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I pity your kids because you don\'t want to spend a couple bucks on a video tape to see them dance for 3 seconds. This may sound insane to you, but for those of us who have the parents who love us enough to buy these videos and not gripe about...we are still watching them years later!
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Darlin\' seems you\'ve already put your foot in a few piles driving your mouth without a clutch... :oD Now, I really should let you know that I hugely admire the intent of your blog - to support new dads. So, in an effort to help you avoid putting the other foot in any deeper than need be... I, most respectfully, suggest you do at least a bit of research before you write and insult an entire community of hard working, dedicated people - one in particular to whom you entrust your own child.
Please consider this:
Do you begrude the Gap when you buy your children sneakers to match the outfits you just picked out? The grocer when you purchase milk for your child\'s cereal? The college you graduated from for the books you were required to buy?
A dance studio is an educational environment. It caters to children. It is also a business. And like the college bookstore, studio owners often provide supplies and support services to their clientelle in an effort to offer convenience and to help keep the business viable.
You have choices all along the way. You can use the sneakers the kids already own with their new outfits, you can have your children eat dry cereal for breakfast, you could have gone to the library and borrowed the books or bought used ones in college. Of course the dry cereal bit may be going too far - but, some parents feel professional pictures of their child in their costumes are just as mandatory. Sincerely, I have some of these dance families I promise ;o}
Your choices continue; to which studio you send your child, how much and what you purchase, and what kind of example you will set for your child in the process. By suggesting that one should openly ignore studio policy so that you can \"get yours\" isn\'t quite the lesson I imagine you would want your children to learn - and they are watching every move you make. Just see how they respond the next time they stub their toe if you don\'t believe me...
Here are some facts:
A studio needs to be educationally sound and financially stable in order to provide its students with a quality dance education. If the biz can\'t afford to stay open, everyone loses.
The recital is a huge financial undertaking for every studio. Make no mistake, the studio takes a gamble every year - that ticket sales will cover the always increasing expenses. Do you have any idea how much it costs to put on a performance such as this? The expense list is far too long to list here, but I welcome you to contact me and I\'ll happily fill you in - money wise, it represents 10\'s of thousands.
Most studios make no profit on photos or dvds. These services are subcontracted and it is common that the studio owner receives a copy for use in advertising but usually that\'s all. For those that do receive financial compensation, it is a very small percent.
Other studio owners have already mentioned that first and foremost, \"no photo/video during performance\" policies are an audience management issue. Not a financial one. For years, prior to our using the services of pro photographers and videographers, we had this policy in place - it had nothing to do with making money and everything to do with insuring ALL audience members could enjoy seeing their kids onstage.
We DO allow cameras during Dress Rehearsal and it is a madhouse. Parents thank me every year (after watching the mayhem at Dress) for not allowing cameras show nite.
The cost of the photos/dvds are set by the contracted companies. We studio owners have nothing to do with it. Consider the hours it takes to edit, the labor involved shooting and managing sales and the small # of sales (vs. mass produced dvds that sell for less) and you may begin to understand why the dvds cost what they do. I assure you, it isn\'t to finance my suite at the Ritz.
Look, kids activities can get expensive. Believe me we get it (most of us are parents too...). You must choose carefully, set limits and stick to your budget. Personally I take pictures of my kid in his costume myself - but that\'s me. As for the dvd all I hear from parent after parent is that their kids watched that video daily all summer and that they couldn\'t have paid for a better babysitter.
Guess you get what you pay for ;o}
And, finally, a tip...
Most studio owners love to barter - with your background, I bet you could easily come up with something the studio could use to help keep your costs (and hers) down.
Much success to you Noodad and remember, use the clutch!
Beth Wheeler
adancersdream.net
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2) As stated above, when you video tape it distracts the students on the stage who have worked all year to show \"YOU\" what they have accomplished. I feel it is my responsibility to allow these students to perform in the most professional show I can afford for all their hard work throughout the year. Now...have you have been to the theatre? Do they allow you to bring a video camera into see a Broadway show or any other professional show....NO!!! I believe by not allowing my parents to video tape it also teaches proper theatre etiquette to my students and parents.
