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By popular demand, we're bringing back one of our favorite conversations. Katie Schaar has danced and choreographed for Dancing with the Stars, So You Think You Can Dance, the Grammys, the Super Bowl Halftime Show, and world tours for P!nk, Katy Perry, and Taylor Swift. She's also the co-creator of Sugarfoot Therapy and founder of MOTI Physiotherapy in LA. In this episode, Katie shares how she built a career that spans performing and choreography, what she learned from mentors like Mia Michaels and Tice Diorio, and why she believes movement diversification is one of the best things a dance teacher can teach. She also gives real talk on emotional resilience for young performers and the value of income diversification for working artists. Since this episode first aired, Katie has kept building. She's continued running teacher training workshops for Sugarfoot Therapy across the country, both virtually and in person. MOTI Physiotherapy also continues to grow, expanding access to specialized sports and orthopedic rehab care in LA. If you're a teacher mentoring dancers toward the next stage of their journey, whether that's a professional career or simply a healthier relationship with the art form, this episode is packed with practical wisdom. A full transcript of the podcast is available here: https://www.acrobaticarts.com/blog/ep-141-spotlight-series-building-a-lasting-career-in-dance-with-katie-schaar About KatieKatie Schaar has nearly two decades of experience as a Los Angeles-based dancer, choreographer, & dance teacher. Credits include Dancing with the Stars, So You Think You Can Dance, the American Music Awards, MTV VMA's, the BRIT Awards, the Grammy's, films The Muppets and Rock of Ages, the 2015 Super Bowl Halftime Show, and world tours for P!NK, Katy Perry & Taylor Swift. She has a BA from Loyola Marymount University, where she studied Communications Studies and Dance. Katie co-created Sugarfoot Therapy, a physical therapy-based conditioning & injury prevention program for dancers; and she is the founder and Director of Operations at MOTI Physiotherapy in LA. Sugarfoot Therapy Teacher Training Workshops: https://sugarfoottherapy.com/teacher-training-workshops/Sugarfoot Therapy: www.sugarfoottherapy.comMOTI Physiotherapy: www.motipt.com' If you'd like more amazing content more tips and ideas check out our Acrobatic Arts Channel on YouTube. Subscribe Now! Connect with Acrobatic Arts on your favourite social media platform: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acrobaticarts/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Acroarts Twitter: https://twitter.com/acrobatic_arts/ Learn more and register for our programs at AcrobaticArts.com
Catherine Wood is the owner if Los Angeles studio Planetwood, and has an amazing body of work as a producer and engineer. She has also worked on a variety of TV and film projects, and numerous commercials (which you may recognize). Catherine also focuses on giving back to the industry and speaks with us about all the service positions she holds. Hosted by: Rebecca Wilson Executive Producers: Karrie Keyes, Beckie Campbell, and Susan Kost Edited by: Marina Baglivo (with updates by Rachel Suffian) Music by: Jess Fenton (https://www.jessfenton.com/) Admin by: Kanika Khanna The SoundGirls Podcast is presented by soundgirls.org
In this episode, I want to talk about something I hear from studio owners constantly — this quiet, nagging feeling that something is missing, even when the business looks great on paper. If you have solid enrolments, a team, a reputation you've worked hard to build, and yet you still feel flat, stretched, or like the success should feel better than this — this one is for you. I walk through five reasons I see this happen, from the way the industry measures the wrong things, to decision fatigue, leadership loneliness, and why generic business advice stops working at a certain stage of growth. This is an honest conversation about what actually sits behind that gap, and why it is far more solvable than it feels.
Gold Coast "Queens of Pole" owner Nomes Witney is facing a $30,000 tribunal battle after declining a transgender woman's membership to her biological female-only studio. In this interview with Jason Matthews on 4BC Breakfast, she explained her reasoning for maintaining single-sex safe spaces for trauma survivors, questioned the unexplained $30,000 compensation claim, and revealed the heavy mental and financial toll the dispute is taking on her family.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
If you're already thinking about next year, don't start with your plans - start with your perspective.In this episode, I share why every dance studio owner should conduct a mid-year audit before making decisions for the year ahead. Discover how to step back, see your business with fresh eyes, identify hidden opportunities, and focus on what will make the biggest difference moving forward.You'll learn how to audit your numbers, timetable, team and leadership, recognise patterns instead of reacting to isolated problems, and gain the clarity needed to make confident decisions for your studio's future.Remember: You can't improve what you've stopped noticing.
The Pilates industry is evolving rapidly — and studio owners who want to stay relevant need more than great classes to thrive. In this episode of The Pilates Business Podcast, host Seran Glanfield sits down with CJ Zarb, founder of Pilates Journal and creator of the Pilates Journal Expo, to discuss the future of the Pilates industry and what boutique fitness studio owners need to understand to build sustainable growth over the next five years.Together, they unpack the biggest shifts happening across the global Pilates business landscape — from changing consumer expectations and instructor shortages to leadership, community, collaboration, and innovation inside the boutique fitness industry. CJ shares her unique perspective from working closely with Pilates professionals around the world and explains why strong leadership, authentic connection, and adaptability are becoming essential for pilates studio owners who want to grow profitable, resilient businesses.If you're a Pilates, yoga, or barre studio owner feeling overwhelmed by constant industry changes, this conversation will leave you inspired, informed, and equipped with practical insights to help your studio stand out in a competitive market.Got a question for Seran? Add it here
Welcome to Shaped by Faith! In this inspiring interview, Theresa Rowe sits down with Alison McFarland, owner of Happy Art Studio in Owensboro, Kentucky. Have you ever thought, “I’m just not creative?” Alison shares how her love for art began, what inspired her to open Happy Art Studio, and why creativity has the power to build confidence, reduce stress, strengthen relationships, and bring joy to people of all ages. Happy Art Studio offers pottery painting, pottery wheel classes, acrylic painting, children’s art camps, birthday parties, team-building events, and creative workshops for both beginners and experienced artists. Alison believes everyone has the ability to create something beautiful. Keep reading...
Leslie Pearlman is back, and this update to their 2024 conversation covers even more ground than the original. Rebecca and Leslie dig into online and hybrid teaching not as a lesser alternative to in-person but as a genuinely distinct skillset that requires its own curriculum — one most YTTs still aren't providing. They get into the internal regulation work required to teach well in any format, and the largely unexamined tendency to moralize the absence of in-room co-regulation as an automatic loss. They also tackle one of Rebecca's long-running preoccupations: the difference between professional training and personal development, and why the yoga industry needs to get honest about which one it's actually offering. And they go somewhere most conversations don't — into the urgent need for yoga teacher trainer training and studio owner training, including the relational dimension of what it means to be for a community without being of it. Rich, honest, and covers a lot of ground in fifty minutes.RESOURCESWorking In Yoga WebsiteWorking In Yoga NewsletterThe Back RoomInside Yoga MagazineGood Ground Yoga
Plenty of Pilates studios look successful from the outside. The numbers tell a different story. In this episode, Lesley Logan sits down in person with Julian Barnes, co-founder and CEO of the BFS Network, the boutique fitness industry's market intelligence company behind the annual State of the Industry report. Julian brings the data from 500-plus studios across 46 states. Lesley brings the how. Together they break down the five numbers that separate a real business from an expensive hobby, and what it actually takes to keep clients for years instead of weeks. If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to LesleyLogan.co/podcast https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/. If you have any comments or questions about the Be It pod shoot us a message at beit@lesleylogan.co mailto:beit@lesleylogan.co. And as always, if you're enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at LesleyLogan.co/subscribe https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/#follow-subscribe-free.In this episode you will learn about:The five KPIs that profitable studios track every month.Why referrals still beat social media for new leads.How to structure an intro offer that converts.The objection scripts that turn a maybe into a yes.Why holding clients accountable is what kills churn.Episode References/Links:BFS Network – bfsnetwork.comBFS Pilates Studio Benchmarks Report - BFSreport.com or BFSpilatesreport.comFacebook https://beitpod.com/thebfsnetwork https://www.facebook.com/thebfsnetwork?mibextid=wwXIfr&mibextid=wwXIfrSubmit your wins or questions - https://beitpod.com/questionsGuest Bio:Julian Barnes is Co-Founder and CEO of the BFS Network, the premier growth accelerator and market intelligence company in the beauty, fitness, and self-care industry. He leads BFS' CEO Network — the premier peer-to-peer leadership network for multi-location, multimillion-dollar operators who are building to scale — and serves as Managing Director of the Global Leadership Council, whose members collectively operate more than 10,000 locations worldwide. He also serves as an Outside Director for a global fitness brand. Barnes created NYU's Institute in Entrepreneurship & Small Business Management and served on the US Tennis Association's Investment Committee, which managed a $200M portfolio. He holds a BA from Tufts and a JD from UNC Chapel Hill.If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a review on iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podchaser or Castbox. https://lovethepodcast.com/BITYSIDEALS! DEALS! DEALS! DEALS! https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/memberships/perks/#equipmentCheck out all our Preferred Vendors & Special Deals from Clair Sparrow, Sensate, Lyfefuel BeeKeeper's Naturals, Sauna Space, HigherDose, AG1 and ToeSox https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/memberships/perks/#equipmentBe in the know with all the workshops at OPC https://workshops.onlinepilatesclasses.com/lp-workshop-waitlistBe It Till You See It Podcast Survey https://pod.lesleylogan.co/be-it-podcasts-surveyBe a part of Lesley's Pilates Mentorship https://lesleylogan.co/elevate/FREE Ditching Busy Webinar https://ditchingbusy.com/Resources:Watch the Be It Till You See It podcast on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq08HES7xLMvVa3Fy5DR8-gLesley Logan website https://lesleylogan.co/Be It Till You See It Podcast https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/Online Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/Online Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjogqXLnfyhS5VlU4rdzlnQProfitable Pilates https://profitablepilates.com/about/Follow Us on Social Media:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lesley.logan/The Be It Till You See It Podcast YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq08HES7xLMvVa3Fy5DR8-gFacebook https://www.facebook.com/llogan.pilatesLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesley-logan/The OPC YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@OnlinePilatesClasses Episode Transcript:Julian Barnes 0:00 You have to be confident enough, both in your own abilities and that the universe will provide for you the right way. You have to be confident enough to say no to the wrong person, so you keep space open for the right person, as you said, and you have to be confident that the universe is going to bring that right person to you.Lesley Logan 0:24 Welcome to the Be It Till You See It podcast where we talk about taking messy action, knowing that perfect is boring. I'm Lesley Logan, Pilates instructor and fitness business coach. I've trained thousands of people around the world and the number one thing I see stopping people from achieving anything is self-doubt. My friends, action brings clarity and it's the antidote to fear. Each week, my guest will bring bold, executable, intrinsic and targeted steps that you can use to put yourself first and Be It Till You See It. It's a practice, not a perfect. Let's get started. Lesley Logan 1:05 All right, Be It babe. This is really for my Pilates studio owners and teachers out there, people who want to open a Pilates studio. We are going to get deep in numbers, and you're hearing me talk a lot about my thoughts about the Pilates industry and how you are going to have a profitable Pilates business. So it's kind of fun. If you've never heard me talk Pilates business, and you want to hear my thoughts, you can. For those of you who are Profitable Pilates members, you're going to hear some of my favorite things to say, and I think you're going to be really impressed with how amazing your studios are doing compared to others. But also, I think it's really important to know what the stats are. What is going on in the Pilates history? It is changing. There are a lot of studios, but are these studios actually as successful as they look? Lesley Logan 1:28 So, I think this report is really fun. If you watch it on YouTube, you're gonna see the visuals of these numbers. If you're like me and need to see them, you can watch it there. We'll also have everything in the show notes and in the blog as well. You guys are awesome. Here is Julian from the BFS Network. Lesley Logan 1:43 All right, loves, this is gonna be fun. You guys get to hear me in my own element, probably a little more behind the scenes of what we do with other businesses, but we have an incredible guest here. We'll talk a lot of numbers, so if you're a visual person, you might want to watch this on our YouTube channel. Julian from the BFS Network, you are here. Hello, tell everyone who you are and what you rock at, because they're going to want to know.Julian Barnes 2:18 Lesley, I am here in your home studio in Las Vegas. This is not Zoom. This is.. I could touch your high five. Here we go. There we go. Awesome. Hello, everyone. My name is Julian Barnes. I am the co-founder and CEO of the BFS Network. I am based in New York City, here in Vegas to hang out with my good friend Lesley and Brad. We are the BFS Network. For today's conversation, the most important thing I'm going to share is we are known as the premier market intelligence company in the boutique fitness industry. We publish the State of the Industry report, which is the annual report, which is the most comprehensive report in our industry. A lot of data, a lot of KPIs, a lot of metrics, all focused on showing what profitable studios do. So I'm here today with Lesley, and I'm going to share some of the numbers, and she's going to tell us how to achieve those numbers.Lesley Logan 3:13 Yeah, I'm excited. Let's go, let's do it. I'm a visual person, so I'm glad you got a visual for us.Julian Barnes 3:18 So the first thing I want to just talk about is who participated in the survey. In addition to the Profitable Pilates community, this survey has been conducted over the last 18 months, 500-plus studios worldwide. Most importantly, it is the overwhelming majority, 89% of the studios that participated in the survey have three or fewer locations, and most of them have one location, individually owned, self-financed, no private equity, no investor. So we're talking about just the regular studio owner who bootstrapped and saved, and maybe borrowed from the bank to open, that's who's in here. There's no Solidcore in here, there's no Barry's, there's no SoulCycle. And if there are some independent Club Pilates franchisees, they're individually owned, they're not big corporate, so that's.Lesley Logan 4:17 Not one of those people who owns 75 or 100 sharing. Yeah, yeah.Julian Barnes 4:21 Exactly. All right, so that's who's in it. Also, there's broad geographical distribution of the survey, meaning 45% of the responses came from cities with a population of half a million or more, 45% came from cities 50,000 to half a million, another 10% are rural areas less than 50,000, 46 out of 50 states, so we have geographic representation, we have market size representation, one, two, and three locations, no PE, no investors, so we're talking about the average mom-and-pop small studio everywhere in this country.Lesley Logan 4:57 Okay, you know I'm gonna want to have dinner where the four states are, so we got a find studio close to. Julian Barnes 5:01 It's like three S's. No, three N's. So it's North Dakota, Nebraska, and I forget the other two.Lesley Logan 5:08 Okay, I have a really great city for you, Nebraska solo owner, really pretty incredible, open for over 20 years. Julian Barnes 5:13 That's what we need. Okay. So that's who we're talking about. The way we're going to rock today is talk about the BFS scorecard, which is six KPIs. I'm going to share with the listeners, all of you, the six KPIs that profitable studios track, and I'm going to tell you what those KPIs are. And then we're going to come back, and I'm going to ask Lesley how and what a studio should do to achieve those KPIs. So, I am the "what" today; Lesley is going to be the "how."Lesley Logan 5:49 Yeah. So, for those of you, this is how it was explained to me, and I think this is a lot of fun for my peeps to listen. He's gonna be that Steve Kornacki at the big board, and I'm gonna come in as Rachel Maddow or Chris Hayes. I mean, obviously I watch a news channel, so there we go. So I'm gonna come in with my opinion and my punditry.Julian Barnes 6:07 You don't have blonde hair, so you're not that other channel.Lesley Logan 6:09 I'm not. Also, these are still my cheeks, my lips, my eyes.Julian Barnes 6:18 All real, keeping it real. Okay, so KPI number one is number of leads per month, and Profitable Pilates studios generally are generating somewhere between 10 to 50 leads per month. The number one response is more than 50 leads, so 30% of the respondents generated more than 50 leads, and then the tie for second was less than 10 leads per month and 10 to 25. Less than 10 was 20%, 10 to 25 is 21%, so that's basically a tie. I don't know for sure, but if I had to guess, the studios that are generating more than 50 leads a month are probably mat Pilates with larger class sizes, and yeah, they need more leads.Lesley Logan 7:09 I think anytime you need more leads, it's probably better having more class-based classes. Yeah.Julian Barnes 7:13 Exactly. And so the studios with less than 10 or 10 to 25 are probably more of the Reformer.Lesley Logan 7:19 Yeah.Julian Barnes 7:19 So number of leads per month is the first metric to track. I'm going to run through these quickly, and then we're going to come back. Okay, so the first KPI is number of leads per month, and the highest response was more than 50 leads per month. 