Thread: WWBD? Thinking about closing shop.

So here's where I am.

I've been teaching a couple of modest little bellydance classes at my theatre space. One is an advanced drills class and I have a few steady students. The beginner class keeps fluctuating : overflow in January and now I appear to have 2 students.

I love teaching..I think I'm good at it and I get a lot out of it. I really just charge enough to cover the rent but with only 2 beginners, that's not going to cut it. I had been thinking about at least shutting down for July & August but I'm kind of bummed about the low numbers. The truth is I don't have the time it might take to really hustle for students...there's at least one really big studio in town already that most people go to. I always saw what I did as a downtown neighborhood venture. Everyone has been very supportive of the idea but obviously that has not translated into steady attendance.

So...one practical issue is if I can even make it through the next two months. How to make the dang rent and teach an empty class.

The other existential question, I guess, is who I'd be if I wasn't teaching classes. If I'm not teaching and maintaining a base of folks who like my style and I'm "just" doing one modest restaurant gig a week, am I really a bellydancer? Should I just sell all my costumes and go away? Should I rethink how/where I approach teaching? I would love to hang on to my advanced group at least but teaching beginners is where my heart has been.

Be gentle...I'm kind of depressed.
:(

You are still a bellydancer..one gig a week, one student a class....you live in a big city-San Antonio! It takes time to build up any business, whether it is floral, gift....dance etc.!

Be tenacious, stay with it....and maybe more will come. Sometimes I have two ladies to show up for a class out of 10..I teach as though as I had a full house!

Don't give up, keep up your one advance class...and maybe try this fall for beginners. I teach at our college here...and for spring and summer, my class didn't make! I was actually giving up...but had 17 to sign up and was so surprised! I thought maybe because I was old, fat..etc..but hubby says no..and just don't give it up!

You are too lovely to give up great talent!

I turned 60 this January and it seems like I get more and more crippled. Found out that I have degenerative disc discease along with my lympehedema in my left leg..etc. My students dont' seem to mind..when I have to stand behind my walker and use it for support to do hip movement!

San Antonio is a big enough city to have several teachers and dancers!

:).....it takes a while to build up any type of business, so don't give it up!

Another factor to keep in mind - Unemployment is still rampant so people don't have much money these days. I've had to give up attending classes due to $$ issues.

Maybe try offering a couple of topic-specific short sessions for summer? Like using the veil, intro to zills, working with specific rhythms. Keep it to 2 or 3 weeks so people don't have to make a big commitment.

Once fall is here, there may be more $ around and more willingness to take classes.

Maybe you just need to take a break from beginners through the summer. Summer is a hard time to get new people to commit, unless you can put some effort into marketing. But, in the fall there are always lots of folks looking for new things, "back to school" time classes and so forth. Your advanced class could continue, and maybe work on a special presentation for fall!

Another thought is to mix it up for summer and offer something totally different, like a mother-daughter class, or a special topic each class (shimmy week, veil day, etc). Again, you would have to market this, so if you're not having time to market then you need a new strategy.

If you're feeling burned out, taking the summer off of beginners to work on your OWN dancing might rejuivinate you.

Teaching doesn't make you a bellydancer, it makes you a teacher!

If you have a regular gig and an abiding interest, you're a bellydancer. Teaching has no bearing on that.

But since you say you like teaching, think you're good at it, and get a lot out of it, why not put just a *little* more effort into marketing the class?

The following are free and take less than 5 minutes, and can bring big rewards depending on the city. Do one per day for a week and see what happens.

1) Go the website of a local major newspaper. Click on 'contact us' Find the e-mail address to submit a calendar listing (or a classes listing, if it's a big enough paper to have a separate section). Send them the details about your beginner class. I get more calls from free newspaper calendar listings than paid ads sometimes!

2) Find contact info for other papers & copy/paste your message to them.

3) Do a quick Googling to see what comes up for 'classes' and 'your city' Is there a major events website that lists classes? If so, submit yours!

4) Do you have e-mail info for some or all of your former students? Send them an e-mail blast and invite them back. Tell them if they bring a friend you'll give them half off (put an expiration date on the offer).

