Floor fees?

[arnold]

I used to fence frequently for a number of years, but right now I fence only occassionally. I only show up at the fencing club once every month or two. Even though I don't fence often, I still enjoy fencing once in a while.

It's not really worth it for me to purchase a yearly membership any more, since I show up so infrequently. Can anyone tell me if their club allows non-members to show up occassionally and pay a floor fee per each visit? If so, how much is the floor fee?

Although I am not sure, I don't think the coach at my club likes this type of arrangment -- if you fence at the club, I think he wants you to purchase a membership. But I think he probably allows a few people to just pay per visit. Before I talked to him about it, I was curious about the policy at other clubs.

Thanks in advance for any responses.

[Mergs]

I've seen floor fees vary from a few bucks to about $20US. If you are going to be a "regular" whoever is running the club may cut you a deal on membership/floor fee. Talk to them. Good luck.

[Ramrod]

Most club owners would prefer that you purchase a membership rather than pay-per-visit. I have not heard of anyone being turned away on an open fencing night though.

Floor fees that I know of are $10-$15.

[Artisan]

Ours does...$10.

[a517dogg]

Boston Fencing Club in Waltham, Massachusetts charges $10 to adults, $5 to students.

[oiuyt]

In my area the existing club charges $5. The new club that opens Wednesday will charge $5. The club that used to exist but no longer does (completely unrelated reasons) charged $5 and then went to a policy of requiring membership with no floor fee option allowed for occasional visitors (of course this also meant they took a massive hit in numbers of people willing to go....).

Speaking in a broader sense in my larger area, as it were, the fees are $10/$5 as mentioned by ADogg, $10 at each of 2 other Boston area clubs, $5 at the primary Connecticut club (free for students), pretty much somewhere in the $0-$10 range for everywhere else around.

-B :)

[rukovsoft]

this floor fea system is great in the US
in europe you have to be a member.
if you want to fence in another club the master of the other club has to agree, but it s exceptional, you cannot do it on a regular basis...lots of insurance problem.

5$ is not bad even if u re a student
10$ starts to be expensive...but if you go severl times a month, it s worth becoming a member.

as a comparison, in my club in franc i pay 140$ a year, individual lessons included.
and contrary to what people think we re not heavily subsidized
towns in general give clubs free facility (which helps a lot), and a subvention (sometimes), that barely covers the salary of the master. so not much money is left for the rest.

it s a legend that we re heavily subsidized. our system is just different

[bjacobs]

What new club, Brad?

[Craig]

I've seen $10 to be fairly standard. A number of clubs either waive it for your first time, or only charge $5. That way you can "try out" the club, but then you pay the regular floor fees if you are going to keep coming, but don't want to pay the monthly fee.

Craig

[arcon]

Be real friendly and maybe the club will allow you to fence free on your first visit.