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Pole Studio SOS
Hello ladies,
I am yet again seeking the advice of the pole studio owners/operators/managers out there. I posted a couple months ago or so seeking advice and information about how others organize classes at their studio…. There were answers that varied from 5- 8 week series in which you must enroll in, with only a limited number people allowed to guarantee everyone has a pole, and other studios that were 100% drop in/unlimited all the time. And a third class arragnment, which was a mixture of both. There were pros and cons to both of course that were discussed. Currently I decided to pursue classes that were divided mostly into 2 divisions… one aimed more towards beginners, and more towards intermediate to advanced. Overall it seems to be ok, but I worry what happens if too many people come one night and the class is WAY overcrowded… what do you ladies do with class arrangements like this? While I was originally told by one of you before, when there is more than one person per pole, you simply make the class more difficult so people WANT to take breaks… But it seems like there is a maximum amount of people before the room is overcrowded for comfort and safety reasons, like if 30 people came to one class in a 600 square foot room with 6 poles, this is way too much i think…. 12 is ok…but this many is too much. The other night I had 9 girls in class ( I have 7 poles) and then one of my students came, and decided to leave because it was too crowded for her. That was over a week ago and she not been back since despite the fact she bought a monthly unlimited membership 🙁 And now I feel badly. And this was only 9 girls on 7 poles! I can't imagine how people might react if there is way more. The other 9 girls were fine with it, and I made sure EVERYONE was included and was not left out. Even though the one girl left, I suppose this might be a sign that you can't make everyone happy, but I still worry if I am making the right decision, and worry about future classes that may because unmanageably crowded on any given night if everyone who has packages/memberships at my studio just up and comes to class on the same day/time by chance.
Another concern is dealing with absolute beginners in class. While I love the freedom of my 'come anytime drop in class schedule' allows….teaching a big group of first timers tends to slow things down a lot for others who have been coming more. For example, someone who has at least come to 3-4 classes under their belt can generally practice/work on something on their own if I am spoting something more advanced on the other side of the room, while an absolute beginner stares like a deer in headlights when left unattended for a minute I am considering starting some beginner series courses to remedy this, but unsure how to proceed, and if this will suck up too much time in the schedule. Sorry for the long winded message! Any shared experiences/advice is so greatly appreciated! <3 I love you guys!
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12 Replies
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I'm a firm believer in having specific levels, rather than a hodgepodge mixed levels class. I'm also a firm believer in setting rules for how many students can be on a pole. Of course your profit margin goes down if you only allow 1 per pole, but it seems unwise to have 3 per pole…and it also depends on how long your classes are. For example, if you allow 3 per pole and your classes are 60-minutes, students will likely be grumbling. I think there's a lot of value in having 2 per pole and taking turns. It sets up a camaraderie and a support system for your students. However, I don't allow students to spot one another or "teach" (but of course they will point things out to one another, etc). For beginning classes, I will allow 2 per pole and I move the class along quickly. For classes in which there is a lot of inverting in the curriculum, I will also allow 2 per pole. But in the level leading up to inverting, I'll only allow 1 per pole. This has worked for me and my studio.
As for the girl that left because it was too crowded: have you reached out to her to see what's going on?
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I don't own a studio so don't know how much my opinion would matter. But as a student, if there was another studio in town that gave me my own pole, I would choose it over sharing. I shared a pole once, and it was for only a few moments and that other student started telling me what to do. I wanted to leave. it also sucked having to constantly wipe down the pole and be self conscious about another student seeing my sweat or deodorant on the pole. it was gross and I can't imagine that for a whole class. and that was only for a few minutes! my studio allows you to reserve your spot in class online and you can be on stand by if somebody doesnt show up. I like knowing I have my spot so I reserve ahead of time. as a beginner, you really do need more attention to safety and explanation. sorry, I just had to put in my two cents because I was thinking about what your students might be feeling as you are trying to make these important decisions. when students share a pole, the extrovert will just take over and the introvert will just be unhappy and may not come back.
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I am a studio owner. We have a maximum of two students per pole. I keep classes small, though I have 5 poles for class, my class max is 8 students. I also have another instructor with me. NO ONE is ever left out. Our Highly advanced classes have fewer students with one instructor. My curriculum is very structured. I have level classes, and the only drop in is my "Fit N Fun" classes. That works well for those that are either not sure if they want to commit, or have no desire to invert. They are still taught everything that is viable from the floor. I also do not tolerate attitude.
