DSO Connect - By & For Dance Studio Owners: Recent Episodes
dsoconnect
DSO Connect is a group of 6 dance studio owners committed to helping other studio owners run successful businesses and live balanced lives.
Stacey Morgan is a four-time business owner (including two dance studios), dance educator, podcast host, mom, wife, and business coach. Her main mission is to help women entrepreneurs thrive in their businesses and in their lives through coaching, accountability, and honesty. She has a no-fluff, direct approach to helping her clients to make their businesses work FOR them, to gain back more time in their lives, and to finally achieve financial freedom.
In this episode, Casey and Stacey chat about how Stacey set her own path in dance, the importance of feedback, owning your strengths, the lessons dance taught her to help her become a successful entrepreneur, and how she makes the most of every day.
To access Stacey's custom made to-do list, click here. Check out her services and resources at her website simplystaceymorgan.com and follow her in instagram @simplystaceymorgan.
Andrea Trench is the creator of DiscoverDance, a research-based Early Childhood Dance Education program. DiscoverDance offers dance educators resources for continuing education throughout their career, so the learning and growing never stops! From their online courses and training videos, to their innovative DiscoverDance Lab where you can create your own unique curriculum, to their DiscoverDance Library full of hundreds of class activities, this is a valuable resource for teachers at every stage of their career.
In this episode, Casey and Andrea discuss the benefits of a concept-based dance program, classroom management tips for preschool age dancers, performance strategies with the little ones, and so much more!
Andrea Gibson is a self-compassion and mindset coach, dance teacher and choreographer, and mental health advocate. She is the creator and founder of UNCONDITIONAL, the self-love movement.
Through Mindset Movement it is her mission to help dancers understand their own magic and how to tap into it. Whether through studio workshops or one on one coaching, Andrea focuses on building each child’s inner champion while creating mindset tools for both in and outside the studio.
Learn more about Andrea and UNCONDITIONAL on her website here, and catch up with her on Instagram @theunconditionalmovement
This episode was recorded on April 1st, 2022.
Mobile Preschool Dance Program guru Erin Burd joins Robin and Casey this week to talk about how to take your studio on the road to local preschools and daycares. She also shares how her dad inspired her to dive into coaching and helped her realize the power of the impact we make as studio owners, mentors, and educators.
Want to connect with Erin? Check out her website here.
Robin and Casey are back to chat all about their 2022 Recitals: what worked, what went wrong, what they learned, and what they're planning on implementing for future shows.
Join the DSO Connect Community on Facebook! Our next Community Coffee Chat is Friday, July 1st at 11am Eastern.
This week Robin talks with Personal Dance Trainer and owner of BodyKinect, Kendall Baab all about how to keep our dancers well with strength training, cross-training, injury prevention, and more. Kendall is a NASM Certified Personal Trainer and a BASI Certified Pilates Instructor with a dance specialization. She is also a Certified Health Coach through Dr. Sears' Wellness Institute. Kendall works with dancers all over the United States on strength, conditioning, and flexibility to enhance performance and prevent injury. To learn more about Kendall and to inquire about working with her, connect with her on Instagram @trainwithkendall or visit her website: https://www.bodykinect.org/
When it comes to dancer drama, prevention is key. Veteran studio owner Suzanne Citere talks to Robin and Casey this week all about what she's learned over the years about how to handle dancer conflicts when they bubble up, plus what the pandemic has taught her, and what she learned from being a "clueless" horse show mom.
35-year studio owner veteran Rhonda Foote joins Robin and Casey this week to talk about how she creates performance opportunities for her Outreach Company dancers all year long. PLUS, her shows are ALL donation-based to raise money for local families and children in need. Learn about how Rhonda channels her impressive energy to create memories, connection, and support for her community.
Kristin Deiss and Michelle Loucadoux are on a mission to change the dance industry one dance teacher at a time. They created Danscend to bring mental wellness to the forefront of dance training by providing a space for education, application, and community to dancers, educators, and professionals. Through their extremely affordable resources for teachers and dancers, they tackle topics like performance anxiety, body image, self-talk, perfectionism, and so much more. To learn more, visit www.danscend.com
As dance studio owners, we just can't escape some tricky conversations. Whether it's parent complaints about casting or level placement, or drama between students, we have to be able to face these discussions with a level head. This week on the pod, Casey and Robin share recent instances in their own studios where they've had to handle delicate topics with parents and students.
Got a sticky situation at your studio? Get some advice and clarity (and vent about it!) in the DSO Connect Community group on Facebook! Just answer the questions to join. We can't wait to meet you!
This week Amanda and Heather join the podcast with Robin and Casey to talk about professional development for studio owners: why it's so important, experiences we've each had at various events, and all about the DSO Connect 2022 Studio Owner Retreat, June 27th-29th in Phoenix, Arizona! We can't wait to see you there!
Casey and Robin are back this week to talk all about Open Marley Night - an event that Robin created years ago as a sort of Open Mic night for dancers. Plus, they share tips on how to find great guest artists for your studio.
