From inflation and supply chain issues to changing expectations from families, the new dance year is sure to come with its own set of unique challenges. Start prepping now to start your season on a strong foot. Ready or not, here comes back-to-dance season. The good news: The start to the 2022–23 dance year will probably feel […]
If you’re a dance studio owner, you may have started to breathe a little easier lately as operations have stabilized after almost two years of pandemic upheaval. So news of “The Great Resignation” is disconcerting. More than 19 million workers (and counting) have quit their jobs since April 2021, according to McKinsey & Company, and […]
The current pandemic has studio owners everywhere rethinking business as usual. One dirty little secret that’s been exposed? Before COVID-19, many of us weren’t giving our floors nearly enough attention. As Derryl Yeager, founder and artistic director of Odyssey Dance Theatre in Draper, UT, says, “A lot of times, the floor wouldn’t be deep-cleaned more […]
Business leader Misty Lown convened (remotely) more than 700 dance studio owners to create an action plan in response to COVID-19 studio closures. ICYMI, here are the takeaways: Studios can deliver value to customers with online content. Owners can preserve enrollment with caring communication. The federal stimulus package is a strong short-term safety net. At […]
Q: What tips do you have for beginning studio owners on recruiting students? I’m just starting out and am not sure where to begin. A: When we first opened we didn’t have a lot of cash for advertising, so during the summer we approached several preschools about conducting a 30-minute intro-to-dance class, free of charge. […]
Jessica Kubat’s path to becoming a studio owner wasn’t typical or glamorous or the product of a family business, handed down. When she opened MJ’s House of Dance in Lindenhurst, New York, this past summer, she had just turned 40, was a mom of three, and had worked at two different studios long-term. Over the […]
Q: What policies do you put in place to encourage parents of competition dancers to pay their bills in a timely manner? A: After many years of feeling the pinch of not being paid on time, we set clear guidelines in our team agreements and made a payment schedule that requires all expenses to be […]
Enrollment is an issue that plagues brand-new and veteran studio owners alike. Without a steady stream of revenue from new students coming through your doors, your studio won’t survive—no matter how crisp your dancers’ technique is or how well-produced your recitals are. Enrollment—in biz speak, customer acquisition and retention—depends on your business’ investment in marketing. […]
Dance teachers have a lot of strengths (communicating corrections, choreographing gorgeous movement, planning excellent recitals, cleaning technique—just to name a few) but when it comes to interior design—talent isn’t exactly a given. So when studio owners remodel or build, worrying about the decor can feel a little overwhelming (you’ve got just a few too many […]
At Brookfield Center for the Arts, owner Mandy Winiecki gives parents what she calls a “five-diamond experience.” Her Wisconsin–based studio caters to an affluent community, and she takes advantage: “Instead of trying to be the cheapest,” she says, “we are the most expensive. But we deliver the best of the best.” Here are her suggestions […]