Introduction and question

[luvsdance]

Hi! I'm a dance instructor in pa. Been instructing for 7 going on 8 years in various dance styles. My first love is ballet, though! Look forward to posting here and getting to know some other dancers. :)

So here's my question. I just opened a studio and am slowly (or rather quickly after today) gaining a nice little group of students. I absolutely love working with these kids and am excited about our first year. One problem....the "other studio" down the street. I used to teach for them for two years and quit because I disliked the way they treated their students and instructors. And other instructors have quit for the same reason. They are extremely competitive and hate any other local studio to the point where they've literally said that they are "out for blood". Anyway, they have quite the beef with me over my opening a new studio. I make it a point to be cordial and nice, despite their attitude. Well, today we had our first open house! It went really well and we had a lot of people stop in...including the granddaughter/neice of the "other studio" owners. She didn't say word one to anybody, but came in and promptly pulled out a camera and snapped some pictures of our studio and left. I was actually out getting balloons at the time, but heard this through one of my instructors. Throughout the day this girl would stand outside our studio and glare in through the windows at us or send in one of her friends to ask questions. It was incredibly childish and annoying, but I wasn't sure what to do. I feel this behavior was completely innapropriate for being the "other studio" and I'm not sure how to handle the situation. Let it go and realize that they really have nothing to gain by what she did? Try and talk to them about this girl's behavior towards us? I'd rather have no contact with them. Any advice appreciated! Thanks!

[fascination]

welcome to DF...leave it alone...it takes to keep something festering...

[Standarddancer]

welcome!

just wondering if you have ever signed any studio contract with a "non-compete clause", means if you quit that studio, you cannot open a new studio within certain distance of the location of that studio.

I'm just wondering if that girl came in taking pictures of your studio was for the purpose of gathering evidence to sue your studio (hopefully you didn't sign things like that).

Or it's possible just that studio owners sent that girl to for photos so they see how you run business, how your studio looks, etc. just for their info.

Certainly no need to worry about them if you've never signed a contract with non-compete clause, keep smiling and be nice to all your instructors and students, do what you need to do to make your studio successful.

[QPO]

Yes I agree don't get involved, if you maintain civility they will look like the idiot. It also shows that they don't have business sense as competition is good.

[NielsenE]

I agree with the general theme of "ignore it and act civil";

however the other options to consider (and via a lawyer first) -- if she's inside the studio, you could ask her to leave; if she doesn't she's guilty of trespass. Similarly you could probably get her/them for loitering and/or trespass charges if they are blocking the storefront (depending on how your city defines easements, etc). Personally I would only consider these if I had multiple students complaining to me about her/their behavior... (Ie if their behavior was making current students upset and/or driving them away.... not if it was only affecting potential students decisions to enroll). Obviously these options greatly expand the scope of the "rivalry" and not something to approach lightly (and especially make sure there's no lurking non-compete before you escalate)

[nucat78]

Do you want to put your energy into fighting with these jerks or do you want to put your energy into building your business? You harvest what you plant.

If they do something particulalry egregious, I'd consult my attorney. Otherwise, to heck with them.

[luvsdance]

Thanks, for all the helpful replies. No, I never signed a non-compete agreement. And even if I did, I read somewhere that it would not hold up in court due to the court considering the other studio as keeping you from making a living with your profession after you leave their studio.

I decided to just leave it alone. This studio has already created a bad name for themselves and I''m sure this situation didn't help. There were people there who saw this girl doing all this and mentioned how inappropriate it was. I hope they don't do something like this next time. But if so, I'll be sure to speak up and say something. At this point, I really don't want to lower myself and my studio to their level. I prefer to keep a good name. Thanks! Your thoughts and opinions have made me feel better about my choice. :)

[reb]

Did they get that idea of taking pictures in a dance studio from "Shall We Dance"?? ;)

Welcome to Dance Forums.

We'd like you to succeed, of course!

Leaving it alone is good advice. And there is more, and this is not about them, its about you . . .

Aside from the compete clause and related issues, another issue business owners face are employees who leave with clients and/or client info. Since your business is important to you and you don't want it tainted with unethical behavior, document how you draw new clients while demonstrating how you didn't draw clients from your previous employer. Make sure your lawyer knows everything so they can advise you properly.

Good luck, keep asking, love your work, be excited, and stay ahead of the game!

[newbie]

In this case, aren't you the "other studio" ?

[SwingWaltz]

She didn't say word one to anybody, but came in and promptly pulled out a camera and snapped some pictures of our studio and left.

Well if you set up your studio identical as the "other" studio, you could be in for some trouble.

Even slogans or advertising words that closely resemble the "other" studio could get you in trouble.

[luvsdance]

In this case, aren't you the "other studio" ?

Not sure what you mean?

[luvsdance]

Well if you set up your studio identical as the "other" studio, you could be in for some trouble.

Even slogans or advertising words that closely resemble the "other" studio could get you in trouble.


No, absolutely NOTHING is like there studio. The only similarity is that we offer similar classes such as ballet, jazz, hip hop, etc... But those classes are offered at most any dance school you go to. I made it a point to keep everything about us unique as possible from them, so that people wouild not think in any way that we are a "copy cat". And quite honestly, they have been the ones who have broken contracts and left themselves open for a lawsuit. They fired an instructor when there was no legite reason and nothing in her contract to back them up.