Solving Pandemic Problems - Maintaining your Stamina

“Maintain that motivation to go from A to B and to keep your focus on that target without any weakening. That is called tenacity; stamina in your motivation.”
- Arsene Wenger

I am making an effort to maintain my stamina as we near a year of Covid-19 shutdowns. This led me to some interesting findings about Olympians who compete at the highest level and how they stay motivated. 

What separates an Olympic athlete from others is how they use their minds to overcome and compete. Here are five things we can do to maintain our stamina: 

1. Positive Thinking

   “If you tell yourself something long enough, you will make it true.” Make sure your inner dialogue is positive.

2. Use Visualization

   See the positive outcome of the future. If you can see you, you can be it.

3. Make Short Distance Goals

   How does Tiffany complete a 4 mile Run/Walk? “Complete short distance goals equal long distance endurance.” I set short, achievable goals to keep myself motivated.

4. Plan for Setbacks

   We have to be able to REGAIN our focus when things go wrong. Olympic athletes have a structured daily routine that they follow religiously. Any setback is in the past and they get back to that routine immediately following a loss or disappointment.  

5. Practice 10 minutes of Daily Peace

   What brings your mind peace? For me it is cooking dinner with and for my family, long walks, spending time with my dogs. 

Need more inspiration? You're invited to a Pairings Party! Join Twinkle Star Dance and Revolution for a fun, virtual shopping party. Enjoy an up-close look at costumes for recital themes like Aladdin, Decades, and more! 

RSVP here: http://evite.me/4gTWcp3uku

Staying Power in the Third Wave

“Staying Power 

And the greatest beauty you could clothe your body with 

Are the gilded gems of staying power

Like traces of molten gold fusing through your cells 

That which has the capacity to overcome, endure, persevere

And stay ever faithful to the soul beneath the person

To the spirit that cauterizes the flames 

No matter what

And forever more.” 

― Christine Evangelou, Diamonds Through The Dark: The Poetry I Am in Love, Faith and Fire

As a third wave of Covid-19 infections soar and studio owners face restrictions and closures, I want to offer some strength and solidarity. After nine months of operating our business at high stress levels times are getting tough again, but let’s be grateful for the health of our families and clients, the roof over our heads, and the ability to continue to put food on the table. 

There is light at the end of the tunnel as several vaccines are in their final stages of approval and distribution. We have to continue to do our part to keep ourselves, our staff, and our dance families safe. I want you to dig down deep for the energy we need to bridge the gap between now and early next year to keep yourself and your business going - Staying power. If you have staying power, you have the strength and determination to keep going until we reach the end. 

I am confident that as vaccines are made available, consumer confidence will rise, and people will return to dance in droves. Our dance classes and live performances will be embraced like we haven’t seen in our time - The Roaring 2020s. 

Here are five ways to have Staying Power in the Third Wave: 

1. Add Value 

Go beyond offering dance class services. This season along with our modified Twinkle Star Dance preschool and school aged curriculum we introduced Twinkle Stars Kits (curated cases and props) for each of our in-person and dance-at-home dancers. They even get a new prop to use in class each month!  

2. Virtual Dance Classes 

Online dance classes are here to stay, enter Dancily - a 30 minute virtual dance class and activity. Dancily is our brand-new, dance-at-home weekly themed dance class! Dancers ages 2-7 and 5-10 enjoy having a creative outlet safe at home, plus they will have fun with our new weekly themes, choreography, printable crafts, and connecting with friends! 

 3. Make Dance Fun 

Revisit your curriculum and the content of your dance classes. We brought back our Twinkle Star Dance Monthly Passports and Themes for dancers ages 2-12 like “Dance Around the World” and added mini camps like “Nutcracker Dance Party.” 

4. Keep It Simple 

Streamline your recital with Twinkle Star Dance Recital Choreography. Eliminate the hours of back and forth with your teaching staff approving music, costume selections, and choreography. Choose from hundreds of made for stage dance routines (with edited music) plus perfectly paired costumes from Revolution Dancewear. 

5. Find Your Community 

Now more than ever you need a village to lean into and lift you up. With Twinkle Star Dance you gain access to like-minded entrepreneurs through weekly Twinkle Star Dance Coaching Calls, monthly webinars, and live events. Learn more: https://www.twinklestardance.com/how-it-works

DANCE Studio Owner Only Sessions at Pinnacle LIVE July 10-11, 2020

JOIN OVER 150 STUDIOS FOR PINNACLE LIVE!

We are excited to debut Pinnacle LIVE! A two-day virtual conference event focused on delivering dance studio owners, teachers, and administrators much needed inspiration, class content, and business best practices. Preview some of our Dance Studio Owner Only Sessions below: 

• “Class Tuition Revenue 101: Setting Class Rates for In-person and Virtual Dancers”Understanding your expenses to determine your Class Rates, New Season Schedule, and Calendar of Events.

• “Thinking Outside the Box: Additional Revenue Sources” Dance studios do not survive on class tuition alone. Paul discusses new products and supplies to build important revenue streams in your dance studio business.

