Do you think they just randomly just pick stuff to give away?  No they actually have a company dedicated to promote samples of new and regular products. I can’t tell you how many times I went there for something else, and one bite of whatever they are giving away and I have added a giant bag of that item to my cart. Jerry Seinfeld said about comedians: “We are in the business of selling ‘hot air’.” Dance teachers are much like that. Yes it is our time but does the client walk away with a physical product besides gained knowledge? Therefore it is imperative that part of what the client gets is a great experience. So when we give away a free group class, party or private, are we giving anything away but hot air? 

I finally understood it when our classes attained more men than women. In the early days I had classes of 3 or 4 guys and twice as many women, The men were probably with a wife who was reluctant to share. The class was dreadful because it had no energy. When I began to give out free passes all over the place but especially to guys, my numbers shot up. Now here is where you will get it wrong. You’re probably thinking ‘Yeah but you’re still getting paid for 8 people!” Possibly, but where it changed the dynamic was that the class was soooooo much more fun to teach, the students had a better experience, and the women were spreading the word that this class had more men than women. Through simple WORD OF MOUTH, our classes grew exponentially. So the difference- your paid students have a boring time and you’re spending money to continuously replenish your newcomers and mine were having so much fun they were bringing their friends without guest parties and constant cajoling.