Wait, what's an “earworm”? That was my thought, when I first read the term in some long forgotten article. Turns out that it's an affliction that many of us have experienced…
An earworm, sometimes known as a brainworm, sticky music, or stuck song syndrome, is a catchy piece of music that continually repeats through a person's mind after it is no longer playing. Phrases used to describe an earworm include “musical imagery repetition”, “involuntary musical imagery”, and “stuck song syndrome”.
In the past, ad agencies loved to write catchy jingles with the implicit desire to implanted them as Earworms in customers.
Nowadays, companies with large TV/radio advertising budgets purchase the rights to use popular songs in their commercials – with the intent to connect a product/service/brand with an existing, popular earworm track. The best example that I'm aware of was Apple's use of the U2 track Vertigo in their 2004 iPod + iTunes “Silhouette” commercials. I still can't help thinking of iTunes whenever I hear this song!
https://youtu.be/54vgFVhOAF0
Creating your own earworm
Back in 2012 I wrote; You're a celebrity… act like it!
If you promise me that you won’t get a big head, I’d like you to go look in the mirror and repeat after me;
“I’m a celebrity and it’s about time that I started acting like one.”
Now I’m not suggesting that you should start arriving for your next class in a chauffeur driven limousine, nor am I recommending that you follow these seven steps to becoming a celebrity. But I am suggesting that you consider acting in a way that will cause others to be interested in you… which is really no different than the people you are interested in and what drives some of our attraction to other celebrities.
The dictionary lists ce·leb·ri·ty [suh-leb-ri-tee] as a noun meaning 1. a famous or well-known person. If you’ve been teaching for a while, I’m going to guess that within your little world, you are well known = you are a celebrity 🙂
So if the thought of you as a celebrity is intriguing, here are a few things you can work on…
I went on the list a number of actions you could take, including…
Consider a Theme Song
Where would Gilligan’s Island be today without … five passengers set sail that day for a three hour tour, a three hour tour. Admit it, you could hear the song as your read the words 🙂
What would be wrong with having a consistent song for your class intro? A song that your students begin to associate with your class?
Starting to see how using a popular song (making it part of your brand) could create an earworm that connects participants to your class?
I've felt that it was only a matter of time, before one of the mainstream Big Box clubs added an official Rhythm and Movement class offering.
Last month Life Time Fitness introduced AMP Cycle – from this video it appears to be a no-holds-barred, full on party, that will engage the same participants who are drawn to the massively popular studios offering similar class formats. NOTE: I haven't experienced an AMP Cycle class yet, however I plan to ASAP.
https://youtu.be/wRMgT-UZf9U
There were three important points that I found interesting in my interview with Rob Glick (LTF's Senior Director of Group Fitness, Yoga and Cycle). First how Rob placed their three Indoor Cycling offerings along a continuum…
AMP Cycle – Far Left > An entertaining party with a purpose!
EDG Cycle – Center > A nice blend of entertainment and metrics.
PWR Cycle – Far Right > Focused training, with no fluff.
… second – Instructors aren't forced into teaching a class format they either don't like, or aren't comfortable teaching…
… and third – participants enjoy a choice of three different class types.
Listen to the complete interview with Rob Glick below and then share your comments below.
If you're interested in becoming an AMP, EDG or PWR Cycle Instructor with Life Time Fitness, here's the link I promised Rob I'd provide to search for jobs in your area 🙂
AMP Cycle Instructor Job Description
Hey cycle junkie! So, you have an interest in becoming our next artist on the AMP Cycle team? Well, that's awesome and we can't wait to meet you. If you like loud music and choreographed high-energy workouts, AMP is for you!
In AMP we’re all about the beat of the music and the rhythm of our riders. AMP is an addicting, sweaty, party-like workout to challenge your Ambition, Motivation, and Passion. The best part of instructing this class is you get to be you…period. Engage with your audience! Be authentic! After all, class is all about connecting with yourself and the positive energy in the room. If this sounds like you, apply and audition to be an AMP Cycle Instructor at Life Time Indoor Cycle. We offer training, ongoing continuing education, support and resources to help you be a successful instructor. We believe we are stronger together and take pride in supporting our instructors while helping them be the best they can be! Are you ready to join this rapidly growing team? There’s an AMP Cycle class waiting for your encouraging voice and energetic personality. We're so excited to see what you got.
Meet Stephanie (Steph) Cohen – owner of Ride Revolution Cycling Studios in Northvale, NJ!
Steph is a member of our Cycling Studio Owners Advisory Group. In this episode of the Podcast, we discuss some of her most valuable lessons learned from running her successful studio for three years.
Name of Studio: Ride Revolution Cycling Studios, LLC Location of Studio: Northvale, NJ Phone: 201-259-7221 email: Steph@Ride-Revolution.com Owner Name: Steph Cohen Owner Title: Owner Years in Operation: 3 Years Size of studio: 2,000 Sq. Feet Number of members/clients: 2,400 Unique Visitors since opening
If you were advising somebody whose dream is to open a fitness studio — what would be your primary nuggets of advice?
Make sure the financial picture makes sense. The market where you are may not actually be able to hold your initial price per session. What are your earning projections if the price per session is a lower amount than originally offered?
Ensure you have a strong marketing budget. Too many studios forget this part or put it last on their budget list. While you are building your new place you need to begin the online and print advertising so that once you open locals will already recognize your name.
Have a clear mission — the “why” you opened your studio — and have that set the tone for all of your marketing and outreach. Make sure that your employees have the same vision in mind at all times as well.
In addition to having great instructors playing fabulous music, learn your client’s names and remember their unique stories. That is what will make them want to come back again and again.