Susanne Puerschel, former international ballerina and founder of R.I.S.E. Media joins Casey and Robin this week to talk about...well, a whole lot! From cultivating a growth mindset in our studios, to dancing in the metaverse, to shifting the dance education industry away from toxicity, this episode is packed with food for thought.
It's our 100th episode! We're quite proud to have made it to this podcasting milestone, and so eternally grateful to all of our listeners! THANK YOU for joining us for this ride! In this episode, Casey and Robin chat about what we've learned along the way, customer loyalty, and our favorite episodes.
We want to know what YOUR favorite DSO Connect Podcast episodes have been! Share with us in the DSO Connect Community on Facebook (answer the questions to join!)
This week Casey shares her mental health journey and how she manages her symptoms as a business owner.
Shawna Kwan opened her studio Elan Dance Arts in London, Ontario with a focus on adults. Over the last 15 years she has grown a loyal following of adult students in both dance and fitness classes. From logistics to marketing to curriculum, she's been through the trial and error process with her adults, so she knows what works!
To reach out to Shawna to learn more about her Dance Fit program, email her at shawna@elandancearts.ca
It's the new year, which means tax season is upon us! DSO Connect Community member and fellow studio owner Lynda Hammett joins us in this month's Coffee Chat call to answer all of our tax and finance questions. Not only is Lynda an amazing studio owner and foster mom, but she also works at an accounting firm AND is going to school to become an accountant.
Have more questions for Lynda or the general studio owner community? Share them in the DSO Connect Community group on Facebook! Make sure you answer the questions to join. Don't miss next month's Coffee Chat on Friday, February 4th at 11am Eastern.
This week Robin sits down with DSO Connect Community member Amy Habel for our first ever Member Spotlight! As the owner of Crossroads Irish Dance in Richmond, Virginia, Amy has developed an impressive, well-thought out customer journey. She shares her strategies for lead tracking, the trial class process, follow-up systems, and on-boarding.
Robin and Casey are back! This week they reflect on their highlights of 2021, and set goals and intentions for 2022. Join the conversation! Share your highlights and goals in the DSO Connect Community on Facebook! Make sure you answer the questions to join this free group.
Happy Holidays! We'll be taking the next two weeks off to focus on spending time with our families and friends. If you're not already, join the DSO Connect Community group to stay connected! Make sure you answer the questions to join.
This week Robin chats with our good friend Austin Roberson about his exciting new software, Class Kid. He shares how Class Kid can save you time and money by streamlining your studio processes and eliminating your subscription software services.
Want to connect with Austin? Email him at austin@classkid.com
We're back with Bonnie Sita for another episode featuring her DSO wisdom. This week she chats with Robin about how she created an after school program and boosted revenue at her studio!
To learn more about Bonnie and her coaching services, go to www.studiomasterymembership.com/
To join Bonnie's Facebook group, click here.
Bonnie Sita is back this week to talk all about how she packages her programs at her studio to curate an optimal student experience.
To get Bonnie's FREE marketing guide for studio owners, click here.
The whole DSO Connect crew (Casey, Robin, Amanda, Tami, Heather, and Holly) got together this week to talk about what they're thankful for in and out of their studios, and share how they'll be spending the Thanksgiving break.
Casey chats this week with Studio Owner veteran Bonnie Sita about how her studio has survived (and thrived) in the pandemic. She credits her success to being a parent-focused studio, thinking outside the box, and always remembering that building confidence in kids is the main goal.
To download Bonnie's FREE guide for marketing success by targeting parents' love language, click here.
Continuing last week's conversation with Dana Tibbetts, this week Robin talks with DSO Connect Mastermind Amanda Cacciotti about how she's reached her highest enrollment numbers ever by cultivating a strong community at her studio, keeping things interesting for her dancers, and cheering on her team.
Robin sits down with DSO Connect Community member Dana Tibbetts this week to talk about how she's building back her studio better than ever post-2020. By using exciting teaching strategies, word-of-mouth advertising, and Facebook, Dana has grown her enrollment AND revenue better than her pre-COVID numbers!
Casey talks this week with DSO Connect Community member and studio owner Trish Moulton and dance educator and life coach Chris Hale about how to create inclusive spaces for our trans and non-binary students, and why it matters.
Robin and Casey catch up this week and chat about what's happening at their studios, from conventions to student motivation deadlocks and power struggles to plain old exhaustion (this DSO life isn't always sunshine and lollipops). Plus, Robin's granddaughter turns one and Casey's getting a new roommate!
This week Robin and Casey sit down with Mandy Myrick, one of Robin's team members at her studio, to talk all about the National Honor Society for Dance Arts. This program, part of the National Dance Education Organization, helps recognize committed dancers for their academic, artistic, and community accomplishments. Mandy runs the NHSDA chapter at Robin's studio and tells us how she organizes the program, and how the program helps keep older students engaged at the studio.
