Franchise Experiences

I was just at the Arthur Murray Unique Dance-O-Rama in Costa Mesa yesterday, and I am curious about anyone’s experiences with and feelings about the ballroom franchises.

Personally I started at an Arthur Murray school but, unfortunately, the owner of that studio is one of the slimiest people I have ever met. It actually took a couple of years after I had left that studio before I would even set foot in another Arthur Murray studio. I did, however, eventually visit a couple of other Arthur Murray schools and was pleasantly surprised and impressed.

This weekend’s competition, however, was my first time seeing a franchise competition and I am still sorting out my impressions. There were definitely some elements that impressed me. The overall enthusiasm and support in the ballroom struck me as on par with what I’ve come to expect from the college circuit, but is almost entirely lacking at any other event. One thing that was particularly nice about this, aside from the general camaraderie, was the joy in dancing—both in doing it and watching it—something that seems sadly lacking in other events. Also, even though franchise events are expensive, I have to say that the decorations, catering, etc., were all really top notch—definitely at a scale that I have never seen at any independent event.

On the flipside, however, and something new to me, were the “Future Professional Champions” events. These are professional two-dance events that, to the best of my knowledge, are for instructors during their first two years (does anyone know if I got this right?). I have to say I found these events a bit shocking…someone who only competes in a two-dance event is an instructor? Of course there is the larger issue that good dancing and good instruction are not synonymous, but I think that is a different issue…

Anyway, I’m curious about anyone else’s experiences with and impressions of the franchises and franchise events…

Weeeell..I am biased lol. Fred Astaire all the way baby :] I'm not sure what the whole two dance instructor dancing was all about but I have to say that you hit the pros of the franchise pretty much on the head. I feel like there is a ton of support and excitement within a franchise. The studio forms a tight bond and the enthusiasm that the "employees" build definetly wears off on the students. Oh yea, and the catering and decorations are awesome :]

I've never had a lesson, either group or private, from a major franchise studio. I started out at a start-up studio, fairly big place, then migrated to take lessons from the major ballroom studios in the area. I stayed at the start-up for quite a while, as the owner gave me some serious discounts on privates, since I "helped train his instructors." What can I say, they made for good practice partners.

I actually had three separate private instructors at one point ... one from the start-up, one from an established studio, and argentine tango ... and the tango instructor was far and away the best. The fact that she had won her country's modern (standard) championship at an early age probably helped a bit.

Now I'm soon to have a new instructor, definitely the best I've ever had, both in ability and teaching skills, so I'll have to gear it up. I'm just hopeful that I won't have to go all the way back to the beginning again ...

hehe, I do a lot of my training on students [they get free/discounted lessons]. it helps me and the student out.

Chain Studios vs Independants

Chain studios have a definite advantage over 'most' independent studios because the advertising is shared by several franchises, and the cost of a franchise is only affordable for those who can put forth additional investment to embellish the studio in every way.
I worked for the Veloz & Yolanda studios in 1949; I joined the same branch as Jean Phelps only a month after she went through their teacher's training course of six weeks, six hours a day, six days a week. Many independent studio owners are former chain studio trained, as I was. However, There are too many untrained teachers running lose, so a student has to be judicious about picking a teacher from a dance hall just because they dance well. The best way to judge any teacher's ability is by the students they turn out.
Fred Astaire and Veloz & Yolanda studios in the 1950's did turn out more stylized graceful dancers then the Arthur Murray Studios in L.A. I haven't seen an Arthur Murray contests on TV for a few years, but when I did view them, I had difficulty identifying the differences in their styling for individual ballroom dances. If it wasn't for the music or the costumes all their moves and executions and styling were so similar that the individual dances lost much of their unique character and mood.
Great thread, Salsaguy!

MissAlyssa, I do have to say that the enthusiasm was, indeed, great!

