Thread: workshop attendance down due to economy?

has anyone noticed a downturn in attendance possibly related to the economic downturn?

how are vendors faring at haflas/workshops/events worldwide?

are classes full for workshop instructors?

YES. Turnout for classes seems okay but workshops and even larger events are not having the turnout they were a year or two ago. The belly bubble has burst.

lol the belly bubble!!

do you think dancers are bored with what's offered?

Some of the pricing I've seen for workshops has seemed a little higher than it's been before? Or am I not remembering right?

I'm just pricing everything with an eye to the economy (as in, prices haven't gone up, and has even fallen in a few areas) --we'll see what happens.

Deborah

attendance is down over here.
Prices go up cause, plane tickets went up , hotel prices went up ( at least over here) and teachers charge more per hour than they use too. I have kept my workshop prices pretty much the same and tried to absorb the higher plane tickets etc.
even publicity fees went up just about everywhere.

There are more workshops than ever before. So the limited market is being spread more thinly.

And too many taught by people that should be taking them and not giving them. Marketing seems more important than substance these days.

i think its a combination of the above:
higher production costs
flooded market
reduced disposable income for attendees

imo its not just the belly bubble that burst, its the "hobbies supported by disposable income bubble" that has burst, in this country at least :(

I've only recently moved here, so I can't tell you from a historical standpoint.

But I do hear lots of Houston and Texas dancers talking about too many events being the main problem. The economy would only I'm sure worsen the issue.

I went to two workshops down in NYC back in September and they were both pretty packed. Of course, you don't have as big a tribal following on the east coast as you do out west. The rooms weren't that big, so that's probably why it was crowded. I don't see as many workshops being offered in the area ( ny,ct ). There were so many a few months ago, now they are pretty scarce. I would expect them to drop off to nothing next month, but we still have a long way to go till xmas.

Originally Posted by dancingrrrlz

There are more workshops than ever before. So the limited market is being spread more thinly.

And too many taught by people that should be taking them and not giving them. Marketing seems more important than substance these days.

You said it, dancinggrrrlz! I've seen workshops advertised recently by gals who've only been dancing 2 or 3 years. Whaaaaatttt?

I have also noticed fewer workshop attendees at events. Too many events, and too little money to spend...

Attendance down...vending sad. Hoping a new president will turn it all around!

Nilaja

We aren't swamped with good workshops in my neck of the woods yet, but there are three happening within driving distance next spring I am seriously considering getting a part-time job to finance.

I blame it on the economy - I've been hearing (and even myself) that the economy is affecting this. What with gas being so high and food as well - my health insurance just went up again. Although gas is coming down. . .so maybe attendance will go up a little.

our gas is down to 3.35..we have started going out again

you guys are sooo lucky to have workshop oversaturation..the only one happening out here that i know of is a really expensive Sharon Kihara retreat in Dec.

ohhh choices

reason i ask is if we end up in phoenix again in spring i'm looking to travel around a bit and vend at workshops, but want to carefully pick each one

am also considering doing a travelling trunk show where i get to go bye bye (wheee) and bring suitcases of silks of all types to different locations

may/would include a double veil demo/tips/tricks if applicable (if there's space etc)

Originally Posted by jesennia

our gas is down to 3.35..we have started going out again

you guys are sooo lucky to have workshop oversaturation..the only one happening out here that i know of is a really expensive Sharon Kihara retreat in Dec.

ohhh choices

The price of gas has been falling like a rock! ..g.: I've seen gas under $2.50/gallon in the San Diego area (from a high of about $4.50/gallon!!)

personally - I know a lot of dancers in the DC area are short on cash and limited their attendance to workshops. I know I narrowed it down to a few workshops instead of every workshop. I have seen that the smaller workshops with a big name have been selling good. Gone are the days of the huge ass workshop. I think people want more for their money so they will pay more for an intimate setting.

As for vending, my US sales have been staying strong but my International sales are down. They were really strong in the first half of the year (much better than average) but as the whole financial market thing happened and the value of the $ did a few loopty-loos, I have noticed a slow down. Depending what the US $ is doing, I either get slammed with international orders or get nothing...

Such is life. At least I have business and am able to pay my bills. I know of another vendor who is struggling to survive in this economy.

Originally Posted by humdinger70

The price of gas has been falling like a rock! ..g.: I've seen gas under $2.50/gallon in the San Diego area (from a high of about $4.50/gallon!!)