3) Youtube...are you OK????? Where do you think pedophiles search for children. You do not seem to care whether your child is plastered all over the internet. I only sell videos to my parents so I can be sure no stranger gets a copy of these children...and NO, we don\'t make a dime on the DVD\'s. Flash photography.....do you know how many dancers have been injured doing a turn or spin when a flash went off in their eyes and they lost their balance and fell. No..of course not. You wrote before gaining all the information.
4) As stated above, you do not have to purchase pictures from the professional photographer. Take them yourself. Although I have students who have been with me for years and they love to look back on their class pictures and remember all the girls in their class and the routines they did those years. You can not put a price on those memories.
5) Recital tickets..do you know how much it costs to rent a theatre facility now a days. I rent a local high school. I pay $250 an hour for the rental alone. We have the hall for about 20 hours between the block rehearsal, dress rehearsal and show..yep, you didn\'t realize how much goes into putting on a show, did you? Now, let\'s add on the rental of a backdrop and scenery, lighting and sound techs (usually about $50 an hour, flowers and trophies for the students and teachers and the list goes on. Seems sad to me that you whine about paying money to see your daughter perform. you can never put a price on that. I bet you don\'t blink about buying a few six packs or going to Dunkin Donuts every day or whatever your \"pleasure\" is.
6) Your daughter wasn\'t on the video enough..agree with the above...her teacher should have choreographed better where students moved into different formations. Also, I talk with my videographer beforehand and make sure he knows to get as many shots of the students up close as possible. He uses 3 cameras to do so.
7) I hear parents tell me all the time that they do not want the entire show. they only want their childs\' routine. Well, guess what? Once they buy the DVD they come back to me and tll me that their child hasnt stopped watching the ENTIRE video and actually copies the steps from other classes....hmmmm...it seems the video is also a learning tool for aspiring dancers and makes them want to learn more. Can you find anything bad in that. I can\'t!!
8) If you are expecting a movie quality DVD for 30-40 dollars, forget it. Call the companies themselves and see. Do you realize the work that goes into those DVDs. Mine lists the name of the routine, the students in each routine and a menu to find the dances you want.
to end this already too long email.....let me say that I have had my studio for over 25 years. I work 6 days a week from September through June. I do 4 weeksof camp in the summer and night classes but most peole take the summer off or are away so I struggle to make ends meet every year. Did you ever think about the rent on a space large enough for a dance studio? It is not like we rent a 500 square foot store front. My rent, insurance (think about what insurnace would be for a dance studio where students are doing a physical activity..astronomical!!!).
I do not live in a fancy house. I cannot just take off and go away on vacation whenever I want....only school vacations and the prices are sky high at that time. My studio is open from 3-10PM weekdays and all day Saturdays...yes, no weekend trips for me either!! In the mornings and early afternoons, I pay bills, choose music, pick out costumes, sew costumes, choreograph, clean my studio, prepare my class lessons, accounting and billing, order costumes....a nightmare and hours of work and again the list goes on!!!
Why do I do this? I certainly do nt get paid for half of what I do. As a matter of fact, I once kept track of all the hours I worked at home, errands for the studio, and everything besides my teaching hours. Do you know what I make...under $5 an hour. But, I love children and dance and want to pass that love on to them as well as give them memories to last a lifetime. My students are like my own children. I have most of them from the time they are 3 until they graduate. They keep in touch with me afterwards and tell me often how the dance studio was their second home and they still are best friends with the students they danced with for all those years.
SO....please do your homework before you bash studio owners again!!
So Noodads, take this as a warning. If you see a restriction like \"No videocameras\", consider bringing a small camera and shooting yourself anyway.
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Ok. Here\'s how it goes ladies.
In almost each one of your cases, you mention allowing people to videotape the dress rehearsal. I\'m down with that. I just didn\'t have that option.
So first off, chill.
Secondly, I don\'t mind paying my monthly tuition to pay for your rent. I get it. You provide a service. I\'m totally into paying you to do it.
But that still doesn\'t excuse the piss poor quality of the videographer (in my particular situation). If these guys took 4 weeks to perfect their DVD, they need a different profession.
