Why the Changes.

A parent asked me the question:  Why all the changes this year?  The simple answer is to make things better for your dancer here at the studio. For your benefit as my customer.  But, that may not explain it all.

This summer I went to a business seminar.  We were asked to write down how much time we spent working in our business-things like accounting, running after late pays, dealing with statements, stamps, envelopes, printing and organizing fliers.  Then how much time we spent working on our business: finding and implementing creative ideas to attract more students, upgrading the facility, being more creative in our teaching and choreography. 

Well after doing my lists I had to admit I spent 95% of my time working in my business and a mere 5% working on my business.  If the business is already unmanagable while it is small, how could I expect to grow, to ever have the energy or inspiration to grow the business and keep it growing.  Point taken.  The quest began.

Once the new accounting system and auto pay is in place-my accounting cycle will last all of one day a month instead of two days a week.  Auto-pay, e-mail a few statements, know the money is in my account and schedule all payments for the month.  Done!!!

Once the newsletter system is in place, parents will have all the information they need delivered right to them.  No paper, ink, printing, sorting, putting names on each flier to make sure everyone who needs one gets one and after that still hoping they get into the parents' hands.  A couple of hours of work for me versus days. 

What will this mean.  Time and energy to work on bright ideas to attract new students, to be more creative with more time and energy to plan choreography and class curriculum, more time and energy to build the studio. 

Frankly, this year I hit a strange wall.  We have so many talented students that I could have done two different casts of Cinderella without using anyone outside of their class number twice.  As much as I wanted to we were just not big enough yet to financially pull off doing two shows.  I had the talent.  Just not enough of a profit.  It was incredibly frustrating-banging my head against this wall.  Something had to give.

I know change can be a little odd at best for most people and a little scary at worse for some.  But, once these two systems get going I'll be able to do the things I have just not had the time to do:  attract more students, find outside performing opportunities of our companies, start a professional company to give our dancers a whole new level to look up to and get to some little things like studio t-shirts and jackets.

What does this mean for you and your dancer:  better classes, better shows and more opportunities. The convenience of knowing you're paid to date and knowing you don't need to hunt through a dance bag for statements and other important information.

There will be a few bugs, there always is with something new.  But the benefits to you and your dancer will be well worth it.