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Studio Loyalty
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Minicoopergirl brings up a great point about instructors. When I was teaching I did NOTHING for myself. I stopped trying to learn new things. I stopped pushing. I always had a song or two of "play" at the end of class but if I worked on things for myself a lot of the time the girls would stop and watch me which to me was taking "their" time away from them. I know a few instructors arund here have the same issue which is why we have pole play once a week at a studio. It is nice to be able to get together with other people who have a higher ability and just play and maybe learn a thing or two.
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A question close to mine and a group of my friends hearts after we all got kicked out of our pole studio after approx 2 years cause our pole instructor said she didnt want to see pics of us on facebook poling at other places as it was detrimental to her business.
Non of us ever missed a class there as we were loyal.
We poled at other places IN ADDITION because our main studio didnt have spinning poles, only static, which is the ONLY reason we wanted to try other classes.
Also some of the girls were going to stretch classes as that was something they didnt offer at the time.It all turned very nasty in the end, they were being talked about all over facebook for kicking us out, they then rang the police and tried to get some done for slander, which couldnt happen cause all the students were doing was discussing true events.
The pole school now seemingly has issues with one of my blogs.
Its all such a bitter bitchy place its sad.Now I go to three different pole schools and they are all friends. They are happy for their students to go else where too. It seems the done thing. I think we all have one school we favour more than others though. The schools I now go to are even arranging a joing trip for all their students to the UKPPC. Its an awesome pole community.
Pole instructors should come together.
If you dont let your students go else where, you will just end up singled out of the pole community. -
I wouldn't say that I am suuuper loyal to my pole studio. I mean I went and signed up for classes and barely missed any of the classes and made great friends. Now that I've outgrown what my studio has to offer, I have and will learn from others who can offer me something to learn. Poling is all about growth, I would hate to know that my home pole studio wouldn't want me to better and challenge myself by taking classes from other studios etc. If they felt like I was "cheating" on them by taking classes at other studios, it would really show me that they're really in it for the money, and not for the overall health and personal growth of the student.
Lucky for me, my studio is extremely happy for me when I've learned a trick that they don't teach, or at a level they won't be teaching yet. I just think it's really sad that studios have this competitiveness and cattyness against other studios. I realize it's still a business, but if your students are off to another studio to learn, grow, advance, and challenge themselves, it isn't their fault! The reason why they've gone to another studio is because they have something that your studio doesn't! Either get over it or learn to incorporate that missing something into your program or else this is going to constantly happen.
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Every time you go take a class you are creating a job for both the instructor and the studio. If they get mad enough to kick you out of their studio simply by exploring other studios to help you along with YOUR pole journey then I feel really bad for them. They are not only jealous but they certainly don’t know how to run a business. They are basically saying they don’t want your money so I say go create a job for someone who wants to give you the best pole education ever.
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I think you must messure you decision in sections and decide from there. For example:
1. How long have you been with your home studio?
The time messured in one studio may define how important an instructor you are to that studio in particular and what may be expected of you (whether those expectations are ethically warrented or not has no barring on how the owner and/or members view you and your loyalty to them.
2. How much business have you brought in for them with your skills and talents, and was the kick-back from that time and effort compensated and appreciated?
If you've shead blood (not literally, or literally if you truly have), sweat, and tears for your studio over time and you have not felt as though you were rightfully recognized or rewarded (whether by payroll, comission, or simply kind words of encouragement) then the decision should be much easier than you're making it on yourself. Never short change yourself as a dancer and instructor. You do what you do because you earned your place doing it, so if you feel less than the best you are, re-evaluate yourself and circumstances and move on to bigger and better things, because believe me you're worth it.
3. This is more of an obvious statement than a questions, but, weigh your overall currency.
If you find other studios that are willing you pay you more than you're currently getting paid and your home studio isn't willing to budge on what they are paying you then you need to do what is financially best for you. If others can recognize that you are a find and are willing to up the anti to lock you in I'd say your decision is made right there. Your only problem/question then becomes who's willing to pay you more for your awesomeness? I know that sounds very greedy, when in reality, you need to think about feeding, clothing, and homing yourself before anything else.
4. As an instructor, do you feel as though you've reached a plateau at your home studio and you think you have much more to learn, develope, and ultimately offer to others?
FIrst of all I don't think that going to other studios to learn more than you already know is wrong. How else will you learn anything new to teach others? It's the same as going online to youtube.com or any other sites that offer lessions or examples to try out on your own time. How are you expected to teach anything new if you don't branch out and learn new things on your own? Any business owner, instructor, even just a studio member should appreciate and understand the importance of this concept. If they don't and act overly offended by what you've done, that proves right there how petty they are. They should be happy for you wanting to better yourself and they should be supporting you every step of the way. The only time that it's not cool for you to be going around to other places is if you're being sneaky about it and if you are teaching things to people improperly regardless of what you learned along the way. Questioning your own methods and not following proper steps can lead to serious injuries and if you're not willing to perfect or improve what you've learned to properly teach others safely then that because your own moral dilemma and you should feel bad in that respect.
