Tipping (gratuity) private coachs

[dlbritton]

I saw the thread about Christmas gifts for coaches but was wondering about tipping (as I go) for private lessons.

Is tipping customary and if so what is an appropriate amount? The coach (my LTS coach) I am thinking of using charges $72/hour. (Of course I would like to use the most expensive coach at the rink). For a $36 half hour lesson would $4 or $5 be reasonable, if I should tip at all?

As a ski instructor I appreciate tips, but realize the student has just dropped $100 for a 75 minute lesson (for which I get either $22 or $31  ) so I certainly don't expect to get a tip. Before I became an instructor I usually did not tip the instructor when my wife took a private lesson. (We long ago agreed I would not attempt to teach her how to ski, a rule we stuck to even after I became a certified instructor, which has helped our marriage last 26 years  ) Since becoming an instructor and realizing how little of the lesson fee instructors generally get I have started tipping.

[sarahspins]

I've never tipped my coach...

[AgnesNitt]

I've never tipped a coach per lesson like a waiter. I think one of the coach bloggers (Xanboni or Kay from Adult Skating Journal) wrote about getting a tip occasionally, but it was from a parent for dealing with a child. It wasn't seen as an expected thing.

Really, a lot of coaches need the money, I can't see anyone being offended if you handed over 2 twenties for a lesson and said 'don't worry about the change'. The problem is, if you pay the rink for the lesson rather than the coach you have to hand the money over in cash. Then you seem cheap if you hand over anything less than a 5. Maybe a better approach would be to hand over a 20 once a month. Beats me.

I would 'tip' my coach if I passed a test but there is no obligation or expectation to do this. A tip is for service and my coach had a horrible time getting me to pass a test. So I gave a tip of $20.   

[SynchKat]

I've been a coach, been coached many times and I've never been or have tipped a coach.

However, I do encourage my synchro team to give our coach a bonus at the end of the year if we've been particularly successful or difficult.   

[dlbritton]

I gather skate coaches are "independent contractors" as far as private lessons go, so this does come in to play in my mind. I was mainly inquiring to see what the norm is.

[SynchKat]

If you are getting private lessons you will be billed most likely monthly and there is no need for a tip. 

A cash gift at Christmas would be appreciated I am sure but as for tipping after a lesson, no.

[jjane45]

No tipping is expected, small holiday / birthday gifts are appreciated but certainly not mandatory either.

[Neverdull44]

Well, when I land my axel, my coach is going to have to get something!

[TreSk8sAZ]

Add me to the no tipping, even for competitions or tests. I generally buy coffee for tests or local comps, or a meal if out of town, then a holiday gift.

[Query]

I think that at most rinks, private lesson figure skating instructors are private contractors who set their own rates, and what they expect to get is included in their rates, so tips aren't expected.

Tips are most common in lines of business where the person giving service gets paid very little (maids in hotels, waiters at restaurants, cab drivers working at regulated rates, etc.), which isn't true of paid figure skating instructors any place I know of.

Examples of instructors who sometimes aren't paid much are surf and ski group (and sometimes private) lesson instructors who work through schools that set their rates for them. A tip might be appropriate, especially if they do an unusually good job.

If a private coach offers a group lesson, without an intermediary school paying the coach's salary, and many fewer students than the coach hopes for sign up, the few students who do might decide to give the coach tips, to help make up the difference, if they don't want the coach to discontinue the lessons. 

[Kitten23]

I've given Christmas presents (which are cold weather related and I've never seen any coach wear my gifts... )  but I've never given a tip.  Although, when taking lessons outside my usual rink with my coach, I have handed her cash and told her to keep the change.  At my usual rink, you have to pay the rink, so if I give a tip there, the rink will keep it.

[Purple Sparkly]

I sometimes get gifts for my coaches, but not every year.  Sometimes my students get me gifts, but not every year and I don't expect it.  I have never tipped anyone or paid anyone extra unless it was unknowingly because we both did a poor job of keeping track of lessons.

As a coach I have been tipped but I do not expect it.  Some students tell me to keep the change sometimes, but I never suppose that is the case and I always say something about getting them correct change if necessary.  My rate is my rate and if I thought I should be paid more for my time, I would increase my rate.

As a student and coach, I have never had monthly billing and payment is expected at the time of the lesson.  The only time there is billing is if it is a competition.

[dlbritton]

The difference between private lessons in skating and in skiing is interesting. I did not realize most skate instructors teach private lessons as a self-employed contractor. Most ski instructors are W2 employees of the resort.

[johnallocca]

At my rink, you are not allowed to give the coach money. You pay for your lesson at the office when you pay your entrance fee. But, I always get her a gift for Christmas and when she had a baby.

John

[jbruced]

When I learned to fly small aircraft (single engine Cessna's) the custom was to treat the flight instructor to lunch or dinner after completing your first solo flight. I think something similar would be appropriate for a skating coach after completing a competition or skating test with good marks.

[PhysicsOnIce]

Okay, Now I understand why my current coach thought I was crazy when I handed her 55 Euroes and told her not to worry...
Normally,  the way our coach work is that she gives you a lesson (or spends time with you on the competitive ice) and just adds it to your bill and then at the end of the month collects everything. So no per lesson charges just a total cost at the end of the month.  Last month (my first half month with her) my bill was 52.50, but I hate dealing with coins so I just told her to keep it.

I of course always give a small present for birthday and holidays. 

[Daroga]

I'm going to agree with everyone else here, in all my years of skating I have never tipped a coach. On test days, if I am my coach's only student, or if he/she has traveled to another rink for the test, then we will take him/her out for a meal. If not, coffee/tea is always appreciated! We do give Christmas presents, and usually birthday cards.

[concorde]

We do not tip our private coaches.  However, I give Christmas presents equal to about a week of what I normally pay them.  Sometimes I give a birthday gift - that just depends on how I feel at the time.