Be prepared to do EVERYTHING yourself for the first few years. I am the front desk, marketing coordinator, instructor manager AND I wash the towels every few days! No task is too big or too small for the owner to actually do for the studio.
Download all 16 of Steph Cohen's Most Valuable Lessons Learned here – right click > save as.
We're looking for a Performance IQ Rockstar that we can develop into a Master Instructor – joining me to conduct PIQ Instructor trainings.
Master Instructor Qualifications
Are you super experienced at teaching Indoor Cycling classes where Performance IQ Display Training is a focus of the class?
Do you feel you have the passion and personality to enthusiastically transfer your knowledge and experience to other Instructors?
ICI/PRO is planning to develop, and then contract with, a Master Instructor to conduct workshops at North American (and potentially international) club and studio locations, beginning this fall 2016. The successful candidate will partner with me – Master Instructor Dennis Mellon.
If you've wanted to become a Master Instructor, this could be an awesome opportunity for you. My initial exposure here at ICI/PRO really advanced my career and lead to my current Master Instructor position!
Qualifications:
You’re recognised as a ROCKSTAR instructor, consistently filling your Indoor Cycling classes
You hold a current ACE/AFAA Group Fitness or Personal Training certification
You have a current Indoor Cycling certification from one of the established brands
You teach regularly scheduled Indoor Cycling classes at a club/studio that uses Performance IQ — and this is important — your supervisor is willing to be a reference
You have a thorough knowledge of zone based Heart Rate and Power training principles + you apply these consistently in your display training classes
Your classes are an effective mix of conventional and rhythm & movement formats; i.e. cycling specific training meets SoulCycle
Excellent computer skills — you’re the go-to person whenever there's an issue and who’s helping others learn to use PIQ at your studio
Written communication comes naturally to you
You have weekend (Friday — Sunday) travel flexibility
We're tentatively planning our first Performance IQ Display Training workshop for the middle of September at the Greenwood Athletic club in Greenwood Village, Colorado.
This is a contract position and the successful applicant will be compensated per training + travel expenses.
Please email me directly with your resume and a cover page to Dennis Mellon at dennismellon@me.com
The three Moms who run Wheel Power Studio; Stephanie Rubinstein, Tracy Chutnow and Donnie Stutland
Here's a fun studio pre-launch story you'll enjoy hearing – especially if you're planning a new studio yourself.
Former Flywheel Sports Instructor Tracy Chutnow partnered with former participants Donnie Stutland and Stephanie Rubinstein to launch Wheel Power Studio in Deerfield, IL.
During our interview, Tracy and Donnie explain how exciting it was to pre-sell class packages – generating profits long before their Zingfit website was completed or studio was open. These early purchases helped to reinforce their commitment to opening an Indoor Cycling studio + resulted in full classes from day one!
They both credited Charlie Green website design for creating an effective website landing page, that they promoted on social media. You can click the image below to request information.
You can hear their story below – or – you'll find this Podcast in our iTunes feed. You can subscribe for free .
Sadly this is what some people see when they look at your Indoor Cycles. Image from www.bikeradar.com
The big IHRSA convention starts tomorrow (can't wait) and as a follow up to my visit last year I wrote this article. If you visit that link and scroll down a bit, you'll see this image of a banner displayed at the entrance of the convention.
Recumbents in a Group Cycling class?
At the time I wrote:
This banner was the very first thing you saw walking into the LA convention center. My first impression was; “that’s dumb… who would ever want to ride a recumbent bicycle in an Indoor Cycling class?”
As I walked past this display I did a double take and then it hit me > there’s a huge population of people who are intimidated by the skinny, little seats on Indoor Cycles.
Obese/overweight people for starters and you can’t forget Seniors. Together they make up a sizable demographic that we are completely missing. They’re two groups who would really benefit from the comfort of riding on a recumbent, with its large seat and easy to step through design.
Despite all of the technological changes we've witnessed (Power Meters, Virtual Ride Videos & Display Training systems) + the massive increases in popularity (Thank You SoulCycle), Indoor Cycling is still failing to attract large segments of society who would really benefit from our classes.
I'll bet you can quickly describe the profiles of the typical people you do not see in your classes. They include:
Obese people of either gender.
Pregnant women.
People with a physical impairment or limitation – I group all the folks with back injuries here.
Seniors / Elderly living with everything negative that comes from aging.
People recovering from an injury.
Why is that? What's preventing (or discouraging) all the people in these groups from experiencing your awesome class? That skinny saddle for one thing. In the mind of someone 100lbs over weight, it may as well have sharp spikes sticking out… what about the person with a bad back? No way they'll even consider bending forward to reach those handlebars, no matter how high you adjust them. A common scourge of aging is limited mobility; “there's no way I could ever climb on that bicycle. My hips and knees just don't flex like they used to.”
It's the design, stupid.
The riding position of Indoor and outdoor cycles, while perfect for you and me, just doesn't appeal to the populations listed above. In fact there are many who would be terrified at the thought of mounting and riding the Indoor Cycles in your studio.
However they might be willing to join your class, if you offered them a recumbent to ride…
Again from last year's article I added;
I talked at length with the representative from Cascade Health & Fitness about helping them establish a few beta recumbent cycling locations. They are very motivated to meet with anyone who’s interested.
As it turned out there were some Instructors who were interested to experiment with adding a few recumbent Indoor Cycles to their classes. John Kennedy with Cascade Health and Fitness provided three studios each with a pair of recumbents and now, after about six months of use, we're hearing some favorable responses 🙂
Marietta Colberg Roberts is the Fitness Director at Old Town Hot Springs in Steamboat Springs CO. Listen as she describes her experiences bringing people into her classes, who otherwise wouldn't attend.
