[Charley]

😀 I'm glad I could help Shelly.  There are exceptions to every example I gave I'me sure.  I've been in a lot of different situtations and there are benefits and deficits to each for sure.  This biggest thing, is make sure that you and the owner mutually respect each other and can work together.

[Charley]

Is this a dedicated pole studio or are they some type of studio looking to add pole dancing?

There are a few different circumstances out there.  If you are an additional feature to their current (non pole) studio then I can see why they would ask you to bring in the clients.  This was my first experience with teaching pole.  I was renting a space from a fitness studio and while they promoted my classes to their current clients I was also supposed to bring in new clients.  This scenario was pretty scary at first because I didn't know anyone at the time that saw the value of paying for lessons but after some advertising I had a few people come in just for the pole classes!  Some of these girls still contact me today to teach them 🙂

Another circumstance is a pole dance studio hiring instructors.   This is where I have a lot ot say on the subject.  Typically in this scenario you should be responsible for marketing your classes and the studio is responsible for marketing the studio IF you are being paid a commision, IF you are an hourly EMPLOYEE not an INDEPENDANT CONTRACTOR then I would say your marketing responisbilities are marginal – but if you like you're studio you should help market it and get people in the door – just seems like the right thing to do.  

If the positiion is pole isntructor and you will be teaching pole classes with their syllabus then they are responsible for bringing people in.  If you are paying rent and teaching your own syllabus then I can see why they would say bring people.  Now, in this situation the people you bring are YOUR clients NOT the studios.  If you are in anyway REQUIRED to bring them in then you keep them when you leave.  In this case you should NOT be signing a non-compete agreement, you would be a tenant of the facility and therefor your own business like other people have said.  This can be very advantageous to you if you want to teach but don't want the overhead of owning a studio.  I have worked like this before and don't mind so long as everyone is clear.  This means for me that no one working at the studio and not for me can take my classes.

Another possibility presuming this is a pole dominant facility is that they need clients and the owner doesn't want to pay for marketing so she's expecting the instructors to do HER job for her.  Unless you get commission don't do it.  This will only help the lazy owner market her facility and then get rid of you as your first post says.  

Some questions to ask during an interview at a pole studio

1) Am I an employee or an independant contractor?  (If the latter please educate yourself on your rights as an IC)

2) Is training provided?  If NO, huge red flag, run, run, run!  A studio should care about having good quality instructors, they should be making efforts to make sure that you are safe before hiring you on.

An ammendment to this is they require to be CERTIFIED in pole dancing, however it is my opinion that you can be certified in pole dance education but you will still need some training on how to do things at that particular studio.  Your training should include more than how to run the computer, btw.

3) Where do the lesson plans come frome? 

I'll use my current studio as an example.  I teach a class that I have to make up choreography for however I am given guidelines based on moves.  I can only teach X amount of things and a certain level of moves to which the owner has given me an outline of what can and cannot be taught in the class.  Since the class is choreo based it only makes sense that I am required to write my own.  Again be sure you are getting paid for this.  You need to decide how much it costs for you to bring in your own stuff.

Another example is a studio that provides a syllabus – this might be a more trick based class.  If they are giving you the moves in order of what to teach and how to teach them expect to make less money because the studio has done the work for you.

My final example is a situation  I was in.  YOU are coming up with everything!  You decide what moves, in what order, if there will be choreo, if there won't, you decided when to teach what move when – you are in full control.  Please, please, please if this is the case think about being a tenant instead of an instructor because your BRAIN is worth money too.  Don't let the studio ever have pocession of your syllabus and don't let them try to pay you a flat rate.  This would be a commission situation.  Typically if this is the scenario then it's because the owner either doesn't pole dance or has little knowledge of pole dancing.  If I had a studio my instructors would not be given free license to teach as they please.

4) If you are striclty commission based, ask if your commission rate will change based on the studio running a sale.

Example – the studio runs a groupon 4 classes for $25.  Let's say you get 50% commission and typically those sale classes are $25 at regular price.  You typical cut would be $12.50/student.  Do you get the 12.50 for a groupon or do you get $3.12/student?  That's a big difference in pay.  I am of the opinion that an instructor should not make less than her typical rate because the studio ran a sale.  This is one reason why I feel like flat rates are better than commission deals.  This is extremely important.  It's up to you what you want to do with this information.

