About my new tutee...

[Threelittleducks]

Trying to keep this simple.

So, I'm on this website offering my services as a tutor for a couple of subjects, one of which is acting, seeing as I have qualifications in Theatre Arts and Acting and Performance.

The website offers my services, but in order to get in touch with me, a tutee must pay £5 to get my details before we can arrange a session, which is usually paid by the hour by the tutee, at the rate specified by the tutor. (In my case it's £20).

The girl contacted me as she required help with picking an audition piece, and working on it to get it to audition standard. I was a little surprised that she contacted me in the first place as the course she was applying for is very very basic - all that is really needed to get on the course is a basic interest in acting and a little natural ability. I have been on this course myself (many moons ago) and it's great - basic, but a good way to introduce oneself to acting theory. But fair enough - some folk just need a bit of direction, especially if they haven't done this kind of thing before.

So I did the work, she came over, I had a piece picked out for her, I dissected it, gave her notes on it, told her what to expect at audition, and helped her to understand the text - I even gave her the bloody book to take home with her!

She was ridiculously shy. I mean, apart from me telling her what to read she wouldn't talk to me. At the end she didn't say a word, she even had to be ushered to the door, as it was very, very awkward. I felt very sorry for her - she was so shy! Anyhoo, in the awkward silence and me trying to get her out of the door, I forgot to ask for my fee - d'oh!

AIBU to aks for payment now (somehow)? She lives quite far away and unless I hunt her down I doubt I will see her again. She did initially say she was hoping for more help with coursework (if she even gets on the course) so if she's back I'll have to say something to her(god knows how I'll broach it, she looks like she'd cry! I really don't think she meant not to pay!).
I did feel very sorry for her though. It's my first real tutee, so should I just put it down to experience?
DH is hounding me to ask for the cash, but I feel pretty bad just demanding money from her now. Lesson learned and move on?

Send her an email with an invoice with a cover note wishing her luck. How many hours was it?

Aarrgghh. What a pain for you!

However - you have every right to be paid for the service you have provided. Do you have a mobile number / email address for her?

If so, send her a text/email asking for payment. Specifiy payment terms at the bottom.

If you have her address - send an invoice in the post.

Don't make any mention of the fact that you forgot to ask for payment. Just present the invoice in a matter-of-fact way.

But I wouldn't chase it up if she doesn't respond; I'd chalk it up to experience. And ask for payment up front next time

It was only 1 hour, so I am prepared to let it go and put it down to experience (making a HUGE mental note to get payment up front if I'm ever lucky enough to get a tutee again!)

Oh she was so awkward! It was a wee shame! I always think I'm shy, but she took the biscuit!

I would imagine she is just as horrified as forgetting to pay you.

I would just get in touch although I always hated the money side of tutoring, stressed me out far more than it should have done.

It's quite normal for several services to charge you after the fact.

She has to pay £5 just for your contact details!!!

You need to ask for the payment. She wasn't necessarily expecting to pay you there and then anyway so she's not likely to be offended. You don't have to say "oi you forgot my money" - just send her a friendly invoice.

Thanks all :)

I think I will invoice.

I wouldn't have minded doing it for nothing, but I hope to make a wee career out of it somehow, so I shall have to start charging at some point!

It does feel shit saying 'right...gie's my money!'
Feels funny!

Maybe she thought the £5 would cover it . Do you deduct this when they book a session? Next time take a deposit or ask for payment in advance. Agree with sending her an invoice and note wishing luck/hoping she did well and how you'd be happy to help again. Mind you if she is that shy then maybe performing isn't really for her.

It's a business. I have no problem when my physio/hairdresser/whoever mentions payment. Your tutee will probably be relieved that you bring it up first

Let us know what the response is.
Maybe she had to be ushered to the door as she was waiting for you to ask for the money.

£5 is the payment to the website for advertising me - it's the way they make money I suppose. I list my going rate in my ad. I was very surprised to get a tutee for acting - my first listing is English, which I have a degree in. I just added acting on the offchance that someone somewhere might do it - I never banked on it being my first lesson! A nice surprise though, as it's something I love dearly.
Yes, I believe the acting course may either be too much for her, or indeed even be the making of her.
I really hope it's the latter, although I fear it will be the former.
You really do need a little bit of grit to act...it was a bit like drawing teeth.

Sorry but I would not pay £5 to get your details!

She had to be ushered in the door too. Then to the living room. And to the chair. And I had to hold the book for her. And pretty much speak all the lines for her. And make notes so she changed the tone of her voice. Which she still didn't.

[face palm]

It was hard work. But I just felt so sorry for her!
Being so shy must be really hard for her.
Makes me grateful for the wee bit of spunk I still have, despite it being eroded by having children.

I don't think I would pay £5 to get my details either!
Or anyone elses. But hey, I have a friend who has made a bomb through tutoring via this site, so plenty folk do.

I think I'd rather trawl through/advertise on gumtree for someone.