Thread: setting up the studio

I'm setting up my own studio (after many years of renting from Tap Dance and Ballet schools!) and want to really cater to belly dancers, so it's an appealing space to rent for other classes and practices. What nice "extras" mght help one space stand out over another? A basket of loaner zills? Special decor on the walls? It's already a pretty space and has large mirrors. Any ideas of what you would like to see?

And on the same topic...what do you like in a "landlord" when you are renting space?

A landlord who...

... has the studio cleaned and aired regularly (including the front step. Our studio is in the central city and we always have vomit or empty booze bottles on ours.) Provides a really nice danceable floor. Minimises clutter. Ensures the stereo is always working. Provides a rubbish bin and empties it. While I like that we have loaner zills, canes and our own music for all our classes, I would be a little wary of providing them for people who rent from you. It's just too easily taken advantage of, and you could end up losing your stuff.

If you have long-term regular leasees, it might be nice to give them a shelf they can use to store things they always use in class.

I'm personally not fussed on a lot of fancy decorations, because one dancer' s "beautiful" is another's "omg tacky." But comfortable seating (like a divan/cushion idea) and a carpet off in one corner could be nice.

Leonie Sukan of Sydney has a lovely set up in her studio at one end.

Just a simple long bench under a window with another smaller bench coming off that so it is an irregular L shaped 'seating area' with some scattered cushions and a coffee table. She has another smaller coffee table that has bellydance magazines on it.

It's not 'overdone' and I enjoyed having that area to sit in while I was there for a teachers forum. It was perfectly cozy.

Leonie is a lucky gal! Underneath her studio is a Turkish Pide shop that makes the yummiest varieties of Pide!

As someone who rents other people's spaces, some things I really like are:

- Ensuring other users don't encroach on my class by (a) leaving stuff strewn across the studio (b) running over time or not clearing out before my time slot starts. Please book a 10 min break in between different groups.

- Decent soundproofing if there's more than one studio or user group going at the same time.

- Big mirrors - and please keep them clean! I don't appreciate children's sticky handprints. Same goes for their sticky lollies and wrappers on the floor.

- If the tap water isn't drinkable, a mineral water cooler or bottles available for purchase.

- A notice board where I can pin up fliers/newsletters to let my students know what's coming up.

- A small lockable cabinet for keeping my class roll, products, perhaps even stereo in.

- A table and chair somewhere out-of-the-way, where I can do the class admin. Also would like a big enough table to display goods for sale (hip scarves/DVDs) if you're allowing that.

- If you're providing the stereo, a loud one that plays burnt CD's! Bonus points for a system that has a headset or allows you to change the speed of the music.

- I'd love some posters/books/magazines for my students to read. Posters showing famous bellydancers (with their bios), different dance and costuming styles, amusing 1960's beehive bellydance photos, would all be great!

- Clear business and booking policies, timely invoices and a clear process for communicating any issues.

As for spare props, that's lovely, but I wouldn't expect them to be provided (and would want to keep zills and canes under lock and key). Perhaps some lengths of chiffon would be great - to be used as make-shift hip scarves and veils.

Jewel

I know that studio well. It's pretty great already, I'm sure whatever amenities you add to it will just be icing on the cake. There's no space for lounging, though that is a nice idea.

Every time this subject comes up, I post this:



If you wanna get fancy with decor! ,r:;

All of the above suggestions are wonderful.

One thing I might add is: (and this is a complete bonus - definitely not required, but something I've often thought would be nice to have) a television with a dvd/vhs player. I know my instructor would definitely like the chance to use videos as an instruction tool.

If you don't have a washroom close at hand, a change room or dressing screen might also be nice for those ladies who come directly to class from work, who need a place to change into workout wear.

I would suggest as a general principle, providing better service in things that don't need constant maintenance or replenishing.

Ah, a studio space of one's very own. My dream . . .

Deborah

Originally Posted by veritate

One thing I might add is: (and this is a complete bonus - definitely not required, but something I've often thought would be nice to have) a television with a dvd/vhs player. I know my instructor would definitely like the chance to use videos as an instruction tool..

When I was building my home studio, this was one of the first things I knew I wanted to include. It's such a pain to drag my portable TV/DVD player to my offsite classes.

Originally Posted by zorba

Every time this subject comes up, I post this:



If you wanna get fancy with decor! ,r:;

I hate it when you do that. I get overcome with jealously and it gives me wrinkles. ,m::

Originally Posted by elljay

I hate it when you do that. I get overcome with jealously and it gives me wrinkles. ,m::

I'm with you! Where's the wrinkly-faced emoticon? No? A jealous-green one will have to do. ..c::

Originally Posted by elljay

I hate it when you do that. I get overcome with jealously and it gives me wrinkles. ,m::

HEY! I'm just as jealous as you are - its not like it was MY studio or something! ..l;,

When I opened up my studio, it was important for me to have a comfortable, relaxing area where students can sit, chat, and wait for their class to start. Having a nice stereo system playing low music is a nice touch. Fountains, pillows, etc...

Also, in the class space itself - it's nice to have spots where people can put their purses, dance bags, shoes, coats, etc... I bought DIY shelves from Target and installed coat hooks in between them.

I'm pretty easy going about our landlord. As long as they respond to our needs in a timely manner - I'm pretty happy.

I agree that a TV and DVD player would be a nice bonus, but not essential.

we making a studio now and i cant wait. It is almost complete. DH put the floors down over the weekend, and is putting up lights and mirrors today....

I found some photos online of a company that does Moroccan parties. They set up these tents and decorate it all out...w/ curtains, cushions, poofs, decor, rug, ect....

I Think decor is important b/c it sets the "mood"

the studio where i practise let people share studio. they are usually ballroom or latin dance students having one-on-one lesson with their teachers so they play those kind of music. sometimes when i'm lucky to be the only one using the studio i can play my own music. when there're other people i use my ipod or just sing in my head. i pay only about 4 US dollar per hour but i have to pay for 100 hours up front to get this rate.