5) How many students are you expected to teach MAX at once?

Why is this important?  Because if you are on a flat rate and a studio wants to pay $20/class but teach teach 10-15 people at a time, you should be making more money.  

6) What is the student to pole ratio?

If a studio is trying to get you to teach more than 3 students/pole this is a very difficult task.  

7) How long has the studio been in business and what are the qualifications of the other instructors?

Does anyone at this place have any kind of qualification or equivilant experience to be running group fitness classes?  If NO ONE has any kind of credentials, RUN!  Even if instructors don't have credentials at least one person should.  Not only that, but there should be an apprentice program or training program.  There should be a method to the madness and if there isn't – that's a big red flag.  It's important to find out what the owner believes qualifies someone to teach – do they simply hire dancers that are good or do they hire people that can break down moves?  Your interview should include you teaching something (and it should be basic, don't let someone get you to break down advanced moves so they can learn stuff for free, that happens!)

8) What is the company mission statement?

Every business has a mission statement.  You need to know this because it defines what type of pole studio it is.  Is it a fitness pole studio?  A movement pole studio?  A trick based pole studio?  Keep in mind that a fitness studio might have some dance programs but it's important that the studio have a clear vision of who their clientele is and what clients can expect from the business.  So, if you are hired to teach a sexy dance class at a fitness based studio you might find that your class struggles a litte, this doesn't mean you shouldn't do it because I think it's important to *try* to encompass all the aspects pf pole but it's something you need to be aware of.  Maybe you are teaching a hard core pole fitness class at a movement based studio – this might be a tough sell.  On the other hand, it has also been my experience that off brand classes can be very successful because they are extras that the studio doesn't really brand as their thing.  Make sense?

9) What is the typical student retention?

Do a lot of students stay?  Do they stay for a few levels and move on?  Do they quit right away?

Studios with good retantion rates most likely means that the instructors are good and friendly, that the business has good customer service and reasonable rates for the experience provided and above all that the product is probably pretty good.

Studios with a pretty small following or low retantion rates usually means the business aspect is being run well and that the instructors may not be that well trained.  To, me this all goes back to management – but it's not a place you want to work.

10) How do the other instructors get along?

Do the instructors support each other?  Are they all equally giving and taking?  Are you going to be the most advanced person there and have people constantly ask you to show them things?  If so, then you need to get paid for that.  

Do instructors take each others classes?  There's 2 ways about this one.  At my studio now we do take each other's classes because we all LOVE each other and we LOVE each other's style.  1 reason why this works is because we either teach a syllabus (which we all know) or we teach level based choreography so it's not like someone is coming up to me asking to learn a fonji – they'd probably book out a lesson with me for that.  So because we all know the rules, guidelines and material when we take from each other it's really fun to learn and get inspired.

Another situation is if you are creating your own classes and determining every single thing.  This is where I don't like other commission based instructors in my class.  My experience has been that they are only taking my class because they are responsible to creating their own later int he week and they are going to teach pretty much everything I taught,  I don't like this because I worked hard on putting those classes together keeping in  mind all the different levels of students who would be attending.  I should be able to attend someone else's class and not have my stuff regurgetated back at me.  I also feel that commission based instructors are pretty competetive with each other and because they get paid based on clients and may even share clients it's in the best interest of everyone to stay out of each other's classes so you don't start feeling like someone on your home terf is trying to steal your clients…I just don't like it.

Sorry I know this is really, really long and not everyone is going to agree with me but hopefully some of what I've said will help instructors find studios that fit them.  Remember you have to be a good fit for the studio as well as it be a good fit for you.   Owners and instructors need to protect themselves.

 

[Charley]

I've been pole dancing for 5 years now…it's been a very long, long journey full of tears and happiness.  I watch youtube now and just think to myself…wow!  this has grown into something that I might never be able to achieve, the levels of tricks and dance have evolved so quickly and gotten just so advanced!  

I'm a very slow learner, there are still so many things that I can't do.  Without having a dance background or a gymnastics background I personally have felt very hindered by this particularly when I see pro's with much less time on the pole than me.

