Thread: Drop off in enrollments?

I work for a fitness company and typically I see a drop off in class enrollments during the summer holidays and then again during Christmas. We always just shrug it off and wait for the new school year in the fall and then again the new start in January.

So typically, I have the summer off teaching. I had classes scheduled to start in Sept. and so far not one is a go. And not only my classes but also every other class scheduled at the same locations, yoga, pilates, zumba, etc.

Of course in MI we are going through a horrible economic crisis.. but this is the first time in my life, I've had a fall class cancelled due to low enrollment. And like I said, it's not just my class, but EVERY Class. The fall typically is our busiest season!!!!!!!!..cr.:

How are other parts of the country faring?

The dance school here just raised their prices ($22 for a drop-in, in a city with low cost of living and not hit as badly as MI by the recession). Apparently, enrollment is really, really low. The only intermediate oriental-style class in town had 2 pre-registered students. Not sure whether that is a general attendance drop, or a reaction to the price hike.

Personally, I will take my money on the road, and travel for instruction.

$22 for drop in? I don't think I could afford it either!

What are going rates across the country?

Ah, never mind...I saw going rates on another thread. I thought $12-$15 was more of the normal drop in rate?

yeah- weird here too- we actually did quite well last year & I even had summer students (a surprise for me, but they insisted!) and now they've all evaporated!

Encouraged (or an eternally optimistic fool!) that there have been more folks asking about the next session, but this session was rather disappointing!

This year has been wonky all the way around. Classes I expected, by past tracking history, to be low were much better attended, typically well attended classes were low, I'd have high registration and low numbers of people actually showing up, low registrations but high drop ins that would come as drop in each week for weeks on end, I gave up trying to figure it out.

Over all numbers have been lower than normal all year. I suspect its because when money gets tight, like it is for so many right now, "mom" typically gives up her activites first so that kids can still do their things.

I have to give up some of my classes as well. I am a student and with the economy I have not been able to find a job in my field and have to settle for something that pays the bills and not extras. It is unfortunate, but it is hitting everywhere. The dance studio I go to as well has removed many classes due to less people signing up even for a yearly basis, some haven't even come back after the real estate market crash.

It's not just in the US, over here in Belgium it's also a pain to get enough students. Especially in beginners classes (all styles of dance, not just bellydance)

Can't wait for the crisis to be over :-(

I was hoping to see an increase this fall as well in student enrollment. I only have 9 more students in the fall session than the summer session. I had to cancel class at two of the locations I teach at. I attribute it to the economy. I have so many people interested, but say "next session hopefully" because they can't afford it right now (classes break down to $13 a class for the session). I also had a few return to college in the fall, so I was expecting that part, but the rest it's because of the economy I believe.

The colleges I teach for have lowered the cost of their courses. On my advice they cut classes to 1 hour and have lowered the hourly rate making the classes very competative. 51 GBP for 12 weeks and the other college has cut courses to 6 weeks up front.
It's worked! Very well!
Most classes around here either charge courses or drop in at 4 GBP.

Originally Posted by Aurea_

It's not just in the US, over here in Belgium it's also a pain to get enough students. Especially in beginners classes (all styles of dance, not just bellydance)

Can't wait for the crisis to be over :-(

Enrollments are indeed VERY slow. My first week is coming up and I'm slightly panicking.
As you say, it's everywhere.... except..... the Zumba classes. Those are filled to the rim and spilling over

I live in an area that generally has not been too effected by the economy, yet there are a lot of classes that didn't make. Mine did, but students were slow to sign up.
I think even if people aren't personally effected, everyone is being cautious.

I've given up trying to predict enrollment for any of my classes. There just never seems to be any rhyme or reason. I did have one location that I was at for a year that never really got off the ground for some reason, even though my other classes were doing well. But I left there last month by mutual agreement between me and the owner.

My other two locations, the classes have ranged from full to about 85% capacity the last 3-4 sessions. I have a new session starting in 3 weeks, and the enrollment is low so far, but about what I'd expect for this early. Most people tend to sign up the week before or the week that classes start.

I'm starting a new fitness based class with the new session too, but since we missed the catalog deadline I'm fully expecting that it might not run this session. It will be in the catalog for the Nov-Dec session, though, so I'm hoping it will take off then.

Things have picked up for my fall classes, but then again, Maryland hasn't been hit as hard by the economic crisis, being close to the beltway (DC) and all.

It is slow over here to in SWFL Florida. My teacher used to have classes overflowing with students and always had a good turn out for her workshop/specialty classes. Now no one is signing up.

Some of this has to do with a Belly Dance Super Star opening her doors here and planting roots so my teacher has lost a lot of her advanced students to that studio. As soon as I am able to, I plan on going there to. I mean, who doesn't wanna take steady dance lessons from Janaenie Rathor? My teacher still gets a good beginner turn out, though so at least she has that.

On top of that, gigs are slow for the group as a whole.

I know she would do better in a better economy. I rarely go to her classes now because of the cost of gas/tolls/and then the class price and health problems (lots of abdominal pain) keep me away. I think we are going to lose our studio space to. My teacher teaches and host shows at a studio that does ballroom, latin, zumba, and yoga but the ball room biz has slowed considerably though I hear the zumba is doing well...But zumba is the new craze.

it didnt drop off, it changed!
no large class, all signed up for privates or semi private with a friend. but we are not known as the "fun studio, but as the serious last stop when you have committed yourself to this art .some decided to stay in their class and add a private. i ended up with a split shift, day clients , a late afternoon break then 2 evening classes.ends are meeting, but i am tired.
(JENAENI RATHOR was my teacher in calif.i drove 100 miles round trip once a week to study with her in the '70s....oh so worth it! )

..people want the most bang for their buck

Originally Posted by laura 2

I've given up trying to predict enrollment for any of my classes. There just never seems to be any rhyme or reason.