30% of the Profitable Pilates studios that we surveyed generate more than 50 leads per month, and I would imagine that the majority of those are Pilates mat classes, where they have more people in seats and bigger studios, and they need to fill classes. Tied for second was less than 10 leads per month and 10 to 25 leads per month, and that is between 20 and 21% of the people who completed this assessment selected less than 10 and 10 to 25. So number of leads per month is the first KPI that we're going to talk about. Second KPI is the conversion rate, and let's see if I can do this, because I'm not an idiot, is what I told you, right?Lesley Logan 8:19 You're doing great. So there we go.Julian Barnes 8:22 Conversion rate of leads to first-time visitors. I can't wait for Lesley to break this down, but it's one thing for someone to email you, to DM you, to IM you to say, "I'm interested, send me more information about your studio." It's another thing for that person to actually walk in the door, and so conversion rate of lead to first-time visitor, Profitable Pilates studios are converting at more than 30%. 54% of the Profitable Pilates studios are converting at more than 30%. So think about that: for every 10 leads, the best studios are getting three of those 10 emails to walk in the door, right? So, conversion rate of leads to first-time visitors. Now they came, they took a class, they bought the intro offer. The question is, what percentage of those people made a second, bigger purchase? They already purchased the intro offer. I like to think about it like this: you go to a restaurant the first time and you have a nice meal. My question is always, am I going to come back? And especially if you bring a friend with you, maybe it's your favorite restaurant, and you bring a friend with you to your favorite restaurant, and you pay for the dinner. The question for your friend is, did you enjoy your dinner, and did you enjoy your dinner enough that you would come back and pay for it? That second purchase, same thing applies with studios, so they bought the intro offer. Did they come back? And Profitable studios, 55% of Profitable Pilates studios convert to a second, bigger purchase more than 30% of the time. So see how small these numbers get: for every 10 leads, three walk in the door, and of those three that walk in the door, only one is making a next purchase. So Lesley's gonna break that down. She is chomping up the bits, waiting for me. Lesley Logan 10:13 I can't wait. Julian Barnes 10:13 All right, so those are the first three KPIs. Okay, so the last two KPIs we'll talk about are average member lifetime value, which is how long they stay, and so the largest category for Profitable Pilates studios, 28% of Profitable Pilates studios have a lifetime value greater than two years. The good news is, hence the name of Profitable Pilates, that 71% of the Profitable Pilates studios that completed this assessment have an LTV of more than two years, and that's really important. I'll let Lesley weigh in on why that's important, but the number is more than two years. You want to be an LTV more than two years. Julian Barnes 10:56 And finally, the last KPI we're going to talk about today is churn, and churn means how often your members leave and you have to go refill that spot. You can't grow if you're constantly replacing someone in your studio. So Profitable Pilates studios, 43% of profitable Pilates studios minimize churn to less than 5%, but here again, the Profitable Pilates community that Lesley runs, 71% of the people who completed this assessment have a churn less than 5%.Julian Barnes 11:31 So let's recap. The five KPIs are number of leads per month, converting those leads from lead to first visit, converting the first visit to a second purchase, assuming the first visit is an intro offer, second purchase, then how long do they stay, and do you retain them by minimizing churn? Those are the five KPIs. That's what Profitable studios do in the Pilates sector. Lesley, now tell the people.Lesley Logan 12:02 Oh my gosh.Julian Barnes 12:03 Tell the people, Lesley, what they're supposed to do to achieve these numbers. How do they get these number of leads per month?Lesley Logan 12:11 Okay, so here's a really great... I just want to say I'm really proud of the people who filled this out, because my goal has always been for the people we coach for the long term. I'm like, your business should get really boring, like it should get really predictable. My goal is that some of our people need one lead a month because they actually don't have room, and they're actually referring out to other businesses in the area. That obviously is more of a smaller studio that doesn't have large group classes, but that is the absolute goal, because it's better to be entertained in your life, your business should not be so entertaining. Lesley Logan 12:39 So what I would say is, for studios to have a really great conversion, if you don't know how many leads you're getting a month, that's important. You got to start there, and you want to know where they're coming from, because that really does help you understand where you're spending your time marketing. Everyone tries to sell you to the moon and back that you should be on social media. You might not need to be, depends on your community, right? Depends on how many people are there, and depends on how many leads you need. I know that sounds crazy in 2026 that I would tell someone that it's not about social media, but it's not, more and more people are not necessarily trusting what they're seeing on socials because of AI and things like that. So, you really want to have an amazing network of clients who love you, who refer people out, so you're getting strong, solid leads, because those are gonna be the ones that actually come in over just reaching out to see what's going on.Julian Barnes 13:22 You just said something I want to jump on. I didn't mention it, but we also asked studio owners what was their most effective lead gen tactic. You want to guess what that answer is, Lesley?Lesley Logan 13:33 Referral.Julian Barnes 13:34 By far, in every modality.Lesley Logan 13:39 Yes. And here's what people.Julian Barnes 13:40 It's two to one, like it wasn't close. And again, these are profit, not just Pilates, all modalities. The number one lead gen tactic is referrals. So when you said people don't trust what's on the social and socials, what do people trust?Lesley Logan 13:56 They trust their friends.Julian Barnes 13:57 They trust people they know, people who they know, like, and trust.Lesley Logan 14:00 So here's the thing: if you are a new business right now, or you need people right now, if you're spending all of your time marketing yourself through stuff online and buying ads, that's one way to do it. And you will get people. I'm not saying that doesn't work, but you will get more people quicker if you actually tell the people who know, like, and trust you, whether they're clients or not, "Here's what my studio does, here's who we help, here's how we help them. Who do you know?" If you say, "Who do you know?" it opens a loop. You open a loop, people aren't likely to say, "I don't know anyone," because they'd have to think about that. But if you say, "Who do you know?" it opens this loop, and they start being aware of it. And if their friend's like, "Oh, my shoulder hurts," they go, "Oh, I just heard about the studio down the street." People will refer you people, and those are the people who actually come in, more likely than not, than someone who's just cruising the internet and filling out the contact form. Whoever fills out the contact form, honestly, it's whoever gets to them first and doesn't bug them.Julian Barnes 14:49 Let's take the people behind the scenes for a second. Before this call, we were chilling out in your backyard, and is it safe to say that we have some fundamental disagreements about how studios actually operate some things, right?Lesley Logan 15:27 I think that's okay, though.Julian Barnes 15:36 I wanted them to know that the things you and I agree on are the most important fundamental aspects of running a business. The things we disagree on, I say they're on the fringe, they're just a matter of choice. But this, having referrals, know, like, and trust that, it is tested over time.Lesley Logan 15:26 Yeah, I mean, it's so true. And also, it just makes it a lot easier on you if you need clients today. You opened the studio recently, or you hired a new teacher, or you opened some new classes, you need people to fill those seats today, you will always have a faster rate of transitioning them into clients if you're going to your community and the people who trust you, because they will talk about you, they will have a trust transference. If you are waiting for people to fill out your contact form, then it's like, well, they wanted you at 11:00 PM last night while they were watching someone on some TV show doing what they thought was Pilates, so they reached out, but now it's 8:00 AM or 9:00 AM in the morning and they're at work. Then it's like, "Well, I'm too busy this weekend," so you got to get people when they're excited. Lesley Logan 16:07 If you have a 30% conversion rate from the lead into coming in, that's great. I actually don't think that that's a terrible... I think if you have higher than that, you are doing great, but if you have lower than that, that's where I have concern. I feel like 30% feels very fair. Where I want you to really look at is from that, when they come in, if you have a lower than 30% conversion rate, you really do have an issue, because the numbers just get so small, and you're actually just wasting a lot of time. You're working really hard. And so I think this is where you, as an owner, need to look at what your onboarding experience is. How are you setting people up? Are you getting them with the right teacher? Are you the only person who's teaching them? Then it really is on you, what's going on?Lesley Logan 16:47 And this is where I think a lot of people make mistakes, because they try to sell Pilates, or whatever the modality is. People actually don't want to buy process; they want to buy the transformation, they want to buy the passion from you. And so this is where, if you're a studio owner and you're not the one who's doing these intro offers, they're going into a class, or they're going into another teacher's experience. You need someone who's got passion and actually can read the person, because you have to take what their goal is and what you offer and show how they get there. Nobody wants to hear, "Oh, you're going to buy the four-session-a-week package," because that's, no, that's a process. They want to buy in on the belief that you have that you can get them to where they want to go.Julian Barnes 17:24 You just said the magic word, and I don't know if people really heard you or want to go back. You said they want to buy the what, starting with the letter T?Lesley Logan 17:34 Oh, the transformation.Julian Barnes 17:35 Say that again.Lesley Logan 17:36 The transformation. They want the transformation, they want the end result.Julian Barnes 17:38 I like to say that there is no transformation without the transaction. There is no transformation without the transaction. So you have to ask the question, why are you here, and you have to actively listen to what they say, and then be prescriptive in your answer to the question. Okay, so you want X, Y, or Z. Great. Here's how you're going to get that: two times a week, three times a week. You're going to take this class, that class, this class, etc. You're going to give them a prescription, just like a doctor would give you a prescription, and tell them when they ask what does it cost, you reframe it. The investment for you to achieve your desired goal is going to be one of time and money. The time is twice a week or three times a week, and the monthly investment for that is going to be X.Lesley Logan 18:29 I agree so much, because if you can actually get them to understand that this is a tool to the transformation, and they can make that transaction, and you break it down, you can also be honest with them, and this is where trust is really built. Some people are going to come to you with goals that are not in alignment with what you do. If you actually tell them... for example, in Pilates in LA, every single person wants to lose five pounds, and it's like, "Well, here's what we know about science. Science would say, if you want to lose weight, it's a few different factors, and any fitness is part of the journey, but it's not the tool." The actual tool, especially if you're serving women, is: what are your hormones like? What are you eating? And then you can go from there. But if all you do is work out to lose weight, you might lose a couple pounds, you might change the metabolism you've got, but it's actually not going to get you to the goal. Lesley Logan 19:20 And so this is where it's really cool for people, and this is what I coach people on their first-time sessions, is find out what they're there for, and then tell them you can or can't help them. So I would always say, "Here's how Pilates is going to be part of your journey, here's what we can't do, but here's what we can do." First of all, most people are lied to so much, or sold a bunch of smoke and mirrors, that they actually will like that you told them that. They might not buy from you, they might go to someone else, or they might try something else and come back, because they actually believe and trust you. I really do believe in being authentic here. And then when you're teaching the sessions, you need to actually tell them, "Here's why I've chosen this exercise for you, here's why this exercise is going to hit your goals." That's what people don't do, they just keep talking about Pilates this, Pilates that. Pilates is now on every corner, so maybe that worked in the 1990s or might have worked in the early 2000s, but it doesn't work today. You actually have to say, "With my eye, I'm seeing your shoulder is doing this, and you have back pain, and so what I'm seeing is because of this imbalance, you're gonna have back pain until we get this balanced. So, here's these three exercises we're going to do, and they're going to help you with this." You have to actually tell them, take them behind the scenes. I like to say that their first sessions, their intro sessions, are like going to a buffet. They get to see all the different options, and you're going to talk about all the different options, and then you're going to prescribe them, like Julian said, like, "Hey, okay." First of all, I never say, "Did you like that?" You got to just go with confidence. You're like, "Thank you for letting me teach you," because that gives gratitude, it lets them know the session's over, and then you go into, "You said you wanted this. Here's how we're going to get there. Here's the process." Julian Barnes 19:20 Here's the roadmap.Lesley Logan 19:20 Yes. And then if they're like, "Whoa, that's too much for me." If you go through all the investment and all the time, and they're like, "That's more than I can spend right now," you can say, "I understand. We can take a little longer; instead of coming three times a week, we can do two times a week, or we can do this and this," but you have to actually help them find a way. I get it, some people don't work out, so that's not even the money, it's the actual going from zero times at the gym to coming three times. You're asking a lot, so this is where you have to be honest, and this is where I think our industry really needs a little kick in the pants, and a nice one. People that are with me a long time have heard me say this: if you aren't going to hold people accountable to their goals, you're going to become a to-do that they move around all the time.Julian Barnes 21:28 1,000%. And remember, they came to you. You didn't go find them.Lesley Logan 21:34 Yeah.Julian Barnes 21:35 Even if you did, even if you went to the local farmers market, you didn't force them to give you their email. Lesley Logan 21:40 Yeah.Julian Barnes 21:40 They gave you their email. They walked into the door. You have to ask them why they walked in, and you have to actually listen, so you can connect what they said with what you're going to say. You know what you're going to say, you know what your packages are. The question is, can you connect your packages to the goal they told you they want to achieve? It is not about giving permission, you are the person in the position of authority.Lesley Logan 22:09 Well, that's the thing. You just said you are the person in the position of authority, and that's where people don't see themselves.Julian Barnes 22:15 Retain your power.Lesley Logan 22:16 And so when people come to us, I have to constantly remind them that you're so worthy. If you have people who are late canceling and you're not charging them, I promise you, you're losing that client. That's not a client you want, by the way, but it's also