Inevitably, as dance educators we will face the issue of injured students in our studios. This week Robin and Casey chat about how to keep those dancers engaged, from class observation to social media takeovers, and of course the importance of injury prevention.
Whether it's your studio's competition team, the high school musical, college dance team, or professional companies, our dancers will likely face some sort of audition scenario in their dance journey. It's our responsibility as studio owners and educators to prepare them for that experience. This week DSO Connect team member Holly Brucker joins Robin and Casey to talk about all the things we can do in our studios to help our dancers (and their parents!) feel confident and prepared when they step into their next audition.
Lawyer Cory Sterling chats with Robin and Casey this week about how he and his law firm, Conscious Counsel make law FUN for heart-leading businesses, including dance studios! From waivers to employee contracts and everything in between, Cory has the expertise and the positive attitude to help guide his clients to peace of mind in all their business relationships.
Cory has an exclusive offer just for DSO Connect listeners! Get his brand new online course, Don't Get Sued: Legal Essentials for Wellness Professionals, a $297 value, for FREE with promo code DSO. This course covers all the core issues Cory sees his clients have the most questions about, including:
- Business structure
- Operating online (privacy, T&C, disclaimers)
- Waivers of Liability
- Trademarks + IP
- Membership/service agreements
- Employee & Independent Contractor agreements
Click here and use promo code to get this $297 course for FREE!
Whether your first week of classes is right around the corner, or you've already begun your season, it's always a good time to WOW your customers and make parents and students feel welcomed and included. This week Robin and Casey share some ideas to set the stage for a great new season of dance!
As summer comes to a close and we're gearing up for fall classes to start, it's super important to be focusing on a few things: marketing (both internal and external), debriefing your summer programs and events, and most importantly, rest and self-care!
Birthday parties are a GREAT way to reach new customers and increase revenue at your studio! Casey shares some of her strategies for making birthday parties at her studio incredible events for the birthday child and their guests, as well as all their parents.
For more in-depth details on how to make birthday parties successful at your studio, join the DSO Connect Member Vault, where we'll be sharing even more info on birthday parties in the next few months.
As the summer comes to a close, and the beginning of a new season is right around the corner, it's the perfect time to spruce up your studio! Whether it's painting, fixing things, or updating your photo wall, we've got some ideas to help you freshen up your space on a budget!
Become a patron on Petreon and get exclusive access to a bonus podcast episode each month! Find out more here.
Are you still waiting for your students from the 2019-2020 season who dropped off after COVID to re-enroll? This week Robin and Casey share three simple ideas to re-engage with these families and get them back in the door!
PLUS, learn all about the new structure of the DSO Connect Member Vault! With two new tiers of membership, you can cover the cost of your ticket to next year's Retreat! Learn more and sign up here.
DSO Connect is now on Patreon! For just $5 or $10 a month, you can make a huge impact on our show! Learn more and sign up as a patron here.
WHAT A WEEKEND! The DSO Connect 2021 Retreat was a HUGE success. It was three days full of studio owners learning, growing, and making connections. This week on the podcast, all six of the DSO Connect team do a Retreat recap, sharing our personal highlights and favorite moments.
Are you a member of the DSO Connect Community? Get all the latest updates on next year's retreat by joining our FREE Facebook group! Click here and make sure you answer all the questions to join. We can't wait to meet you!
In honor of the entire DSO Connect team being reunited for the first time in over two years, we're going back to the very beginning! In this intro episode, you'll meet all six members of the DSO Connect team, Casey, Robin, Tami, Holly, Heather, and Amanda, learn all about the start of DSO Connect, how to get involved, and more!
Join the DSO Connect Community on Facebook! Click here, and make sure you answer all of the questions to join.
With a new season looming on the horizon, this week Robin and Casey talk about all things team communication: how to communicate with your staff to keep everyone on page all year, from fall kickoff meetings to apps like Band and Trello.
It's not too late to sign up for the Virtual DSO Connect Retreat! Deadline to register is THIS WEDNESDAY 7/14! Click here for more info and to sign up. You won't regret it!
After a few DSO Connect members have asked about their relationship, this week Casey and Robin take a trip down memory lane and talk all about how their relationship has evolved from teacher/student, to studio owner/student, to employer/employee, to mentor/mentee, and now colleagues and close friends! Plus more info on the 2021 DSO Connect Retreat, and Robin's new RV!
For more info on the 2021 DSO Connect Retreat (July 23rd-25th), available both in-person and virtual, check out our website here. Not available that weekend? You'll have full access to the recordings of the entire weekend for a full 14 days afterwards! You don't want to miss this content!
It's the dreaded scenario that happens to the best of us: one of your faculty has left your studio to open up their own studio down the street and is soliciting your students. Or maybe an existing studio is relocating or opening a new location near you. What do you do? It's not the end of the world, but you do need to combat this situation strategically. This week Casey and Robin talk about all the things you need to keep in mind when this happens to you.