I'm starting a new fitness based class with the new session.

I hear ya on the enrollment stuff . . . it's been unusual this year.

I started a daytime fitness-based class just this past week -- and I have some enrollment! This might sound kinda crazy -- after all, who offers classes he/she think won't fly -- but I'm surprised I had more than the minimum! Yay!

This is a 45-minute, program that incorporates light-to-moderate aerobic "exercise," a bit of light free weight training, mat-based stuff and a bit of BD (for core work, mostly). Each four-week session is $28. I have offered BD at this location several times over the last few years and generally have inadequate sign-ups; I'm not even offering BD at this location.

The best part of this class is that I get to get fit right along with everybody else -- we'll see how much this does for me! Hmmmm . . . maybe I should take some before-and-after pics . . .

Deborah

going through the same thing here in the burbs of Chicago.

Spring session I had to cancel classes do to low or no enrollment. This fall I have been more fortunate. It was very uplifting after a 2007-2008 season of shrinking class sizes (and income!) to have my classes pick up again. Our market (Portland Maine) has EXPLODED in the past couple of years, I used to be one of 3 or 4 teachers in the area, now there are like 10. What is really nice for students is that the teachers are all very skilled, gracious, and professional. No matter who they choose to study with, they will get quality instruction. I just hope more of them choose to study with me. ..l;,

Things are dreadful in Rhode Island. We offer 6 classes a week, and the average class size is 2 students!

Classes here are holding steady. Maybe a *slight* drop off, but thats to be expected considering economic conditions. I'm happy that although registrations are lower than a typical Fall, nothing for me has had to be cancelled.

Olympics are coming here in Feb, so I'm more nervous about the Winter 2010 session......the whole city is shutting down for a few weeks and I'm terrified nobody is going to sign up for classes.

I'm relieved to see that I'm not the only one here in Belgium who is a bit disappointed...
My advanced class is pretty busy, but for my beginners, I've noticed a lot of people trying out the free trial class, but then not enrolling for the session ,f::

I'm starting to notice a drop in gigs too.... September is still busy, but so far I've only got 2 gigs coming up for the rest of the year ..cr.:

Same for workshops at bachelorette parties and such .... *sigh*

Originally Posted by Queenie

Enrollments are indeed VERY slow. My first week is coming up and I'm slightly panicking.
As you say, it's everywhere.... except..... the Zumba classes. Those are filled to the rim and spilling over

Yes, same here. Small beginners classes.
I think a lot of people who want to start with dancing classes, choose Zumba now. Because it's so popular and you find it everywhere. ,f::

My summer classes were SLOOOOOW. I had to cancel one and I chose to cancel another because it was not going to be profitable for me. And it was weird too - the class that I had to cancel was at a location that is usually PACKED with teachers on their summer break. This year I had one student a week until we canceled.

The fall is better, but still no where near where I usually am. I agree that the Zumba classes are what people seem to be spending their money on right now - my friend teaches Zumba and her classes are packed. I guess if people figure they can only afford one class, they are going to go to the class that gives them a workout AND a dance class.

at least "they" would rather come to us instead of a gym!

Originally Posted by mahira-michelle

going through the same thing here in the burbs of Chicago.

That's the rumor I'm hearing too. But I do know that Michigan is one of the hardest hit in the economy right now.

same here.. summer was fine, but might have to cancel some classes for october..

The weird thing here is- the local economy wasn't hit that hard, and if anything, we are generally seeing things pick up at my other businesses (course the baby shop is undoubtedly due to the baby boom this year... striker brigade got back to town 7 months ago- military towns can be so predictable in that regard!)

I have nothing reasonable to blame the decline on!

Originally Posted by casbahdance

I hear ya on the enrollment stuff . . . it's been unusual this year.

I started a daytime fitness-based class just this past week -- and I have some enrollment! This might sound kinda crazy -- after all, who offers classes he/she think won't fly -- but I'm surprised I had more than the minimum! Yay!

This is a 45-minute, program that incorporates light-to-moderate aerobic "exercise," a bit of light free weight training, mat-based stuff and a bit of BD (for core work, mostly). Each four-week session is $28. I have offered BD at this location several times over the last few years and generally have inadequate sign-ups; I'm not even offering BD at this location.

The best part of this class is that I get to get fit right along with everybody else -- we'll see how much this does for me! Hmmmm . . . maybe I should take some before-and-after pics . . .

Deborah

So it sound like the BD portion is not a draw? Just basic exercise? The venue I teach in is more fitness based vs. dance based and I've re-structured my class to fit that need. Against my will, the class is called, "Belly Dance for Weight Loss", in an effort to attract more people ..cr.:but even that hasn't drawn people this year. Of course I'm in Michigan which is the hardest hit state with job losses, etc. Most people can't afford their house or groceries, let alone take a class for fun.

I was surprised when I found out from a friend that one of her long running classes is in danger of being cancelled for the first time in close to 20 years. I have been struggling with low enrollment myself for two years.

So.... my question is what are people doing about? Changing marketing strategy, riding it out? Any novel or not-so-novel-but-works-for-you suggestions?