So it doesn't happen often, but from time to time I have girls tell me that my tour prices are too expensive. This frustrates me for many reasons-- most of which is that I don't usually have time to fully lay out an explanation. So here goes.
Touring isn't cheap. I have to pay for flights, hotels, food, supplies (hair products, brushes, makeup), etc. This all comes out of pocket for me. Your ticket price is paying me directly for these costs. This goes double for classes that I do overseas. A lot of people in Europe and Australia don't understand just how expensive a round trip flight from here is. And that is one flight alone-- that doesn't count other flights/trains once I get there. When I get to the UK this summer, I am spending nearly a month there and hotels for a month alone are astronomical. Not to mention the fact that the pound is worth about 1.5 times the dollar so the exchange rate for me is pretty awful when I am buying pretty much everything in pounds. This is true for the reverse reason in Australia-- our dollar is worth about 1.5 times yours, which means that when I come home and exchange my earnings, I am losing a lot in the exchange.
Also keep in mind that this is a business, not a hobby. I pay taxes on all of my earnings as well-- which is another big chunk that doesn't come directly to me. Also when I am gone for a month, I still have to pay all of my bills-- rent, insurance, car insurance, utilities, etc. And when I am on the road, I have to eat out for pretty much every meal since I am rarely staying anywhere with a kitchen, nor do I have time to cook. I value myself more than eating fast food for a month straight, so eating nutritious meals 3x a day on the road also adds up. Remember too that every 4th day is a travel day-- which means airports-- which means extra pricey food/water.
I have not set out to swindle anybody. I am not charging any more than other people that do what I do. I actually looked into taking a class with a hairstylist that I follow recently and he charges $400 per person for his classes. The thing about classes and shoots is that they are a luxury-- not a necessity. I am not charging you a premium for water or shelter. I am charging you a fair price for a service that you can choose to accept-- or not. You wouldn't walk into a boutique and tell them that their shoes are too expensive and that they should lower the price for you. I would love to be independently wealthy and travel the world on my own dime and give away all of my knowledge and skills for free. But unfortunately that isn't my life.
I try to give at least 6 months notice before my tours start so that if girls are interested in booking with me, they have time to save. If you want to book the class at $75
(or £85 if you are in the uk) and you have 6 months to save, you only have to save $12.5 a month. That is a few cups of coffee. I have had girls ask for my class or shoots as birthday/christmas gifts. I have had girls do all kinds of things to make it to see me and take part in my activities. And I love each and every one of you for it.
I do my best to put out free content all over the internet. On youtube alone you can find over 300 videos for free that teach all kinds of things. I answer all of my emails and help however I can. I answer thousands of questions and comments. I do everything I can to make girls feel awesome about themselves. I don't charge girls for every single little thing I do. But my tours are my tours and they come at a cost. This cost has been carefully planned to cover all kinds of factors and it won't change. When girls stop booking my classes, I will stop touring and move onto my next project. But for right now, this is my job, and I take it seriously.
Please don't make me feel guilty for trying to earn an honest living. I do my best to make it fair.
Hey everyone! I have had so many of you asking me over the last few months if I am done blogging. NO way Jose! I have just been INSANELY busy since the spring.
I signed a book deal. I am SO excited for this you guys. I am not giving too many details away yet on what it is about, but it is going to be super fun and cute and creative. It will be a book for every girl. I just did some serious work on the outline tonight. Tentative release is Winter 2017.
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