Welcome to the DONE CLUB! (And if your Recital is still yet to come, merde!) It's such a relief to have the annual Recital in your rear view mirror! It's so important to debrief after your studio's big events to find out what worked, what didn't, and where to go moving forward. This week Casey, Robin, and Holly sit down to chat about their spring shows, and also share some tips they've learned that help their show weeks go smoothly.
Feel like a chicken with its head cut off on Recital day? That time ends NOW! This week Casey and Robin share the steps they've taken and the systems they've implemented to make sure they can actually ENJOY Recital day with their students and their families!
Do you dread releasing class/company placements or cast lists because you just know someone will be upset? This week Robin and Casey chat about all the ways they handle student placement at their studios, including how to have those uncomfortable conversations with disappointed parents and dancers.
Shylo Martinez, Assistant Dance Professor and Musical Theater Dance Coordinator at Shenandoah Conservatory of Shenandoah University chats with Robin and Casey all about what dancers need to know to succeed in a collegiate dance program, and what we as studio owners can do to help them be prepared.
Jackpot! This week Robin, who is in her 30th year of studio ownership, shares 11 important lessons she's learned along the way. You won't want to miss this episode!
This week Robin tells us all about company auditions at her studio, and how she uses the audition and placement process as an opportunity to teach her students valuable lessons.
This week Amanda & Heather do a Podcast takeover to talk about the importance of finding an accountability buddy. They will take us on the journey of how they began to hold each other accountable and how that has helped their friendship and businesses grow. Find your own accountability buddy in the DSO Connect Community group on Facebook! If you're not already a member, click here and make sure you answer the questions to join.
Do you sometimes feel like you're just a big ol' hot mess, and eventually everyone around you will discover you're a fraud? You're not alone! It's called Impostor Syndrome, and SO MANY OTHER DSOs FEEL THIS WAY! This week, Casey and Robin chat about how to banish self-doubt, win over impostor syndrome, and how to gracefully handle negative customer reviews.
This week Casey chats with social media strategist Sheina Raskin about how you can save time and energy on social media by being purposeful with your posts. Follow Sheina on all Instagram and Youtube at @sheinaraskin. Download out a FREE engagement checklist from Sheina here.
Award-winning Professor of Dance at Tulane University Jeffrey Gunshol joins us this week to talk about how to prepare our students for college dance programs. Plus he shares some great ideas of how to help our dancers develop their creativity.
Feeling a little dissatisfied with the dance competition scene? Want to find a way to showcase your Ballet or Modern performers? Check out this week's episode with Carrie Millikin Euker, Artistic Director of Etoile Competition. Carrie's vision is to create an inclusive ballet and concert dance focused competition for all abilities to promote artistry through empowerment and education while providing opportunities for exposure. Listen in to learn all about what makes Etoile different!
Ever feel like there's just SO MUCH that goes into running your business? Like it's too much and you're overwhelmed? This week Casey talks about the idea of categorizing everything about your studio business into five areas or branches to more easily systematize your tasks, projects, and events. Create a dashboard or road map for your studio so you can see the big picture so nothing gets lost, forgotten about, or neglected, and you can create a healthy, thriving, growing business.
We'll be diving deep into this concept at this year's retreat! Join us, July 23rd-25th in Cape Coral, Florida. Click here for more info and to grab your spot!
In preparation for this year's DSO Connect Retreat, this week Robin and Casey chat with DSO Connect Community members Trish Moulton and Chan'tele Rountree all about their experiences at our past Retreats.
This year's DSO Connect Retreat is July 23rd-25th in Cape Coral, Florida (there's a virtual option, too!). Space is EXTREMELY limited, so don't wait to sign up! Click here for more info and to save your spot.
From your daily calendar to digital and paper files, this week Casey and Robin chat about how they organize their lives and their businesses. Join the conversation! This Friday, March 5th, 2021 at 11am eastern we're having our monthly Coffee Chat in the DSO Connect Community group. Bring your own ideas and questions about organization!
DSO Connect Community member Hillary Howard joins us this week to chat all about the academic and movement based preschool she runs at her dance studio.
This week, Holly brings us Parts 3 & 4 of the Email List Building Lab, and takes us through the process of creating our opt-in page, free content, and follow-up emails. If you haven't listened to last week's episode, go back to episode 55 to catch parts 1 & 2 of the Email List Building Lab. For the FULL Email List Building Lab course with videos and downloadable content, click here.
This week and next week we're bringing you some extra special content! Holly created a FREE four-part course, The Email List Building Lab, and we wanted to share it with you via the podcast, too! This week Holly shares parts one and two, and tune in next week for parts 3 & 4.
To sign up for the full course and get access to the videos and downloadable PDFs, visit us online here.
Tracey Wozny is this week's guest, and she tells us all about her leadership program Taking Shape. She's got some exciting ideas to share about how to empower the next generation of leaders!