Which brings me to today where I realize that I'll probably never be a world championship level dancer but none the less I have achieved quite a lot.  I'm not a contortionist or a ballerina but I can fall into my dance and express myself, I can see my body changing ever so slowly over time, I can see the difference in my confidence levels, so that's what matters.  How does pole dancing make you FEEL not what can you DO, what can you BE?  🙂

[Charley]

Oh an yah!  Shadow is hella fast – we tried to do doubles a few times on spin pole and she was in charge of the spinand I thought I was going to fall off and puke!  LOL!  I have been really lucky to have her as a friend – aside from being literally the fastest spinner I've ever seen who is very giving with her knowledge, she can fix anything on a car!!!!  LOL!  She went with me to USPDF ECR to support me and she packed like 5000 thongs, air matresses, blankets, snacks, boob glue, boob tape – like anything you could possibly need!!!  Extra outifts!!!  She was really, really supportive of everyone but it was so nice to have the IPDFA 2009 Pole Fit Champ in my corner <3

[Charley]

Sarah Cretul was and is such a huge inspiration – she makes tricks sexy not just tricks, I love that!

I am lucky enough to be friends with Shadow, she's amazing inside and out.  She's been studying aerial arts as of late.  she just had a surgery so she's out for about a month.  We're very happy she cam through and won't be off for too much time.  

Here's one of my favorites of Shadow

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCjGeObL07Y

[Charley]

Hi Carmelapple-

Don;t get defeated!  Remember pole is dance first, tricks second.  I really suggest working on getting comfortable with transitions and learning how your body likes to move, as you get more comfortable with dance, your body is getting stronger.  Whenever I have a bad day on the pole – I just revert back to dancing, that's what made me get into it in the first place.  Over time the harder things will come, just keep that in mind 🙂

[Charley]

Ok so if you need a practical reason wear them while you are warming up and stretching…They are great aids in helping you retain heat especially as you are getting started.

Otherwise ALL the time 😀

Leg warmers are a staple for me because I can keeep my calves warm which tend to get VERY tight for me and I find spins are easier and I like being able to pull them under my heels for stretching.

 

[Charley]

I have none so I don't know.  I think it really comes down to you sharing a feeling or experience that youar having and finding a way for everyone else to feel what you are feeling.  I think it's being able to look at your audience in the eye and bring them in.

[Charley]

Veena – do rumble roller colors have anything to do with density or does it matter with a RR?

[Charley]

I like the black high density foam rollers!  There are others out there that are softer or harder the black one seems to be the sturdiest to me.

 

I really would like to try the rumble roller!  I don't think that would be great for beginners though.  I bought a basic roller from a sports store and even though it's not very hard – it killed me for a long time, now I barely feel it.  

[Charley]

I would recommend training on a 50mm over a 45 in the beginning simply because it does build your hand strength A LOT!  I only consider a move "gotten" if I can do it on a 50 as well.  I think it's good to train between the 2 because honeslty the 50 is still very common, more common than a 45.  Chances are if your goals are to perform or compete you'll come in contact with a 50 – it's good to see how you'll do and some things are EASIER on it like basic body grip moves 🙂

[Charley]

Oh me!  I wanna go!!!!!!  

[Charley]

Awesome Amanda!  I take it you are Siren Fitness?  I'll be in touch as I get closer to the date 🙂 (May9th-ish)

[Charley]

I imagine we will not be far behind in this.  I have SO many opinions on this subject!  I have been an independant contractor for various businesses in my life and some truly were IC positions and others resulted in the person using IC's turning into a bully and trying to leverage power and control over IC's as if they were employees.

My current IC position is very much a legal IC position and it's been a long time since I've had that kind of relationship and it's nice.

[Charley]

If you want to teach for yourself you could maybe rent out cheap office space or you could you rent space from a fitness or dance studio.  That's how I got started teaching.  I only had 4 poles but I could take up to 8 people and classes were really fun.  🙂

[Charley]

I airbrush tanned once and it got really splotchy within a day or two so I just deal with being white 🙂

[Charley]

Sadly, the stuff I posted back in 2009 is no longer how that particular studio runs things anymore so I left.  

The industry has been steadily changing over the last 5 years or so.  I have so updated ideas to new instructors.  Having been in good and bad instructor situtations I feel like I have some better insights for you girls.

It is not the end all be all to be a pole dancing instructor.  Being an instructor says absolutely nothing about your talents as a performer.  Being an instructor isn't for everyone and that's okay – I've been going back and forth lately thinking about if I want to continue teaching.