Look, in the end you need to decide what is best for you, not worry about how others around you will feel if you take a chance and decide you want to expand your horizons. That may sound thoughtless and harsh but if you don't start taking care of you and respecting your own needs first, how will you ever expect to gain that much from those you're teaching? I leave you with that to think about. Let us all know how things turn out and good luck!
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my two cents 🙂
To me, the studios wanting you to claim a studio that you represent for marketing/publicity's sake, are being a bit high handed. If you really have taught and learned multiple places, then you aren't simply a product of their studio. Especially if, for example, you teach in the 'home studio' but learn choreography or big tricks in another place. I totally understand that though, they see something good! To me, it seems like you value your personal pole journey, as it should be, and compromising that may in turn compromise how much you enjoy poling/teaching. I feel in a situation like this, you need to look out for yourself. Sounds like in matters other than publicity, the studios are all good with each other. Which is awesome. That doesn't always happen. I suppose one way of not dealing with representing one studio would be to represent them all? or none? Shrug https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_confused.gif no idea there. Have never liked the concept of studios taking ownership of students/teachers' talent. Its not like we all started with them when we were 5 and they gave us our entire movement vocabulary. But that is neither here nor there. 🙂
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Loyalty goes 2 ways. What is your home studio doing/done for you? Do they promote you? Did they teach you everything (most) things you know? Would you be teaching THEIR material at another studio?
I've been on both sides of this and seen both sides with other friends. I kind of get a bit hurt when a long time student goes elsewhere – just being honest. I wonder what they need that I can't give them. Women are emotional creatures, I'm learning to embrace that and also let it go and realize that I can't be EVERYTHING. Even *I* train with different people so why should someone JUST train with me? I'm learning to say "you will like so&so, she does ______ really well." It's still hard.
With teaching I think as long as you are communicating everything up front you will avoid a lot of drama. Talk to you home studio and tell them what's going on. It might hurt both of you but at least you know you were honest and upfront. Sometimes thesen things make people angry and that's ok – hopefully if goes to an angry place you can resolve the conflict.
So I guess my advice is to communicate, that will help you make your decision. I know that finding out later a student has been "stepping out on me" is worse than hearing it before.
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First off, I wanted to say that I actually had the privilege of watching you compete at CPDC and my hats off to you for your great performance. Now to your topic. I have a very strong opinion about studio hopping because I am a hopper myself. After getting to a certain level in pole you either hit a plateau at your current studio, find yourself in a creative rut, or simply just want to up your game. I had all occur at what I would call my home studio. As I watched girls perform and dance and I noticed we all had very similar movement and trick combos. Why?? Because we all learned from the same group of teachers. So I decided early on that I would not be like the most of the girls at my home studio and I would seek training at other studios from other teachers. I found that not only did I progress at a faster rate but I also was able to experiment with what kind of poler I really wanted to be. I could find my own style, get ideas from other students and teachers and basically become more well rounded. I had a teacher tell me she didn't want me to teach "her" movement to other people but what she doesn't realize is that she didn't invent the wheel. We have so much available to us via you tube and pole forums that guess what…it's already out there. Most of what we learn is already being done and posted somewhere. The industry is growing and changing so fast that it is hard to keep up. Someone is always up-ing the bar. So your challenge as a teacher is to keep up with the industry and how do you do that at one place. It's impossible to grow when you are in the same box. We in the pole community should support one other's growth. What we do is already considered out of the norm. How often do you tell someone that you are a pole dancer and get the same deer in the headlights reaction with the "ohhhh". As a community (and as women) we should encourage growth amongst each other and if that growth comes from learning and sharing from others then we should support it. Teachers, don't take it personal. It's not about YOU it's about continuing to grow. A simple analogy would be to look at parenthood. As a mother of 3 children I still can learn from other mothers out there even though I have done the same thing 3 times over if I closed my eyes and ears to outside advice and knowledge then I couldn't be the best mom I could be. How would I have survived the toddler years ; 0 Someone out there is trying the same thing but may have a better solution or way of doing it that you didn't think of. It's more of a big picture thing. I have seen one too many teachers get bound to contracts that make them "exclusive" to one studio and it's so sad to see. I truly believe with the pole industry/community growing as fast as it is we should always consider ourselves students. When you stop learning, you stop growing.
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Hi Nadine,
Here's my input as a local studio owner.