For our listeners only, use coupon code DSO50 to get $50 off your membership in Tracey's program if you buy in the month of February 2021. Go to takingshape.care for more info and to sign up!
The DSO Connect Member Vault is open! This month only, join to get access to amazing, actionable content every month! Click here to unleash your greatness as a studio owner and start living a balanced life!
Stay tuned for more info about a FREE mini course to build your email list!
We just love chatting with our amazing community members! This week we sit down with Brenda Bennet, who has owned her baton and dance school for 38 years! She's got tons of wisdom to share, so you won't want to miss this one!
We've got some retreat details to share! Mark your calendars for July 23rd-25th and book your tickets, we're going to Cape Coral, Florida for this year's DSO Connect retreat! More info will be out soon, so stay tuned. In the meantime, grab a replay of last year's amazing retreat here: https://www.dancestudioownerconnect.com/dso-connect-retreat-replay
And don't forget to join our FREE online community on Facebook! Click here and make sure you answer the questions to join. We can't wait to meet you!
This week we're celebrating one whole year of podcasting! It's been a great ride so far and we're excited to keep it going. In this episode, Robin and Casey chat about what's going on in their lives and their studios, plus the new round of PPP loans coming out now.
Are you a member of the DSO Connect Community? Join us! We are a FREE group on Facebook for dance studio owners to connect, share ideas, inspire one another, and provide support. We help troubleshoot each other’s problems and celebrate each other’s successes. We have two Zoom calls a month, Coffee Chat Fridays and Wine Down Wednesdays, where we get to hang out together with fellow DSOs who really “get it.” So if you’re looking for support, connection, and judgement-free advice, join us today! Click here and answer the questions to join. We can’t wait to meet you!
This week's episode is Part 2 of our conversation with Danielle McKee. If you haven't listened to Part 1 yet, go back and check out Episode 50 before listening to this week's episode. In Part 2, Danielle tells us all about how she gets her families involved in the Recital process, plus community sponsorships, and more!
DSO Connect Community member Danielle McKee joins us this week AND next week to talk about all things Recital. In Part 1 she discusses her journey as a young future-lawyer-turned-DSO, how to produce amazing story-telling Recitals, pictures and programs, and what it takes to create magical performance experiences that families want to be a part of.
Have YOU joined the community yet? DSO Connect Community is a FREE group on Facebook just for dance studio owners to share ideas, support one another, and connect! Find us and join the conversation!
To close out 2020, we're sharing our favorite podcast episodes from the year! This week we're featuring Robin's favorite, from back in March (Pre-COVID times!), a conversation between Robin and her husband Wally. Together they discuss their journey as a couple, the evolution of Robin's studio, and Wally's role in the business.
Start the New Year out right with a FREE month of the DSO Connect Member Vault for January 2021! Just write us a review on apple podcasts by December 31st, and you're entered to win. It'll only take a moment of your time, and it will really help us spread the word about DSO Connect!
To close out 2020, we're sharing our favorite podcast episodes from the year! First up is Casey's favorite, from back in June, a conversation with Darby Pack. Casey and Darby had a great conversation about race in the dance industry, from what white studio owners need to know about their students of color, to advocating for a wider variety of "flesh" colors in dancewear, to discrimination in casting, and then some! This is definitely a conversation worth revisiting!
Start the new year out right with a FREE month of the DSO Connect Member Vault for January 2021! Just write us a review on apple podcasts by December 31st, and you're entered to win. It'll only take a moment of your time, and it will really help us spread the word about DSO Connect!
This week we take another peek behind the scenes of Robin's studio by sitting down with Jaime Ferguson, Robin's Human Resources Director. Jaime tells us all about what DSOs need to know to keep their staff ship sailing smoothly.
Leave us a review on Apple itunes by December 31st and be entered to win a FREE month of the DSO Connect Member Vault for January 2021!
In this week's episode! We sit down with Kathy Jones, Robin's Office Manager at her studio, who is a WEALTH of great ideas! If you're considering bringing on an admin staff, or aren't sure how to fill your current admin staff's time, this is the episode for you!
This week Austin Roberson, founder and CEO of Studio Suite joins us to talk about his software, and how DSOs should be marketing their studios. Learn more about Austin's products here: www.getstudiosuite.com
This week Robin and Casey interview the one and only Tricia Gomez, creator of Hip Hop in a Box and Rhythm Works Integrative Dance programs. She talks about how she took these baby ideas and turned them into marketable products, and how being open to whatever the universe holds brought her some amazing opportunities.
Robin and Casey catch up this week and discuss a few smaller topics that have been brought up in the DSO Connect Community group lately: separating personal and business, pros and cons to re-opening your studio's lobby, and employees behaving badly.
Dance educator and school psychologist Angela DeMarco joins Casey and Amanda this week to talk about mental health, from performance anxiety to learning disabilities, and how to create a dance environment that's healthy for our minds, too!