you're losing that client because when push comes to shove. Julian Barnes 22:31 They're not committed. Lesley Logan 22:33 Right. When their budget has an issue, when something comes up, they're like, "Oh, I'm going to cancel my Pilates," because they're not actually seeing results, because you didn't hold them accountable to get results. I think this is where people really have to actually remember there is such a thing as you being in relation to them, and there is a camaraderie, but you're also the expert. They came to you, and the only way that they can exchange the energy is to pay you that worth, but you have to hold them accountable so that they get those results. And when you get them the results, that's why you don't have churn, that's why your churn is so low, and that's why you'll have clients for life. And by the way.Julian Barnes 23:05 We're gonna come back to that. Lesley Logan 23:05 Okay I just want to say, I think a lot of people go, "Oh, this person came to me, I hope they like me." You can't be like that if you want a business that actually works and doesn't stress you out at the end of the day. You have to actually have the authority, because you are the expert. They don't know.Julian Barnes 23:21 You have to be a little bit like Steve Jobs. Steve Jobs said you don't ask the customer what they want; you tell the customer what they need. None of us raised our hand and said we want a phone, remember the Blackberries and the Treos, and we want a contact management thing, we want to surf the web. No one said, "I want that." He presented it to us and said, "Here, isn't this cool?"Lesley Logan 23:45 Yeah, right. I think that's where, I understand some people's first-time sessions are in a group class. I would argue that that's a harder way to sell things. I would absolutely say, if you are a class-based studio and you want to have clients for life, you should have some sort of onboarding that allows them to be either on their own or in a very small group of other people who are also on an intro, so that you can actually find out why they're there and actually tell them how these exercises on whatever equipment you're teaching them actually help them reach their goal. Because if you just put them in a class with a bunch of other people, first of all, they get lost, and the experienced people get annoyed if the teacher keeps teaching to the newbie. You're going to lose people; they're going to start going, "I'm not getting challenged here, I'm going to this studio over here." So, I really do believe in an onboarding journey. And, of course, people are going to say, "Oh, this studio over here will let me in." Great, you should go to that studio that doesn't have any worries about you getting hurt and doesn't want your sessions to be personalized. No problem. I understand you want to get started. I actually believe in villainizing a little bit of the thing that you are not doing, so that you can actually tell people, "Here's why you wanted to work with me. Here's why you want to trust me, because I actually care about why you're here, and you're not just a number on my Reformer, you're actually a person whose impact I want. I want you to have the transformation you wanted." But I also think when they're in that first session, whatever it is, a week or a session, I really do think if you don't tell them what you're seeing in their body that's keeping them from the goal they want to have, you are missing out on an opportunity for them to understand how smart you are and how much of an expert you are. If you tell me that you want to have better posture and I'm seeing that your hip is up to one side, you have to tell people, "Oh, I noticed this, no wonder your posture is having problems. So here we're going to do these exercises." I always said this, but I think it's really where people miss out. This is where teachers keep it to themselves and they actually don't tell the client what they're seeing; they just pick exercises, but the person doesn't know why you're picking that. So, you have to peel back the curtain, so that they can see that you're in there with them, you're a partner in this journey, and you're gonna hold them accountable to hitting the goals they want, and then when they hit those, you're gonna set new ones.Julian Barnes 25:40 Right. All right, so let's talk about KPI number three: percentage of new visitors who purchase a membership or a bigger package. So we're talking specifically about people who purchase the intro offer, they finish the one week or the two week or the one month, whatever the intro offer is, they finished that. Did they pull out their credit card and make a second purchase? What should studios do, owners, and instructors do to increase the probability of a yes?Lesley Logan 26:11 I love this question so much. I'm going to take us back a little bit. So I want to go back to the intro offer. You need to pick an intro offer that actually fits the goals you need. If you need a lot of clients, the intro offer needs to be very simple, very easy. I wouldn't even give people two weeks, I think that is crazy nonsense. I also don't like free; I think you have to charge. It's very hard to go from zero to whatever you're charging. So, I would say if you need clients yesterday, you're doing a single-session intro offer with a very much hands-on experience, where someone is told, you find out what they need in an interview style, and then a concierge style at the end about what's going on. That's what you need. If you don't need a ton of clients, then your intro offer can be a little longer, and can actually be a higher need to say yes, meaning instead of doing a private session and the intro offer is $60 for one session, it might be $180 for three. That obviously is going to get rejected more, because it's a bit more. "I don't know if I want to spend $180 on you, I just met you, I don't even know you." But you don't need a lot of people, so you're like, "I only want the best to come through," right? So you really want to make sure you're picking that. Now, obviously, the higher the intro offer's time and money commitment is, the more likely you're actually going to have a second purchase if they do it in a condensed form of time. That's why I disagree with two weeks or one month, I really do, especially for in-person. I think you want to keep things quick, because when that dopamine high is happening, that's when they're more likely to buy. If it's three sessions that they can take over three weeks, good luck, because they only felt the high in the moment when they drove their car home, they actually didn't get the benefits. But if it's three sessions in one week, you're more likely to get that second purchase. You want people to feel the benefits, because let's be really honest: Joe Pilates has a quote that everyone likes to use, but they don't finish the sentence. "In 10 Pilates sessions, you feel different. In 20 sessions, you look different. In 30 sessions, you have a whole new body." But they don't finish it: "If you come three to four times a week, or your money back." That's what Joe said, that's what his ad said. If you're just coming to Pilates once a week, it'd be like trying to study Spanish once a week. I can recognize words, but I'm not going to be able to understand Bad Bunny, that's not happening. I have to do it multiple times a week, and science is there, no matter the modality. Unless you're doing something three or four times a week, you're actually not making a change.Julian Barnes 26:58 Well, that's the key, right? Earlier you said you're here for the transformation. The first step, I would argue, in the transformation is transforming your daily routine. What you just said is people need to adopt a new routine that says, "I'm coming on Tuesday morning, Thursday after work, Saturday morning." I'm committed to that change. See, hear these terms: commitment, investment, transformation. They need to commit. You need to present them with a prescription. You are more likely to be successful if you present a prescription that gives them the opportunity to adopt a new routine from day one.Lesley Logan 28:10 Here's the thing: you will sound more confident when you're talking with them if you're making them rise up to the occasion. It is understanding their intake forms.Julian Barnes 29:12 You're leading them to rise to the occasion.Lesley Logan 29:18 Yes. Here's the thing: are you more likely to come to the person who says, "When do you want to come in?" If you're someone who's listening who says, "When do you want to come in? Do you want to come in next week?" I'm going to tell you right now, your business is a hobby, and eventually the IRS is going to audit you, so that's not going to be good for you. You're not gonna be profitable. If you're telling people, "Hey, you should come, you're gonna come two times a week. I have 10:00 AM on Tuesdays and Thursdays, does that work for you?" That is me telling you. You're going, "Hmm, does it work for me?" But you're not, you're more likely to look at your calendar like, "When do I want to come in? Oh, next week actually feels really full. Now I can't come in," right? You want to actually tell people and prescribe people and have the confidence in what you're doing, and this is where I think a lot of people have a lot of fear. "Oh my god, they'll think I'm being rude." No, they won't. They're going to think that you're in control. This is a business. It's a business. Lesley Logan 30:06 And also, I don't want to waste people's money, so you can even say that. Look, here's the deal: if you're only going to come once every other week, this is kind of a waste of money. You shouldn't really do this; you could probably do something at home on YouTube. If you really want the transformation, you have to commit to it, and the commitment looks like this. That's where I would say, whether you do memberships or packages, I don't like unlimited, because that is craziness, you also can't prescribe people the times to come in. "If you want to hit this goal in the next three months, I recommend our three-time-a-week commitment. If that's too much for you, there's a two-time..." You have these things that people can choose, a journey, a path. If you're only gonna have one time a week, here's the deal: you can never miss, and I'm gonna need you to do homework, because the reality is, one time a week, if that's all you can afford time or money-wise, I get that something is better than nothing, but you gotta do something at home. Otherwise, it is a waste of your time and money, and I don't wanna waste your money. And when you talk like that with people, they're like, "Oh, this person really knows what they're talking about." When you ask them, "When do you want to come in?" a broken clock is right two times a day. You're going to get some people, but those are the type-A people who happen to be near you or close to you, and they kind of like you. You're not going to have a business where it's easy to predict how much money you're going to make month after month.Julian Barnes 31:15 Would you say that transformation requires the three C's? You need to change your routine, you need to be consistent about the changes you're making in routine, and you have to be willing to get rid of your comfort zone, get out of your comfort zone. Very little change occurs when you're comfortable.Lesley Logan 31:37 Oh, you know what happens: if you don't change, the world does, and you just actually get further behind. So I do think that... I love all those three C's, and I think that's really helpful for people. Here's the thing, the objections you're going to get are three. There might be some other ones, but these are the three I've heard teaching for a really long time, and I used to run nine studios for a high-end fitness company, so I have heard them all, which are: "I don't have the money." Guess what, everyone says that when they actually don't really want to tell you why they can't do it, or they didn't like it. It's an easier thing. You're not going to go show me your wallet, right? So, "I don't have the money," and "I don't have the time." This is one for people who want change, but they're afraid of leaving their comfort zone. So, this is where you actually have to have a speech ready in hand. "I get that. I'm a very busy person. Here's what we're going to do: we are going to pre-schedule your sessions for the next month, so you can schedule your whole life around it. How about we start two weeks out, because it's a little easier? Two weeks out, it's not overwhelming. We're going to schedule your whole life around it, and because of our cancellation policy, you're going to cancel your friends over this, and you're actually going to get the transformation." Or they have to "think about it." If they have to think about it, there's a couple things going on. You weren't good enough at making sure they understood how what you're doing is going to help them with their transformation. You didn't get an honest goal out of them, or you actually didn't tell them how you're going to get there, so they're kind of in, but they're not sure. Or you have way too many offers. If you have too many offers, "I don't know what to do. If I see we have these packages, and we have these packages, we have this class over here, we have this class over here..." It's too confusing for me, and I have to think about it. You want things to be very easy for people to make a yes. And so, if they have to say, "Oh, I have to talk to my husband," that is also a way of saying, "I don't have the money," or "I'm not sure," because most women have the ability to spend the money on what they want. The first time I ever heard this as a brand new teacher, I said, "No problem. If your husband has any questions, here is my number. Remember, these are the goals we talked about, here's how we're going to get there." And if you want me to chat with him about how this is going to work out, I'm happy to do that. Guess what? He came up to my studio the next day and he said, "My wife can come as much as she wants, whatever she wants, she can come as much as she wants. I just want her to be happy," right? Most of the time it's not the husband; it's that she was not sure if she was worthy of the commitment, and we have to hold space for that. But if you can actually think of the objections you have, and then come up with your responses ahead of time, you're gonna come off more confident when they have those. And then guess what, they can go think about it. Okay, great. "I'm gonna reach out next week, I'm gonna reach out tomorrow, I'm gonna call back on the follow-up. Is that okay with you?" You'd be surprised how many people come in if you follow up.Julian Barnes 34:04 Now, here's one of the areas where we may disagree. I agree with everything you just said. Sometimes it's okay to say, "We may not be for you."Lesley Logan 34:13 Oh, we're not going to disagree on that. I love that.Julian Barnes 34:17 I hear you. The three objections: don't have time, can't afford it, not sure. Okay, I hear you. We may not be the right place for you. We are the place for people who are willing to make a commitment to the transformation they seek. We work with people who are committed. We work with... and then whatever's in your community, you know, describe them. They might be business owners, executives, presidents of corporations, whatever is in your tribe, in your community. We work with the best of the best. If you want to be part of that, we'd love to have you, but I get it, we may not be for you, and that's okay. Lesley Logan 34:56 That's okay. Julian, I love this, because I just coached someone today, and she was talking about, "Oh, they got sick and they couldn't do this, and now they're good there." I said, "You should fire them as clients, they're not good clients." In fact, I would call that dirty money. Every single teacher out there who's taking clients who just come in willy-nilly, that is dirty money. It's actually never going to get you good referrals. There's certainly not gonna be a walking billboard. The best advice I ever got when I first started teaching Pilates, best advice, a teacher took me aside on my first day, and he goes, "Get one client and make them obsessed with you. You focus every energy and everything you have on that one client, and you will have clients for life." And he's not wrong. I was gifted a duet session from a teacher who was moving, and I took that to heart. They're like, "We can't come next week." I'm like, "Oh, well, I'll see you... let's go with an extra one this week. Gotta make it up."Julian Barnes 35:43 Exactly right.Lesley Logan 35:44 And they're like, "What? We don't do two in a week." I'm like, "Well, you're missing next week. I'm not gonna wait two weeks to see you. What change are we gonna have? We gotta do this." They never miss a session. Guess what? Within two weeks, I had two of their friends from their building, right? Because I was like, "If you want to work with me, this is how often you have to do this." And here's the thing: when you tell people, "We might not be for you," one, some people will rise to the occasion because they don't like to be rejected, and two, you're leaving space for someone who's going to actually add to the community and make your business successful. And, by the way, more importantly, you're going to make an impact on them, because it's not fun to teach people who are not committed it's, actually exhausting.Julian Barnes 36:18 I know you believe in karma.Lesley Logan 36:19 I do. Julian Barnes 36:20 Right, as we sit in a room full of crystals everywhere.Lesley Logan 36:24 Some people, I'm wondering when their karma is coming. I'm just gonna say.Julian Barnes 36:28 So you have to be confident enough that the universe will present you what you need when you need it, and that confidence is really tested when you have some financial needs and the wrong client walks in. You have to be confident enough, both in your own abilities and that the universe will provide for you the right way. You have to be confident enough to say no to the wrong person, so you keep space open for the right person, as you said, and you have to be confident that the universe is going to bring that right person to you.Lesley Logan 37:12 Yes. Well, and.Julian Barnes 37:13 But it's not going to always be on your schedule.Lesley Logan 37:15 No. And that... well, that's here's the thing, we've been