voicing my fustrations

minicoopergrl started this discussion · 8/2/2010

I really have no other place to rant where people understand so Im gonna put it here. So far the planning for the Battle has been great, Xpole is giving me 4 stages, location secured and I even got sponsorship money. The hardest part is find studios that want to do this. Out of the many ive emailed in the area only 3 are interested, lots have not answered back and the rest of them are not competeing studios and do not want to compete. Im even more mad that my own studio wont compete. Im getting nervous that I wont have enough to put on a show or sell enough tickets to turn a profit or break even. Im trying not to let it get to me since that doesnt do anyone any good but its August, I have 2 and half months left until the event. I think its going to be a great show and theres great prizes for the winner but Im worried that I may have to cancel this. HELP!!!!!!

20 replies

amy · 8/2/2010
if i was a studio owner, i would be iffy about competing and having a "best" studio chosen, just as an individual i am VERY iffy about "competing" when i feel like pole should be more about fun and showcasing your own style, not getting judged. just putting that out there... maybe there is a way that you can keep the "battle" aspect without it being... so competitive? yikes.
minicoopergrl · 8/2/2010
I can see where its coming from but I just dont know how to word it to not really make it about "the best studio" without going there KWIM? Ive had some ask who else was in, and Ive told them but im not sure if thats detering them as well from signing on too. If anyone can help me reword it so its not about "the Best studio" and make it more of fun and games but with a prize that would be great! I think I need an assistant just to proofread my emails before they get sent out.
amy · 8/2/2010
hm. how about if you have a bunch of different awards-- so that basically everyone gets one-- and phrase the invite something like, we know that all the studios in the XX region have something amazing to offer, and we want you to showcase your studio's talents and particular style in the first battle of the studios! we will be giving out awards such as "most artistic", "dramatic", "power poler", "most bootyshaking sass", (etc etc) so come and strut your stuff!
minicoopergrl · 8/2/2010
hm. how about if you have a bunch of different awards-- so that basically everyone gets one-- and phrase the invite something like, we know that all the studios in the XX region have something amazing to offer, and we want you to showcase your studio's talents and particular style in the first battle of the studios! we will be giving out awards such as "most artistic", "dramatic", "power poler", "most bootyshaking sass", (etc etc) so come and strut your stuff! I like that and I can work the score cards to be like that. The only problem is only one studio gets the Pole2Pole Cover and the $1000. I could always add a Overall prize as well. That also works since Xpole is givng me a whole bunch of goods as prizes!
amcut · 8/2/2010
I think you should go visit each studio to talk to the owners instead of emails. No one can ignore a person!
minicoopergrl · 8/2/2010
its strange how things come out. I got an email today from a Studio in NJ thats in and I got an email back from Estee (ms Trixter 2010) and she wants to judge!!! 🥂 Amcut I like your idea! Ive been making a checklist everyday on who to contact and what for. Its been helping me keep on track and it shows me if I never received a response back yet. Looks like im doing a few road trips in the MINI!!!
horsecrazy12987 · 8/3/2010
I wish you luck. I think you've got some good ideas here, and I have full confidence you can pull this off. I think you need to look at it as 'I've still got two months to pull this off; I've got this.' I really think everything will come together. It may take a little time, but I think if you implement some of the suggestions here, you're going to have one awesome show. I'd come if I could!
PoleDancingYogi · 8/3/2010
hm. how about if you have a bunch of different awards-- so that basically everyone gets one-- and phrase the invite something like, we know that all the studios in the XX region have something amazing to offer, and we want you to showcase your studio's talents and particular style in the first battle of the studios! we will be giving out awards such as "most artistic", "dramatic", "power poler", "most bootyshaking sass", (etc etc) so come and strut your stuff! I like that and I can work the score cards to be like that. The only problem is only one studio gets the Pole2Pole Cover and the $1000. I could always add a Overall prize as well. That also works since Xpole is givng me a whole bunch of goods as prizes! Amazing idea to have each studio walk away with a different title! As for the $1,000 prize maybe you could have the studios vote for who they think should be the overall winner. If you leave it up to the crowd it could swing one way depending on which studio has the most people there. and if it is up to a judge then it may feel competitive....ohhhhhhhhhh. you could do a mixture. 1/2 studios voting and 1/2 judges voting for over all and individual. just a thought 😀 xoxox
minicoopergrl · 8/3/2010
I could totally break down the prizes for the different groups. I also like the idea of having a crowd vote as well. I could also have Team Congeniality category as well. Im totally digging the way this is going. It weird how I feel like it wont be done in time and next thing I know I get emails and calls left and right.
EVamp83 · 8/3/2010
I bet it's because you have good karma 😉 😀
Angel1201 · 8/3/2010
Hey Lou, I used to work at one of the studios in Maryland that you probably contacted. I know the owner had felt that the other local studios resented her opening up. It seems to me like there is bad blood between a lot of studios because they 'steal' business from one another. Perhaps this is one of the reasons you are having trouble getting them to join in? Their relationships just aren't friendly at all. It's just all bad politics. Another factor may be that a lot of students who come to pole class enjoy the privacy of having no men present and/or they may actually need it to protect their jobs?? There is one dancer at my old studio who is FANTASTIC, I mean she could easily go pro. We've tried over and over to get her to compete and she refuses. She just doesn't want to put herself out there. What if you made this the Maryland Pole Dancing Championship or the DelMarVa Championships? Each competitor could 'represent' a studio??
