A try-out that leads into a paid course
Offer newcomers a €10 first week of a beginners block that comes off the block price if they join within a week, and follow up on who stayed.
For owners and managers
Outcome: a newcomer can try week one of a beginners block for €10. If they join within 7 days, the €10 comes off the block, so they pay €110 more for a €120 block. You can see who stayed.
Who can do this: owners and managers, on the web.
Before you start: at least one published course whose first week is still to come, with enrolment open. Studio Voorbeeld's next-term Salsa · Beginners 1 is that course.
Decide first#
| Setting | Studio Voorbeeld | The trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| What it costs | Charge for it: €10 | Free gets more people through the door; a small price brings people who mean it. |
| Refund a cancelled try-out | Off | On is friendlier, but a €10 booking is a low-risk commitment. |
| Counts toward the block | On | The €10 feels like a deposit, not a fee. |
| What can be tried | Courses | Open classes too if you sell drop-ins. |
| Which week | The first week only | Any week lets people drop into running blocks, mid-material. |
| Which blocks | Every block that fits | Or tick blocks by hand, to keep advanced blocks closed. |
| Joining afterwards | 7 days | Longer is kinder but reaches deeper into the block. |
| While they decide | Hold their seat | Their place is safe, but many holds can fill a block with maybes. |
| How often | One per style | One per person is strictest. |
| How many in one class | 2 | Unlimited is bounded only by the room. |
Steps#
- In the sidebar, open Try-out classes and turn on Offer a try-out class.
- Set the choices above. The card What a newcomer sees reads them back, for example "A first class for €10".
- Save changes.
- If you chose Only the blocks I tick, open each course and tick Offer a try-out on this block.
- Make sure the course's Enrolment closes isn't set so early that nobody could join after a week-one try-out. The course editor warns you if the block gives them no way in.
Who can take it#
A newcomer: someone with no booking and no course seat at your school. Things they cancelled don't count. Each person gets one try-out per style. Cancelling their own try-out uses it up. If your school cancels the class, they get it back, and a paid try-out is refunded unless you untick the refund.
What newcomers see#
A One to try card offers the first class, with Try it (paid) or Take it (free). They book, pay €10 and come.
Afterwards, their dashboard shows YOUR TRY-OUT: "Did you like Salsa · Beginners 1?" with Take a seat · €110. That offer lasts 7 days from the class, even if enrolment has closed for everyone else. While they decide, their seat is held.
Follow up#
Members → Tried a class lists everyone who took a try-out and how it went:
| Shown as | Meaning |
|---|---|
| try-out booked · Salsa · Beginners 1 | Coming up |
| tried Salsa · Beginners 1 · still deciding | Came, window still open |
| tried Salsa · Beginners 1, then joined | Enrolled |
| tried Salsa · Beginners 1 | Came, didn't join in time |
| booked Salsa · Beginners 1, never came | No-show |
At Studio Voorbeeld, Eva tried the current Beginners 1 and joined two days later. Lucas tried and didn't.
Check it worked#
- As a new test account on your public page, a Beginners 1 week-one class offers Try it.
- After booking, the lesson roster shows them as Trial class.
Changing your mind#
- Changing the price applies to new try-outs. Anyone already booked keeps the price they paid.
- Changing Days to decide applies to everyone straight away, including newcomers who are still deciding. Cut it from 14 days to 3 and somebody who tried 5 days ago can no longer join.
- Turning try-outs off removes the offer. Try-outs already booked still happen.
If it doesn't work#
- No try-out offered. The person may not be a newcomer, may already have used their try-out for this style, or the class may not be a first week or may be full for newcomers. See Why is the try-out missing?
- They can't join afterwards. Their window may have passed, or the block may be full if seats weren't held. See A trial participant can't join.
Next#
- Try-out classes: every setting
- Members and member history