I think you were totally right. And I think it was kind of rude of her to ask when everybody else had to pay. Don't let her huffiness bother you. If you let one person watch for free, then you have to let everybody watch for free. Next time, just tell her that the class isn't set up with a spectator section.

Our LQS used to offer demos on Friday mornings for 1-2 hours. It was just a demo--not a hands-on workshop. Those were limited to 12 people because that's all the room they had. There was a nominal fee of $2 (if I remember correctly) just to pay the instructor something. So, even then, just watching wasn't free.

You were 100% right, I can't believe she had the nerve to try that. Good for you, I probably wouldn't have had the guts to speak up and then would have fumed thru the whole thing and not been able to learn a thing.

She knew she was wrong or she would not have "huffed" out of the room.

If the teacher volunteered to do the class for free, I see no harm. However, if the teacher expected to be paid and others paid a fee to sit through the class, I would have not let her watch either.

Several years back I taught knitting classes. One night a lady drove her friend to the class and sat in but didn't actually participate. At the end of the class I asked if she'd like to buy the pattern, one of my designs. My intention was to charger her for the pattern but not the class. She said, "No, I'll just copy Susie's." That made me so mad I replied, "Well, then I'll only charge you for the class." She didn't object but you should have seen the expression on her face.

You did the right thing. If she didn't want to pay for the class she shouldn't have come.

There is always one in every crowd who thinks the rules are not for them. You did the right thing Linda! :D Ninnie in NC

The teacher probably should have spoken up. It's not fair to the people who have paid either.

If you are sitting in on a class and "watching" you are part of the class and need to pay. Makes me mad when people want to get something for nothing. You were not wrong.

Linda,
Don't feel bad, you were RIGHT!

Our guild has the rule that a member has to pay $5 extra what ever the class fee is to be a watcher. Pay the regular price or pay $5 extra or don't come. It worked great once everyone figured out the $5 extra was a polite way to say you will pay to stay.