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Re: noodad » The Scam Called Kid Recital Videos

Beth Wheeler — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 11:30:58 -0000

\"Sometimes I speak before I think\" - Gregory Ng

Darlin\' seems you\'ve already put your foot in a few piles driving your mouth without a clutch... :oD Now, I really should let you know that I hugely admire the intent of your blog - to support new dads. So, in an effort to help you avoid putting the other foot in any deeper than need be... I, most respectfully, suggest you do at least a bit of research before you write and insult an entire community of hard working, dedicated people - one in particular to whom you entrust your own child.

Please consider this:
Do you begrude the Gap when you buy your children sneakers to match the outfits you just picked out? The grocer when you purchase milk for your child\'s cereal? The college you graduated from for the books you were required to buy?

A dance studio is an educational environment. It caters to children. It is also a business. And like the college bookstore, studio owners often provide supplies and support services to their clientelle in an effort to offer convenience and to help keep the business viable.

You have choices all along the way. You can use the sneakers the kids already own with their new outfits, you can have your children eat dry cereal for breakfast, you could have gone to the library and borrowed the books or bought used ones in college. Of course the dry cereal bit may be going too far - but, some parents feel professional pictures of their child in their costumes are just as mandatory. Sincerely, I have some of these dance families I promise ;o}

Your choices continue; to which studio you send your child, how much and what you purchase, and what kind of example you will set for your child in the process. By suggesting that one should openly ignore studio policy so that you can \"get yours\" isn\'t quite the lesson I imagine you would want your children to learn - and they are watching every move you make. Just see how they respond the next time they stub their toe if you don\'t believe me...

Here are some facts:
A studio needs to be educationally sound and financially stable in order to provide its students with a quality dance education. If the biz can\'t afford to stay open, everyone loses.

The recital is a huge financial undertaking for every studio. Make no mistake, the studio takes a gamble every year - that ticket sales will cover the always increasing expenses. Do you have any idea how much it costs to put on a performance such as this? The expense list is far too long to list here, but I welcome you to contact me and I\'ll happily fill you in - money wise, it represents 10\'s of thousands.

Most studios make no profit on photos or dvds. These services are subcontracted and it is common that the studio owner receives a copy for use in advertising but usually that\'s all. For those that do receive financial compensation, it is a very small percent.

Other studio owners have already mentioned that first and foremost, \"no photo/video during performance\" policies are an audience management issue. Not a financial one. For years, prior to our using the services of pro photographers and videographers, we had this policy in place - it had nothing to do with making money and everything to do with insuring ALL audience members could enjoy seeing their kids onstage.

We DO allow cameras during Dress Rehearsal and it is a madhouse. Parents thank me every year (after watching the mayhem at Dress) for not allowing cameras show nite.

The cost of the photos/dvds are set by the contracted companies. We studio owners have nothing to do with it. Consider the hours it takes to edit, the labor involved shooting and managing sales and the small # of sales (vs. mass produced dvds that sell for less) and you may begin to understand why the dvds cost what they do. I assure you, it isn\'t to finance my suite at the Ritz.

Look, kids activities can get expensive. Believe me we get it (most of us are parents too...). You must choose carefully, set limits and stick to your budget. Personally I take pictures of my kid in his costume myself - but that\'s me. As for the dvd all I hear from parent after parent is that their kids watched that video daily all summer and that they couldn\'t have paid for a better babysitter.

Guess you get what you pay for ;o}

And, finally, a tip...
Most studio owners love to barter - with your background, I bet you could easily come up with something the studio could use to help keep your costs (and hers) down.

Much success to you Noodad and remember, use the clutch!
Beth Wheeler
adancersdream.net

Re: noodad » The Scam Called Kid Recital Videos

Beth Wheeler — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 05:03:23 -0000

There are responders in this thread who chose to list their name and to try to educate. Yup, I was and still am one of \'em. To this we got a \"thanks for clicking on the site and making me more money\".

I still stand in the place that I admire that you guys are trying to educate and support new dads. I think this is wonderful. I would very much like to see you do it without attacking those who support your kids on a daily basis (and could very well have begun doing the same for you or your peers when you were still in diapers).

I agree that some responders got caught up in the heat of the original post - it was extremely insulting - and replied in like fashion. Guys you truly reap what you sow.

The point is, Gregory claims his position is simply that he felt the quality of the product was poor in contrast to the expense. However, in truth he loaded that by packing a whole lot of extranious insults directed at our industry. So, yup, y\'all got the response you planted.

And, no, of course you wouldn\'t hear any of the studio owners who replied speak to a child in this manner - but I know many of the ladies who responded and, trust me, they\'d defend your kids with the same passion they\'re defending themselves.

And, I must say, reading through more of your site, that the rough language and manner you seem now so offended by is nothing new - you guys lay it out all over the place.

So, to offer you a bit of the education you have asked for I would suggest that if you don\'t like being addressed in this manner, you don\'t do it to others.

You know the drill, treat others as you wish to be treated.

Most respectfully,
Beth Wheeler
adancersdream.net

Re: noodad » The Scam Called Kid Recital Videos

Beth Wheeler — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 07:40:10 -0000

Dear Foodad,
While you sort out the metaphors, you may be happy to hear I\\\'ll be leaving you to your man show. I really have no desire to be a part of insult hurling or one upping. I was sincerely looking to offer your readers and the original poster insight into how our business works so that you might have a better appreciation for all of the effort we put in daily to keep costs down and quality up.

Even though you expressed that you were \\\"surprised at the attitudes\\\" the dance teachers were sharing as you felt \\\"here is an opportunity to educate a disgruntled customer (and the his hundreds of thousands of loyal, daily noodad readers)\\\" you don\\\'t seem to be choosing to take the opportunity to use the information we have offered to educate yourself. Instead you continue to hurl insults.

I\\\'m sad, and only wish I\\\'d had you in our studio when you were younger so that I could have had the opportunity to teach you grace of spirit - and perhaps a bit of respect.

Good luck with that,
Beth Wheeler
www.adancersdream.net

Re: noodad » The Scam Called Kid Recital Videos

Beth Wheeler — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 07:59:06 -0000

Good on you foodad - there may be hope for you boys yet ;o}
B.

Re: noodad » Choosing a Dance Studio

Beth Wheeler — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 16:08:45 -0000

Rock on Suz!
and to all youdads - now that we\'re pals, we can let you in on the location of our not so secret clubhouse - it\'s actually not the site you\'ve been mentioning - it\'s danceart.com. Just in case you need even more info on the dance world from a parent\'s perspective - there are also boards there where you can ask a teacher, a studio owner, a pro, etc. & there\'s even a \'for guys only\' section where we\'re not even allowed to post - imagine that! ;o}

So, on another note, I\'m thinkin\' it wuz a good thing y\'all did the math = all of these dance studios have lots and Lots and LOTS of new dads we can send your way - looks like you\'ve figured out the honey vs. vinegar ratio. Now your babies aren\'t the only ones who\'re sittin\' in the sweet spot. Go daddy-o