SO YOU WANT TO BE A DANCE STUDIO OWNER: 3

THE DANCE SPACE

To open your own dance studio you are going to need a space to teach in. Whether you are searching for a premises to rent or are planning to buy your own property there are a few common requirements that will be on your list.

• Floors – these need to be sprung floors. If your search has taken you to church halls to rent you just may be in luck in your search for a wooden sprung floor. Warehouse and retail spaces, however, tend to have concrete floors. Quite often a wooden sprung floor will be a requisite for your public liability insurance. Concrete floors are simply unsafe for dance.
• Well ventilated
• Heating and cooling
• Mirrors – these can cost a small fortune to install
• Barres – at some stage you will require these
• Preferably a clearspan building (without supporting pillars and the like) and free of obstructions of any other kind
• Lots of natural light
• Waiting area for parents
• Change area for students
• Storage space for props and costumes
• Pigeon holes or lockers for students’ belongings
• Sound system
• Front desk and/or office space
• Cupboard in dance room for CDs, syllabi etc
• Property insurance (if you are buying)
• Appropriate number of toilets
  

Obviously if you are going to rent a space that is used by other parties you will need to know that it’s available on the days and times you require it.
Once you have found an abode for your dance school don’t forget there are some legal requirements you will need to attend to before commencing your classes. I will discuss these next time.
Until then,

Keep dancin’!

TDT

SO YOU WANT TO BE A DANCE STUDIO OWNER: 2

Finding a space for your dance studio

Okay so you’ve decided to open your own dance studio. What now? Well you will need a space to teach, of course. You may decide to teach in a church hall, rec centre, share an existing dance, self defence or exercise venue, or you may simply decide that you’d like to start out in your own building from the very beginning. Whatever your choice, you will need to take a few considerations on board.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
Is your proposed space....
1. In a safe area? I once found a fantastic building that had been a social dance venue. I was excited until I discovered that it was around the corner from a brothel and therefore probably not a great idea.
2. Well lit and in a visible place? Your venue needs to be easy to find. If you have signage that can be seen from the road, all the better.
3. Near public transport and have plenty of parking? Many families only have one car which is often used by dad to get to work. Bus stops and train stations nearby are definitely a plus. However, the fact of the matter is that many students do arrive by car. If you have ever taught at a studio that has a lack of car spaces you will know what kind of agro this can cause.
4. In an area that has a great student demographic? Okay so you need lots of children and teens close to your studio. Being nearby to schools is probably a good indication. However, be warned that high student populations don’t always mean big business for you. There are other considerations...
5. Far enough away from other dance studios? I once did research and found a suburb that had a huge student population at all its local schools. I opened a studio there but it really struggled. Why? There was an oversaturation of dance studios there. It seems that everyone else had the same idea as me!
6. Noise tolerant? The building should be away from residential buildings that may have occupants who complain about noise levels. Considering most of your classes may be at night – this is very important.
7. Zoned for business? From time to time, I hear about dance teachers planning to buy houses to run dance classes from. Although this may be a sound investment for resale purposes, if you are not in a business zone you may be shut down pronto.
8. Within your budget and means? Whether you decide to rent a hall, lease a building or buy your own property you will need some kind of capital. Remember most businesses close within the first year. If you decide to buy and the studio doesn’t do the blistering business you thought you may need to sell quickly. There is nothing worse than a desperate vendor. Take the time and care to do a business plan. It’s worth it!

In my next post I will discuss what the space should physically look like and issues of safety. Until then....

Keep dancing!

TDT

SO YOU WANT TO BE A DANCE STUDIO OWNER: 1

For many a young dancer it is a life long ambition to open their very own dance studio. Many will have idolised their own teachers and held onto the dream of becoming the best teacher they can be. But to be a dance studio owner – now that’s another thing!

Should I be a dance studio owner? Being the owner of a dance studio encompasses a whole lot more than just teaching dance. Are you willing to put in a lot of time into the administration side of the business? This may be required especially in a new business. Do you have any small business skills? So many dancers have great technique and dance knowledge only to have to close the doors of their studio due to mismanagement. Good business sense will take you a long way.
Are you willing to give up your time? Running a business can be a 24/7 affair. Are you prepared to have a shift in your work/life balance? It may not be a consideration right now but many dance studio owners find it difficult juggling work and family commitments. When your kids and partner are getting home, your classes are just getting started. Is your spouse/partner willing to cook, feed the kids and put them to bed? No kids? Then is your boyfriend/girlfriend or partner willing to be alone at home or amuse themselves every night you are teaching?
Do you have good people skills? Picture this: the students absolutely love your energetic classes and you are a hit with the kids. Outside the classroom, however, is another story. You seem to clash with many parents and now some of them are forming alliances against you. Slowly your students start to drop out….. The children may love you but it is the parents that have to bring them and pay for classes. If they don’t like you they’ll look elsewhere. You need to be both diplomatic and firm and have the parents on side.

All these questions are designed to prepare you for your choice of career. I’m not trying to turn you off but rather make you think of the considerations you should make before getting into this business. I have been in this industry for 30 years and can’t think of anything else I’d rather be doing. Except maybe a lotto winner laying on a beach with a pina colada. We all know that’s not going to happen – right? If you still decide to go ahead – I wish you the best of luck.

In my next post I will be discussing finding a space for your dance studio.

Keep dancing!

TDT