I was just hired as an Arthur Murray Instructor and am curious if any one has any thoughts on this franchise, what I can expect as far as pay and competition with other instructors. I want a healthy happy place to work and learn and I am a little nervous but excited as well. Also I have little experience so they will be teaching me everything, I wont be teaching my own lessons for months, so I am worried I wont get up to speed fast enough. any thoughts? Ideas? Thanks everyone! I LOVE this site!

I'm a student with Fred Astaire, but it sounds like you're in the same situation that instructors with little to no experience are at my studio. A new person comes in, and has to spend months learning how to dance (and teach dance) before they can have students of their own. They don't get paid much (if anything) until they are capable teachers. I think this would be a great way to learn how to dance if you have someone to support you finacially. You should learn very quickly being instructed every day. You're being paid with knowledge which many people would love to have. The overwelming majority of instructors I've met in the franchises seem to be very happy, and love what they do. I've heard them say it's very rewarding to see students they taught continue to dance for years and years (even after they stopped lessons).

Just my perspective as a student.

That is so refreshing to hear. I keep thinking I will be in the way and that the other instructors will be very well skilled and annoyed at my lack of knowledge and that I wont fit in because I haven't been dancing for years. I am so excited I could cry and I hope they take me under their wing. I may even take a few classes at the local college just to get up to speed more quickly. Do the instructors where you work eventually compete or are they expected to compete? Just curious! Thanks so much for the encouragement, I NEEDED IT BADLY!

The instructors at my studio compete with their students (Pro-AM) mostly. They don't have to compete as professionals if they don't want to. They all have had extensive experience competing as amatuers, though.

The poster below makes some really good points. You have a tough road ahead of you since you're starting from scratch. The first year is going to be your toughest, and if you can afford it, it wouldn't hurt to even take some additional training outside the studio. Milk every opportunity you can get. If the studio brings in a top coach for training, make sure you're there. The comments below about many in-training instructors not making it is true. I have seen several come and go, but I think only one was fired. The rest just couldn't afford to go so long without a real paycheck.

Best of luck as you pursue this as a career, and don't let yourself be easily discouraged. There are many aspects of good dancing that require years of work, and can't be learned by cramming tons of lessons into a short period of time. They only happen after years of training.

Thanks to "FADS" and "Loves to dance". These are excellent points and the feedback, although scary will make me be more realistic about what I am getting myself into. I was so excited about the interview and job offer that I neglected to ask more questions, and so I needed more advice. I think money isn't everything when your job doesn't feel like work, and dance is hard work but not the same as the Corporate Job I have been stck in for years. I am happy to be starting over and will give it my all and put my nose to the grindstone and I bet I will make it as a really good professional instructor! ( I hope I can afford all the nice clothes and shoes though) ha! ha! Thanks again! Best to you in 2005! Please pass along any other thoughts that come to mind.