Jazz dance expert and Owner and Executive Director of the 360 Dance Festival Richard Smith joins us this week to talk about everything from his early days of dancing at recess with his schoolmates to the evolution of the dance industry post-COVID, and so much more! You don't want to miss this fascinating conversation!
You know and love her for her contagious enthusiasm and high-energy teaching style; this week Robin and Casey interview the one and only Julie Kay Stallcup! They talk about some of her proudest accomplishments, the sale of her dance studio, and what's next!
Our first Q&A episode! Have questions for us, or want to let us know how you've implemented some of our ideas at your studio? Or share something that made YOUR heart happy! Email us at dsoconnect6@gmail.com We can't wait to hear from you!
We have two favors to ask you, dear listeners! First, please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast to help us reach - and help - as many people as possible! Second, we're working on an upcoming Q&A episode, and we need your questions! From professional to personal, nothing's off limits! Post your questions in our FREE Facebook group, DSO Connect Community, or email them to dsoconnect6@gmail.com, and be sure to put "Podcast Q&A" in the subject line. Thank you!
This week, it's all about the love! How do you show your love and appreciation to your team? This week we sit down with Amanda Cacciotti who tells us all about how she utilizes her staff's love languages to effectively show them how much they mean to her.
Robin and Casey have just under two weeks of the new dance season under their belts, so they discuss hiccups and pleasant surprises they've encountered so far. Plus, they both have some creative ideas for events and performances to keep your whole dance year exciting.
Membership in the DSO Connect Member Vault closes at the end of September, 2020! Don't miss out on our great monthly content that will help you get your studio running like a well-oiled machine. To learn more and be the last DSO to get in on our membership for several months, visit our website at www.dancestudioownerconnect.com.
With all the change going on in our lives and in our businesses right now, it's a great time to crack open the books and take a good hard look at our numbers. This week we revisit Episode 8, in which Robin tells us all about Profit First and how this budget strategy can help drive our businesses to success.
The Member Vault doors are closing at the end of September! Don't miss out on all the great monthly content! Go to www.dancestudioownerconnect.com to join us!
After all the talk the last two weeks about the pitfalls of competitions, we wanted to shine some positive light on this side of the dance world this week! Casey sits down with Holly, who runs a wildly successful competition program at her studio, to talk about how to do competition the right way.
Our Member Vault closes at the end of September! Don't miss out! To learn more and sign up, visit our website www.dancestudioownerconnect.com and click on the "Membership" tab.
This week we continue our conversation with Chasta Hamilton, author of Trash the Trophies: How to Win Without Losing Your Soul. To learn more about Chasta and to purchase her book, visit her website at www.chastahamilton.com
This week Robin and Casey chat with author and DSO Chasta Hamilton about her new book, Trash the Trophies: How to Win Without Losing Your Soul. Chasta made the bold choice to remove her studio, Stage Door Dance Productions, from the dance competition world. Through this enormous shift, she learned a lot about leadership, communication, and trusting your gut. This book is a must-read for dance educators, studio owners, and leaders everywhere!
You know your own clientele the best! This week Robin and Casey discuss their very different mask policies at their studios and how they arrived at these decisions. The bottom line is: your values have to lead your decisions.
No matter what kind of studio you run, or where you're located, competition or not competition, if you're more urban or more rural, you can find someone to align with in the DSO Connect Community. Join the group, make connections, and be a part of the conversation!
This week all six ladies of the DSO Connect team sit down to share some of their favorite things! From essential oils to watches to apps to lipstick, we're covering all our bases on products and services that make our lives better!
Join the conversation and share your own favorite things in our FREE Facebook group: DSO Connect Community. We can't wait to meet you!
Your plate is SO FULL as a DSO! Take one big thing off your to-do list by hiring a Social Media Manager! In this episode, Robin talks to her own Social Media Manager, Santina Rigano-Lesch. Santina is a former DSO herself, so she gets what your business is all about! If you're interested in learning more about working with Santina, email her at hello@santinarigano.com
You know holding classes on Zoom is probably going to be a part of the future of your studio...but what now? Are you wondering how to set up an efficient system for teaching remote classes in the studio? We sit down with Melanie Boniszewski, owner of Tonawanda Dance Arts, who tells us all about her professional Zooming set up!
We're back after a HUGELY successful Virtual Retreat last week! We're all about keeping the momentum going by joining our exclusive Membership program! This week on the podcast, Robin and Holly take a closer look at what amazing content is included in this monthly membership, from master class webinars, to task calendars, and done-for-you social media posts. All this for just $27 a month! Listen in to learn more about the benefits of our Membership. We've been working hard on it and we can't wait to share it with you!
Missed out on the retreat but want to catch up on what you missed? You can find recordings of all our amazing content on our website!
Visit us online at www.dancestudioownerconnect.com for more info and to join our membership today!
This week we're featuring a conversation all about what we wish we would have known when we first started our studios and all the important lessons we've learned along the way.
