Singing • Acting • Dancing

Stage Right Productions

A triple threat academy

Policies

Welcome to Stage Right Productions! We look forward to working with you and your student as we explore the world of singing, dancing, acting, and, most of all, musical theatre. Before we begin, however, there are a few guidelines that must be followed to ensure that the experience is good for all involved. These guidelines are consistently maintained and shall not be altered on a case-by-case basis, as they allow the business side of the studio and production company to run smoothly.

Studio and Studio Procedures

The studio is, for all intents and purposes, an institution of learning and should be regarded and respected as such. Food or drink, with the exception of water in a spill-proof container, is not allowed beyond the studio lobby.

Practice and Parental Support

Sufficient, scheduled practice time on a daily basis is the surest guarantee that you or your child will experience consistent progress. Learning the necessary skills to become proficient in your craft will not occur simply by going to classes or taking private lessons. It takes committed practice on a daily basis during the week to put the covered skills into motion.

Parental support is an extremely important factor in artistic training. Children whose parents take an active and honest interest in their child's progress tend to be more enthusiastic and productive.

Music, dance, and acting are not easy and, at times, can be downright frustrating. Adults often do not realize that children are rarely self-motivated and lack the maturity (and self-discipline) to put in the all-important practice sessions. With commitment to learning the art of musical theatre comes the decision to practice on a regular basis. Consistent progress results in pride, satisfaction, and a sense of accomplishment!

Performances

During the year, several performance opportunities are made available to students. In-class performances, required master class performances, end-of-semester recitals, and theatrical productions provide further incentive to practice and excel, and can have a positive effect on a student's sense of accomplishment. Performing builds confidence and reinforces the concept that good practice habits result in good performers.

Students taking part in these performances must commit and adhere to any additional rehearsal schedule required for said performance, thereby giving ample time to prepare. Deadlines for preparation are imposed and strictly adhered to in order to ensure that all participating students are secure in their roles. Those students who are not performance-ready by these deadlines shall be withdrawn from and/or replaced in the performance as it would not only be unfair to those who have put in the time and effort to allow the ill-prepared students to perform, but it would also be detrimental to the student and his/her self-esteem to be forced to perform without the proper preparation.

Except in cases of family emergency or illness, students may not "drop out" of a program to which they have committed themselves. Such behavior affects the entire cast and is not fair to the other performers, the instructors, and the crew.

Supplies

Occasionally, during the course of the year, the studio may determine that certain books, supplies, etc. are required for your student. When this occurs, it will be your responsibility to purchase the necessary supplies in a timely manner. Any supplies not purchased by the designated deadline will be purchased by the studio and billed to the student's account to be paid immediately. As a courtesy, the studio will make an effort to discuss the matter with the student and/or parent prior to taking the initiative and ordering supplies that will require reimbursement.

Dress Code

Dress code for all dance classes is a leotard with tights or a form-fitting top with booty shorts. This will enable the instructor to better adjust the line of the performer when addressing issues of posture and technique.

Participants in multi-disciplinary classes that may involve movement should wear comfortable bottoms and tops (yoga pants are okay). Jazz shoes are preferred.

Billing Policy

Current rates for classes, workshops, and private lessons can be found on the pricing page. Invoices are sent out mid-month for the upcoming month and payment for the entire month is due on the first of the month. After the first of the month, accounts with unpaid invoices will be considered delinquent. If payment is not received by the fifth of the month, a $10 late fee will be applied to the account. Each day thereafter that the account remains delinquent, a $2 daily late fee will be charged to the account until the account is either paid in full or thirty days have passed.

At the end of thirty days, the account will stop acruing late fees and will go to collections. Furthermore, students will not be permitted to attend classes or receive private instruction once an account has gone to collections.

Payments

Invoices will be sent to the student and/or his/her parents by means of the United States Postal Service. A pre-addressed, postage-paid envelope shall be included for remittance. Payment is to be made in the form of a check or money order. Cash is also acceptable, but must be brought by the student or parent to the first lesson of the month or before the fifth of the month, whichever is earlier. Please do not send cash through the mail: not only do you assume a high level of risk that your payment may be lost or stolen, but it is against federal law to do so.

As an alternative to the methods of payment listed above, you may opt to be invoiced electronically and make an electronic payment through PayPal using your major credit card, check card, or electronic check. You do not need a PayPal account to use this feature, but, if you have a PayPal account, you can also pay directly from said account.

Non-Sufficient Funds

If your check is returned due to lack of funds to cover the amount, in addition to any fees assessed by your bank and any applicable late fees assessed by the studio, you will be assessed a $35 NSF fee by the Stage Right to recoup those fees charged to our account by our bank. Furthermore, your personal check will not be accepted for remittence of your outstanding balance; payment must be made using cashier's check, money order, or cash as discussed in the previous section.

Attendance

Regular attendance is an issue of responsibility and choice on the part of parents and students. The studio shall not assume any financial responsibility for student absense(s) due to illness, weather, sports, etc. The studio shall, however, assume responsibility should an instructor become ill, be unable to attend a class, or be forced to cancel for any reason. In the event that the instructor cancels, every effort will be made to inform the student and/or parent using the preferred method of communication, and the following month's invoice will be credited accordingly.

National Holidays

Classes and lessons will not be scheduled or rescheduled for days that school is not in session (i.e., teacher in-service days, national holidays, winter break, and spring break). However, rehearsals for and performances of productions may be scheduled on these days and careful review of the rehearsal/performance schedule should be conducted by the student and/or his/her parent(s) prior to committing to a production.

Missed Lessons and "Make-Ups"

The studio shall not assume any financial responsibility for a student's absence(s). There is no making-up for missed class sessions, though advanced notification of the student's intended absense is appreciated so that the instructor may plan accordingly. A standard 24-hour advance notification is required if a student will be unable to attend a private lesson. "Make-ups" are either scheduled at the time of the notification or during the next regularly scheduled lesson. If notification is given more than 24 hours in advance, but a satisfactory "make-up" time cannot be agreed upon, the instructor may choose to forego the lesson and a credit for the lesson will appear on the following month's invoice. This is not, however, in the student's best interest and every effort will be made to make up the lesson within the week that the lesson was missed. If notification cannot be given more than 24 hours in advance of the lesson time, any "make-up" lesson or credit is at the strict discretion of the instructor.

Sports and Extracurricular Activities

Although this is a private studio, it is no less an educational institution, and must be regarded as such. It is the position of this studio that the classes, lessons, and workshops are to be treated with the same level of importance as any other subject your child may be studying in school. It is also the studio's position that sporting events and other extracurricular activities are not considered valid excuses for not practicing during the week, just as practicing singing, dancing, or acting would not be considered a good excuse for not becoming a better athlete. Sports and music may not always be mutually compatible, but need not be mutually exclusive. Please respect this studio's curriculum and commitment to your child's education by maintaining a priority level for studies equal to that of other school subjects—regard it as a "private extension" of academics that would be otherwise unavailable to your child.

Termination of Service

If you should decide to terminate classes or lessons at any time during the year, the studio requires a two-week notice. Regardless of when notice is given, such student shall be financially responsible for the last two weeks of study, whether or not the student chooses to attend. If the account has already been paid beyond two weeks of classes, the prorated remainder of the account shall be reimbursed by check payment within thirty days of the date of the termination.

Stage Right reserves the right to terminate a student's or family's account at any time for reasons including, but not limited to: