Opening your own dance studio is an exciting process, but there are certain steps that must be followed to ensure success. Sharing your love of dance will take you a long way, but a dance studio is a business, and like any other business, you’ll need to diligently plan and design, get the word out, and keep things running smoothly once you’ve opened the shop. doors and are living their dream. The following steps will help you devise a strategy to become a profitable new dance business venture:
1. Prepare your plan. First, you will need to choose the correct location. Naturally, you’ll want to find a place that’s in the commercial center of town, with ample parking. If your studio is located on a busy street in the city center, you can take advantage of foot traffic, because people will see you when they walk or drive by, especially if you have an eye-catching sign and an attractive studio. Consider how much space you’ll need to dance, and make sure your studio has good natural light, a bathroom, and enough space to create a dressing room and waiting area.
Decide what type of classes you want to offer, to what age group(s), and how often, which will help you start outlining a class schedule. Another option is a dance studio franchise, as they can save a lot of time and energy by offering their valuable expertise in choosing a location, marketing, and brand recognition.
2. Design your study. What kind of look do you want for the dance studio? If you have decided to specialize in teaching ballet classes for girls, you can paint the studio in feminine pastel colors that girls love, such as pink or lilac, and decorate with murals, ballet costumes, or beautiful and inspiring dance posters. Whatever your topic, the ultimate goal is to make the studio a place where people feel comfortable and want to come back to again and again.
The physical design of the study is also important. Most studios have a reception area, where students register and pay for classes, a dressing room, a bathroom, and a waiting area for friends and family to sit and watch the class, if they wish. Many studio owners create an area for a boutique that sells dancewear, dance videos and music, dance equipment and supplies, and dance-related gift items.
A well-planned dance studio requires the right dance equipment, such as hardwood floors, mirrors, and a sound system. If the studio isn’t already equipped with a dance floor, you’ll want a spring wood floor. This is a special type of flooring that has cushioning to protect the dancer’s joints and can be purchased as a kit or professionally installed. Most studios also have floor-to-ceiling mirrors installed along the front wall of the studio. If you need a ballet barre, you can attach it to the walls or purchase a freestanding ballet barre. Your sound system must have enough power to fill the space. It should also have a port for instructors to connect mp3 players or computers that contain playlists for the class.
3. Marketing and promotion. Getting the word out is a vital part of getting students. You’ll need a compelling logo to put on all of your print marketing materials, including business cards, letterhead, brochures, and flyers. Be sure to offer new student incentives in all of your marketing materials. New students are much more likely to come to your studio if you offer the first class for free or give them special discounts.
Be sure to promote online as well. Your studio should definitely have a website with class schedules, prices, your bio, and photos. Consider listing your business in local business directories, schools, and dance-related directories.
4. Net to increase visibility. The owner of a successful dance studio knows that a large part of his business is building good relationships with his students and the public. Creating a community will always help you find students and help students get to know you. Joining a business networking group can help your business. Other groups, such as parent groups or church groups, can also be helpful.
A grand opening with free demos, lectures, and giveaways can help draw attention to your studio. Some instructors offer workshops at community centers or perform at local events.
5. Keep up with the business of your business. There are several administrative tasks for each studio owner. Obviously, accounting is mandatory. Mailing lists, class schedules, and information management can be time consuming, and many studio owners opt for studio management software to keep track of everything efficiently.
Your music collection is the inspiration that drives your classes, so keep checking back for new music often. Add new songs by searching for options online. Listen carefully to each song before deciding to download the music, and then organize your songs for each class by creating a playlist on your MP3 player, iPod, or computer.
Pursuing your dream of opening a dance studio can be exciting, fun, and profitable, as long as you take the time to properly plan, design, and manage your business. Sharing your love of dance is wonderful, and earning a living makes it invaluable.