Solving Pandemic Problems: Recitals and Show Profits

In a typical season at our dance studios we announce our Recital themes and measure for costumes in October; we continue to sign new students up on a case-by-case basis until we close enrollment in February; dancers perform in the Recital early-Mid June and our season ends June 30. 

As of today we have yet to announce our Recital themes or dates for 2021. 

Because of Covid-19 our theaters are not allowing rentals until July 2021 so we are looking at pushing our recital to late July/early August. For Plan B, we have outside venues. For Plan C we have in studio filming and a virtual performance (much like we did for our Holiday shows). 

In talking with Twinkle Star Dance studio owners each week I know I am not alone when it comes to getting creative with Recitals this year. 

Recitals are an important revenue stream for our business as well as a tangible goal for our dancers and staff to work towards each season. Keep in mind with increased Covid-19 precautions like limited capacity (including performers) we will have to consider our expenses and how to cut costs to produce our shows.

Three quick cost saving Recital tips: 

1. Cut down on Recital expense and/or use your studio as a low cost alternative. 

2. Combining classes for Recital or performance experience will allow you to maximize expensive theater cost. 

3. Use Twinkle Star Dance choreography to cut down on back and forth (your valuable time and energy) with your teachers.

Over 300 affiliated studio owners put Twinkle Star Dance into practice in their business and here is what some of them have to say: 

“We have not done a holiday show in years.  With enrollment down we needed to bring in more income.   By using Twinkle Star Dance we assigned each age group a dance and all the teachers are able to teach the same choreography, allowing us to easily combine classes for our show.”

Carolyn Coskren, Dance Inspirations

“Ms Devyn loves the twinkle star and show stars curriculum, it helps her so much in preparing confidently for her littles and level 1 and 2 classes. She appreciates both the documents and the video choreography that is so helpful and time saving for her in putting together as many classes as she needs to prepare through the week.! It’s a plus that the program is so put together and easy to utilize. Also our parents appreciate knowing that the dance curriculum our studio uses is quality instruction and in progression for each students ongoing dance education.” 

Tanya Kimber, Apologia Dance & Martial Arts

Want more inspiration? Join us live for Studio Owner OVERCOME a two-day virtual conference experience presented by dance studio owner and industry leader, Tiffany Henderson, featuring intimate conversations with women business owners and experts. 

Network from the comfort of your home! Studio Owner OVERCOME is scheduled for January 14-15, 2021 and will contain Live Q+A with Expert Panelists, Business Sessions, and Inspirational Keynote. We will be releasing the schedule and class descriptions for Studio Owner OVERCOME very soon.

Pushing forward in your dance studio

FREE DANCE STUDIO OWNER WEBINAR

Feeling stressed about your future? You are not alone. Dance Studio Owner and Industry Expert, Tiffany Henderson, shares how she's setting small personal goals, maintaining a gratitude mindset, and surrendering to the uncertainty.

Plus, Tiffany's tips for increasing revenue with your current dancer enrollment, planning a Holiday Show experience, and how she's treading water into the New Year.

Listen here: https://bit.ly/3klsukY

Treading Water? We can help!

In our seven dance studios across the San Francisco Bay Area we “treading water.” It’s November and the enrollment number we started with in August at the beginning of the new dance season is about the same. Which is about 30% of my enrollment at this time last year. 

In business the name of the game is how can I increase my revenue without also increasing my expenses. Said another way, for our businesses to continue to stay afloat how do we get the dancers currently enrolled to earn us more revenue? 

Here are five ways to start earning more revenue: 

1.Encourage dancers to take 2-3 classes per week

Although we often focus on enrollment numbers, more important is the average tuition per student. You can have 150 students, but if they are only paying you $50 per month you are only earning $7500 in tuition. If you get just half of those dancers to take a second class and pay $30 more that’s an additional $2250 each month.

2.Invite dancers to join your Performing Company  

Create or invite them to an existing performance group that gets them to take an additional class or rehearsal, buy additional costumes, and be more invested in your studio. 

3.Open registration for Mini Camps 

Offering one-hour mini dance camps during weekdays or on the weekends is a great way to earn additional revenue; dancers can even invite their friends to help increase valuable Word of Mouth Marketing to your business. 

4.Increase dancer participation in your Holiday Show and Recital 

Dancers need a goal to work towards and having two performance opportunities per season makes them more invested and better dancers. Shows are also an important revenue stream for our business and offering virtual performances or in studio filmings are very little cost to you.  

5.Don’t forget Studio Swag 

T-shirts, trophies, flowers, etc. Even in Covid-19 climate families want to buy something to commemorate their performance. 

Want more inspiration? Join us live for Studio Owner OVERCOME a two-day virtual conference experience presented by dance studio owner and industry leader, Tiffany Henderson, featuring intimate conversations with women business owners and experts. 

