and the fact that you taught the class should have been "hey man, no fee tonight, and thanks for teaching, that was cool. I'd love to have you be a part of the school..." but that's just me.

We waive the drop in fee for visiting black belts. And there is no fee for anyone who teaches on any kind of a regular basis (sometimes brown or purple belts teach the kids class). It can be nice to be asked to teach a technique as a guest (I have had that experience), but it's not the same as running the entire class, so that in itself seems like a red flag to me. I have been to academies where there are lots of black belts and teachers begin at 3rd degree or higher, and I have no problem with a drop in fee in those situations. But what you describe seems to be rather outrageous.

How excited are you to join a program that will just throw random-ass drop-ins into teaching positions to begin with? Each to his own, but seems like there are plenty of red flags right off the bat.

I guess I am torned on this topic. Our gym does not have a drop in fee, we do not have a lot of visitors but some and you can always swing by for free, if it becomes on regular bases we have another deal. We are a smaller gym as well but not tiny. I understand if popular gyms that might have a lot of visitors passing like Renzo Gracie NYC, I paid a drop in fee when I visited and I was fine with that. I guess I like the idea of free visits from random people but if it becomes crowded maybe a drop in fee is a good as a gate keeping function for the unserious people.

...The issue was that as a first time visitor, the owner asked me to run the whole class to include warm ups, teach the technique, and set up the rolling rounds with the audacity to still ask for a drop in fee and tell me the academy prices....

I'm trying to imagine that scenario. A chef calls to make a reservation for dinner, and is told the meal will be $25. OK, fine, no issues so far. Then he shows up and the restaurant owner tells him that since he's a chef he could cook for everyone and then eat his food. Still charges the $25. The situation is unfathomable when applied to a different industry.

and to further this thought if you politely said no - then you'd be the dickhead in HIS mind for not teaching even as a visitor. Still crazy man, for sure. the only way this makes any sense to me in the mind of the owner professor, was - was he a lower rank then you and maybe he thought he was referring? I always try to see the positive so trying to figure out a spin in the other guys mind to make any of this make sense, :D

Every industry is different though: imagine you're a struggling actor, and Steven Spielberg hits you up and offers you a supporting role in one of his movies. The only catch is you have to pay him $2k. Seems like a good investment for a no-name actor. Would you pay to co-teach with Danaher on one of his instructionals? For me, a guy who makes a living primarily in BJJ land, it would be tempting. Maybe this dude's gym is so awesome that he expects people to pay to work there? I don't know. Something tells me it's not though.

Every industry is different though: imagine you're a struggling actor, and Steven Spielberg hits you up and offers you a supporting role in one of his movies. The only catch is you have to pay him $2k. Seems like a good investment for a no-name actor. Would you pay to co-teach with Danaher on one of his instructionals? For me, a guy who makes a living primarily in BJJ land, it would be tempting. Maybe this dude's gym is so awesome that he expects people to pay to work there? I don't know. Something tells me it's not though.

I think you may have misunderstood the original post. I have no problem with drop in fees, and I don’t think anyone really does. The issue was that as a first time visitor, the owner asked me to run the whole class to include warm ups, teach the technique, and set up the rolling rounds with the audacity to still ask for a drop in fee and tell me the academy prices.

No I understood. I might have derailed from the initial post with my comment. I was solely commenting on the fee that several others have commented above. Regarding the OP post that is just messed up, regardless of belt level I would never put someone on the spot unless discussed beforehand. If I would ask the person to teach and I had a fee I would never charge the person.

To your last point, yeah I see no problem with gyms charging drop in fees. In my own experience when I travel it does seem quite common for the gym to waive the fee, although that could be a black belt hook up type situation. But if they do charge it doesn't bother me at all, I generally expect it. I also don't mind showing a technique at the end if they ask, but to run a whole class was kind of absurd.