talking about these different leads, you actually don't get to decide when people are going to finally come in the door. So you have to make sure that whatever you're doing is making sure it's put in front of them and reminded in front of them, and they're reminded again until they're like, "Oh, I'm finally ready." We actually don't get to decide when they come in the door, but once they're there, we absolutely can say, "You're in my house, and in my house, this is how we do things," right? Like my house, you can leave your shoes on, we got a dog, he goes in and out, this is a desert, we're fine, but some people's houses, the shoes go off. I was just at a friend's house who's in the Pilates industry, and he's like, "Yeah, you take your shoes off," and we went upstairs, and he's like, "Oh, there's a deck, put these slippers on," and I'm like, "Oh my god, there's so many rules!" But guess what, it's his house. Those are the rules of participating in his world, and so I would just say it's okay to have these rules. It really helps people understand the boundaries, and it will make for better clients who are more consistent, and guess what, they will go back to the best way to get clients: refer you better clients.Julian Barnes 38:15 Great. So now, how do we keep them? How do you recommend that your clients act in such a way as to increase lifetime value? First of all, what is lifetime value? Second, why is it important? Third, how do you increase it? What is it? Why is it important? How do you increase it?Lesley Logan 38:34 So you can correct me. I'm going to do a simple lifetime value with clients: like if you have clients for two years, how much money do you often make off them? And getting an average of a lifetime value really helps you understand how many clients you really kind of need for your business to predict or project what you want to make. You want to make a million dollars for your studio, and your average lifetime client is X. Then you need 25 of those clients to get there, right? So it really helps you understand the business you're going to have. And our businesses, we have a really amazing lifetime value of a lot of our clients. It's kind of insane for our membership bases that are online, what they are, and so once we know those, it really helps us understand how much money are we going to spend marketing, right? Especially if you're an on-demand business or membership basis.Julian Barnes 39:12 How much you're willing to invest in marketing.Lesley Logan 39:14 Yes.Julian Barnes 39:14 If you know that your member is paying you 100 bucks a month, which is 1,200 bucks a year, and they have an average tenure of two years, then you know that you have about $2,400 for every client.Lesley Logan 39:27 Yeah.Julian Barnes 39:28 So now you back, that's not even that's before profit.Lesley Logan 39:30 Yep. Okay. Yep.Julian Barnes 39:32 Now you back that down and back that out and say, "Well, how much am I willing to invest by an acquisition cost? Am I willing to invest $100 to make $2,400? Sure. Am I willing to invest $2,000 to make $2,400? Not so much."Lesley Logan 39:32 There are people who will do that, and I think they're crazy.Julian Barnes 39:33 So you know that number because you want to know how much you want to invest.Lesley Logan 39:37 Yes, and it's really important, and it really does take time to get that value if you're a brand new studio. This is going to be something. Julian Barnes 40:00 6 to 18 months, minimum. Lesley Logan 40:02 So it's really important. What was the second two questions?Julian Barnes 40:06 That's what it is. How do you keep your members with you for two, three, four years? How?Lesley Logan 40:14 Okay, so first of all, this is going to sound crazy. If your value system doesn't include commitment and consistency, you've already started your business off on the wrong foot for a long-term lifetime value of a client. You have to actually have in your value of your business, "We want committed or consistent clients." What are we going to do? It's part of our value system to make sure that happens. Maybe that comes from communication, maybe that comes from transparency, maybe that comes from responsibility, maybe that comes from community, but you have to decide in your value system how you're going to get there from the get-go. Because everything in your value system dictates how you make decisions on who you hire, what services you offer, what days you're open, all that stuff, right? Second thing is, if you're not making sure your clients are consistent, if you're just letting them cancel and there's no fees, they're not committed. Guess what, they're going to eventually go somewhere else, because no one's making sure they show up.Julian Barnes 41:11 The word there you're looking for, I think, is accountable.Lesley Logan 41:14 Yes.Julian Barnes 41:15 Accountable. You have to hold your clients accountable to the prescription for the transformation that they said they want. You didn't tell them what they wanted; they told you what they wanted. You told them how to get it.Lesley Logan 41:29 Yeah, exactly. So, I think this is where people are afraid they'll lose clients if they uphold a cancellation policy. Nope, you'll lose them because you didn't. Now, you might lose them in the beginning, like, "This is too harsh." Great, this is not the studio for you. That studio on the street is in charge, go there. I don't know if you'll get your goals, but you won't be charged for not showing up here. You said you wanted to do this; I held a space for you, right? It's really important. And you'll say it in your own words, but I promise you, I promise you, I had clients when I was in LA... I taught in LA for 12 years. I was there for 14, taught 12 years in LA, and when COVID hit, I still had more than half of my clients from the first year I started teaching.Julian Barnes 42:08 How? What did you do to maintain that LTV?Lesley Logan 42:12 Aside from my boundaries, if I traveled, there was a teacher coming into their space at their exact same time, so their schedule didn't change just because my schedule changed. I think this is really important: no matter the size of your space, you've got to have backups or a backup policy in place, so that you can get sick, have to travel, or have a baby, and make sure that they're taken care of at the schedule that they committed to, because it's really hard for them to move their schedule, right? Second thing, if you're not reinstating what they're getting from you, you think that they're mind readers, they're not, right? So, you have to remind them how far they've come, how close they are to their goal. "Oh, you've hit this goal, where are we at now?" You also need to actually... they talk so much, they are nonstop, they think you're their therapist. If you're not listening to the things they're saying they're going to go do with their family, "Oh, you're going to go hike such and such volcano in Europe? Okay, we're going to add some exercises in to make sure you can do that. Oh, you want to start running a marathon? Okay, we got to do these things to help keep your hips open, otherwise your back's going to hurt." You need to hear the things that they're saying they want to do with their kids, their family. You have to insert yourself. Julian Barnes 43:15 You have to listen. I'm hearing you say, 'Listen, listen.'Lesley Logan 43:17 And what do most teachers do? This is the thing, I say this, the industry is having an amazing moment right now, but I promise you, right now, because all the teachers are focused on cues, and all the students are focused on how many people are in the class, you are going to see the pendulum swing the other way. Because people are not there for your cues; they're there for the transformation. And if you're not looking with your eyes at what their body is doing, you don't know what cue you need. You have to see what they're doing, and then give them the correction that they need in that moment. And because we have different learning styles and things like that, you can't... I'm sorry, you can't have memorized cues. You have to learn how to be present, and be present to listen to what they're saying when they're leaving. What are they saying? "Oh, you know, my sister's coming to town next week." Guess what I'm saying: "Oh, is your sister coming with you to class? Do we need to reschedule your sessions?" Because if you can start to train them, then they're never missing, they're getting the consistency. But you have to know that their goals are going to change with their life. My clients, 12 years long, I mean, it's amazing what height we got out of them, and they're older. So I think it's really important for people to actually remember that the impact you want to make is there if you listen, and they'll stay because you keep reminding them how Pilates is part of their life.Julian Barnes 44:32 And so churn, to wrap it up, LTV and churn are related. You want your LTV to be high so they stay with you for many years, and you want to reduce your churn, which is the percentage of clients or members who leave your studio. What are some of the best practices that studio owners can implement to minimize churn?Lesley Logan 44:53 So, I think this is where, if your business is based off waitlists and 12-hour things, and hoping people cancel so they will get off the waitlist, you're actually going to have churn. I actually think this is where we have to really think about who we're trying to serve and how we're serving them. And I would really make sure that your clients are able to be part of the journey of the growth of your business. They should be part of it, celebrated, reminded that they're there. They always need to have a name. Every single person, whoever you hire, no matter how big you get, if they are not saying people's first names, and also following up, "Oh, you've been gone for two weeks because of X surgery. How are you doing? Yes, we paused your membership, but..." actually check on them. "Oh, I don't want to bother them." Oh my god, they won't respond if you're bothering them! We have to actually stick around and be in people's lives, and follow up and remind them that they matter and that they're missed. And if you have any teachers who are not remembering people's names and not remembering that they've been gone, you're going to have a churn problem. I think the reason why my businesses have grown, even in coaching people, and that we have people who've been with us since day one, is because we constantly remind everybody who the OG people were. These people are here; they've been with us for the long haul. They remembered us when it was small, but they're being introduced to the new people when it's bigger, and they're feeling that they're part of a community. I think people forget that people, at the base of everything, just want to belong. And if you're not able to look them in the eye and remember their name and introduce them to somebody else, they're going to feel unseen at some point. So I really do think that churn is reduced when you see people as a human being.Julian Barnes 46:27 So, I have a bonus question for you which is, right in your wheelhouse as a veteran instructor, more like a comment for you to reply to, from the very beginning of this conversation, you haven't used this word, but it's my takeaway of what you've been saying: impact. We talk about how people want transformation. Talk about how do you convert from lead to first-time visitor? How do you convert from first-time visitor to second purchase? How do you keep them a long time? How do you minimize churn? To me, the answer is impact, and what we, at BFS, don't focus on front of house, we're not Pilates instructors, but you obviously are. And so what I like to remind people, and I'm going to ask you to elaborate, I like to remind people none of the processes, none of the systems, none of the messaging, none of the stuff matters if you're not delivering fire classes each and every time. Agree, disagree, assess?Lesley Logan 47:29 Oh, I agree. I also think it's really interesting because I come from this as a classical Pilates instructor, but I coach a lot of contemporary-based Pilates. So my fire classes on the Reformer always start with footwork and probably end with the same exercise. So, when you say fire classes, I think it's really important that I say.Julian Barnes 47:47 I want to say impact. The classes have to deliver impact.Lesley Logan 47:50 Yeah, they have to. Well, I'm saying I'm agreeing with you. I'm also saying you don't have to be someone who's recreating the wheel every time, but people have to feel so different than when they walked in the door, because if they feel the same, then they're not coming back. This is a nice hobby that they have, you fit the thing, but as soon as road construction's up or their job goes across town, you're out of it. Here's what I know about being a teacher for so long in LA: people would drive across freeways to stay with the same teacher because of the impact. Why would they do that when there's a studio... it's LA! There are, and by the way, it's LA, like New York, the best Pilates instructors in the world are in these places, and they're going across town. Why? It is because of the impact. And I think this is where people lose their confidence: they see other people doing things and go, "Oh, I should do that, too. Everyone's Reformers are beige now; I should do beige. Everything is this." No. What is it that you said you would give people, and what is it that they want? And if you can stay clear on that and keep understanding what their new wants are, you will have them for life.Julian Barnes 48:59 This goes back to something you said earlier today: take one client and give everything to, say that again, you said?Lesley Logan 49:07 Take one client and you make them obsessed with you, and then you'll have clients for life.Julian Barnes 49:11 Okay, so unpack that, because I think you're talking about how do you make them obsessed. To me, that sounds like you're saying give them 110%, teach the best class every time, you are the best.Lesley Logan 49:38 It goes back to accountability. I'm going to give 110% in every session, but you have to show up for the sessions, and it's a two-way street, I'm not in your body, right? So you got to make sure that they feel like they can trust you to tell you what's going on, but they have to show up
Jill Ford has been part of the Acrobatic Arts family from the very beginning. As a Course Conductor and owner of Supernova Acro Studio in Edmonton, she has spent years building something truly special. And then it happened. Jill, her daughters Zoe and Jada, and their entire Supernova crew took the stage on America's Got Talent as the Acro Canine Crew and Terry Crews ran straight to that golden buzzer. In this episode Loren and Jill go way back, and that history makes this conversation something really special. They get into the origin story of Supernova, Jill's deep commitment to Acrobatic Arts, how she kept the whole thing a secret with a studio full of young dancers and excited families, and yes, the dogs. They talk about what it actually felt like standing in those wings, the moment the golden buzzer went off, and what has changed since that confetti fell. This one is for every studio owner who has ever dreamed big for their students. A full transcript of the podcast is available here: https://www.acrobaticarts.com/blog/ep-38-golden-buzzer-from-the-studio-to-the-stage-with-jill-ford About Jill Jill was originally from Regina, Saskatchewan where she danced competitively in the areas of ballet, jazz, tap, acrobatics and baton twirling for 17 years. She went on to teaching dance, baton and acrobatics in her home city and now resides in Edmonton, Alberta where she has opened her own studio specializing in Acrobatics and Baton Twirling. She completed her bachelor of Education (k-5) at the University of Regina which has furthered her expertise as an acrobatic and dance teacher. Jill has travelled the world as an athlete and coach representing Canada at 8 World Baton Twirling Championships and now continually is committed to keeping young children involved in the areas of acrobatics, dance and baton twirling. She is very happy and honoured to be part of the Acrobatic Arts staff and loves sharing her passion and knowledge with students and teachers! Jill's credentials include: Bachelor of Education, Canadian Dance Teachers Association Certified Teacher, Canadian Baton Twirling Association Level 2 Coach, Inductee of the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame. Listen to other episodes with Jill Ford: Ep. 44 More Than You Think: The Benefits of Acro Exams with Jill Ford: https://youtu.be/Rh1gw-9674IEp. 68 Top 3 Tips for Front Aerials with Jill Ford: https://youtu.be/GvzYonPFHH8Ep. 86 Breaking Down the Handstand Forward Roll: Strategies with Jill Ford: https://youtu.be/xSAcCMtASpc If you'd like more amazing content more tips and ideas check out our Acrobatic Arts Channel on YouTube. Subscribe Now! Connect with Acrobatic Arts on your favourite social media platform: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acrobaticarts/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Acroarts Twitter: https://twitter.com/acrobatic_arts/ Learn more and register for our programs at AcrobaticArts.com
Transform My Dance Studio – The Podcast For Dance Studio Owners