Because I'm going through some of the negative aspects of the business I hope it's okay to freely share those things too.

Pay.  Instructors DESERVE good pay and pay should be based on your title, position and the work that youa r doing, plus certs if any apply.  Instructors should get a flat rate and some times studios will offer a flat rate plus commision based on capacity of classes and resigning students.  Please don't work soley based on commision because this gives the studio owner the option of not paying you or charging dirt cheap for classes and you not making the money you are worth.

If you are creating your own classes you should get a flat rate plus commision, if you are coming in and teaching someone else's syllabus you should atleast get a flat rate.  If you are getting a flat rate and teaching what they tell you to teach you should have some kind of yearly review so that you can attain a raise, the studio should have inventives for instructors who book their classes, bring in new students and get certified.  

If you aren't certified the studio should have a training program for you – sometimes these cost money but you will make all the money back on that investment – hte same goes for certification.  Please don't work anyplace where you are the only one who has done a pole certification because the owner will only benefit from your experience and money and that's not fair to you.

Make sure the studi is clear with you about what is expected of you.  Are you expected to market your classes?  Are you expected to create classes?  Will anything you create be owned by the studio and taught by other people besides yourself?  Are you expected to work the front desk, check people in?  Are you expected to share your knowledge of moves or teaching with others?  Are you required to sign a non-competition clause?

Please, please find a fair situation where you are paid for all of your contributions to the company.  I'll also warn that while I am always open to hiring exotic dancers I am seeing a trend now of hiring students and I am seeing a lot of places get a little snooty about the exotic dancer thing (makes me very sad.)

I urge anyone interested in teaching to ask questions and make sure they aren't being used for their talents and then thrown away.  I worked on commission and I made very good money however no matter how hard I tried to fill my classes I wouldn't get full pay because of this coupon, that special, etc.  I designed an entire program that is NOW extremely successful and the owner only yelled at me for an hour and a half about being involved with something that didn't include her and told me if everything I did, did not promote her company I no longer worked there.  I was told other instructors were afraid of me, that I was mean and malicious, that I was self entitled and dramatic.  It was such a hurtful end that I am still recovering from.  Please be sure that you are being paid for your work and that you aren't building someone else's business because I am not left with nothing and being made to feel like the bad guy because I couldn't take being treated like an idea monkey for someone's business.

[Charley]

I wish someone would have told me the importance of freestyling for sure, the importance of flexibility training and how important in person instruction is.

[Charley]

I am keeoing the 40mm pole from the fest!!!!!!! YAY!  I'll write  review when I get it up = I'm still decompressing from it all.

I tried it for a nanosecond and was so pleased to be able to touch my fingers for the first time around a pole.  TG lift = no problem!  There is a reason Felix likes the thin pole 🙂  I hope it's as magical as I've heard!

[Charley]

Thank you everyone for coming and for performing! I have so much to say and so little time – STILL (LOL!) I will be essback on tomorrow.  You have all overwhelmed me with your kindness, talents and love for pole.  xoxox

[Charley]

I have an X-stage Lite and I love it!  

X-perts aren't very likely to damage your ceilings though so don't be afraid to get a tension mounted pole.  I've had mine up forever at 2 places and never had any issues with anything outside of feet marks on the ceiling and perhaps a ring from where it was placed.  

[Charley]

Hey everyone!  We are sold out as I posted a couple of weeks ago – we will have some tickets available aft the 16th.  If you would like to be placed on a waiting list please write me at getpolefit@gmail.com 🙂

[Charley]

It's not that much more for an extension, so just get the extra extension – they will ship it to you in the box with your other things so it's not more on shipping or anything.

I wouldn't cut it down if you can avoid it because you never know when you'll want a 10ft pole 🙂

[Charley]

We are SOLD OUT!  I want to thank all of performers and sponsors for making this event already so successful!  now comes the hard part – putting it all together.

Stay tuned…we might be able to release more seats however we are making sure all of our performers are able to get their special someone to the show first.  

[Charley]

Hi Lyme Lite!  Visit http://www.mipolefestival.yolasite.com for more information.

General Admission tickets are all you need to watch the shows, workshops aren't required at all.  I hope you can make it – it would be really great to meet you!