DSO Connect - By & For Dance Studio Owners

Stacey Morgan is a four-time business owner (including two dance studios), dance educator, podcast host, mom, wife, and business coach. Her main mission is to help women entrepreneurs thrive in their businesses and in their lives through coaching, accountability, and honesty. She has a no-fluff, direct approach to helping her clients to make their businesses work FOR them, to gain back more time in their lives, and to finally achieve financial freedom. In this episode, Casey and Stacey chat about how Stacey set her own path in dance, the importance of feedback, owning your strengths, the lessons dance taught her to help her become a successful entrepreneur, and how she makes the most of every day. To access Stacey's custom made to-do list, click here. Check out her services and resources at her website simplystaceymorgan.com and follow her in instagram @simplystaceymorgan.

Andrea Trench is the creator of DiscoverDance, a research-based Early Childhood Dance Education program. DiscoverDance offers dance educators resources for continuing education throughout their career, so the learning and growing never stops! From their online courses and training videos, to their innovative DiscoverDance Lab where you can create your own unique curriculum, to their DiscoverDance Library full of hundreds of class activities, this is a valuable resource for teachers at every stage of their career. In this episode, Casey and Andrea discuss the benefits of a concept-based dance program, classroom management tips for preschool age dancers, performance strategies with the little ones, and so much more!

Andrea Gibson is a self-compassion and mindset coach, dance teacher and choreographer, and mental health advocate. She is the creator and founder of UNCONDITIONAL, the self-love movement.  Through Mindset Movement it is her mission to help dancers understand their own magic and how to tap into it. Whether through studio workshops or one on one coaching, Andrea focuses on building each child's inner champion while creating mindset tools for both in and outside the studio. Learn more about Andrea and UNCONDITIONAL on her website here, and catch up with her on Instagram @theunconditionalmovement

This episode was recorded on April 1st, 2022. Mobile Preschool Dance Program guru Erin Burd joins Robin and Casey this week to talk about how to take your studio on the road to local preschools and daycares. She also shares how her dad inspired her to dive into coaching and helped her realize the power of the impact we make as studio owners, mentors, and educators. Want to connect with Erin? Check out her website here.

Robin and Casey are back to chat all about their 2022 Recitals: what worked, what went wrong, what they learned, and what they're planning on implementing for future shows. Join the DSO Connect Community on Facebook! Our next Community Coffee Chat is Friday, July 1st at 11am Eastern.

This week Robin talks with Personal Dance Trainer and owner of BodyKinect, Kendall Baab all about how to keep our dancers well with strength training, cross-training, injury prevention, and more. Kendall is a NASM Certified Personal Trainer and a BASI Certified Pilates Instructor with a dance specialization. She is also a Certified Health Coach through Dr. Sears' Wellness Institute. Kendall works with dancers all over the United States on strength, conditioning, and flexibility to enhance performance and prevent injury. To learn more about Kendall and to inquire about working with her, connect with her on Instagram @trainwithkendall or visit her website: https://www.bodykinect.org/

When it comes to dancer drama, prevention is key. Veteran studio owner Suzanne Citere talks to Robin and Casey this week all about what she's learned over the years about how to handle dancer conflicts when they bubble up, plus what the pandemic has taught her, and what she learned from being a "clueless" horse show mom.

35-year studio owner veteran Rhonda Foote joins Robin and Casey this week to talk about how she creates performance opportunities for her Outreach Company dancers all year long. PLUS, her shows are ALL donation-based to raise money for local families and children in need. Learn about how Rhonda channels her impressive energy to create memories, connection, and support for her community.

Kristin Deiss and Michelle Loucadoux are on a mission to change the dance industry one dance teacher at a time. They created Danscend to bring mental wellness to the forefront of dance training by providing a space for education, application, and community to dancers, educators, and professionals. Through their extremely affordable resources for teachers and dancers, they tackle topics like performance anxiety, body image, self-talk, perfectionism, and so much more. To learn more, visit www.danscend.com 

As dance studio owners, we just can't escape some tricky conversations. Whether it's parent complaints about casting or level placement, or drama between students, we have to be able to face these discussions with a level head. This week on the pod, Casey and Robin share recent instances in their own studios where they've had to handle delicate topics with parents and students. Got a sticky situation at your studio? Get some advice and clarity (and vent about it!) in the DSO Connect Community group on Facebook! Just answer the questions to join. We can't wait to meet you!