At the same time though, many—if not the majority—of the “instructors” would have been wiped off the floor by a large percentage of the open level amateurs. So, for those students who enjoy the atmosphere and camaraderie provided within the franchise setting, I think they’re getting just what they want. For students who are trying to develop a certain quality of movement though, I think they need to be very careful within the franchise system (which is not, of course, to say that any such thing is in any way guaranteed in independent studios either).

FYI, this same prompt has generated some responses you may be interested in over in my yahoo group, www.groups.yahoo.com/group/Ballroom_Life/.

Very nice post, SD, I always was shown and held that if you're looking to take lessons in any form of dance that the best learning comes from a variety of teachers and methods of teaching.

-FF

Oooh anthropology. My future major.

My experience with the world of dance franchises has been limited and I plan to keep it that way. When it comes to ballroom things seem to be split down the middle. You've got the social and competitve and most of the time the two just don't seem to overlap.

Being more interested in the competitive aspect I find that anyone I want to take lessons with is affiliated with an independent studio. The chains are more focused on the everday social dancer and from what I've seen exclusively teach American style. I've read the franchises try to keep people from going beyond their network, hence one motive for exclusive competitions.

I'm dancing at a "former" Arthur Murray's (only in name it seems, except for that one teacher who makes it worth it) and paying up front for 10 privates and 10 groups set me on edge. All my other lesson programs were payed in installments. I don't know if that's significant or not, but it was another difference I noticed.

Yeah... so those are my observations, who knows though.

Panthra said:

Oooh anthropology. My future major.

Click to expand...

Really? What branch of anthropology are you interested in? FYI, feel free to be in touch if I can ever help out!

—Jonathan

Panthra,
I'm not quite sure why paying up front "pissed you off" but from an instructor's standpoint I'd like to share why I feel paying up front is a positive thing. Think of it this way, you have a lesson at 5 o'clock and you show up at 4:55 so you have time to put on your shoes etc before your lesson. At 5 o'clock I walk up and let you know that you have no more lessons paid for at the moment. Instead of starting a lesson on time you have to go and pay for a few more lessons, taking 10 minutes out of a lesson (on your time) that would otherwise have been taken care of. Furthermore, the higher the program you are enrolled in, the more fun and exciting things we can teach you during your lessons. Let me tell you, I'd rather be teaching you style, technique, or cool patterns during your lesson rather than watch you do the rumba box step for 30 minutes and for excitement throwing in an UA turn lol

MissAlyssa said:

Panthra,
I'm not quite sure why paying up front "pissed you off" but from an instructor's standpoint I'd like to share why I feel paying up front is a positive thing. Think of it this way, you have a lesson at 5 o'clock and you show up at 4:55 so you have time to put on your shoes etc before your lesson. At 5 o'clock I walk up and let you know that you have no more lessons paid for at the moment. Instead of starting a lesson on time you have to go and pay for a few more lessons, taking 10 minutes out of a lesson (on your time) that would otherwise have been taken care of. Furthermore, the higher the program you are enrolled in, the more fun and exciting things we can teach you during your lessons. Let me tell you, I'd rather be teaching you style, technique, or cool patterns during your lesson rather than watch you do the rumba box step for 30 minutes and for excitement throwing in an UA turn lol

Click to expand...

MissAlyssa, I think the point is that if the product is really of value, it will sell itself, i.e. the student will sign up for lessons of their own initiative, not be required to make an up front commitment. Every top instructor I have seen in the U.S. and Europe receives payment on the completion of the lesson without issue…

Part of the discrepancy may also be that you are viewing this only as a franchise insider…in most independent schools there is no such thing as “you haven’t purchased that yet.” I’m not entirely sure why, but it seems that the business model that the franchises are based on quantify and qualify the value of their program from a choreographic standpoint. Dance is a skill and, as such, even a rumba box can be taught at levels that only the vast minority of franchise instructors (albeit many independent instructors as well) would be able to match…

Franchise Experience

Hello everyone,

This is my first post. I hope you enjoy it. A bit about myself...
I currently take lessons at both independent and a franchise studio. I have taken lessons from several schools in this franchise for years. Let me see if I can share some of experience with them...