Do you find yourself only focusing on marketing when enrollment drops? If so, you're not alone. In this episode of the Transform My Dance Studio Podcast, Lisa DeMaio sits down with marketing expert and former studio owner Maureen Craig of Creative Branding Studio. After owning a dance studio for 10 years, Maureen now helps studio owners simplify their marketing, build stronger visibility, and create systems that support enrollment all year long. Together, they unpack one of the biggest challenges facing studio owners today: staying consistent with marketing when you're already wearing a hundred different hats. From social media and email marketing to content calendars and planning systems, Maureen shares practical strategies to help studio owners stop reacting to enrollment dips and start building sustainable visibility in their communities. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by marketing, struggled to post consistently, or wondered how successful studios seem to stay top-of-mind year-round, this episode will give you a practical roadmap for creating marketing habits that support predictable enrollment and long-term growth. What You'll Learn: • Why marketing should be treated like a marathon, not a sprint • The "vitamins for your business" mindset every studio owner needs • How consistency impacts visibility and enrollment • The Rule of Seven and why repetition matters in marketing • Ways to become the studio everyone recommends in your community • Why email marketing is still one of the most valuable tools available • How to create and use a content calendar effectively • Strategies for building a content bank during slower seasons • How to market your studio without feeling salesy • Why viewing your marketing through a parent's eyes changes everything • The connection between visibility, stability, and predictable enrollment Check out Creative Branding Studio and the Dance Content Club at creativebrandingstudio.com Join our growing community of people just like you inside our free Facebook group. Click here to join! Explore our partners: Try our Daily Decision Compass - dsoa.com/compass Sign up for Studio Sync - dsoa.com/syncmembership Follow The Dance Studio Owners Association: Instagram: @dancestudioownersassociation | TikTok: @dsoaofficial | Facebook: @dancestudioownersassociation
The dance industry is changing faster than ever. With advances in AI, automation and technology transforming the way businesses operate, what will successful dance schools look like in five years' time?In this solo episode, Deborah shares her predictions for the future of dance studio ownership and highlights the key areas studio owners should be focusing on right now to stay ahead of the curve.From automated systems and AI-powered marketing to building an unbeatable reputation and improving student retention, this episode explores the trends that could define the next generation of thriving dance schools.Deborah also discusses why, despite rapid technological change, the future remains incredibly bright for dance studios as parents increasingly seek meaningful, real-world experiences for their children away from screens.Book an evolution call with Deborah https://go.dancebusinesslab.com/dance-school-success-planTo find out more about Dance Business Lab and work with Deborah head to https://dancebusinesslab.comTo find out more about working with Deborah through her exclusive Dance Business Lab membership programs follow the links below.Sparks membership - https://dancebusinesslab.com/memberships/sparks Ignite membership - https://dancebusinesslab.com/memberships/ignite Illuminate membership - https://dancebusinesslab.com/memberships/illuminateIf you love the show and you would like to support then why not buy Deborah a coffee simply head to http://buymeacoffee.com/DeborahLThis episode is sponsored by Dance Studio Marketing.You can find out more about Dance Studio Marketing and how you can work with Sally to supercharge your dance business at https://dancebusinesssolutions.com/social-media-for-dance-businesses/This podcast is produced by Creative Content Studio
Welcome to your one minute masterclass! To get the latest episodes first, subscribe to the DiscoverDance mailing list: https://discoverdance.us18.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=9d0eb3d3536d1544ab2f7979c&id=221ecffc19&fbclid=IwAR3nrjIxWTLLEb65jNpntPxm6EMlNqhuZNanQgSK51ZfXjsiFY2z4BAEGMo Enjoy~ Andrea
Transform My Dance Studio – The Podcast For Dance Studio Owners
One of the most important skills a studio owner can develop is knowing when to say no. In this episode, Inner Circle Studio Growth Coach Elisa Finney shares how defining a clear brand mission and set of values transformed the way she runs her studio, builds partnerships, and makes business decisions. From costumes and choreography to sponsorships and strategic partnerships, Elisa explains how a strong brand becomes a decision-making filter that helps you protect your reputation, attract the right families, and create consistency across every aspect of your business. If you've ever struggled with setting boundaries, evaluating opportunities, or staying true to your vision, this episode will give you practical exercises and real-world examples to help you strengthen your brand and make decisions with confidence. What You'll Learn Why strong brands require strong boundaries How to use your brand as a decision-making filter What studio owners should say no to How Elisa evaluates business partnerships The role brand values play in programming decisions Why consistency builds trust and credibility How to identify brands that align with your mission Ways strategic partnerships can elevate your studio The exercise Elisa used to define her brand How greater brand clarity leads to better business decisions Alisa Finney is an Inner Circle Studio Growth Coach and the Director of the Melbourne Ballet Company in Australia. She leads both a professional touring ballet company and a thriving dance studio serving students from age two through eighty-nine. Elisa is known for her expertise in branding, strategic partnerships, leadership, and building mission-driven dance organizations that stand out in their communities. Explore our partners Get ahead of next season with Limelight Teamwear. Visit limelightteamwear.com to learn more Try our Daily Decision Compass - dsoa.com/compass Sign up for Studio Sync - dsoa.com/syncmembershi Join our growing community of people just like you inside our free Facebook group. Click here to join! Follow The Dance Studio Owners Association: Instagram: @dancestudioownersassociation | TikTok: @dsoaofficial | Facebook: @dancestudioownersassociation
Physiotherapist Tim Buckley returns in this Spotlight Series episode to break down the most common dance injuries, how to spot the difference between normal soreness and actual injury, and why consistent training matters more than you think. From ankle sprains to shoulder issues, he explains what shows up most in different disciplines and shares prevention strategies that go beyond just "warm up better." If you've ever wondered when soreness crosses into injury territory, this one's for you. A full transcript of the podcast is available here: https://www.acrobaticarts.com/blog/ep-135-spotlight-series-common-dance-injuries-with-tim-buckley About Tim Tim Buckley is a Physiotherapist from Melbourne, Australia. He has worked exclusively with elite ballet dancers, circus artists and orchestral musicians during his 19 year career and has spoken twice at IADMS conferences in Australia and the USA.He was one of two full time physios with The Australian Ballet from 2006-2008 and toured Australia, China, England and France. He joined Cirque du Soleil in 2009 and toured Japan, South America and North America with ‘Corteo' and ‘Quidam', before settling in Montréal to work at Cirque's international headquarters as the Supervisor of Performance Medicine.Tim then toured again as the Head Physiotherapist on Cirque du Soleil's production, ‘Kurios – Cabinet of Curiosities' in 2014-15, before moving back to Melbourne in 2016. After another year at The Australian Ballet and completing a Masters of Sports Physiotherapy, Tim re-joined Cirque du Soleil where he worked as a ‘fly-in' Head Physiotherapist on several touring shows including Amaluna, Volta, Crystal and Twas The Night Before, as well as in Montreal on various creation projects.Tim is currently the Senior Advisor of Performance Medicine Operations for Cirque du Soleil, providing clinical support to the physical therapy teams on Cirque's global touring shows. Tim is a consultant Physiotherapist for Acrobatic Arts Inc, providing input on the continuing development of their syllabus and programs.Tim also co-owns The Academy, a circus training center in London Ontario, with his wife Meaghan Wegg.www.theacademycircus.comFacebook: The Academy CircusInstagram: @theacademycircus Previous Acrobatic Arts Podcast Episodes: Ep 7 Acrobatic Arts Australia, New Zealand and Asia Division Managers Meaghan Wegg and Tim Buckley - https://youtu.be/_npmTPXgEtU Ep Ep 28 Physiotherapist Tim Buckley - Dance Injuries, Pt 1 - https://youtu.be/IsaiS8OmebIEp 29 Physiotherapist Tim Buckley - Listener Questions, Pt 2 - https://youtu.be/e9OPbP9LhXgEp 71 Student vs Professional Training with Tim Buckley & Meaghan Wegg - https://youtu.be/C4nuWxfBrTo Connect with Acrobatic Arts on your favourite social media platform: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acrobaticarts/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Acroarts Twitter: https://twitter.com/acrobatic_arts/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AcrobaticartsCa Learn more and register for our programs at AcrobaticArts.com
Learn the best ways to keep clients coming back from Caroline Plambeck and Connor McGarry in Episode 734: 7 Client Retention Strategies Every Studio Owner Should Know. Extend the honeymoon phase: nurture members through a 90-day journey Embrace the loyalty loop: ensure the client journey never ends Rescue lost sheep: proactively reconnect with members before they disappear for good Reignite dormant demand: win back expired intros and canceled members Cultivate a third space: foster community, belonging and consistency Retention is your most predictable path to revenue you can count on. Maximize it.
What makes a back tuck clean? When is a dancer really ready? And why does the technique matter more than just getting over? Leah Holliday returns to break down two of acro's most sought-after skills: the back tuck and back layout. This conversation goes beyond the mechanics. We talk about the mental blocks that stop progress, the drills teachers skip (and shouldn't), the spotting mistakes that compromise safety, and what it actually looks like when these skills are done right. If you've ever felt pressure to push a student faster than they're ready, or wondered why some dancers can do all the drills but can't commit to the skill, this episode will give you clarity and a path forward. A full transcript of the podcast is available here: https://www.acrobaticarts.com/blog/ep-136-back-tucks-back-layouts-with-leah-holliday About Leah Leah has been teaching acro and dance for over 25 years. She was born and raised in Regina, SK and studied dance and baton twirling at the Martin School of Dance. Not only was she known as a well accomplished dancer but she represented Canada in Baton Twirling at numerous World Championships as a soloist and team member. Leah has been with Acrobatic Arts for 5 years. She is a course conductor and examiner. Leah teaches dance and acro in Calgary, AB and she teachers Master Classes for Acrobatic Arts. Previous episodes with Leah Holliday: Ep 88 How to Spot Side Aerials with Leah Holliday - https://youtu.be/FznbWVjQUQM Ep 111 Teaching the Heli Tips Every Teacher Needs with Leah Holliday - https://youtu.be/bDN7cLJ6_x8 If you'd like more amazing content more tips and ideas check out our Acrobatic Arts Channel on YouTube. Subscribe Now! Connect with Acrobatic Arts on your favourite social media platform: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acrobaticarts/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Acroarts Twitter: https://twitter.com/acrobatic_arts/ Learn more and register for our programs at AcrobaticArts.com
What We Cover In This Episode: What's really happening when a client says "I can't commit to a membership" [4:08] How the pressure of paying for a membership creates consistency [8:15] Why class packs shouldn't be on your public menu, but can still work as a sales tool in certain circumstances [9:39] The importance of positioning memberships as a structured plan to achieve an objective [20:05] Why you shouldn't base your pricing decisions on your competitors' menus [21:57] Quotes: "This idea of wanting to cater to people who enjoy using the 5-pack? Those people that buy the 5-pack are not keeping you in business. That is just the bottom line: you can't support people that aren't going to keep you in business." [Nick 13:02] "You're not selling a bundle of classes at a wholesale price, you are selling a structured plan to achieve an objective. You could be as loosey-goosey as a person as you want, but the reality is you're not signing up for a fitness and wellness routine if you don't expect an outcome; you're not just going for the thrill of it." [Nick, 20:17] "I'm always leaning towards timeless decision making. The reality is to get fitness and wellness results you need to have a consistent routine...that will never go away so I would always make decisions based on that." [NIck, 23:42] LINKS: Episode 339: Your Pricing Menu Is Killing Retention Book a Call with the fitDEGREE Team Learn More About All of Our Partners (Including LoopSpark & LezVU) and Get Exclusive Offers Visit the fitDEGREE Knowledge Base Send Megan Your Playlist or Discuss the Podcast Here! fitDEGREE's Business Portal support@fitDEGREE.com https://www.instagram.com/fitdegree/ https://www.instagram.com/fitspot_guru/ https://www.fitdegree.com/blog https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChJ5rK6zWPXjbxtUQx3ys9Q https://www.tiktok.com/@megan_fitdegree
Whether you have binged the show Dance Moms or maybe just have heard of it, today's interview with Cathy Nesbitt-Stein will prove to be entertaining! Cathy grew up a dancer and became a studio owner and dance mom to her own daughter, before joining the TV show. In this episode we chat with her on several different elements of her dance mom journey. About Cathy:Cathy Nesbitt-Stein is the energetic, quick witted owner of Candy Apple's Dance center and an original cast member of Dance Moms. She has owned and operated CADC since 1988 and continues to be a leader in quality and technical dancers in her region.Links:Cathy on InstagramCandy Apples Dance CenterEPISODE SPONSORSDream Duffel, the original rolling duffel with a built in garment rack! Choose from multiple sizes, colors, patterns, & styles!www.dreamduffel.comApolla Performance Compression Socks, Made by dancers for dancers! Increase stability and support, while reducing pain and fatigue. www.apollaperformance.comRATE & REVIEWRate & Review Apple Podcast Rate on Spotify SOCIALS Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twodancemomspodcast/
What does it actually look like to grow beyond food photography - and build something bigger, more scalable, and future-proof?In this episode, we're sitting down with Wiktoria Gralka, co-founder of Marrick Mediahouse, to talk about her journey from food photographer to running a full-service commercial studio.We dive into the realities of expanding your services, repositioning your brand, working as a creative duo, and navigating the role of AI in modern photography.If you've ever felt the pull to evolve your business but weren't sure how to make that shift, this conversation will open up a whole new perspective.Focus & Flourish, Photography Business Talk is a podcast for food photographers and creative entrepreneurs who want to build structured, sustainable, and profitable businesses. Hosted by Marta Grabowska and Linda Hermans, the show combines real-life experiences with practical strategies around marketing, pricing, workflows, and mindset - helping creatives step into their CEO role and grow with clarity and confidence.Where you'll find Wiktoria:https://marrick.orghttps://www.instagram.com/wiktoriagralka/https://marrick.org/educationFollow Focus & Flourish on Instagram
#320 Are you managing your gym or studio's finances effectively? In this bite-sized episode, Billy Hofacker introduces a powerful tool—the 13-week cash flow forecast—that can transform your decision-making and help prevent cash shortages, even during unpredictable times. In this episode: Why focusing solely on profit and loss statements isn't enough for business health The importance of forward-looking financial planning for growth and stability How to track cash movements accurately, including inflows and outflows The practical steps to create your own simple weekly cash flow forecast Common mistakes to avoid, such as over-complicating your data or relying solely on bank balances Real-life example of how poor cash flow management can undermine growth despite record sales Types of inflows and outflows to include, like refunds, owner contributions, debt payments, and distributions How to adjust your forecast for better cash management and strategic planning Resources & Links: 13 Week Cash Flow Forecast Google Sheet Template (reach out for yours at no charge) Billy Hofacker on LinkedIn Connect with Billy Hofacker: Instagram Email: Billy@FitProfitSolutions.com
Most studio owners are doing one of two things with AI right now. Ignoring it. Or trying to automate everything and breaking their business. Both will lose. There's a third path - and it takes 45 minutes to set up. Try Gerry - our free AI sales roleplay bot → https://bit.ly/p-gerry-sales-call-bot Get a free 15-minute studio check-up → https://bit.ly/p-your-studio-check-up Claude Code found $2.3 million of hidden money in our business in five minutes. Stuff we'd been chasing for two years. Four people couldn't crack it. AI did it in five. But the first place most studio owners go with AI is sales. That's the one thing you should never automate. In this episode, Doza and Geronimo Head Coach Ryan walk you through the three Northstar principles that stop you breaking your business with AI - and the three workflows every studio owner can have running by Friday. Try Gerry - practice your sales script with our free AI roleplay bot → https://bit.ly/p-gerry-sales-call-bot In this episode, you'll learn: — The 3 Northstar principles that stop you breaking your business with AI — Why you should never automate sales (and what happens if you do) — Why "departments are dead" and workflows are replacing them — Workflow 1: How to build an email marketing project that sounds like you — Why Claude beats ChatGPT for gym owners (and the exact stack to switch to) — Workflow 2: How to turn voice recordings into team playbooks in minutes — Workflow 3: The HR project that scripts hard team conversations for you — Why you're now the Chief Sprinkle Officer in your own business — The "AI Friday" rule that stops you wasting your week down the rabbit hole — How to use AI in a Pilates studio, yoga studio or gym without breaking what's already working If you've been ignoring AI - or breaking your business trying to use it… Listen now. Tools mentioned in this episode: — Claude → https://claude.ai — Claude Code → https://claude.com/code — Wispr Flow → https://wisprflow.ai Chapters 00:00:00 Claude Code found $2.3M in 5 minutes 00:01:32 The trap most studio owners are walking into 00:02:51 Northstar 1 — Don't start with AI, start with workflows 00:03:33 Northstar 2 — Skin to skin (human in the loop) 00:04:09 Why you should never automate sales 00:06:04 Northstar 3 — You're still the operator (the Iron Man rule) 00:07:49 Workflow 1 — Email marketing project 00:10:39 Wispr Flow — the tool that changes everything 00:14:03 Why most studios get email dead wrong 00:15:36 Workflow 2 — Playbook builder 00:17:51 You're the Chief Sprinkle Officer now 00:19:38 Workflow 3 — HR project (the whisper in your pocket) 00:22:48 The "AI Friday" rule 00:23:42 Where to start on Monday
