I can remember attending classes and finding out that the usual instructor wasn't doing the class, it was someone covering, and people next to me quite rudely pulling a face when the instructor came in, saying they weren't keen on them for whatever reason, or maybe they only liked the usual instructor.
I always felt sorry for the cover instructor, and would always smile at them, as I could often see they were nervous.
I've found myself in that position as the cover, luckily I've usually been able to win the class over with my sparkling personality(!) apart from on 1 occasion (it was 2 one hour sessions back to back) which I suppose isn't bad after 10 years, but those 2 occasions stick in my mind. Imagine it was you walking into a room full of resentful people, them not engaging with you, and you wishing it was over, checking the clock and seeing only 10 minutes your 1 hour session has gone by, and the same for the second session. It's an awful and nerve wracking feeling and makes you feel terrible at the end of it, making you doubt your ability as an instructor. How would they like people to be rude to them??
A couple of people came up afterwards and apologised for the rest of the class for their behaviour towards me, it was just so rude, in fact I spoke to the centre manager afterwards and said I'd never cover those sessions again. It's very difficult to walk into a class as cover as you've no idea what you are walking into and what level the class are at. For those who know me, if I get annoyed, I don't show it, all I do is make the class really hard!!!
Please be kind!
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