PennyGirl · 8/3/2010
I think you should go visit each studio to talk to the owners instead of emails. No one can ignore a person! Agreed, people find it WAAAAY too easy to delete emails and pretend the communication never happened. At least if you speak face to face they have to give you a reason why not. Then you will also be able to explain your standpoint a bit better and know if your communication is coming across they way you wish. Emails lack a certain amount of physical cues and those cues can be an important part of receiving a message properly.
minicoopergrl · 8/3/2010
Hey Lou, I used to work at one of the studios in Maryland that you probably contacted. I know the owner had felt that the other local studios resented her opening up. It seems to me like there is bad blood between a lot of studios because they 'steal' business from one another. Perhaps this is one of the reasons you are having trouble getting them to join in? Their relationships just aren't friendly at all. It's just all bad politics. Another factor may be that a lot of students who come to pole class enjoy the privacy of having no men present and/or they may actually need it to protect their jobs?? There is one dancer at my old studio who is FANTASTIC, I mean she could easily go pro. We've tried over and over to get her to compete and she refuses. She just doesn't want to put herself out there. What if you made this the Maryland Pole Dancing Championship or the DelMarVa Championships? Each competitor could 'represent' a studio?? I did contact Tease and they said no. I think there is some 'bad blood' between places but come on lets drop it and put it aside for one night for a great cause. Even Jessalynn told me that she knows that Xpose and Pole Pressure arent the best of friends. But ive got pole love for all, we all bring in different styles. My other thought is the protection of thier jobs but the performers are women and men who work there - whether its an instructor, owner or front desk. If they worked there, they are allowed to compete. The only problem changing the name is everything is listed at 'Battle of the Pole Dance Studios', I really dont want to change it up with 2.5 months to go. Ive already sent ads to Pole2Pole and Pole Dance Magazine Online. I am going to make a list of who I still need to get some type of response, im going to call first and make an appointment w/the one in charge. Totally make the meeting professional. Most of them I can get to on a weekend or after I get off work. Thanks ladies for your suggestions and ideas. Its good to have another person throwing out ideas.
Angel1201 · 8/3/2010
My other thought is the protection of thier jobs but the performers are women and men who work there - whether its an instructor, owner or front desk. If they worked there, they are allowed to compete. When I said protect their jobs, I meant their other jobs, not the ones at the studio. I would get fired from my full-time professional job for pole dancing in public and so would many other girls I know. We dance in secret 🦇 so competing isn't really an option for me. I think it's a good idea to see the owners face to face. Some of them just might need to have their arms twisted just a little. 💪
verucablue · 8/3/2010
Hello - first of all VERY cool that you are trying to set this up... 😀 I know it's a little late in the game to change the name...but it might go a long way to help getting some of the studios participate. I know most of the studios I go to in LA take the stance of welcoming all women into an environment where they feel safe and secure in a non competitive sort of way. Also I'm sure studios probably don't want to be the ones that "lose". If you open it up a bit and try to make it a less competitive slant - more of a showcase it might make things easier. The competitions that are out there now are for individuals more so than studios and there is probably a reason for that. Just a thought...maybe you could do something like best choreographed piece, best free style, most original...and have enough categories that each studio would receive some sort of title... ❓
Charley · 8/3/2010
I love the idea of each studio winning something. I know we would be hesitant to enter something that minght make our studio look like we aren't good enough. Plus there are only 2 of us since I basically teach full time and so does Mel. The other instructors aren't pole dancers and it would be such a challenge to get eveyrone together and make up something...especially with ALL the classes going on at night and other instructors do work for gyms too - so there isn't much time. I think you are on the right track though and the event is for a good cause and I really want it to be successful. I can't believe how many sponsors you have gotten so quickly and even getting X-pole to provide stages - that is amazing!!!!! All of your hard work WILL pay off and this event WILL be SUCCESSFUL! 🥂
anngiern · 8/3/2010
hey lulu, maybe you can contact this association http://www.politemoves.com they are doing a battle of the studios on the west coast. maybe you can pick their brain for some advice. hope that helps!
minicoopergrl · 8/4/2010
hey lulu, maybe you can contact this association http://www.politemoves.com they are doing a battle of the studios on the west coast. maybe you can pick their brain for some advice. hope that helps! I something about this on FB, Im totally checking it out. Thanks soooo much!
minicoopergrl · 8/4/2010
I just got ahold of one of the event organizers, we are gonna chat this afternoon. She also was experiencing the same issues I had w/getting studios. It wierd that we are doing the same style competition and pretty much the same format. Its pretty cool!
anngiern · 8/4/2010
cool..hopefully she will be able to help you iron out those little bumps in the road. good luck