Growth in the Pilates industry is often seen as a natural progression.You start as a client.At some point, you begin teaching.And for some, that eventually leads to running a studio.But those transitions are not automatic.In this episode of The Pilates Exchange, we take a closer look at what actually changes at each stage — and what is required to move forward in a meaningful way.We talk about the shift from being responsible for your own body to being responsible for other people, and how that alone requires a different level of awareness, communication, and decision-making.We also explore what happens when you move from teaching into leadership. Because running a studio is not simply an extension of being a good teacher. It involves a different set of skills, a different relationship to responsibility, and a much broader perspective on what it means to support others.This is not a conversation about titles or hierarchy.It is about understanding the qualities that allow someone to grow — and where that growth often becomes more challenging than expected.If you are somewhere along this path, whether you are considering teacher training, developing your teaching, or thinking about building something of your own, this episode offers a more honest look at what that progression actually involves.Season Sponsor:OfferingTree is an all-in-one business management platform built for boutique pilates and fitness studios. Website, booking, payments, email marketing, and on-demand content — all in one place. Built for studio owners who want to spend less time on admin and more time doing what they love. Book a demo or start your free trial → offeringtree.com/pilatesexchange Connect with us: hannah@pilates-studio-nuernberg.comPerformance Fit Pilates: https://www.pilates-studio-nuernberg.comPerformance Fit Pilates on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/performance_fit_pilatesPerformance Fit Pilates on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDvzuZtali0B3uWzVcwOH1QHannah Teutscher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-teutscher/
What We Cover In This Episode: Why new members disappear after the first month and how to fix your habit formation strategy [5:55] What's really happening when members say that they genuinely love your classes but still fail to make them a part of their lifestyle [9:57] How to begin moving members from "occasional decisions" to predictable routines using human connection [12:16] The truth about community events and why you should never charge your members for them [13:47] The biggest mistakes owners make with retention and the danger of neglecting the "In Real Life" onboarding moment [18:05] Quotes: "The first 30 days are where habits form. If a new member doesn't establish a consistent attendance pattern early, the likelihood of long-term retention drops significantly." [Nick, 6:17] "Retention is less about how much someone likes the workout and more about whether it becomes a part of their lifestyle. So, studios that build strong attendance habits tend to see stronger retention." [Nick, 10:22] "So just know that if you're not building that community, if you are not making attempts at proper retention and proper feel-good vibes when you are in the studio, especially if you don't have that much competition, when [the time] comes and it will come, they are out like I was." [Megan, 20:39] LINKS: Book a Call with the fitDEGREE Team Learn More About All of Our Partners (Including LoopSpark & LezVU) and Get Exclusive Offers Visit the fitDEGREE Knowledge Base Send Megan Your Playlist or Discuss the Podcast Here! fitDEGREE's Business Portal support@fitDEGREE.com https://www.instagram.com/fitdegree/ https://www.instagram.com/fitspot_guru/ https://www.fitdegree.com/blog https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChJ5rK6zWPXjbxtUQx3ys9Q https://www.tiktok.com/@megan_fitdegree
In this episode of The Pilates Business Podcast, host Seran Glanfield sits down with finance expert Danielle Hayden to unpack the hidden money mistakes that many boutique fitness studio owners make without even realizing it. From relying on a bank balance to judge business health to overlooking debt, profit margins, and cash flow, this conversation shines a light on the financial red flags that can quietly undermine a growing studio. Seran and Danielle explore what Pilates studio owners, yoga studio owners, and barre studio owners really need to understand about their numbers so they can make smarter decisions, grow a more profitable boutique fitness business, and avoid costly mistakes that lead to stress, burnout, and financial uncertainty.To learn more about Kickstart Accounting go here >> https://kickstartaccountinginc.com/And get the healthy numbers info here https://kickstartaccountinginc.com/healthyGot a question for Seran? Add it here
Transform My Dance Studio – The Podcast For Dance Studio Owners
What if your studio's biggest growth lever isn't marketing, pricing, or even your curriculum, but your energy? In this episode, Olivia sits down with Erin King, energy expert, entrepreneur, and founder of The Energy Institute. After building and selling multiple companies and experiencing burnout firsthand, Erin now helps leaders optimize energy for performance, clarity, and sustainable success. This conversation dives deep into how energy is the real driver of leadership, culture, and business growth. Erin shares practical tools to help studio owners reclaim their energy, make better decisions, and lead with clarity. From tackling "heavy" tasks first to redefining success and separating identity from business, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you grow without burning out. What You'll Learn: Why energy outperforms expertise in today's business landscape How to stop feeling drained—even when you're "doing everything right" The "heavy before light" rule for daily productivity How unresolved decisions are secretly draining your energy A simple exercise to separate who you are from what you do How your energy directly impacts your team, students, and retention Why avoiding hard conversations is costing you more than you think How to identify and operate in your "zone of genius" Erin King is a three-time entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and energy management expert who helps business owners lead with clarity, improve decision-making, and avoid burnout. After building and selling multiple companies, she now teaches practical strategies to optimize energy, strengthen team culture, and operate in your zone of genius. Her research with over 10,000 people has led to proven frameworks for sustainable growth, productivity, and long-term success. Join our growing community of people just like you inside our free Facebook group. Click here to join! Watch our video episodes and subscribe on YouTube here. Explore our partners: Get your 3-Step International Dance Day Campaign: dsoa.com/international-dance-day/ Try the Studio Owner Daily Decision Compass FREE for 7 days: dsoa.com/compass Follow The Dance Studio Owners Association: Instagram: @dancestudioownersassociation | TikTok: @dsoaofficial | Facebook: @dancestudioownersassociation Follow Olivia Mode-Cater: Instagram: @olivia.modecater | TikTok: @olivia.modecater
Gordon Bahary Gordon Bahary is a multi-platinum recording artist, songwriter, composer and producer. As one of the early synthesizer pioneers, Bahary got his start at the age of 15 working with Stevie Wonder as his synthesizer programmer in 1975. They collaborated on his album “The Secret Life of Plants.” Bahary's blockbuster hip-hop/R&B hit “Electric Kingdom” reached number 7 on Billboard. Other collaborations include synthesizer programming for Herbie Hancock, producing jazz legend Ramsey Lewis and actor/singer Raven Symone, as well as Grammy recipients: soprano, Hila Plitmann and composer, Richard Danielpour. He is currently focusing on scoring for TV and film, and his electronic music projects. He's a very talented and funny guy. Happy to call him a friend.
Transform My Dance Studio – The Podcast For Dance Studio Owners
Your studio is growing… your students are growing… your team is growing… So why does your brand suddenly feel off? In this empowering solo episode of the Transform My Dance Studio Podcast, Olivia Mode-Cater breaks down a moment every growing studio owner hits—but few know how to fix: when your business evolves, but your messaging doesn't keep up. If you've ever looked at your social media, your website, or your team's communication and thought "this doesn't feel like us anymore"—this episode is your wake-up call. Olivia dives deep into what branding actually is (hint: it's not your logo), why delegation often creates brand inconsistency, and the simple system she used to realign her messaging, scale her team, and build trust with the right customers. This episode will challenge you to step into your role as CEO and take ownership of the one thing that drives trust, growth, and long-term success: your brand. You'll hear: Why branding is a feeling, not just visuals or design The identity shift that happens as your studio grows Why delegating marketing often creates brand misalignment The real reason your messaging isn't attracting the right families How inconsistent messaging breaks trust (and slows growth) The exact system Olivia uses to align her team's messaging How to define your customer avatar beyond surface-level insights Why "generic" marketing will never cut through the noise How to create scalable brand consistency across your business The CEO-level responsibility most studio owners avoid If your studio is growing but your messaging isn't keeping up, this episode will show you exactly how to realign, refocus, and scale with clarity. Join our growing community of people just like you inside our free Facebook group. Click here to join! Watch our video episodes and subscribe on YouTube here. Explore our partners: Get your 3-Step International Dance Day Campaign: dsoa.com/international-dance-day/ Sign up for Studio Sync - dsoa.com/syncmembership Try Dance Photo Pro - dancephotopro.com Try Studio Pro FREE for 30 Days - gostudiopro.com/transform Follow The Dance Studio Owners Association: Instagram: @dancestudioownersassociation | TikTok: @dsoaofficial | Facebook: @dancestudioownersassociation Follow Olivia Mode-Cater: Instagram: @olivia.modecater | TikTok: @olivia.modecater
What's it really like to work with Christa Gurka?In this episode of the Female emPOWERED Podcast, Christa Gurka steps out of her comfort zone and lets the results speak for themselves. Instead of teaching a strategy or business framework, Christa shares real testimonials from women inside the Fit Biz community — Pilates studio owners, physical therapists, and wellness entrepreneurs who are building profitable, sustainable businesses.You'll hear directly from business owners who have: ✔ Doubled their revenue ✔ Built teams and stepped out of full-time treatment ✔ Increased their salaries while working fewer hours ✔ Installed systems that allow them to take real vacations ✔ Built profitable PT practices, Pilates studios, and wellness businessesThese women share the real impact of coaching, mentorship, and community — and how having the right framework, accountability, and support helped them grow as CEOs.If you've ever wondered: • What does business coaching actually do for a studio owner? • How do boutique fitness and PT practice owners scale sustainably? • Is mentorship worth the investment for wellness entrepreneurs?This episode gives you the answer straight from the women doing the work.What You'll Learn in This Episode• How boutique fitness and wellness owners are scaling their businesses • Why systems and structure matter more than “marketing tricks” • How studio owners transition from practitioner to CEO • The role of mentorship and community in business growth • Real revenue growth stories from Pilates, PT, and wellness businessesWho This Episode Is ForThis episode is perfect for:• Pilates studio owners • Physical therapy clinic owners • Boutique fitness studio owners • Wellness entrepreneurs • Female business owners in the health and fitness industry • Anyone looking to build a profitable and sustainable wellness businessJoin the Fit Biz CommunityIf you're ready to create more structure, profitability, and freedom in your business, start here:
Text me Your email for my Booking LinkThings have changed for the Yoga Studio owner.After spending time at HFA, sitting in sessions, listening to operators, consultants, and studio owners from all over… one thing became very clear:What used to work… doesn't work the same way anymore.In this episode, I break down what's actually happening in the industry right now—and how it directly impacts your Yoga Studio, your growth, and your day-to-day experience as an owner.This isn't theory.This is what's happening on the ground.If your Yoga Studio feels harder than it used to… if you're doing all the things but not seeing the same results… this episode is going to hit.We get into why competition has quietly changed the game for every Yoga Studio, why relying only on “being good” isn't enough anymore, and how the studios that are growing are thinking differently about marketing, systems, and community.I also break down one of the simplest but most powerful shifts I heard at HFA—how to think about your marketing as both “fishing nets” and “fishing poles”—and why most Yoga Studios are missing half the equation.We talk about referrals (and why your Yoga Studio doesn't actually have a referral problem), what's really going wrong with lead follow-up inside studios, and how a lack of structure—not effort—is holding a lot of owners back.There's also a real conversation here around team, burnout, and what role you need to play as the owner of your Yoga Studio right now.Because whether you like it or not… your presence still matters more than anything.And finally, we bring it back to what actually moves the needle:- Your team.- Your tech.- Your training.If one of those is off, your Yoga Studio feels it.This episode is about getting honest, getting clear, and tightening up what actually drives growth in your Yoga Studio—without overcomplicating it.If you're building a community Yoga Studio, trying to grow one, or just trying to get things back under control… this one's for you.Book a free strategy call with Michael:www.yogabizchamp.com/bookGet 50% off your first three months of Offering Tree, OR 15% off an entire year with my Exclusive Discount Link Offeringtree.com/yogabizchamppodcast Book a call with Mitch McGinley from the Boutique Fitness Brokers with my link. BOOK WITH MITCH HERE FREE RESOURCES AND BOOK A CHAT LINKhttps://yogabizchamp.link/podlink
Ever wonder why certain skills are in the Acrobatic Arts syllabus? In this episode, Sarah walks through two of them -- the cartwheel rebound and the roundoff -- and breaks down not just how to teach them, but why they're there in the first place. Spoiler: the cartwheel rebound isn't a roundoff progression. And understanding that changes how you teach it.About Sarah Reis In her early development Sarah split her time between gymnastics and dance then later got into circus work and competitive rock climbing. The combination of these skills led her to a performance career as a stunt double in the thriving Vancouver film scene. While enjoying a professional performance career she worked on various projects including cruiseship contracts, print, television, film and nightlife productions. Sarah has always felt it was important to continue her education and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Kinesiology in 2006. After graduation Sarah started work as an artistic sport rehabilitation specialist in a Physiotherapy clinic during the day while teaching dance in the evening. At the clinic Sarah primarily designed return to training programs for injured artistic athletes. Sarah is a certified teacher in acrobatics through the Canadian Dance Teachers Association (CDTA) and is a level three coach in women's artistic gymnastics with the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP). Sarah holds longstanding certificates with many established dance teacher, Pilates and fitness related organizations. Sarah eventually returned to school to study contemporary dance at Simon Fraser University and completed a second degree in Education. Sarah spent some time working in the school district, holding an official teaching license with the BC ministry of Education in the specialty of performing arts and physical education. In 2008 she completed her Master's degree in Human Performance Coaching Sciences from the University of Victoria where she researched in the field of athletic motor development and later developed the curriculum for the International Dance Teaching Standards teacher education program for developing dance educators. Sarah began her doctorate research in Leadership Education but has since switched her focus to Dance Medicine. Within her research Sarah is interested in AcroDance teaching methodology and recently presented at the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science. When not touring as a public speaker, Sarah is the director of a large dance competition and manages a physiotherapy clinic among other small businesses. Sarah has spent the last decade touring worldwide presenting at various universities, dance conventions and conferences and can also be seen live from Los Angeles with CLI Studios. With a strong creative pull Sarah has been choreographing AcroDance lines and productions for more than twenty years and continues to be passionate about student development when she is home and able to teach in her hometown. Module three certified, Sarah is an examiner and course conductor here at Acrobatic Arts. www.allthingsacro.com All Things Acro on Instagram www.danceteachingstandards.com A full transcription of the podcast is available here: https://www.acrobaticarts.com/blog/ep-131-spotlight-series-the-why-behind-the-skill-with-sarah-reis Listen to Sarah's previous episodes: Ep. 12 Tips for Cartwheel Rebounds and Roundoff - Sarah Calvert Ep. 42 Mats for AcroDance Training with Sarah Reis Ep. 53 Life Lessons in Dance with Sarah Reis Ep. 54 Life Lessons in Dance with Sarah Reis, Pt 2 Ep. 98 Balancing Competition and Education in Dance with Sarah Reis Ep. 103 Thoracic Mobility: The Key to a Flexible Spine with Sarah Reis Ep. 121 All Things Acro with Sarah Reis If you'd like more amazing content more tips and ideas check out our Acrobatic Arts Channel on YouTube. Subscribe Now! Connect with Acrobatic Arts on your favourite social media platform: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acrobaticarts/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Acroarts Twitter: https://twitter.com/acrobatic_arts/ Learn more and register for our programs at AcrobaticArts.com