I have been doing it this way the 3 years I've been in business. No one has left, or complained. I structured it this way for a few reasons. 1) It helps myself and the other instructor make sure they are doing things correct, and with proper form and points of contact. 2) It encourages and supports a sense of belonging, and eases the nervousness in just a few classes. 3) It helps with SAFETY. and allows us (instructors) to pay close attention to the individual needs of each student. If I feel someone is having difficulty and won't speak up, I will schedule a time with them to come in and visit/work with them so they get that extra help. Our students have homework. They are given a packet the 1st day of class of exercises that they need to do at home between their class and open pole time. Students are given the "Student Policy and Expectations" handout on day so there is NO doubt what I expect from them in my studio, and yes it may sound strict, but delivering a good program, and a safe one, it's important that there are no misunderstandings between myself/instructors and the students. We DO have allot of fun, we cheer for every effort made no matter how big or small.
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We have been doing 2 to a pole for over 8 years. It works. I highly reinforce to students that we share poles to decrease injury. Pole dancing you are essentially weight lifting your body. People don't typically go to the gym and lift weights for a straight hour with no breaks in between.
There was a young woman at the pole expo who wrote a book on how to properly train for pole dancing…and that was the top reason for injury…too much time on the pole and not enough breaks….especially for beginners. I would definitely include a warm up, floorwork, and strengthening/ab work portions of class where everyone can participate together.
We teach pole in levels as well..but the debate on mixed drop ins vs. levels is a whole different discussion….LOL
Happy Dancing
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Angie, do you have more info on the book you saw at Pole Expo?
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Freel, B. (2013). Vertical Athlete: Fundamentals of Training for Pole Fitness and Dance. Poler North: Anchorage, AK.
Exceptional reading. This is a book that students wanting to take their workout to the next level should read. It covers many safety issues in regards to training that are translatable to other fitness specialties. It’s difficult as an instructor to consantly preach the same safety technique- we’re often left wondering if our advice is heard. This piece of literature puts all the necessary information we’re all adamet on presenting to our students in one nice and organized place. I plan on doing a future book review on my blog going into more detail.
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hey sparrow,
i agree with kobajo84. this was a great book. now it did get a little deep into physiology and anatomy and someone might get a little overwhelmed/lost with that small part of the book ( i am a RN and it was a bit much for me; but i thought she did a great job of writing it).
Overall, it was an easy read and very helpful. I have been teaching for 8 years but I always like to deepen my knowledge on how to be a better teacher.
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I bought this book and was it was not what i was expecting. I thought it would give more insight into specifically training for pole. As a personal trainer and fitness instructor, i found it to be the same information that I have all ready studied for years through various courses and certifications. I didnt find it overwhelming, the information was accurate, but gave me no new insight like I was hoping for. It gives the basics of any training program, and i am glad that now people may realize there is more to training for any fitness related goal than they think. Yes it is deeper than may be thought at first glance into A&P, but in order to know why we do certain things, you need at least a basic knowledge of how the body works.
If you feel like it is overwhelming, my advice would be to take notes and do more research on your own into the points that you werent sure about. The more informed you are, the better you can apply that knowledge to your own body/training and to those you teach as well.
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I know of a few studios that have an intro to pole class that they offer once or twice a month that you have to take before you can take any other classes. I really like this idea as it keeps the beginners all together and you are showing basic positionings and such so that they are not like deer in headlights once they get to a class. I really wish during the time I was teaching this was an option.
As for amount of students, anything over 8 gets to be really hard to handle. In my opinion it is also unsafe for only one set of eyes.
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Aggghhhh….hit send then had another thought. There have been quite a few discussions here about the maximum amount of students in a class and some of them are a really good read.
https://www.studioveena.com/forums/view/4e8840b5-14fc-46f1-bbc0-43b00ac37250
https://www.studioveena.com/forums/view/4dcc3ccc-a54c-47ff-a080-70d40ac37250
And I found one of my posts from a while back that has a bunch of links. Sorry of they are duplicates:https://www.studioveena.com/forums/view/4f588f11-7c70-4989-9c58-64380ac37250
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We have seemed to manage well, with drop in classes and our policy of we don't like anyone to share poles. I tell students that sharing poles a few times a year is worth it instead of having to reserve poles, un reserve and get your card charged because you reserved a pole and did not show up and we turned ladies away. They understand.