The DSO Connect 2020 Virtual Retreat is THIS WEEK, Tuesday July 14th through Thursday July 16th. You don't want to miss this amazing event! Learn more and sign up on our website: www.dancestudioownerconnect.com We can't wait to see you!
We're back with another great interview! This week Casey sits down with Chan'tele Rountree, owner of The DREAM Center in Tucker, Georgia. Their conversation touches on everything from Chan'tele's experiences growing up as one of just a few black students in a predominantly white studio, to her calling to create an innovative new Preschool program, to our very own DSO Connect community!
We want to hear from YOU! Have feedback or suggestions to share? Want to be interviewed on a future episode of the DSO Connect Podcast? Just want to share some love? Email us at dsoconnect6@gmail.com and put Podcast in your subject.
The DSO Connect 2020 Virtual Retreat is right around the corner! July 14th-16th, all ONLINE! Click here for more info and to snag your spot!
This week, Casey sits down with Ami Dowden-Fant, owner of River City Dance and Performing Arts Theatre in Richmond, Virginia. Ami discusses her experiences with racism as a student and professional dancer, and her insights into how dance educators can help their students become amazing humans, regardless of their color.
The conversation on race and racism continues this week with Keisha Stewart, owner of Barre None Dance Company and Power House Dance in Virginia. Together Keisha and Casey discuss the importance of hair, tights, and having open, honest conversations in order to create truly diverse dance communities.
This week Casey interviews Darby Pack, owner of the Maryland Academy of Dance in Pikesville, Maryland. Together they discuss issues of race and racism in the dance industry and what white studio owners need to know to help their dancers of color feel welcomed and included.
We're back after taking a break last week! This week Casey interviews DSO Connect's Amanda Cacciotti. Together they talk about how to be a strong and effective leader and Amanda shares how she advocated for our industry to get dance studios considered in New York state's re-opening plans.
This week, Robin interviews Co-DSO Connect Co-Founder Heather, who has miraculously reopened her studio in Georgia. She's got plenty of insight and lots of wisdom to share!
Join the conversation! Our FREE Facebook group is DSO Connect Community. We can't wait to meet you!
We've figured out our Recitals, we've got our summer plans all but locked down, so what about fall? This week Robin and Casey discuss their cautious but optimistic plans for re-opening in the fall. What precautions and procedures need to be in place? What new considerations for scheduling need to be made? And the dreaded subject of increasing prices (spoil alert: we're all gonna have to do it!)
Join the conversation in our FREE Facebook group: DSO Connect Community. This Wednesday, May 20th at 10pm Eastern is our monthly Wine Down Wednesday! Grab a drink and hop on Zoom to chat with your fellow dance studio owners about whatever's on your mind! We can't wait to see you!
In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, this week Casey sits down with fellow studio owner Amy Hornberger to discuss their own mental health struggles, how Amy's background in Psychology helps her as a studio owner, and how she balances her own wellness with running her business.
Join the conversation! Our FREE Facebook group is DSO Connect Community. We can't wait to meet you!
This week Casey interviews DSO Connect member Trish Moulton, owner of Dance Studio of Maine. Together they discuss how to maintain your studio's culture while teaching online, moving forward with message marketing, regrettable costume choices of the 80s, and so much more.
Join the conversation! Our FREE Facebook group is DSO Connect Community. We can't wait to meet you!
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Robin got her PPP money, yay! But that opens the door to a whole new fun list of issues. This week she and Casey also discuss this along with their plans for summer, Recital, and more.
Please subscribe, rate, and review! Share this podcast with your friends in the dance industry!
Join the conversation in our FREE Facebook group, DSO Connect Community. We can't wait to meet you!
Yup, we're talking about COVID again! This week Robin and Casey discuss what technologies they're using now more than ever, how they're pivoting their businesses, what life might look like when we re-open, and options for summer. Oh and Robin has some BIG news to share!
Join the conversation! Our FREE Facebook group for dance studio owners is DSO Connect Community. We can't wait to meet you!
Are you daydreaming about the day you get to reopen your studio and welcome students back into your classrooms? Us, too! What if you were able to re-launch your studio after COVID madness has subsided with a stronger, healthier, more robust business model? It's possible! Listen to Robin as she explains how she's built her business to include class packages, perpetual programs, and membership pricing, with amazing success! Let's come out of this better than ever!
Join the conversation! Find our FREE group on Facebook, DSO Connect Community. We can't wait to get to know you!
This week, Robin and Casey are back to talk about how they're doing in our "new normal," including government funding opportunities, staffing and delegating, Recital plans, community engagement, and more!
In this seminar from the DSO Connect Retreat 2019, founding member Amanda Cacciotti shares how to grow a thriving Tap program at your studio, from music theory concepts, to costuming hints, to improvisation games, and more!
It's a crazy, stressful time out there! In this week's episode, Robin and Casey share some ideas to keep our businesses THRIVING in these uncertain times.
Join the conversation, share ideas, and get support! Find the group DSO Connect Community for dance studio owners on Facebook.