What We Cover In This Episode: Why studio owners often miscalculate their timeline to profitability and the three levers that actually control your path to break-even [4:20] The one administrative task you should automate today to reduce human error and ensure your new member onboarding is consistent every single time [7:48] How to determine if your platform is truly holding you back or if you're just falling for "shiny object syndrome" [8:56] Why member perks and local partnerships along will never save a business with a weak core experience [13:49] A strategic look at W-2 versus 1099 employment, and how to choose the right model based on your culture, compliance needs, and the long-term role you want your team to play [17:03] Quotes: "Boring has such a negative connotation to it and boring is just a beautiful, beautiful world, because when you are bored, you can think.You can come up with new ideas and you can innovate." [Nick, 3:19] "The purpose of automation is not to remove responsibility; it is to remove repetition. The right automation reduces human error and saves hours every single week." [Nick, 7:56] "Every one of these questions points back to the same principle; strong systems create predictable outcomes." [Nick, 20:23] LINKS: Michael Jay Episodes 197, 199, 201 & 203 with The Sales Arm Book a Call with the fitDEGREE Team Learn More About All of Our Partners (Including LoopSpark & LezVU) and Get Exclusive Offers Visit the fitDEGREE Knowledge Base Send Megan Your Playlist or Discuss the Podcast Here! fitDEGREE's Business Portal support@fitDEGREE.com https://www.instagram.com/fitdegree/ https://www.instagram.com/fitspot_guru/ https://www.fitdegree.com/blog https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChJ5rK6zWPXjbxtUQx3ys9Q https://www.tiktok.com/@megan_fitdegree
Has your child ever experienced plateaus or feelings of complacency? Do they want to grow but feel stuck? In this episode we speak with Studio Owner, Kelsay Stephensen and competition company director, Emma Smith of Trademark Dance Academy to discuss the how and why behind these issues and what might be done to help our dancers when they experience them. To learn more about Kelsay and Emma, their studio Trademark Dance Academy, and watch their podcast, The Studio Rats, click the links below! KELSEY & EMMAStudio Rats Podcast on YoutubeTrademarkdance.com Instagram: Trademark Dance AcademyStudio Rats PodcastEPISODE SPONSORSDream Duffel, the original rolling duffel with a built in garment rack! Choose from multiple sizes, colors, patterns, & styles!www.dreamduffel.comApolla Performance Compression Socks, Made by dancers for dancers! Increase stability and support, while reducing pain and fatigue. www.apollaperformance.comRATE & REVIEWRate & Review Apple Podcast Rate on Spotify SOCIALS Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twodancemomspodcast/
Transform My Dance Studio – The Podcast For Dance Studio Owners
Are you running your recital strategically… or just hoping it works out? For many dance studios, recital is the single biggest cash infusion of the year, yet most studio owners never actually plan it that way. In this episode of the Transform My Dance Studio Podcast, Olivia Mode-Cater sits down with DSOA Inner Circle finance coach Paige Sayegh, a studio owner of 32 years who runs a thriving 700-student studio in New Jersey. Through her work coaching studio owners around the world, Paige has reviewed hundreds of P&Ls and helped studios uncover hidden revenue opportunities they didn't even realize existed. Together, Olivia and Paige break down how studio owners can transform recital from a stressful production into a strategic, predictable, revenue-generating part of the business. From optimizing ticket pricing and merchandise to thinking intentionally about audience spending and future enrollment opportunities, this conversation reveals how small changes can add thousands in revenue, without adding more stress. If recital currently feels like chaos, guesswork, or simply a way to survive the summer months, this episode will challenge you to rethink how your recital can support the long-term stability and growth of your studio. What you'll learn Why most studios approach recital revenue the wrong way How small pricing tweaks can add thousands to your recital profit The hidden audiences at your recital who are ready to spend How to calculate average revenue per student at recital Why ticket pricing, bundles, and upsells matter more than you think How to use recital to promote summer camps and future classes Why recital can be your biggest retention and marketing event The simple financial benchmarks studio owners should know How to reverse engineer your recital revenue goals Why studio owners should decide in advance what recital money is for How profitable studios create generosity, stability, and freedom The post-recital analysis every studio should do If you're ready to stop guessing your recital numbers and start using recital as a strategic tool to strengthen your studio's finances, this episode is packed with practical ideas you can apply right away. Join our growing community of people just like you inside our free Facebook group. Click here to join! Watch our video episodes and subscribe on YouTube here. Follow The Dance Studio Owners Association: Instagram: @dancestudioownersassociation | TikTok: @dsoaofficial | Facebook: @dancestudioownersassociation Follow Olivia Mode-Cater: Instagram: @olivia.modecater | TikTok: @olivia.modecater
Robin Snyder, a dedicated dance educator and studio owner, to discuss the transformative power of dance and its role in shaping disciplined, creative individuals. The conversation delves into Robin's journey from high school dancer to passionate dance educator and studio owner. She shares candidly about her realization that while she loves dance, her true calling lies in nurturing others within that realm, emphasizing the importance of tradition, discipline, and ceremony in ballet education.Robin also explores the complexity of nurturing stars in the performing arts, identifying students who stand out due to their dedication, respect, and ability to absorb corrections. The episode touches on key themes such as the necessity of loving the process over the mere performance and the invaluable life skills acquired through dance training. Gutierrez and Robbins further discuss the challenges of instructing in contemporary times, noting the significance of supporting both students and parents in understanding the demands and rewards of the performing arts.Key Takeaways:Emphasizing tradition and discipline in dance education helps build character and life skills in students.Success in dance and life requires loving the process, not just the performance.Identifying 'stars' involves recognizing students who show eagerness, respect, and a capacity to internalize lessons.The arts provide invaluable experiences for dealing with rejection and persistence, crucial for life's challenges.Engaging parents in the process can enhance children's success and understanding in performing arts education.Notable Quotes:"I love dance, but I don't love to dance. And that's something I've realized is okay for me.""Our students need to learn the joy in the everyday doing of the thing, not just the performance.""The honor of ballet tradition offers something our children really benefit from in today's casual culture.""Students who show up eager to learn and respectfully interact are often those who succeed, in dance and in life.""Parents can play a vital part by resisting the urge to shield their kids from disappointment and instead coach them through it."Connect with Robin Snyder:WebsiteInstagramFacebookConnect with Rudy Mawer:LinkedInInstagramFacebookTwitter
Middletown, Ohio is the home of the oldest documented continuously operated stained-glass studio in the United States.Their glass is acquired from all over the world and design techniques date back to the original owners.We'll learn more about the history of the BeauVerre Riordan Studio.The Westcott House was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1906. After interior alterations changed the floor plan in the 1940s the building fell into disrepair and was considered a lost Wright artifact. But in the early 2000s, the house was rescued. And it has now been open for tours and inspiration for more than 20 years.Loom Collective just opened in Clintonville. It's a community center focused on providing connection and touch to those deprived of it.Guests:Linda Moorman, owner, BeauVerre Riordan StudiosMarta Wojcik, executive director/curator of Wescott HouseChristie Holtzclaw, founder, Loom CollectiveIf you have a disability and would like a transcript or other accommodation you can request an alternative format.
Middletown, Ohio is the home of the oldest documented continuously operated stained-glass studio in the United States.Their glass is acquired from all over the world and design techniques date back to the original owners.We'll learn more about the history of the BeauVerre Riordan Studio.The Westcott House was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1906. After interior alterations changed the floor plan in the 1940s the building fell into disrepair and was considered a lost Wright artifact. But in the early 2000s, the house was rescued. And it has now been open for tours and inspiration for more than 20 years.Loom Collective just opened in Clintonville. It's a community center focused on providing connection and touch to those deprived of it.Guests:Linda Moorman, owner, BeauVerre Riordan StudiosMarta Wojcik, executive director/curator of Wescott HouseChristie Holtzclaw, founder, Loom CollectiveIf you have a disability and would like a transcript or other accommodation you can request an alternative format.
Are free trials costing your studio more than they're helping?In this episode of Your Studio Podcast, Chantelle and Michelle unpack one of the most debated strategies in the studio industry: free trials. From retention challenges to marketing conversion and admin overwhelm, they explore why the traditional “free trial” model might actually be slowing your studio's growth.You'll learn:Why free trials can quietly damage retention, classroom culture, and student commitmentHow direct-to-enrolment strategies often outperform trial-based marketing funnelsWhat to do instead if you want stronger conversions, less admin, and more committed studentsIf you've ever felt exhausted chasing trial students who never convert, this conversation will help you rethink your approach and build a more sustainable enrolment model.✨ Ready to attract more committed students to your studio? Apply to work with us here: https://studioevolution.com/apply
Transform My Dance Studio – The Podcast For Dance Studio Owners
Are you running your studio… or is your studio running you? For many dance studio owners, the business becomes more than a job. It becomes identity, purpose, and sometimes pressure that's impossible to escape. When every challenge feels personal and every decision feels heavy, it can be difficult to lead with clarity and confidence. In this powerful conversation, Olivia Mode-Cater sits down with entrepreneur, author, and mindset coach Cara Moeller Poppitt to explore the internal shifts studio owners must make in order to grow their business without losing themselves in the process. Drawing from decades of experience as both a dancer and entrepreneur, Cara shares insights on leadership, perfectionism, people-pleasing, and the emotional patterns that often show up in business ownership. Together, they unpack how studio owners can reclaim their power as CEOs, make difficult decisions with clarity, and create the space necessary for their studios, — and their lives, to thrive. This episode challenges studio owners to look deeper: not just at their systems or strategies, but at the beliefs and habits shaping how they lead. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by the weight of running your studio, struggled with letting go of control, or wondered how to grow without burning out, this conversation will shift the way you think about leadership, success, and the role your business plays in your life. What You'll Learn Why many studio owners attach their identity to their business The hidden cost of people-pleasing in leadership How perfectionism can hold studio owners back The mindset shift from studio owner to CEO Why successful entrepreneurs regularly pivot and realign How your business can reveal personal growth opportunities The importance of creating space for clarity and better decisions Why delegating and letting go is critical for growth How to make hard decisions while protecting your studio culture The leadership habit that helps entrepreneurs stay aligned and energized Cara Moeller Poppitt is an entrepreneur, author, and leadership coach who helps professionals create bold transformation in their businesses and lives. A former dancer and choreographer with over 20 years of experience, she blends mindset coaching, business strategy, and creativity to help leaders unlock their full potential. Cara is the founder of two award-winning companies, host of the Big Freakin' Change Podcast, and the bestselling author of Big Freakin' Change. https://caramoellerpoppitt.com/ Join our growing community of people just like you inside our free Facebook group. Click here to join! Watch our video episodes and subscribe on YouTube here. Follow The Dance Studio Owners Association: Instagram: @dancestudioownersassociation | TikTok: @dsoaofficial | Facebook: @dancestudioownersassociation Follow Olivia Mode-Cater: Instagram: @olivia.modecater | TikTok: @olivia.modecater
Text me Your email for my Booking LinkMany community yoga studio owners reach a point where they feel like they are doing everything.Teaching classes.Answering emails.Posting on social media.Processing refunds.Updating schedules.Managing teachers.Running a community yoga studio requires wearing a lot of hats, especially in the early stages. But as the studio grows, the owner's role needs to evolve too.In this solo episode, Michael Jay shares a simple exercise he uses with community yoga studio owners to help them understand exactly what work is happening inside their business before they hire help.The process starts by documenting every task happening inside the yoga studio for one full week. From there, those tasks are organized into categories like marketing, administration, operations, and community building.Once everything is visible, it becomes much easier to see what the owner should keep doing, what should be delegated, and what tasks could even be outsourced.For many community yoga studio owners, this exercise reveals the exact role the studio needs next — whether that's an assistant manager, an operations administrator, or project-based support.When the right people are handling the right work, the owner can focus on leadership, marketing, and strengthening the community inside the yoga studio.If you're feeling stretched running your community yoga studio, this episode offers a simple framework to bring clarity, build support, and move the business forward.⸻In This EpisodeHow to document everything happening inside your community yoga studio in just one weekWhy most yoga studio owners underestimate how many operational tasks they are actually doingHow to organize studio work into clear business bucketsHow to decide what the community yoga studio owner should keep doingHow to turn your task list into a real job descriptionWhen outsourcing small projects makes more sense than hiringWhy every role in a community yoga studio should help move the business forward⸻“Most community yoga studio owners don't need to work harder. They need clarity on what work actually belongs to them.” - Michael Jay⸻Book a free strategy call with Michaelhttps://www.yogabizchamp.com/bookGet 50% off your first three months of Offering Tree, OR 15% off an entire year with my Exclusive Discount Link Offeringtree.com/yogabizchamppodcast Book a call with Mitch McGinley from the Boutique Fitness Brokers with my link. BOOK WITH MITCH HERE FREE RESOURCES AND BOOK A CHAT LINKhttps://yogabizchamp.link/podlink
On May 15, Columbus resident Robert Alt summited the tallest mountain in the world, Mt. Everest.Since then, his journey has continued. Now he has summited six of the seven highest peaks in the world.A local author is fusing history lessons with ghost stories to create a fun and interesting way to learn Ohio history.Having already written two books in his “Ohio Kids” series and coming out with a third, Logan Lyon is continuing his family tradition of finding new ways of teaching.Middletown, Ohio is the home of the oldest documented continuously operated stained-glass studio in the United States.Their glass is acquired from all over the world and design techniques date back to the original owners.We'll learn more about the history of the BeauVerre Riordan Studio.Guests:Robert Alt, mountaineer/founder, Profound Climbing/president/CEO, The Buckeye InstituteLogan Lyons, author, The Chillicothe GhostsLinda Moorman, owner, BeauVerre Riordan StudiosIf you have a disability and would like a transcript or other accommodation you can request an alternative format.