This week Amanda and Heather join the podcast with Robin and Casey to talk about professional development for studio owners: why it's so important, experiences we've each had at various events, and all about the DSO Connect 2022 Studio Owner Retreat, June 27th-29th in Phoenix, Arizona! We can't wait to see you there!

Casey and Robin are back this week to talk all about Open Marley Night - an event that Robin created years ago as a sort of Open Mic night for dancers. Plus, they share tips on how to find great guest artists for your studio.

Susanne Puerschel, former international ballerina and founder of R.I.S.E. Media joins Casey and Robin this week to talk about...well, a whole lot! From cultivating a growth mindset in our studios, to dancing in the metaverse, to shifting the dance education industry away from toxicity, this episode is packed with food for thought.

It's our 100th episode! We're quite proud to have made it to this podcasting milestone, and so eternally grateful to all of our listeners! THANK YOU for joining us for this ride! In this episode, Casey and Robin chat about what we've learned along the way, customer loyalty, and our favorite episodes. We want to know what YOUR favorite DSO Connect Podcast episodes have been! Share with us in the DSO Connect Community on Facebook (answer the questions to join!)

This week Casey shares her mental health journey and how she manages her symptoms as a business owner.

Shawna Kwan opened her studio Elan Dance Arts in London, Ontario with a focus on adults. Over the last 15 years she has grown a loyal following of adult students in both dance and fitness classes. From logistics to marketing to curriculum, she's been through the trial and error process with her adults, so she knows what works! To reach out to Shawna to learn more about her Dance Fit program, email her at shawna@elandancearts.ca

It's the new year, which means tax season is upon us! DSO Connect Community member and fellow studio owner Lynda Hammett joins us in this month's Coffee Chat call to answer all of our tax and finance questions. Not only is Lynda an amazing studio owner and foster mom, but she also works at an accounting firm AND is going to school to become an accountant. Have more questions for Lynda or the general studio owner community? Share them in the DSO Connect Community group on Facebook! Make sure you answer the questions to join. Don't miss next month's Coffee Chat on Friday, February 4th at 11am Eastern.

This week Robin sits down with DSO Connect Community member Amy Habel for our first ever Member Spotlight! As the owner of Crossroads Irish Dance in Richmond, Virginia, Amy has developed an impressive, well-thought out customer journey. She shares her strategies for lead tracking, the trial class process, follow-up systems, and on-boarding.

Robin and Casey are back! This week they reflect on their highlights of 2021, and set goals and intentions for 2022. Join the conversation! Share your highlights and goals in the DSO Connect Community on Facebook! Make sure you answer the questions to join this free group.

Happy Holidays! We'll be taking the next two weeks off to focus on spending time with our families and friends. If you're not already, join the DSO Connect Community group to stay connected! Make sure you answer the questions to join. This week Robin chats with our good friend Austin Roberson about his exciting new software, Class Kid. He shares how Class Kid can save you time and money by streamlining your studio processes and eliminating your subscription software services. Want to connect with Austin? Email him at austin@classkid.com

We're back with Bonnie Sita for another episode featuring her DSO wisdom. This week she chats with Robin about how she created an after school program and boosted revenue at her studio! To learn more about Bonnie and her coaching services, go to www.studiomasterymembership.com/  To join Bonnie's Facebook group, click here.

Bonnie Sita is back this week to talk all about how she packages her programs at her studio to curate an optimal student experience. To get Bonnie's FREE marketing guide for studio owners, click here.

The whole DSO Connect crew (Casey, Robin, Amanda, Tami, Heather, and Holly) got together this week to talk about what they're thankful for in and out of their studios, and share how they'll be spending the Thanksgiving break.

Casey chats this week with Studio Owner veteran Bonnie Sita about how her studio has survived (and thrived) in the pandemic. She credits her success to being a parent-focused studio, thinking outside the box, and always remembering that building confidence in kids is the main goal. To download Bonnie's FREE guide for marketing success by targeting parents' love language, click here.

