by John | Dec 16, 2010 | Featured Studios, Member Spotlight
I met PRO Member Russell Carter at this year's conference as he was getting to open his new Body Cycle Studio – Indoor Cycling Studio in Philadelphia PA. He had been working with Bill Pryor on the business planning and was at the conference to brush up on his teaching skills in preparation for his new studio.
This is a great example of how you can convert a relatively small, downtown space into a beautiful studio. Follow the link to see the pictures of the studio.
Here is the Philadelphia Magazine feature about Russell and his studio for their Be Well Philly community section.
by John | Dec 13, 2010 | ICI/PRO Community, Latest News
Come on in and sit a spell
We had a request for a PRO Member Lounge … It goes here if it doesn't fit anywhere else.
I have to apologize that I don't get very involved in the Forum but it sure looks like our PRO members are getting involved and helping each other out. John
by John | Dec 13, 2010 | Latest News, Music
ICI/PRO member Shayne Farquhar sent me this update about the music licensing situation in Australia. If you haven't been following this:
The Phonographic Performance Company of Australia (PPCA), a leading recording industry group, won its bid to replace the previous copyright fee of 94.6 cents per fitness class, after the Copyright Tribunal ruled gyms should pay $15 per class to pay for the use of original music.
The ruling effectively meant that Instructors would be only able to use “approved” or “pre-cleared” music in their classes. This works great for Les Mills RPM programs because they are already using only this type of music.
Thankfully it appears that common sense prevailed and the ruling was overturned… at least for now.
Fitness Australia welcomed the decision and said the previous ruling would have had a detrimental effect on group exercise in the industry.
“If it had been upheld, the claim made by PPCA would have resulted in a typical fitness centre with 1500 members being forced to pay over $80,000 in fees per annum, a massive increase on the $2,000 they currently pay,” Fitness Australia chief executive Lauretta Stace said today.
“This decision will ensure that gyms, fitness and recreation centres remain viable and affordable for all Australians, helping them to maintain a healthy lifestyle.”
Help me understand this: The PPCA had an existing “use tax” and wanted to raise that tax 15oo%. Did they really believe every club would roll over and say “OK, we will pay the additional $78,000” and that the PPCA would take in additional revenue? I think the PPCA thought that Clubs didn't have a choice but pay the 1500% increase. But Clubs do have a choice and you can see it in action here in the USA with LA Fitness restricting Instructors to only use approved music. The result was clubs refusing to pay anything. So the effect was the PPCA gets less $$$ than their original deal.
The Internet (and iTunes) has changed everything and there's no turning back. Let me know your thoughts.
by John | Dec 6, 2010 | Latest News
The 2011 ICI/PRO Conference will be held in Boston (Danvers) again next fall on September 30th – October 2nd.
We (meaning our event coordinator Andrea Flaherty) has been researching locations for our next ICI/PRO conference since shortly after our first conference ended. Andrea send out dozens and dozens of RFP's (request for proposals) and it turned out that of the available space, our friends at the Crowne Plaza Boston North Shore continued to be the hands down best choice.
Here were some of our criteria:
- “Please keep this conference small and intimate !!!” was something Jennifer, Amy and I heard frequently. We loved connecting with many of you and agree that this is the single most important requirement of our conference.
- We can afford it with a limited number of attendees.
- Available dates that don't conflict with existing conferences or trade shows. This year our conference was during the Club Industry show and the SCW Fitness convention in Chicago. This (plus the limited lead time we gave them) prevented a number of manufactures from participating. 9/30 – 10/2 looks clear 🙂
- Everything under one roof. The ICI/PRO conference is all about our community and we didn't want people staying in one location and having to travel to a second.
- Somewhere on the East Coast. Our membership is heavily weighted to the east coast
- The hotel has experience with Fitness conferences.
- There is something to do, beyond the conference. Amy and I spent a fun day in Boston and next year we are planning additional time to explore Salem MA and the coast.
No location is perfect and the Crowne Plaza has agreed to address some issues we had; lunch selection and horrible coffee. Until we are at the point where we could add a second location we feel this is the best choice for this year!
Mark your calendars. More info very soon.
Update: I forgot to add: the new date is the week before Columbus Day, which will hopefully prevent the traffic nightmares issues some of you had to deal with driving into Boston 🙁
by Bill Pryor | Dec 4, 2010 | Your Fitness Business
Click image to join our Facebook Group – everyone encouraged to join!
Part 1: Are you an entrepreneur?
If it’s done right, a cycling studio can be a profitable and enormously rewarding way to spend your time. After all, what could be better than treating friends and neighbors to a workout that is helping them live a happier and healthier life?
Free Registration Required to continue — Click Here. Opens in a new tab.
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Let’s assume (since you are reading this), that you are a great instructor, or at least a great class participant who can recognize and perhaps even create an amazing SPIN® or indoor cycling class. OK, that’s part one. Do you also have world class people skills? Do you like working weekends and holidays? Can you learn to read and create a basic spreadsheet? Can you be nice and smile to people…..even if they are well, jerks? Are you willing to use a pedal wrench and (god forbid) a mop? Are you a never-say-die optimist?
If you are a great instructor, but said no to any of the above, you may want to stick with teaching that amazing class at local health club. If doing all that and building a community of riders sounds like a dream come true —– you may have what it takes!
Where do you start? You gotta have a business plan. I know the business sounds simple, but if you plan on investing a big chunk of your own, or someone else’s money, you should have something in place that outlines financial, operating, marketing and other factors…..in detail. Just the plan development itself will help you assess the fit with your own skills and personality.
In helping dozens of studio-starters create plans, we have noticed a few common themes: First there is a tendency to over-estimate how rapidly you can expect the customer base to grow. You will not open on day 1 with 30 classes / 30 bikes and 70% occupancy. Won’t happen. Second, there is a tendency to under-estimate expenses. Most business plans we produce have over 35 expense lines. Many are small, but they add up. Best to plan for that and understand how you'll collect class payments online.
That being said, with smart, realistic planning, and with crisp execution — wow, you build something amazing……while making the world a healthier place, one rider at time.
Bill Pryor owns his own 6 year old indoor cycling studio in Wellesley, MA and also provides consulting, business and marketing services to cycling studio entrepreneurs. www.spynergyconsulting.com Podcast #88 goes into an expanded discussion about starting your own a Spinning® Indoor Cycling Studio. You can schedule a free initial consultation with Bill to discuss your fitness business ideas – Email him billpryor@comcast.net
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by John | Nov 29, 2010 | Latest News
I found this map showing the percentage of obese adult population, listed by State and thought “what's so special about Colorado that they have the lowest obesity rate?” You Instructors in Mississippi have some “splainin to do” not to mention you have your work cut out for you… And Barbara, I know you are doing your best… but really, Georgia at 31.6 %? You can add your excuses below. I'm also curious to know; how do our International Instructors do in comparison?