\"I\'ve seen better film on teeth.\"
As for youTube, it is you, ignorant dance studio owner that is mistaken. There is such a thing as \"private\" videos on YouTube where only my family whom I give permission to can view them.
Besides that, thanks for paying my bills. keep the comments coming!
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1. Tuition
2.Costume
3. Pictures
4. Video
5. Ticketrs
All of the above is optional.
It seems like you don\'t agree with the Video part because it is not something directly for you. Forget the fact that you child will want to watch the other classes that her friends are in ect.... We need to get back to what you are getting out it.
Studio\'s rules about no video tapes are for the people like you who think that if you want it you should get it. For example: Why should you have to pay for a video, you should have the right to stand up in front of the parents of the girl beside your daughter who paid the same as you because you should be able to save a bit of cash for this silly little thing your daught would like to do. Why should you have to pay so the studio can\'t afford to offer vidieo\'s for the dad\'s in Iraq or away on business because who cares if it is also their special day.
Why should you pay $30 for a momento for your daughter, man you have already forked out $150 for this experience why should you be asked for more. Because we all know that you are the dad who volunteered to help the dance teacher who loaded in 10 hours earlier all the sets, scenery,ect. To help your daughter have her special day. And to be slapped in the face with Ticket prices because doesn\'t the auditorium know that they should give this to you for free.
Let\'s see that $30 could have bought you some beer, 1/3 of a game of golf, one spin through a fast food drive though. It didn\'t seem that you were too hard up for cash you just didn\'t see anything in for it for YOU.
OH was this about you I thought this was about your daughter.
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I am so glad my kid is not in ballet right now.
In the words of Nelson Muntz: HA HA!
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In any case, have your studio owner post on dance.net and we will be happy to get a hold of a videographer who has a clue in the Norfolk area.
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Let\\\'s experiment on a bunch of nervous little dancers and see if their concentration is botched when they see the sudden flash or red blinking light. Nevermind, you already plan on doing it at your daughters next performance. Do let us know how it goes...
The rules are in place for a reason. Not just for people to be snooty.
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Why do I mention that? Because if you have any idea how much it costs to put a child in ice hockey, you would probably not be on here complaining. I guess if your daughter were in ice hockey, maybe you would not complain as much as I find fathers have a hard time with the cost of the arts for their kids but not the cost of sports.
Here is what I say. If you knew these costs beforehand, you could have just said, \"no\" and not done it. I know for a fact that no dance studio makes anyone do anything. It\'s offered and you can take it or leave it.
Running a show is quite expensive. I know that most dance schools break even or barely go over costs of productions so money you pay for the production helps cover the costs.
If you buy a video, realize that all the other parents want to see their kids, too. If you don\'t want to see the other kids on your video, have her dance at home and tape it. Then it will be just her.
I am sure all the other dancers who worked very hard are hoping that you took the time to watch and appreciate their work, knowing that if your child continues, that she may be that good, too.
Let me give you a little reality check. Both my children danced. My daughter is a teacher and now a new mommy. My son danced until he was ten. We paid for videos, ticket and all that, and loved every moment.
Three years ago a drunk driver took my son\'s life. All we have are pictures and videos. Watching him, even for a brief moment on video, is very special to us. The memories of his love of dancing and the joy it brought us is very precious.
In the scheme of life, is it really worth causing such a stir? Instead, take the time to have joy in her love of dance, know that the dance school is a business and not trying to rip you off but rather trying to offer what all other schools offer, to be competitive and stay in business and hopefully make enough to buy food, pay for a roof over their heads, have a nice car and allow their own kids to have wonderful outside activities such as your daughter.
Your daughter is very blessed to have a dad who will send her to dance school. The fathers at our dance school are the best. They volunteer when needed, support their kids love of dance and root their kids on, even when things are not perfect, because they know the kids are happy doing this.
Isn\'t THAT what it\'s all about? It\'s really not about US, the parents, but about THEM the kids.
Go home, kiss and cherish your child. Life is too short and sometimes too fleeting and those we love can be gone in an instant.
I would give $30,OOO to see my son again.
:sigh