On May 15, Columbus resident Robert Alt summited the tallest mountain in the world, Mt. Everest.Since then, his journey has continued. Now he has summited six of the seven highest peaks in the world.A local author is fusing history lessons with ghost stories to create a fun and interesting way to learn Ohio history.Having already written two books in his “Ohio Kids” series and coming out with a third, Logan Lyon is continuing his family tradition of finding new ways of teaching.Middletown, Ohio is the home of the oldest documented continuously operated stained-glass studio in the United States.Their glass is acquired from all over the world and design techniques date back to the original owners.We'll learn more about the history of the BeauVerre Riordan Studio.Guests:Robert Alt, mountaineer/founder, Profound Climbing/president/CEO, The Buckeye InstituteLogan Lyons, author, The Chillicothe GhostsLinda Moorman, owner, BeauVerre Riordan StudiosIf you have a disability and would like a transcript or other accommodation you can request an alternative format.
Send us a textIn this episode of The Riley Black Project, John and Crystal sit down with Becky of Get On Board Signs & More for a heartfelt, practical, and surprisingly funny conversation about community, creativity, resilience, and building a business that fits real life.Becky shares her journey from kindergarten teacher to creative entrepreneur, running mobile sign parties, opening a brick-and-mortar studio, navigating COVID pivots, and even walking through a cancer journey while continuing to show up for her customers and community.This episode covers:Transitioning from teaching to entrepreneurshipPivoting during COVID with DIY kits, virtual parties, and mobile workshopsOpening a studio and learning what actually worksWhy community support matters more than algorithmsRunning a business through illness and uncertaintyBuilding a studio model that works for families and real lifePaying yourself, setting systems, and avoiding burnoutWhy Facebook still matters for local small businessesThe value of in-person connection over faceless online ordersBalancing growth, joy, and sustainability as a creative business ownerThis is an honest look at what success really looks like when you stop chasing someone else's version of it and start building a business around your life, not the other way around.Support the showIf you enjoy our content, consider supporting us on Patreon!! You can check out the tier options and perks here: https://www.patreon.com/TheRileyBlackProjectCheck out my Linktree for my social media links & all the different things I have to offer! https://linktr.ee/RileyBlackWant more info on Aeon Lasers?? If so, show me some love by clicking on my partner link below and then hit the "Get Started" button! If you found my content helpful,and decided to call or DM instead, make sure to mention "Crystal Aguila" as the referral.
Transform My Dance Studio – The Podcast For Dance Studio Owners
In this candid solo episode, Olivia Mode-Cater tackles one of the most stressful realities of studio ownership: summer cash flow. If you've ever felt that pit in your stomach when June rolls around, this episode is your wake-up call. Olivia explains why summer doesn't create cash flow problems, it reveals the ones that already exist. Through real numbers, real talk, and zero sugarcoating, she walks studio owners through the simple math that determines whether your studio survives summer… or finally thrives through it. This isn't about fear or hustle. It's about clarity, predictability, and stepping out of the financial hamster wheel once and for all. You'll learn: Why summer exposes cash flow issues instead of causing them What your studio's burn rate actually is — and why most owners don't know it How weekly expenses quietly dictate your stress level The dangerous gap between being "open" and being profitable Why fewer summer classes make cash flow problems worse How to plan for a calm, flexible summer without panic The mindset shift required to stop avoiding your numbers How 10 minutes of math can change your entire year If you want a summer that feels stable, intentional, and aligned with your life — this episode is your starting point. Join our growing community of people just like you inside our free Facebook group. Click here to join! Watch our video episodes and subscribe on YouTube here. Follow The Dance Studio Owners Association: Instagram: @dancestudioownersassociation | TikTok: @dsoaofficial | Facebook: @dancestudioownersassociation Follow Olivia Mode-Cater: Instagram: @olivia.modecater | TikTok: @olivia.modecater
What We Cover In This Episode: The core responsibilities of a studio manager and why defining clear "ownership" is the first step toward reclaiming your time as an owner [4:59] How one pivotal role drives revenue, manages the sales funnel, and keeps your studio's community expanding [6:15] The ways in which another key role focuses on the "human element" to keep members happy, engaged, and loyal [8:07] Why a high-level coordinator is essential for seamless day-to-day operations [9:19] How to structure cleaning roles to ensure your space remains a premium environment [10:20] When to offload your admin and financial tasks to a dedicated assistant [11:08] A logical sequence for building your team that protects your cash flow and reduces stress [12:37] How to create a "running task list" paired with your core values to ensure you're delegating the right work to the right people [18:39] Why you need to implement role-specific scorecards to track success objectively [21:05] How to structure pay scales that attract top talent while keeping your margins health [23:07] Tips for identifying the specific "warning signs" that a candidate isn't the right fit for your studio culture [25:45] Quotes: "A lot of gym owner education recommends starting with these roles that stabilize daily operation and member experiences for adding leadership; I do agree with that." [Nick, 12:44] "You need flows predetermined for someone to settle into a groove, then changes can be made based on personality and strengths, but you can't hire someone and say 'figure it out.'" [Megan, 16:28] "Maybe after 6 months to a year they're going to have ideas on how to improve it, but those first three months need to be learning from you what to do." [Nick, 26:59] LINKS: Episode 291: Do, Delegate, Delete: The Studio Owner's Guide to Choosing VA, Team, or Tech Episode 292: Delegate Like a Pro: How to Onboard, Train, and Track a Virtual Assistant Email Us Your Rapid Fire Question! Book a Call with the fitDEGREE Team Learn More About All of Our Partners (Including LoopSpark & LezVU) and Get Exclusive Offers Visit the fitDEGREE Knowledge Base Send Megan Your Playlist or Discuss the Podcast Here! fitDEGREE's Business Portal support@fitDEGREE.com https://www.instagram.com/fitdegree/ https://www.instagram.com/fitspot_guru/ https://www.fitdegree.com/blog https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChJ5rK6zWPXjbxtUQx3ys9Q https://www.tiktok.com/@megan_fitdegree
In this episode of The Pilates Business Podcast, host Seran Glanfield breaks down why studio owners don't need more systems - they need the right ones. If running your Pilates studio or boutique fitness business feels overwhelming, chaotic, or overly dependent on you, this episode reveals how systemizing just 20% of your business can free up 80% of your time, energy, and mental bandwidth. Seran shares the three high-leverage areas that create the biggest shift - your client journey, internal operations, and team delegation - so your studio can run smoothly without you doing everything. This episode is a must-listen for Pilates, barre, and yoga studio owners who want a profitable, streamlined business that supports their life instead of consuming it.Got a question for Seran? Add it here
In this episode of The Pilates Business Podcast, host Seran Glanfield breaks down a refreshing and sustainable approach to marketing for studio owners who feel burned out, overwhelmed, and stuck on the content hamster wheel. Instead of doing more, Seran introduces the concept of the minimum effective dose of marketing—the smallest, most strategic actions that actually generate consistent, high-quality leads.This episode is a must-listen for Pilates, barre, and yoga studio owners who are juggling teaching, admin, and team management while struggling with inconsistent client flow. Seran explains why more marketing doesn't equal better marketing, how clarity simplifies everything, and the three essential marketing pillars every boutique fitness business needs to grow without burnout. If you want a smarter, simpler way to attract better-fit clients and build a profitable, sustainable studio, this episode will completely change how you think about marketing.Got a question for Seran? Add it here
Send Jackie A Message!What's actually changing in the yoga and Pilates industry in 2026 — and what do studio owners need to do to keep growing without burning out?In this episode, Jackie Murphy shares her 2026 predictions for the yoga and Pilates industry through the lens of data, consumer behavior, marketing trends, and business sustainability. You'll learn why industry growth means more competition (and why that's not a bad thing), how consumers are becoming smarter and more values-driven, and why generic marketing is officially dead.Jackie also explains why organic marketing alone won't be enough in 2026, how AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) is changing visibility on Google and AI tools, and why coaching and business education are becoming non-negotiable for studio owners who want predictable cash flow and long-term sustainability.If you want to scale your studio with clarity, stronger messaging, better marketing, and a business model that lasts, this episode will give you a roadmap.Timestamped Outline[00:00] Welcome + why this episode matters[02:30] Industry growth data + what it means[05:00] More competition = need clearer messaging[07:00] Smarter, more values-driven consumers[09:00] People scrolling less + why content must improve[11:00] Why organic alone won't cut it (paid ads + amplification)[13:00] AEO / Answer Engine Optimization + visibility shifts[15:00] Coaching becomes non-negotiable in the industry[20:00] Sustainability + predictable cash flow becomes the priority[22:30] Using data deeper: longer nurture journeys + conversion[26:00] Team structure evolves: specialized roles, not “one studio manager”[30:00] Teacher pipeline + onboarding systems / trainings[32:00] CTA: Studio CEO Program + what's includedKey Takeaways ✅ The industry is growing fast — which means more options for consumers✅ Generic “yoga has benefits” marketing won't stand out anymore✅ Consumers are smarter and more values-driven✅ People are scrolling less → your content must earn attention fast✅ Organic marketing alone won't be enough; amplify what works with paid ads✅ AEO matters as AI answers replace traditional searches✅ Coaching/business education is becoming a baseline requirement✅ Sustainability and predictable cash flow beat “big jumps” in 2026✅ Team roles will specialize (marketing, teacher development, ops)✅ Studios must strengthen teacher pipelines and onboarding systemsPull Quotes“You are so far past generic marketing.”“Your consumer is smarter.”“Coaching is going to become non-negotiable.”“If you want to be part of the growth… you have to be around in 2035.”“Get off the roller coaster.”Resources MentionedStudio CEO Program (12 months)Weekly coaching calls + written coachingWeekly trending reels (hook + caption + training)Bonus workshops (including AEO/AIO workshop)Related EpisodesEpisode on AI + studiosEpisode on coachingWork with Jackie Murphy Say Hi on Instagram @studioceoofficial 3 Marketing Mistakes Yoga & Pilates Business Owners Make: https://www.jackiegmurphy.com/3-marketing-mistakes Join The Studio CEO Program: https://www.jackiegmurphy.com/studioceo
Send Jackie A Message!In this episode of the Studio CEO Podcast, Jackie Murphy explains the three financial goals every yoga and Pilates studio owner needs to set for 2026: profit, salary, and revenue. Learn how to work backwards from the life you want, track your numbers monthly, and build a studio business that is profitable, sustainable, and supportive — not draining.Key Takeaways✔ Profit creates sustainability ✔ Salary is non-negotiable ✔ Revenue funds growth ✔ Monthly tracking matters ✔ Goals should stretch your identityFAQsWhat financial goals should a studio owner set? Profit, salary, and revenue — in that order.How much profit should a yoga or Pilates studio make? 10–30% depending on the stage of business.Should studio owners pay themselves a salary? Yes. Consistently and intentionally.Work with Jackie Murphy Say Hi on Instagram @studioceoofficial Level up your Marketing Skills in the Free Marketing Training:https://www.jackiegmurphy.com/3-marketing-mistakes Learn more about The Studio CEO Program: https://www.jackiegmurphy.com/studioceo
Hey everyone! Today we sat with Dstructive Filmz. Dstructive Filmz is a videographer, photographer and all-around creative born and raised in the 805. I have been following Dstructive for a while now and I am a fan of his work. But after sitting with him, I am a fan of him. We clicked off the bat and I appreciate the conversation. I hope you all enjoy! Guest: @Dstructive_Filmz @203StudioOxnard Host: @Frank_Downstar Supported by: @Downstar @Downstar_Skate Downstarinc.com HyperURL.co/Downstar @DowntimeWithDownstar