We have 9 poles in one room about 1200 square feet and 6 poles in room 2. Our unlimited class members don't ever seem to get so many that we can't handle it or classes get over crowded, I think this is because of the type of town we live in and the conservative nature of this town, and apprehension to pole dancing here, and our location. We some how are just steady eddy, kind of full and not having an over full problem.
If we had 18 ladies show up and they were unlimited members, we would have to add classes. it would not work for us.
What does seem to overflow our classes are punch cards, drop ins, or some kind of payment option for beginners with no commitment. They don't come regularly, and it is hard to gage when to add classes. For this reason our regulating members seems to be related to price and packages that require commitment, like 2 month commitment of unlimited classes. We figure out who comes when and get to know our students and add classes when asked to. With this type of payment options many don't come and it is just as well, students really need to come on a regular basis, to get better. Drop ins, punch cards and week passes are only for our intermediate advanced students that fare better with coming to pole less frequent. They have to have been around a while to get that payment type option. This is what works for us.
Only in our slow season which is Holidays, Thanksgiving to New Years when classes are empty, people are traveling and busy do we bring back drop ins, punch cards and weekly passes for beginners. It is at this time classes change a little with more infrequent type students and not so many regulars.
If there are a couple extra that show up to a class the teacher gives up her pole and demonstrates moves and has the whole class work on moves instead of a routine. If there are a few extra that show up we may turn the class into some kind of fun rotation workshop kind of like Curves, where everyone moves from pole to pole with specific moves in between poles like somersaults, lunges, pirouettes, then a spin on a pole move on and a new move on the next pole and it turns into a circuit, with teacher leading. Class really only does moves they are familiar with or easy. It becomes a workout with emphasis on fluid movement, and creativity of the individual getting to do the move on the poles they are familiar with. This is for beginner types. The in between pole parts are where student have to work on walking from pole to pole slinky, sexy or getting to the other pole in some way other than just a boring walk. This they are not use to doing and brings something unexpected to class they have to focus on.
Intermediate pole members we are never too full, only beginning pole can be over full.
More often than not we take over flow into room 2, pull out the newest members and work with them. This only happens maybe not even 10 times year!
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Thank you so much for the replies ladies! I have found all of them very informative and helpful…and have read through the previous threads too… It seems like that while a lot of students prefer one to a pole (for hygenic and maximum pole time use), studios (especially those with less poles) need to have 2 per pole as it is more cost effective. However, while some students don't want to, i think breaks are important, and there is always rubbing alcohol and clothes to wipe the poles. As I have learned, this is a difficult, and expensive business, and to keep the doors open, and costs down, as much as a lot of people like 1 per pole, i don't think it is not realistic, especially when prices at the studio are already super affordable (which mine are). The idea of having a 75 minute class for 2 per pole does sounds like it can keep both parties happy though, and I would be willing to implement that i think to maintain quality, but keep profits up. I personally don't mind sharing sometimes as a student…it is certainly nice to have my own, but during 'prime time' lesson slots, such as 7 pm on a week night, i understand if I have to share from time to time, and who am I to deny a studio (especially if their rates are already more than reasonable) allowing another in. I think more than 2 per pole is too much, unless it is some international workshop stuff of course.
Yogabeachbabe – I did try to reach out to that student….i didn't directly ask her what was going on, but I texted her the next day after she left and informed her that I was only expecting a few ladies that evening, and assured her there would be lots of room. Also, she had attended several classes before that, where there were only 1 or 2 other people, and sometimes when she was the only one! During these, she did ask what is the class got more than 7 people (i have 7 poles), in which I told her, it happens very rarely, but when it does we share poles and it works out. She said nothing back, and didn't seem too concerned about it, but maybe she was. Despite this 'warning' she must have gotten so turned off by having 9 people in class potentially compared to just 1 or 2 others, that she left, and has not come back since. Since I have reached out to her once already, and expressed an interest in communicating with her and trying to get her into class, the ball is in her court at this point :/
Thank you so much for the replies again! I really do appreciate your time and effort, and hope I can be helpful to you as well at some point in the future. I think I have a clearer idea of some of the changes I will make now. Thank you!
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