Every day is a challenge for the dance studio owner no matter how big or small your studio is. I think I can safely say that each day presents a new set of problems and issues that need to be resolved. Of course, each day can also present successes, big or small. Being a Dance Studio Owner is definitely a rollercoaster ride and to maintain your balance and sanity it is helpful to have ways to attack—or accept—whatever comes your way. Our suggestion for a 'survival kit' is simply a way of enabling you to be ready to tackle problems without letting them get you down and to accept the successes without becoming too euphoric.
We are not only dealing with people all day, but also constantly navigating the waters with parents and their children and all the issues that are inherent with that dynamic. Often it is a good dynamic and we certainly are able to build great relationships both with our students and also with their parents, but there are times when there are problems with either the parent or the child. There have been times when I thought that everything was moving along brilliantly, only to be devastated by the actions of a parent or child. It is unrealistic to think something like this is never going to happen. The question is, are you going to be able to deal with it in a positive way for all involved?
THE DANCE STUDIO OWNER SURVIVAL KIT!
STAY POSITIVE
When things go against you, remember that each is just one moment in time and don’t become discouraged. Unfair struggles and setbacks are temporary states that can change quickly if you keep your vision. The petty issues that become magnified in a dance studio situation can very often be used to strengthen bonds between parents and students and build longstanding great relationships. I remember one situation in which the parents felt that their child was not getting the placement or recognition that they felt he deserved. They made an appointment to meet with us and were obviously extremely upset about what they perceived to be a wrong. Quite a shouting match ensued, during which we let them know that we understood their concerns about the training of their child, but that they needed to understand our vision and plan for their son. What we were looking for was the long-term success rather than the short-term gratification. We used this extremely volatile situation as a springboard for new growth in our relationship with both the parents and the student. We refused to let this incident get us down or prevent us from doing what we truly believed was best for this student. The end result was that we built trust and a longstanding friendship with these individuals that still exists today, years after the student has gone on to a professional career. This incident became part of our survival kit on how to deal with and survive an unpleasant situation. We realized that through positive ways of reinforcing our vision of how we wanted to train our students we could give them growth and opportunity and had found a way to find a happy solution for everyone.
LEAD THE WAY
Staying positive is the first strategy in your survival kit.
Being a good leader is the second. As a leader you must exude confidence and at the same time be able to bear responsibility. Staying confident is not always easy and so finding ways to boost your confidence on a daily basis is going to be a huge asset. Often, although you are the leader, in a studio setting you do not know what is going to happen from day to day and you definitely don’t have all the answers. The key is to know yourself and to stay true to who you are and what your beliefs are. It has been said that over 85 percent of people in the world are insecure and if you are confident they will follow you. Find out what makes you tick and what keeps you happy and you will be able to remain confident, even on your most trying day. Part of your dance studio owner survival kit is to have your faculty and staff totally on board with you, from the way you structure your classes to the way you run your business and handle people.
HAVE A BACK-UP
Step three of your survival kit is to have subs in place for the times when you feel the need to get away, whether it is for personal or professional development or just a weekend getaway. It is easy to become overtired and stressed out because our business is like a show. We are always 'on' and upbeat and this in itself can be exhausting. So often we don’t take time off from our daily routine when we feel those telltale symptoms coming on. You know the ones I mean—the headache, the dread of seeing the same faces, the creative block, the difficulty in focusing and staying upbeat with students and staff alike. Recognize that if you give yourself some space during these times or do something to improve your knowledge, you will find that you will come back to your studio feeling refreshed and ready to go. If you wait too long you will start to feel resentful and miserable and, because you are the leader, everyone will feel your unproductive vibes. Find subs that you can totally trust to be reliable and fun for the students so that when you are away you will be missed, but not because there is a feeling of something lacking.
MAINTAIN YOUR HEALTH
Step four of your survival kit is simply to stay healthy in whatever way works for you. Making sure that you do not neglect yourself is extremely important. Unfortunately it is far easier to do just that by not keeping fit, not eating at the right moments to keep your energy level up and failing to get sufficient rest. Remember, you are the captain of the ship and your staff and students need you on a daily basis to lead them to success. Dance Studio Owners are people too! So keep it simple, keep it happy and keep it balanced.
