This is in response to another thread,
http://skatingforums.com/index.php?topic=8171.msg97305#msg97305, by an ice dancer who experienced problems trying to share session ice while doing his pattern, but is a separate topic in of itself.
Purely as an academic exercise, let's see how a group of people could effectively get short blocks of private ice, for figure skating patterns and programs, and how a rink might choose to accommodate them:
1. Organize as a private group of friends or acquaintances, NOT a club - you need this to be exclusive, because you can't have people who aren't willing or able to follow the rules, to prevent problems that occur when someone doesn't or can't. Also, there is a lot less work, politics, and possibly expense involved than doing anything through a formal club.
2. Record the music in advance, announcing each person or couple allowing and announcing, say 30 seconds, in advance, to get into place. That way no time is wasted organizing the music.
3. Near where I live, ice time is worth about $250 - $350 (USD) / hour. So, if you need 6 minutes total (1/10 hour) you must pay $25 - $35. Increase or decrease according to the time each person needs, including that 30 second or so time to get into place. There may be some inefficiency - some undesignated ice time, whose cost everyone must split, for a beginning of session warm-up. Yes that is expensive - but that is what ice time is worth. When a club allows people dedicated program ice time at lower rates, everyone else on the session is to some extent being cheated. If someone doesn’t come, you can either charge them anyway, or split the cost of their unused time, which is used the same way.
4. A solo skater should in all fairness pay just as much for their block of time as a couple or pair. Of course, there are some pattern dances and freestyle patterns where two people and/or couples, starting at opposite ends or sides, can dance the same dance or pattern at once - so couples or pairs, and those who agree to be on the ice at the same time can split that cost. Of course, their coach(es) can also be on the ice or at one side at the same time.
5. Rent a full Olympic size rink if possible. People sometimes drive hours to get to places that offer private ice - but they are much less likely to do so on small size rinks. If you don't get people from a wide area, rather than just one rink, it would probably be hard to get enough people to make this work.
6. Accept that this may have to be an after-normal-hours or early morning rental. As I have mentioned elsewhere, during the hours people normally work, you can often effectively get private or near-private ice at many rinks during public or freestyle sessions, because at most rinks those sessions are very lightly attended. I assume your schedule doesn't allow you to take advantage of that, else this whole issue wouldn't exist.
7.
Some rinks do after hours "lock-ins" - frequently where no rink staff are present - at somewhat lower cost / hour, maybe even 1/2 cost for a few hours. Look into it. You have to make them understand you are responsible, won't do anything bad, and will lock up after you leave. Also, if you pay far enough in advance (e.g., months), some rinks are willing to negotiate to reduce costs.
8. By the end of the rented session, the ice will be rougher than at the start, unless you pay extra for extra ice smoothings. Perhaps the people at the start of the session should pay a little more.
9. In connection with this, a lot of skaters don't realize that if your blades are sharp enough, you can cut through the surface junk, and for the most part barely notice a little extra ice roughness. Sure, keeping your blades sharp costs more, in both sharpening and replacement costs, but compared to the other costs discussed here, that's trivial.
10. If it can be well enough organized, you can give each skater a copy of the programs of other skaters, and allow the others in the group warm up on the part of the ice that isn't in use by the designated program. Of course, that will roughen the ice more.
11. It's very important all these rules be agreed upon in advance. You don't have time to argue during the rented time, and there should be no ill feelings.
12. It is
very important to keep good relations with the rink to make this work and keep them willing to rent to you. Designate one responsible relatively non-emotional person, and possibly an alternate, to handle all rink relations. You might be surprised to learn how many problems rinks have with groups that don't show, or don't pay, or who mess up facilities, etc. Make sure there are zero problems for the rink.
13. Some rinks may want all participants to carry insurance. E.g., health insurance, and the insurance that comes with belonging to a figure skating club. Make sure the responsible agent has copies of proof of insurance to show the rink.
P.S. I'm not talking as someone who needs this. I'm not high enough level, and I'm fairly satisfied with using public ice sessions. But I have worked at a rink, though not as a manager, and am somewhat aware of these issues.
Do any of you have other ideas or related anecdotes to share?