Summer Competitions and Conventions

By Rhee Gold

 

Participating in summertime events is a big organizational task

 

Just when you and your family thought it was time for a well-deserved break from the  studio, you find yourself preparing to travel to a national convention or competition. Participation in these summertime events is a big organizational task, perhaps one of the toughest jobs of all. Leave no stone unturned when it comes to distributing information within and outside your meetings with participants so that you avoid encounters with uncooperative or ill-informed parents who may be upset by hidden expenses or last-minute surprises. Being organized and eager to answer questions yourself sets a positive tone for all involved. Your summer activities will be good for business and educational if they are well planned and fun.

 

Before committing to an event, make sure it is worth giving up your time. If it won’t be an educational and inspirational boom for both you and your dancers, consider finding activities that will be of more value to you. You want to be sure that your dancers and faculty leave the summer event motivated for a new season and to become better at what they do. Choose events that are of high quality and are well organized. Consider whether their organizers are willing to answer all of your important questions and treat your

 dancers and their families with respect.

 

A big question when deciding on outside activities with your dancers is whether parents can support  the financial burden that will be required by your plans. Parents appreciate your efforts to be sensitive to their needs. If you want to do something that you think is going to be very expensive, have a detailed fund-raising plan ready to outline to them when you walk into the meeting.

Scheduling is important to everyone. Plan your summer activities well in advance, giving your dancers and their parents plenty of time to prepare and raise the funds needed to attend. If the event will take place in July, then the start of the season is a good time to sit down with your competition team to make plans.

 

Consider how important the location of the team’s summer activities are to your dancers’ families. Try to choose a location or activity that will offer excitement for the non-dancing family members because it may be where and when families must take their vacations. Be prepared to explain all the reasons behind your choices to your dancers and their parents.

 

Tips For Your Summer Activities Meeting

Investigate the expenses and then estimate even higher than what you think they may be. Walk into the parent/student meeting with an estimate:

  • Extra rehearsal fees

  • Competition fees  

  • Convention fees

  • Food costs

  • Hotel expenses

  • Transportation costs

  • Expenses to and from the airport  and /or hotel

Details are important!

Know the arrival and departure dates and check-in times for the hotel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Copyright 2005 Gold Standard Press, LLC. Goldrush and Goldrush Online are published six to twelve times times a year. All rights reserved. Contents of Goldrush Magazine or Goldrush Online may not be duplicated in whole or in part without permission of the publisher. Inclusion in the Goldrush does not imply endorsement by Goldrush or its employees.