As a student (and especially as a competitor!) you should be learning from as many instructors as possible. I encourage my students to take classes from different instructors and different studios to maximize their skills and learning experience. I even forward along and recommend specific classes/workshops/instructors/studios I think might be benificial. I don't personally take classes at other studios (due to time and location), but I do take workshops whenever my schedule allows. However you like to learn, do it. This will make you a better dancer and a better instructor. Just be sure to let the studio you're visiting know that you teach elsewhere as a common courtesy, and of course DO NOT promote while you are there.
Getting upset that a student takes classes from multiple studios is selfish. That should not be taken personally. Just becuase they take a class somewhere else doesn't mean they love your classes any less. Your relationship with them is about THEM, not our own ego. The more we remember that, the better instructors we are.
As an instructor you need to ask yourself a few questons. Are you an independent contractor? Did you sign a noncompete clause at your current studio? Does your studio offer you enough work? If you are teaching as a hobby then this might not matter, but if this is your livelihood then you want to keep yourself open to multiple opportunites as any fitness professional would (most yoga instructors, trainers, etc work at multiple businesses).
I know you love your home studio so communicate openly with your studio owner before you start teaching elsewhere. She should be open to you growing as a dancer and instructor, which will benefit her classes! But she's going to be hurt if she hears you're teaching outside of her studio after the fact, so make sure to be upfront.
Hope this helps pretty lady.
Xo ~ t
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Great response Pole Mommy!
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I agree with Traci & Pole Mommy. There is so much to be gained from other experiences. It's just a matter of open communication. Your home studio might have some hurt feelings but if you ar eopen and honest, that's all you can do.
Something that is hard about the dance industry in general is that women are emotional creatures. I've learned this the hard way and have found myself in situations that a little more kindness on both peoples parts would have gone a long, long way.
My only advice is to navigate all situations with a big heart, empathy and stay strong and true to yourself and your goals. Afterall, they are YOUR goals, YOUR life and no one else can make things happen.
I worked at 2 studios for awhile – it was okay…I think there were a lot of questions about my loyalties and I started changing – becoming less giving, started understanding that I was an Independent Contractor not an employee and it caused a lot of problems for me. I grew stronger because I saw that could do more and be more, that the goals I had set could actually happen. Me, getting stronger and more self assured, caused a lot of problems. In fact studio hopping has caused a rash of hurt feelings in my life, so I am only speaking about the emotional side of things not the rational, logical side of things.
So – to better explain my earlier post – there are feelings involved because we grow so close with students, co-workers and owners. This business is based on creating a safe place for self expression so change shakes things up – that doesn't mean you can't or shouldn't just do the best you can with the FEELINGS side of it.
Sorry – I'm so airy fairy zen these days.
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@https://www.studioveena.com/users/view/bc360416-d89d-11df-ab19-12313b090e12 – I'm going to be in Parma for Christmas break, can you recommend any west side pole studios for me to visit while I'm in town? https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_flower.gif
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Glitterqueen, I can do one better and go with you! There are 2 studios in town. Monday night we have pole play at Be Studios which is in Lakewood/Cleveland, maybe 15 minutes on the freeway. There is also Cleveland Exotic which is more downtown. If you are interested in silks at all there is also a studio in the old Slavic neighborhood that has classes on Wednesday and Sunday nites. I am sending you a PM.
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Everyone, that was fantastic advice!!! you brought up some points I hadn't even thought of! I guess I should thank my lucky stars I actually have 4 pole studios close by and even more if I am willing to drive a little. I want to grow and I also want my students to grow. I'm excited to go pick up my keys tonight from Studio #2 and I will of course, talk in person with Studio #1 this weekend. @Traci, lol, YOU are studio #3 https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif so I'm glad to see your response here. So now you know that I teach at two other studios but am coming back for classes from you!
Studio Veena rocks…. so glad my thread got featured becuase I'm not sure I could have gotten this open and honest advice from random people at the bus stop.
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I think it’s totally possible to be loyal to more than one studio. I’ve been to several studios throughout the years. Some I love, some I like, and some I wouldn’t go to again… The ones I love I feel I’m loyal to whether helping to instruct or just as a student. Each one has a different style, different instructors, different atmospheres, and are located in different areas. I recommend and promote them all depending on where someone lives and and what they’re looking for (fitness, sexy, long warm ups, more pole time, etc…). Being able to advance is important whether you’re a student or instructor. Sometimes that means combining what you can learn from more than one source. Pole has been life transforming for me personally, so I truly believe that if I reach a point where I’m not growing anymore its time to move on. Attending other studios may give you the opportunity to bring something new to your studio(s) that they may not have gotten otherwise.
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