I would describe my experience as very positive. The ones I go to do not exclusively teach just the American style, but also offer an international syllabus (or is it syllabi for plural...). While I do see a tendency to try and 'sell' newcomers I don't see the same tendency at many independent studios too. I have also found that it's easy to characterize an entire franchise based on the experience had at a single school. I have visited many schools from the same franchise and found them to be pretty much self-owned and managed. Some are well run operations where a pleasant experience is assured and morale is high with both the staff and the students. Others are badly mismanaged where the staff feels little better than slaves and the atmosphere seems a bit too workmanlike. As each studio is independently owned and managed, I have never had difficulty negotiating a fair rates for my lessons. In terms of instruction.... I tend to believe it all comes down to two things: the teacher and the student. Sometimes I find people paying outrageous sums of money to learn from barely qualified teachers. Sometimes I find people who pay top dollar to work with the same teachers I work with and never really learn anything. When I objectively look at those situations, it always strikes me that the student has a role and responsibility in this too that is not often met. When I go for my lessons, I am blessed to be able to learn from some of the world's best dancers and I prepare by practicing beforehand, being warmed up, and paying close attention. All this at a price that is comparable to what I would find at the independent studios I also take lessons at.

For me, lessons are not cheap, but time is even more expensive. One outstanding, expensive lesson every couple of weeks, is often worth more than mediocre, cheap lessons taken everyday. I have always found quality of instruction to be paramount. I have also found that it is possible to find that instruction at franchise studios. Franchise studios do play an important role and many do a good job of providing value to it's customers. One should definitely not shy away from franchises when looking for instruction. However, I have seen a few that seem a bit.... shall we say, mismanaged.... and I can see how easily one can form an impression of an entire franchise based on an experience at a single school. It is far more useful to judge each situation on it's own merits and make decisions based on what is best for you.

Welcome to the forums Taita! (And, FYI, I did enjoy your post )

You bring up an excellent point regarding student responsibilities as well. Walking in for a lesson “just on time” and/or not having practiced since the last lesson are just some of the things that some students do that undermine the value of their lessons.

On the issue of value, you also point out the valuable point (sorry, couldn’t help myself) that price is not synonymous with value. Aside from the fact that a higher quality lesson will get you further faster, there are some things you will never get—no matter how much time and money you invest—from even an infinite number of lower quality lessons. As such, the quality of the lesson needs to be factored in as much as the price and, despite larger social pressures to the contrary, price should not be conflated with value.

Two factors relevant to this value factoring that have been brought up in the Ballroom Life yahoo group are (1) “extras,” and (2) portability. For the price of lessons the franchises include group classes and practice parties so, if you utilize these services, then a higher priced lesson can, indeed, be of greater value (assuming, of course, comparable quality of teaching). This phenomena, in turn, tends to function as an element of diminishing returns since most studios do not have group classes/events that are geared towards higher and higher level dancers. (Again, the specifics of any given establishment could vary, but as a rule of thumb, this is, indeed, the case.) As far as portability, for those who can and do make use of such, there is something to be said for the franchises in that one can join in group classes and parties, and even take an exchange private lesson, throughout the system at no additional cost.

Returning to Taita’s point, however, I think that prioritizing one’s objectives is one place where students need to be careful. If social dance is what is wanted, then franchises are—by and large—among the very best choices. For more quality based dancing then it becomes essential to evaluate the individual establishments available. While there certainly are quality dancers and instructors available within the franchise systems, I watched multiple franchise professionals competing last weekend who would be easily beaten in novice level amateur events.

Taita,
I taught at a Veloz and Yolanda franchise studio and have had several teachers and franchise owners as friends and I categorically agree with your description of the 'good, the bad and the ugly' of both Independents and Franchise Chain studios. Readers would be wise to follow your sage advice.
Black Sheep

Hi, I was at the Costa Mesa event also and found your post very interesting.