Continuing last week's conversation with Dana Tibbetts, this week Robin talks with DSO Connect Mastermind Amanda Cacciotti about how she's reached her highest enrollment numbers ever by cultivating a strong community at her studio, keeping things interesting for her dancers, and cheering on her team.

Robin sits down with DSO Connect Community member Dana Tibbetts this week to talk about how she's building back her studio better than ever post-2020. By using exciting teaching strategies, word-of-mouth advertising, and Facebook, Dana has grown her enrollment AND revenue better than her pre-COVID numbers!

Casey talks this week with DSO Connect Community member and studio owner Trish Moulton and dance educator and life coach Chris Hale about how to create inclusive spaces for our trans and non-binary students, and why it matters.

Robin and Casey catch up this week and chat about what's happening at their studios, from conventions to student motivation deadlocks and power struggles to plain old exhaustion (this DSO life isn't always sunshine and lollipops). Plus, Robin's granddaughter turns one and Casey's getting a new roommate!

This week Robin and Casey sit down with Mandy Myrick, one of Robin's team members at her studio, to talk all about the National Honor Society for Dance Arts. This program, part of the National Dance Education Organization, helps recognize committed dancers for their academic, artistic, and community accomplishments. Mandy runs the NHSDA chapter at Robin's studio and tells us how she organizes the program, and how the program helps keep older students engaged at the studio.

Inevitably, as dance educators we will face the issue of injured students in our studios. This week Robin and Casey chat about how to keep those dancers engaged, from class observation to social media takeovers, and of course the importance of injury prevention.

Whether it's your studio's competition team, the high school musical, college dance team, or professional companies, our dancers will likely face some sort of audition scenario in their dance journey. It's our responsibility as studio owners and educators to prepare them for that experience. This week DSO Connect team member Holly Brucker joins Robin and Casey to talk about all the things we can do in our studios to help our dancers (and their parents!) feel confident and prepared when they step into their next audition.

Lawyer Cory Sterling chats with Robin and Casey this week about how he and his law firm, Conscious Counsel make law FUN for heart-leading businesses, including dance studios! From waivers to employee contracts and everything in between, Cory has the expertise and the positive attitude to help guide his clients to peace of mind in all their business relationships.   Cory has an exclusive offer just for DSO Connect listeners! Get his brand new online course, Don't Get Sued: Legal Essentials for Wellness Professionals, a $297 value, for FREE with promo code DSO. This course covers all the core issues Cory sees his clients have the most questions about, including: Business structure Operating online (privacy, T&C, disclaimers) Waivers of Liability Trademarks + IP Membership/service agreements Employee & Independent Contractor agreements  Click here and use promo code to get this $297 course for FREE!

Whether your first week of classes is right around the corner, or you've already begun your season, it's always a good time to WOW your customers and make parents and students feel welcomed and included. This week Robin and Casey share some ideas to set the stage for a great new season of dance!

As summer comes to a close and we're gearing up for fall classes to start, it's super important to be focusing on a few things: marketing (both internal and external), debriefing your summer programs and events, and most importantly, rest and self-care!

Birthday parties are a GREAT way to reach new customers and increase revenue at your studio! Casey shares some of her strategies for making birthday parties at her studio incredible events for the birthday child and their guests, as well as all their parents. For more in-depth details on how to make birthday parties successful at your studio, join the DSO Connect Member Vault, where we'll be sharing even more info on birthday parties in the next few months.

As the summer comes to a close, and the beginning of a new season is right around the corner, it's the perfect time to spruce up your studio! Whether it's painting, fixing things, or updating your photo wall, we've got some ideas to help you freshen up your space on a budget!   Become a patron on Petreon and get exclusive access to a bonus podcast episode each month! Find out more here.

Are you still waiting for your students from the 2019-2020 season who dropped off after COVID to re-enroll? This week Robin and Casey share three simple ideas to re-engage with these families and get them back in the door! PLUS, learn all about the new structure of the DSO Connect Member Vault! With two new tiers of membership, you can cover the cost of your ticket to next year's Retreat! Learn more and sign up here. DSO Connect is now on Patreon! For just $5 or $10 a month, you can make a huge impact on our show! Learn more and sign up as a patron here.