In this clip from the DSO Connect 2019 Retreat, Casey Royer takes you through developmental milestones of ages 3 through 18, so you know how to meet your students where they are and effectively teach all ages and developmental stages.
The DSO Connect Member Vault is live! Join for fresh monthly content including video webinars, downloadable PDFs, social media templates, task calendars, and more! Learn more and sign up at https://www.dancestudioownerconnect.com/membership
Join the conversation, get some support! Find us at DSO Connect Community on Facebook.
This week's episode is a conversation between Robin and her husband Walter. They talk about their relationship, their studio, and what helps make them successful as a couple and in business.
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The DSO Connect Member Vault is now LIVE! The DSO Connect ladies have been busy putting together an exclusive Membership Vault where we will share resources that we have developed over so many collective years of studio ownership. We want to share this knowledge and experience with you, in a down-to-earth, real life studio-owner kind of way! Get monthly videos, social media templates, downloadable PDFs, and MORE, for just $27 per month! For more info and to sign up, go to https://www.dancestudioownerconnect.com/membership
In this week's episode, Robin interviews Karen Clark, owner of Karen Clark Dance Studio in Victoria, British Columbia. Karen is celebrating her 32nd year in business and runs a thriving dance studio, including Royal Academy of Dance Ballet curriculum and a robust Hip Hop program. She has served generations of dancers in British Columbia. She and Robin discuss lessons they've both learned along the way, and steps that have helped make them successful.
Join the conversation! Our FREE Facebook group for dance studio owners only is DSO Connect Community. We can't wait to meet you!
Need to wrangle your studio's finances? In this episode, Robin explains Profit First, a system developed by Mike Michalowicz to prioritize profit to build a healthy business.
Join the conversation! Check out our FREE Facebook group for dance studio owners only: DSO Connect Community.
Would you rather keep a student at your studio for a 6-week session, one semester, one year, or until they graduate from high school? Until they graduate, of course! Retaining our students is a win for the student, the family, the teacher, and the studio owner. So HOW do we keep our students from leaving our studios? It comes down to the STRUCTURE of our programs and the CULTURE of our studio life. Listen to this week's episode as Robin and Casey discuss how to create a dance studio where students and families are super-glued for the long haul!
It's a problem every DSO faces, no matter where you're located or what age or style you specialize in: handling issues with parents. From financial to student placement, tackling these concerns almost requires a degree in psychology! But have no fear, Casey and Robin walk you through how to handle these tricky situations, and how to avoid them altogether!
Keep the conversation going! Join our FREE group on Facebook: DSO Connect Community.
Ever wonder how other dance studio owners organize their days? How do other people get everything done? Do you wonder if you're the only one who is up until 2am working on their business? Do you need some tips and tricks to being more productive and efficient? Listen to Robin, Casey, and Holly tell you about how they get stuff done as studio owners!
Join the conversation in our FREE Facebook group for dance studio owners: DSO Connect Community! This is a judgement-free zone for studio owners to connect with each other, share ideas, grow our businesses, and inspire one another. We can't wait to meet you!
Does the thought of summer at your studio give you anxiety? We all know how hard summers can be as studio owners. In this episode, we talk about all the different ways to run summer programs at your studio (or not!) to make it work for you!
Join the conversation in our FREE Facebook group for dance studio owners: DSO Connect Community! This is a judgement-free zone for studio owners to connect with each other, share ideas, grow our businesses, and inspire one another. We can't wait to meet you!
Learn more about DSO Connect and register for the 2020 Studio Owner Retreat! http://www.dancestudioconnect.com
Who doesn't want more profit in their business??? Here are 10 simple ideas you can implement in your studio right away! From lowering tuition discounts to subscribing to auto-shipped toilet paper, these strategies, large and small, will help your business grow!
Join the conversation in our FREE group on Facebook: DSO Connect Community. Share ideas, get help holding yourself accountable, and learn from other studio owners! This is a judgement-free zone; no question is too big or too small! We're all here to learn, grow, and inspire each other!
Delegating in Your Dance Studio - How to stop swabbing the deck and start steering the ship.
Do you feel like you have SO MANY ideas, but not enough time or energy to implement them all? Do you know WHAT you should be doing to make your dance studio grow, but feel like you don't know where to start? The answer is in delegating! In this episode we take a look at people already in your dance family you can delegate to to make your life easier, without busting your budget!
Join the conversation in our FREE Facebook group: DSO Connect Community! This is a judgement-free space for dance studio owners to share, grow, and inspire one another. We can't wait to meet you!
dancestudioownerconnect.com
Meet DSO Connect! We're a group of 6 dance studio owners committed to helping other studio owners build successful businesses and live balanced lives. In this episode you'll get to know all 6 of us, hear about how we became friends, and what we have to offer. We hope you'll join us on this journey!
To join our FREE, judgement-free community for dance studio owners on Facebook, search "DSO Connect Community." Be sure to answer all the questions to be approved. We can't wait to meet you!