Paid tandas.... pure bullshit

This afternoon I went to a práctica, where I paid $15 for entrance. I was told I had the option to pay an extra $10 for a tanda with one of the instructors. I thought that was rather strange, but I assumed that money would merely guarantee a tanda with one of them, and given that I am currently unemployed, I opted not to. I later asked a lady for a dance, and she flatly refused because she was 'on duty' and I hadn't paid. I had to sit out a Troilo tanda. WTF? I still refused to pay - it would be like paying for sex when you know you can get laid for free. I wanted to tell her that I've received free instruction from Gloria Arquimbau (in Chicago, where I was a 'taxi dancer' for a festival) and any possible instruction these local nobodies could provide would pale in comparison, not to mention that I was only looking to dance, not get unsolicited instruction. Thing is that I danced with one of the 'instructors' at a milonga the night before, and I had a good tanda with her. And good tandas are priceless, but they're also free, or at least should be. What a hospitable way to welcome newcomers to town...