WHAT A WEEKEND! The DSO Connect 2021 Retreat was a HUGE success. It was three days full of studio owners learning, growing, and making connections. This week on the podcast, all six of the DSO Connect team do a Retreat recap, sharing our personal highlights and favorite moments. Are you a member of the DSO Connect Community? Get all the latest updates on next year's retreat by joining our FREE Facebook group! Click here and make sure you answer all the questions to join. We can't wait to meet you!

In honor of the entire DSO Connect team being reunited for the first time in over two years, we're going back to the very beginning! In this intro episode, you'll meet all six members of the DSO Connect team, Casey, Robin, Tami, Holly, Heather, and Amanda, learn all about the start of DSO Connect, how to get involved, and more!   Join the DSO Connect Community on Facebook! Click here, and make sure you answer all of the questions to join.

With a new season looming on the horizon, this week Robin and Casey talk about all things team communication: how to communicate with your staff to keep everyone on page all year, from fall kickoff meetings to apps like Band and Trello.   It's not too late to sign up for the Virtual DSO Connect Retreat! Deadline to register is THIS WEDNESDAY 7/14! Click here for more info and to sign up. You won't regret it!

After a few DSO Connect members have asked about their relationship, this week Casey and Robin take a trip down memory lane and talk all about how their relationship has evolved from teacher/student, to studio owner/student, to employer/employee, to mentor/mentee, and now colleagues and close friends! Plus more info on the 2021 DSO Connect Retreat, and Robin's new RV! For more info on the 2021 DSO Connect Retreat (July 23rd-25th), available both in-person and virtual, check out our website here. Not available that weekend? You'll have full access to the recordings of the entire weekend for a full 14 days afterwards! You don't want to miss this content!

It's the dreaded scenario that happens to the best of us: one of your faculty has left your studio to open up their own studio down the street and is soliciting your students. Or maybe an existing studio is relocating or opening a new location near you. What do you do? It's not the end of the world, but you do need to combat this situation strategically. This week Casey and Robin talk about all the things you need to keep in mind when this happens to you.

Welcome to the DONE CLUB! (And if your Recital is still yet to come, merde!) It's such a relief to have the annual Recital in your rear view mirror! It's so important to debrief after your studio's big events to find out what worked, what didn't, and where to go moving forward. This week Casey, Robin, and Holly sit down to chat about their spring shows, and also share some tips they've learned that help their show weeks go smoothly.

Feel like a chicken with its head cut off on Recital day? That time ends NOW! This week Casey and Robin share the steps they've taken and the systems they've implemented to make sure they can actually ENJOY Recital day with their students and their families!

Do you dread releasing class/company placements or cast lists because you just know someone will be upset? This week Robin and Casey chat about all the ways they handle student placement at their studios, including how to have those uncomfortable conversations with disappointed parents and dancers.

Shylo Martinez, Assistant Dance Professor and Musical Theater Dance Coordinator at Shenandoah Conservatory of Shenandoah University chats with Robin and Casey all about what dancers need to know to succeed in a collegiate dance program, and what we as studio owners can do to help them be prepared.

Jackpot! This week Robin, who is in her 30th year of studio ownership, shares 11 important lessons she's learned along the way. You won't want to miss this episode!

This week Robin tells us all about company auditions at her studio, and how she uses the audition and placement process as an opportunity to teach her students valuable lessons.

This week Amanda & Heather do a Podcast takeover to talk about the importance of finding an accountability buddy. They will take us on the journey of how they began to hold each other accountable and how that has helped their friendship and businesses grow.   Find your own accountability buddy in the DSO Connect Community group on Facebook! If you're not already a member, click here and make sure you answer the questions to join.

Do you sometimes feel like you're just a big ol' hot mess, and eventually everyone around you will discover you're a fraud? You're not alone! It's called Impostor Syndrome, and SO MANY OTHER DSOs FEEL THIS WAY! This week, Casey and Robin chat about how to banish self-doubt, win over impostor syndrome, and how to gracefully handle negative customer reviews.

This week Casey chats with social media strategist Sheina Raskin about how you can save time and energy on social media by being purposeful with your posts. Follow Sheina on all Instagram and Youtube at @sheinaraskin. Download out a FREE engagement checklist from Sheina here.