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Pole studio parties and alcohol
I’m just wondering how many studios allow/offer alcohol for their parties, and how many people have attended studio parties as a client that served or allowed alcohol? I’m curious as a studio owner because I have had to turn down and have been turned down for party bookings that “expect” to be able to have adult beverages at their party. This doesn’t bother me, I have plenty of bookings. I do however get nasty emails back saying “well so and so’s studio where I live does”! My response is, then I recommend you book with them, thank you for your interest. 🙂
Here’s what I know in my state, to allow alcohol, you MUST have a liquor license, the cost of license for just beer and wine is $10,000./yr. Also my pole insurance does not allow it. I can’t think of any reason to combine pole and alcohol, other than looking for a lawsuit against me. My opinion, would a gym allow it? or allow you to be high using their equipment? I asked a few local gym owners, they were shocked I would even ask, of course the answer is “NO”.
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25 Replies
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I think it’s *crazy* for studios to allow alcohol at parties. Take a bunch of people who aren’t used to spinning on poles, throw a few cocktails into the mix, and you have a barf-fest waiting to happen. Never mind the liability concerns. i’m sure there are studios that do it without any problems, but I can’t even imagine it.
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It does seen like a disaster waiting to happen!
What about when you non-studio owners have girlfriends over to pole? Do you guys ever have wine or anything? It doesn’t seem like a great idea, but I kind of like the idea of grabbing a glass of wine and stretching… Even though I haven’t done it.
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At my old studio we allowed parties to bring their own refreshments if they wanted, and we ran parties like this:
Studio time and photos
Lounge for food and drinksThat way NO alcohol was consumed before or during the studio portion, and most of the time they never brought alcohol or food anyway, because they would be going somewhere else afterwards.
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I’ve been to both types. A studio that at private events allowed it and didn’t care of age (it is an 18 and up studio, but legal drinking age in the state is 21) and a studio that it was a no go. We held a bachelorette party and in our contract stated that we could not consume alcohol before or during studio time. There really is to much liability on the owner and instructors.
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Alcohol without a license in any commercial property is illegal here (I checked with the state when I opened, it made it easier to deal with ladies that insisted LOL) Even a business after hours that has say an office party is liable and responsible if someone is stopped by police after leaving there office and they’ve been drinking. I prefer to leave that to the local club.
I don’t drink, so that’;s never been an issue for me.
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In most instances it is an insurance issue as none of the companies that insure you for pole will insure you if you allow alcohol + pole. That said, I have been to several pole events where alcohol was either served (think competitions) or able to be brought in.
There is a studio in Ohio that is attached to a bar. This one I have yet to understand!
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One of the other issues with parties though – the studio may not allow it (the insurance is insane) but I have seen quite a lot where the girls turn up already well and truly tanked… It is a difficult thing to work around, but parties are good money for a studio too
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I make it very clear when a party is booked, the contract states that they will not be allowed to pole if they have been drinking or using. I haven’t had a problem since the 2nd party I ever had where I refused to hold the party because they had been drinking and a few were pretty loaded, they were asked to leave and the authorities were notified to protect my butt (I was not going to be responsible for them getting picked up when they weren’t drinking at my studio). It was not a problem, it’s my business and my lively hood. Parties are good money, however no amount of money is worth risking my reputation and my business. 🙂
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I have never had a student or party-goer that had been drinking. Well, none that I could tell anyway! Funny party story…I once had a party where one of the women begged me to let her do a handstand against the pole. I said nope, sorry! She had a dress on, too. o.O
I find that interesting too, Chem! All of the pole events I have been to have served alcohol. lolol. I have never mixed alcohol and pole, personally. They are totally separate in my world. Well, I sure as heck will sit here at my comp and drink and watch pole vids, though, so I guess that’s not entirely true. 😉
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I know events/comps serve alcohol, the places they rent are perfectly legal to do that. sparrow, that is HILARIOUS!!!! I think it’s safe to drink and watch vids!! LOL 🙂
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If I owned a studio or was doing parties, I wouldn’t allow alcohol at all. I think the ones that do are just setting themselves up for a lawsuit and a bad rap sheet. If I was going to peoples houses for parties then I would use my better judgement on who could use the pole and would not allow any inversions. I would also have an extra liability waiver. I however play on the pole with friends at my own parties while drinking but I know what I can do safely now and never use my pole if I am drunk. I do not allow inversions at my house with drinking either. As far as studios go that should just be common sense I would think.
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I’m not a studio owner or anything, but this is a topic I’ve been mulling over for a few months now. My pole is smack dab in the middle of our home bar. At first, it never crossed my mind that it could be a bad idea. Then one night, when I first got it, I was having a few cocktails and was really excited about something I had learned the day before. The damn pole was practically calling my name, all sweet and soft (as I imagine her voice to be ;)), and I did one quick spin, coming down on the side of my foot. Ouch. Nothing major but if you feel hurt while drinking, well, that must mean serious pain tomorrow, right? Well, it wasn’t that bad, just an ugly bruise, and I’m pretty used to those, but I did vow that I would learn from that experience. Alcohol makes muscles all loosey goosey and top that off with liquid courage…It’s scary. Last thing I need to combine with pole is relaxed muscles and the asinine idea that I can do anything!
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You make great points CJ! I have also hurt myself before because alcohol. That was when I first started pole and I learned quick not be drunk or even drinking and using it but I do have an occasional little party and we drink and play on the pole. I know a lot of people are guilty of that and there are bars that have them. When you think about it, it is a horrible idea. You make very good points. I have hurt myself more times on alcohol then ever and not pole related either. I have had concussions, broken nose that required 2 surgeries and possibly one more and it slightly fractured my eye socket. Also a broken hand, and numerous other little injuries from alcohol and the liquid courage it can give me. I am way more careful with anything now days when I drink and always try to use better judgement but alcohol does impair it and yes it does make your muscles all loosey goosey and a high pain tolerance. I have always never had a hangover after poling though lol but it probably is best not to mix pole and alcohol. You shouldn’t mix anything with alcohol lol.
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LOL, CrazyKosters! I’d like to hear those stories one day! I’d rather say to not mix pole with anything except water, music, and heels, because I love mixing alcohol with karaoke and general silly dancing. I guess my biggest concern is, now that I have learned not to pole and drink…except the occasional Loki spin to freak out my buddies…Can I impart that knowledge on my friends who come over? Thankfully, I haven’t had any problems in the 4 months I’ve had it, everyone I know seems to have a healthy dose of fear when it comes to my baby. 😉
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This drives me crazy, I don’t approve. I think it’s irresponsible and risky to say the least. The studio I teach for allows alcohol at parties. The owner is booked SOLID from Friday afternoon – Saturday night and on occasion Sunday “brunch”. The owner doesn’t exactly make a killing on classes because she doesn’t charge enough and she’s dependent on group-on sales every month and pole is seasonal (attendance goes way down during the summer months). What pays the rent are her boutique items, online lingerie store, and parties.
These parties have little to do with pole dancing. These girls want to get their drink on, eat greasy food, take sassy pictures to post on Facebook and have a good time. They are super excited in the beginning but after the warm up, they have this glazed look, they’re exhausted and can barely walk and do a spin. “This is harder than I thought” is the typical response. Probably less than 5% ever come back to take class. It has little to do with pole dancing as we know it in class. It’s income for her but like you said, a law suit waiting to happen. It’s a risk she’s willing to take apparently.
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