• “Understanding your Monthly Financial Statement” PNL, Fixed Expenses, Revenue v Profit, How Much Can I Pay Myself? Joyce will define and help you crunch the important financial numbers.

• “The Show Must Go On: Performance Options to Consider for your 2020-21 Dance Season” Creative ways to provide an important customer experience and earn recital profit under new guidelines for events.

Pinnacle LIVE is scheduled for July 10-11, 2020 and will contain dance movement classes, business sessions, industry expert panels, and motivational talks.

UNLIMITED ACCESS FOR ONE SMALL STUDIO FEE!

We are committed to providing educational opportunities and support for our beloved dance community. Low cost = opportunity for more team members to attend.

• Non Twinkle Star Dance Studio $199 / $149 discounted pricing

• Twinkle Star Dance Studio $149 / $99 discounted pricing 

• Unlimited attendees!

Register here: https://www.pinnacledanceconference.com/pinnacle-live

Beat the Summer Cash Flow Blues

Beat the Summer Cash Flow Blues

Tiffany Henderson with Amanda Scott

Twinkle Star Dance

I am not sure who decided that in the summer we completely change our business model as dance studio owners, but I am here to say year-round dance season changed my studio and my life. We all know the struggles of summer in a dance studio: decreased monthly revenue, using recital profits to “float” through summer, financial hardships in summer leading to stress at the start of the new season, and not being able to step away to recharge.

I want to let you in on a little something I call “the un-summer summer.” Here are six of my tried and true tips to beat the summer cash flow blues:

1. Recital Profit - Think Beyond Recital Tickets

   When you have audience members at your shows they want to buy something. Offer flowers, trophies, t-shirts, concessions for them to buy during the performance or even send out a “buy by reply” email to them to preorder.

2. New Season Registration - Be the First Activity on the Family Calendar

   Start your new season enrollment early while your dancers are still currently enrolled. We run our new season registration in April for classes that begin in July. Offer the best promotion on your registration day and generate a buzz 2-3 weeks prior.

3. Spring Sessions - Never Stop Taking Enrollment

   Common sense says we don’t turn away business at anytime of the year. Notice trends in your studio and add new classes to your schedule that run March - June. You could even offer them a chance to participate in the recital by using in-stock costumes.

4. Don’t Take a Traditional Summer - Offer a Year-Round Dance Season

   Your business cannot survive on revenue from summer dance camps alone! Parents actually prefer to register for the class, day, time, and teacher that they will have all season and pay $65 monthly dance class tuition versus $125 for one week of dance camp.

5. Additional Revenue Sources - Add to your Bottom Line

   By offering dress code and costumes I aim to make commissions that roughly equal one month of tuition revenue. Check out Revolution Dancewear for my recommended dress code.

6. Summer Camps and Intensives - Keep Hours Conservative and Price Competitive

   We run Summer Camps and Intensives in conjunction with our year-round classes in June, July, and August. We max our camps out at between 2-3 hours per day and offer flexible times and daily rates.

Want to know more best business practices to help your studio stay cash positive in the summer? Join me in my hometown Livermore Wine Country, CA Thursday, February 27 - Friday, February 28 at Thrive Studio Conference. There is also be a special appearance by Suzanne Blake Gerety from DanceStudioOwner.com.

NEW YEAR, NEW YOU, NEW STUDIO

NEW YEAR, NEW YOU, NEW STUDIO

Tiffany Henderson with Amanda Scott 

As this season comes to a close and 2020 is fast approaching, I am sitting with my family on vacation and reflecting on 20 years of owning and operating a dance studio business. While my goals are a little different than when I first opened my one room dance studio on Vacso Road, I am excited to take some much needed time to myself to reset before I return to the classroom in the new year. 

Looking ahead at our annual recital productions I am inspired by previous generations - Joe Tremaine who taught me that even after a long weekend working you still arrive on time Monday morning and get back in the studio to create; Michael Williams whose musicality and commitment to detail always push me to add that extra nuance when the music says so; Miss Carol, my very first dance teacher, who said yes when I asked if I could come on the dance trip to Hawaii even though I was only a recreational dancer. 

It is clear to me that the impact we have on our students goes beyond the dance steps and extends into the world around us. We are doing important work shaping future generations.  

New Year 

Feeling out of sorts after the holiday hustle? Reset at Thrive Studio Conference in New Jersey and California. View the entire Curtsy Collection for Twinkle Star Dance, plus attend the brand new “Beat the Summer Cash Flow Blues” seminar on how to generate profit to prepare for the summer months. 

New You 

Experience 5-Star Luxury Dining and Customer Service at the Four Seasons Resort at Troon North. Don’t miss the rebranded Pinnacle Dance Conference + Retreat July 10-12, 2020. Our three-day conference benefits dance studio owners, teachers, and administrators alike in an intimate atmosphere. 

New Studio 

Now is the time to make necessary changes in your business. Looking for engaging classroom content for your 2-6 year olds? Need to get all of your teachers on the same page? Check out our Twinkle Star Dance Curriculum and Choreography.  

Happy New Year! 

Tiffany