5) Analyze why the students you've had didn't come back. Is there something you can be doing to increase retention? Some things I've found that people like are 1) learning choreo right away 2) playing with toys (veils, zills) 3) Being included in 'field trips' to haflas or to see dancers and of course 4) preparing a simple group number to present at a hafla (not bare bones beginners of course).

6) Make up a quick flyer -- the word 'bellydance' with your picture in costume and the where/when/how much/how to register info is all you need. (tear-off phone tabs are a good idea if you have the time/inclination to create them). I'm not big on driving all over town and putting up flyers. But at least see if you can put one up at your teaching venue, your workplace, the restaurant where you perform, etc.

7) Try putting something on Craigslist. Seems to work better in some cities than others, but it's free and only takes a minute.

8) Is your class listed on Shira's site? On Bhuz? on OD.net? Other directories where people might find you? Spend a few minutes each day adding yourself to a directory.

9) Is there a local/regional bellydance site (like San Antonio bellydancers, or Texas bellydancers?) Is your class listed there?

Shimi, here's another thought. Maybe you should play to your strengths?

Maybe instead of teaching a beginner class, you should offer a monthly mini-workshop for other dancers on a fusion topic? Hooping, circus skills, etc? Might be a lot of fun for them, and if you set out flyers at local haflas and build yourself an e-mail list of local dancers/teachers, it gives you a much smaller target market.

Maybe you could teach it at that studio where you say everyone goes? (I realize there are sometimes political alliances to consider...)

Shimi, to me you are & always will be a Bellydancer!
Perhaps you just need to "recharge the batteries"; perhaps you should take the 2 summer months off :)

Another thought. If the other classes in town are so well-attended, they may have overflow. It is rare, but some of us are willing to refer overflow to other instructors. Have you thought about approaching them? Maybe risky but I like to take the community approach :)

also...maybe if you haven't already, start to work with your advanced students on group choreography and performance readiness. Then create shows with them. You seem to like the comraderie and this might help you get out of your funk.

Wow! I really liked Lauren's List! DO THAT!

Summer is almost here....School's are counting down the days!
Remember that students in your class my have graduations,proms,and
trying to get ready for college. Not to mention who wait to change jobs
and move during the summer.....Hang in there! A lot of schedule and
money changes happen this time of year....

With the students you do have, I have a suggestion. I meet Judeen(Cali)
last year at Deedee's Cairo Nights. We sat and chatted a bit. She gets
her students together for a kind of meet and greet. They basically
network and let each other know about their regular jobs. That way they
benefit by sending/recommending each other's businesses to themselves
and others.

I thought it was a great idea!

It builds the bellydance community by becoming more of a close knit
familiy and supportting the economic community.

If it makes you feel any better, I've been massaging for a long while. I'm
still trying to create a good client base. There have been times I what to
throw in the towel and get a "regular" job. I'm stubborn!

I have to say I'm jealous,but so happy, that you have a husband that
supports your dance!!!! You're a very lucky woman in that regard!!!!!

Thanks guys.
Lauren, all your suggestions are sensible ones. I should do them. Not sure if its too late for these two months but we'll see.

I actually do have a fun hip-hop assaya chorey that I will be doing with my students at an upcoming recital and I hope to keep that momentum going. The mini=workshop idea is a cool one, I'll see if there is any traction for that.

As for the other studio...I don't think it will happen, for various reasons I won't go into here. Nothing terrible, we're all friends...just that time passes.

I think I do need a break so I can ponder what my teaching future (if that) looks like. I have to also figure out how to deal with these two months. I sent out an e-mail to my students so we'll see if that brings in anyone new/old....

Lauren!

I'm going to apply your list for my massage business!!!!!!!

Thank you for all your input..g.:

Also, have you considered making your classes block courses (say of 6 or 12 lessons) rather than drop in to help with retention of students? This could also help in the future with establishing grounds for different levels of class.

Wow, how did I miss this thread?

You've gotten so much advice so far, I don't have much to add. Except to say that you're not only still a belly dancer, you're a DAMN GOOD ONE and whether or not you teach has little to do with that. {{{hugs}}}