i need to make money but i dont have time

[balletxtreme]

I really want a job of some sort, but i dont have time to get one with all my ballet and school work. my parents dont want to give me money either. i dont like babysitting and i am bad with kids.. what should i do, i really wish i could get some cash?!

[Victoria Leigh]

balletxtreme, you are still 16 or under. If you are serious about a career in ballet, and about doing well in school, those things need to be your priorities right now. Adding a job, at least most anything beyond some babysitting once in a while, is probably not a very good idea. If your tuition and equipment needs are being met by your parents, then you may have to forget the extras for a while.

 

Since it would not be a good idea to babysit, since you are not good with children, then the only other thing I can think of would be to offer to help with some extra cleaning and things around the house, like more than usually do anyway, and maybe they will give you a bit more allowance.

[casserina]

This all depends on your studio you're at, but since 16 and always at my studio, I help out with some of the little 3-5 year old classes (if you're not good with kids that might not work) assisting and the owner pays me for that. It's not a lot but it helps with spending money and so I can help out my family with the expenses of shoes, leos, tights, etc. ( I also babysit whenever I can lol)

[Victoria Leigh]

The following information was sent to me from a parent, and I think it is helpful, so will copy it here:

 

Balletxtreme,

 

Last summer my dd was bemoaning not having any spending money. I do pay for all of DD’s needs, but anything that I feel falls in the “wants” category she must purchase for herself. And certainly going to the mall or the movies with her friends is on her own ticket. DD’s brother did have a part time job when he was 15; he was expected to save money to contribute to college expenses; a small portion was “play money”. But as Ms. Leigh said, we want DD to focus on her classes and performances (as well as school) and finding a job did not seem like a wise thing.

 

Since I work full time, on top of transporting DD and volunteering in the costume shop, there are plenty of chores my husband and I can use plenty of help with. I have never given either of my kids allowance money, and there are certain chores they are expected to contribute to without expecting payment for. But beyond those basic things, I was only too happy to pay DD to work.

 

In the weeks before and after her summer program, she did routine vacuuming, dusting, 52 pickup. She also did more major projects, like washing windows, washing walls, cleaning and reorganizing closets. She washed, vacuumed, and detailed our vehicles. She weeded the garden. All of this she was able to do around her schedule of maintenance classes. At first her hourly rate was minimal (less than the legal minimum wage) but when she proved that she could work steadily without “lollygagging”, get a lot done, and make things look really great, we gave her a raise to an amount slightly above minimum. I supervise a staff of about 25 people at work, and while she was “on the clock” I treated her like I would any other employee.

 

She now does this on any school vacation or other time period where the schedule lets up. It’s great for me (selfishly) as I now have a really good housekeeper for way less than what I would have to pay to hire one!

 

There’s another job opportunity that we may investigate. When I was in my last two years of high school, I wanted a job, even tho my parents weren’t encouraging me or expecting me in any way. I just wanted a bigger sense of independence. There was a nursing home down the street, and I worked 2 or 3 afternoons a week, from 4 to 7 pm, in the kitchen. I did not do any cooking, my responsibilities were to set up the meal trays, load, run, and empty the dishwashers, clean the counters and mop the floors. I was reminded of this when a dance friend of DD’s got a job with very similar duties/hours recently. Since I have occasionally volunteered at a nearby veteran’s home, we are going to investigate this possibility there. We are going to be very upfront and honest about the limitations in DD’s schedule and see if they could use her for just Sunday afternoons during the school year, maybe more during school vacations, and before and after summer programs.

 

I don’t want to overload DDs schedule and am proceeding cautiously. But the reality is, that many dancers in professional circumstances may need to supplement their income. And developing the ingenuity to find ways to do this, that don’t conflict with training, rehearsals, and performances, is a real life skill.