Dude, I paid $2.25 yesterday! It cost me under $40 to completely fill the tank of my minivan.

It's $1.95 in Katy, TX...wonder how low it will go?!

I am definitely choosier about workshops now. In part, because I know who I want to learn from and in part, because of money. A few years ago, I would go to all kinds of workshops, even if the teacher was a different dance style. I have gotten much pickier now and only take workshops with people that I really want to, but I have even had to pass on a few that I wanted to attend because of money.

I know I've gotten much more selective about my workshops. In part it's money, but the main reason has been that I want to be sure I get the most out of my workshop experience. Many of the workshops in my immediate area are not in the styles I'm interested in and I would rather save my dance funds to travel somewhere to learn from a dancer I know will probably teach something to enhance my personal style.

Originally Posted by miriamgamal

the main reason has been that I want to be sure I get the most out of my workshop experience.

I totally agree. I'm really low on funds too, so every dollar counts.

I've pretty much been sticking to DVDs, because it least if I don't like it or I've gotton all I want out of it, I can at least get my money back selling it to someone else.

The last few big name workshops I've had recently, I've been disappointed in because they focused too much on general knowledge or basics.

Every time I turn around it seems like there are two or three workshops going on in our area. It is really getting ridculous if you ask me.

I use to have the feeling like when a workshop was held it was special cause they were so infrequent. Now its like oh, another workshop. Not so special catch em the next go around. Same for events..... There is always a big event happening....

I've foregone regular classes, partly because the local teacher who took over for my teacher has been dancing only a bit longer than I have, partly because she teaches exclusively fusion (which doesn't float my boat), and partly because I'd rather save the money for workshops. I traveled 3 hours to Chicago for Michele Joyce, which was WAY worth it for me. I came back inspired, re-energized and equipped with new teaching approaches. But I was surprised that there weren't as many people there as I had expected. Now I'm shaking out the couch for the money for Sahra Saeeda's JTE2 in January BECAUSE I don't have the number of students I'd planned on based on previous numbers. My regular class attendance is way down. I share Nilaja's hope that the economy buoys on our new president's leadership!

Originally Posted by dancingrrrlz

There are more workshops than ever before. So the limited market is being spread more thinly.

And too many taught by people that should be taking them and not giving them. Marketing seems more important than substance these days.

If you add ill-prepared sponsors to the mix it becomes an even bigger problem. Overcrowded spaces (or spaces badly suited to dance), lack of planning so participants can't easily see and hear the instructor, marathon trainwreck shows...those things make for a substandard workshop experience. Those participants won't just avoid that sponsor in the future, they get turned off to workshops in general. It doesn't take too many bad experiences to catch a case of the "damn I wish I would have just bought the DVD" blues.

~~Kimahri

how do you all FIND OUT about local workshops? is there one website that posts or is it word of mouth?

I am happy about that....now I can save at least on that when AI drive from gig to gig....
but yes I think there are way too many workshops in CA, and good teachers, good choices, because of the economical problems in the country even the people make the same money rather save, and since the house prices are falling fast, I think a lot of people like to save and purchase home before it is too late.

Originally Posted by humdinger70

The price of gas has been falling like a rock! ..g.: I've seen gas under $2.50/gallon in the San Diego area (from a high of about $4.50/gallon!!)

Originally Posted by sabrinabellydancer

i think its a combination of the above:
higher production costs
flooded market
reduced disposable income for attendees

:(

We just had this discussion before our last workshop......
all 3 of these points came up and I agree with you, it's definately a combo
of all of them. The price of gas I also think has had a huge impact.

Originally Posted by jesennia

how do you all FIND OUT about local workshops? is there one website that posts or is it word of mouth?

Jessennia I belong to yahoo groups, MEDPDX and Belly Talk, Ishimmy and a few others that people in our local area and the northwest post their events on....

Originally Posted by jesennia

reason i ask is if we end up in phoenix again in spring i'm looking to travel around a bit and vend at workshops, but want to carefully pick each one

am also considering doing a travelling trunk show where i get to go bye bye (wheee) and bring suitcases of silks of all types to different locations

may/would include a double veil demo/tips/tricks if applicable (if there's space etc)

If you are going to be in Phoenix, you should consider coming to the Las Vegas Intensive & Festival next Sept. It's not terribly far, but it is a fun event and is already gearing up to be a great year in 2009. We have our folks on payment plans...so I think that helps in this economy. I have near 40 people signed up for next year already.