 Gain Insight and Expert Advice on: 

• Battling Burnout 

• Managing Cash Flow

• Optimizing Additional Revenue Streams 

• Planning a Recital Experience 

• Marketing to New and Returning Dancers 

• Hiring, Training, Managing Teachers and Staff 

Network from the comfort of your home! Studio Owner OVERCOME is scheduled for November 12-13, 2020 and will contain Live Q+A with Expert Panelists, Business Sessions, and Inspirational Keynote. We will be releasing the schedule and class descriptions for Studio Owner OVERCOME very soon.

celebrating is not cancelled

GUEST SPEAKER: SANDY COYTE 

Sandy Coyte shares how she and her Starbound National Talent Competition team pivoted from a nationwide city tour to a completely virtual experience for studios in the Spring and Summer. Plus, how she is getting creative with restrictions in various cities and venues to hold safe, in-person events for dancers.

About Sandy Coyte

From the moment you arrive, everyone who takes part in a Starbound Competition, from the studio directors, dance instructors and dance students, to the parents and grandparents, will recognize that Starbound National Talent Competition is a UNIQUE competition experience. Since 1994, Sandra Coyte, along with her husband Wayne, have strived to create a competition with a personal touch. Throughout the years, their success in this venture has been evidenced by the ever-growing numbers of returning customers, who are also considered to be friends. Sandra and Wayne have created these lasting relationships by providing participating teachers, dancers and parents with a very positive, personal experience at each of their competitions. The Starbound Directors endeavor to communicate and speak personally with each and every Studio Director and as many parents and performers as possible at every competition. These efforts have enabled Starbound to acquire the “Starbound Family” feeling that so many of our customers are familiar with, and return each year to experience. While competing, performers will find that the positive experience extends beyond the Directors! Our Stage Managers are friendly, professional and ready and able to assist with the timing of performances and the management of the backstage area. The Stage Managers are also an integral part of why Starbound’s competitions are known to run “on time”. We value your time, and make diligent efforts to provide you with the most accurate schedule possible. Upon taking the stage to perform, Starbound competitors face a judging panel consisting of individuals who possess extensive professional performance experience as well as experience working with children of all ages. Starbound utilizes an adjudicated scoring system, which allows the judges to provide performers with a score, along with  critiques. We strongly believe that positive-reinforcement is an invaluable educational tool, essential to the goal of building a child’s self-esteem. Our Judges strive to employ that philosophy in each of their evaluations. In keeping with our goal of providing a positive, self-esteem building experience, each and every performance is recognized at our Awards Ceremonies and receives an award for their efforts. Every performer has worked hard to be where they are and their accomplishments deserve recognition. We believe that if a student feels good about himself or herself, they WILL succeed! To those of you who are already a part of the “Starbound Family”, we look forward to seeing you again soon. We can’t wait to see how much you’ve accomplished since we last met. For those who are seeking a positive competition experience with a personal touch, we can’t wait to meet you!

Studio Owner Overcome

Join us live for Studio Owner OVERCOME a two-day virtual conference experience presented by dance studio owner and industry leader, Tiffany Henderson, featuring intimate conversations with women business owners and experts. 

​Network from the comfort of your home! Studio Owner OVERCOME is November 12-13, 2020 and contains Live Q+A with Expert Panelists, Business Sessions, and Inspirational Keynote.

Studio Owner Overcome Event: https://www.pinnacledanceconference.com/pinnacle-live

Planning Your Virtual Dance Recital? Listen to our Latest Podcast Episode

Tiffany Henderson is an industry expert, speaker, and the owner of seven Tiffany's Dance Academy locations in California. She is the founder of the Twinkle Star Dance program implemented in over 350 dance studios world wide.

Welcome back to “How to Survive Dance Studio Life with Tiffany Henderson” I’m Amanda Scott the Director of Operations for Twinkle Star Dance. As we all “Pivot” and learn to “navigate the new normal” in our dance studio businesses we are taking some of the content from Tiffany’s most recent webinars and turning them into podcasts - making them easy to listen to and refer back to at any time. 

Today’s episode is from Tiffany’s webinar called “Lights, Camera, Action: How to Create your Virtual Dance Recital.” Throughout the webinar you will hear Tiffany talk about how to produce a virtual dance recital, why she decided on this route for her seven dance studio locations, and the steps she is taking to prepare her dancers and staff. 

Don’t miss why Tiffany encourages you to “follow you gut,” why it is important to provide a show opportunity to close out the season, and how to present a virtual recital option to your studio community. 

Listen Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-survive-dance-studio-life-with-tiffany-henderson/id1490480579?ign-mpt=uo%3D4

2020 Pinnacle LIVE!

A Virtual Dance Teacher Conference Experience 

We would love to have you and your staff join us for Pinnacle LIVE July 10-11, 2020. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to take advantage of our special Pinnacle LIVE pricing at https://www.pinnacledanceconference.com/pinnacle-live