Economic Recession and Ballroom

[etp777]

So we've had a lot of talk about recession effecting home prices, food prices, gas prices, etc. But what about the effects on ballroom if we continue into a recession? When jobs are hard to find, pay is the same, but cost of living is up, it seems to me that "luxury" items, such as 60-130/hr for ballroom lessons, are bound to drop in sales. Anyone here already looking ahead to the possibility and considering how their budgetmight have to change? How about the pros/studio owners, are you looking into how this will effect you? I doubt this will effect studios like one my sister works at too much. Well, will effect everyone, but they do enough business that it won't put them under. But what about smaller studios (independent or franchise doesn't even come into the discussion, for once ) that operate more on a month to month basis. How many lessons a week can a studio like that afford to lose before they're really hurt, or worse, before they have to close their doors? With the smallest studios, if it gets bad enough, suspect there are going to be some hard decisions even about studio hours. Have studio open more often, and you can make more money (possibly), but if you're not actually getting students in for those hours, you're paying time to teachers, and utilities, etc, that's not bringing in any profit in return. So that's a net loss.

Don't know, complicated issue with a LOT of different aspects. Was just giving it some thought this week as I think in head how budget will work at various pays back home. Been giving some thought to leaving early if the perfect job comes along (so I don't miss it), and what that will cost me in taxes, lost bonuses etc. Naturally, weighing out those costs led me into my budget for back home, which of course HAS to include some kind of dancing.

 

[tj]

Psst! Salsa lessons = $10/hr. Going out dancing again about $10/night + $3/water (or less if you can bring your own). :wink:

 

[nucat78]

You raise some interesting questions.

I think it's a given that discretionary expenditures will be cut back if people either lose their jobs in the worst case or become fearful. Mazlow's hierarchy of needs - food and shelter come before leisure activities.

But yeah, group lessons $12 each, admission to various dance venues around her $5 - $14 plus drinks if you want them, so it's still less than a lot of other things.

The owner of my studio ran an FA franchise here many years ago and that closed, why I don't know. He then opened his own place, sold it and rented floorspace from other indies for some number of years. He's just opened his own place again. I can say that attendence at the new place has been growing and that I've seen people from other indy studios coming in to at least check the place out.

I don't know the timeline so I don't know how much of the above was recession related, swings in popularity of BR, etc.

One thing though is that BR seems more popular with older adults who might be a little more recession proof - more disposable income / savings, working spouse, or retired with guaranteed income.

My job, knock wood, in medical academia is relatively recession proof.

 

[fascination]

one thing that I do to keep my gas costs down is to take longer lessons fewer times a week...bugetary issues don't really affect me or pro much but this is just good for the environment and gets me a longer lesson which I like...

 

[tangotime]

So we've had a lot of talk about recession effecting home prices, food prices, gas prices, etc. But what about the effects on ballroom if we continue into a recession? ,

It is a fact, that during times of recession, hardship etc, ballrooms and dancing flourishes.

Witness the depression, war time etc, when public ballrooms were at their capacity several nites a week, studios flourished .
It became an " escape " for the masses from the every day concerns .

 

[tj]

It is a fact, that during times of recession, hardship etc, ballrooms and dancing flourishes.

Witness the depression, war time etc, when public ballrooms were at their capacity several nites a week, studios flourished .
It became an " escape " for the masses from the every day concerns .

That's an interesting observation, tt. Any theories as to why dancing over other escapes/activities? Is the $$ cost more now (inflation adjusted, of course) than it was back then?

 

[tangotime]

That's an interesting observation, tt. Any theories as to why dancing over other escapes/activities? Is the $$ cost more now (inflation adjusted, of course) than it was back then?

Well having lived thru the " depression " et al , i can only give a viewpoint from empirical evidence in my neck of the woods .

Actually, the cost relative values are very comparable.

Heres a few price structures from the 40s-- Classes-- 2 shillings ( 50cents )

Private lessons ( very often in half hours ) 10 shillings

Public dances anywhere from one shilling and sixpence ( 38 cents ) up to 2 shillings .

The average weekly wage at the period was about £ 4 per week .

So-- as you can see it seems cheap, but in real terms comparable.

This price structure meant that classes were full ( kids and teens ) and the dance schools would hold week nite practice sessions, and a publlic dance on Fri. or Sat nite .at reasonable rates .

War time UK, ballrooms had waiting lines outside the doors !-- every body knew how to dance a basic Q Step and Waltz . ( talk about developing floor craft !! )

 

[nucat78]

Interesting, TT. Do you think we can compare today's economy / social environment with the 30s and 40s though? I wonder about the effect of home entertainment today - 200 TV channels, video games, DVDs, Internet. In a deep recession would those things make people inclined to stay at home for (after the initial investment) free entertainment?

I will admit that I invest in Anheiser Busch (an American beer company). Studies have shown that people buy beer no matter what's going on with the economy and bad times often bring a surge in sales as it's considered a cheap comfort by many.

 

[tangotime]

Interesting, TT. Do you think we can compare today's economy / social environment with the 30s and 40s though? I wonder about the effect of home entertainment today - 200 TV channels, video games, DVDs, Internet. In a deep recession would those things make people inclined to stay at home for (after the initial investment) free entertainment?

Possible post war when things "settled "-- the early post war, was probably as bad as the depression -- too many workers and not enough jobs ( factories were tooled for munitions ) maybe thats why the dance halls flourished .

The dance profession had to compete with the movies-- big time !.
It was not unusual to pay 2 ,sometime 3, visits a week ( no drive ins ) and radio had a huge hold on certain nites .

Today, I have to compete with t.v. programs and in the UK ,FOOTBALL-- seems like its on every nite . The end result ?- many ladies in my classes without the husbands , which of course, is un sustainable .

I guess there are trade offs in any era .

 

[etp777]

Women without husbands can be their own form of entertainment during a recesssion......

But that'd end up even more expensive than dancing.

 

[tj]

Interesting, tt. Does the flourishing thing during recession happen today, too? There's all this talk nowadays about how the economy is in recession, so I wonder if it's affecting the dance scenes across the land, too?

And hey, Nucat, if you're investing in Anheiser Busch, check out Central European Distribution (symbol CEDC - another distributer of alcohol, but in Europe). Particularly, check out the 1, 2, or 5 year chart...

 

[Joe]

Psst! Salsa lessons = $10/hr. Going out dancing again about $10/night + $3/water (or less if you can bring your own). :wink:

Privates?

 

[Peaches]

DH has traditionally paid for my lessons, and because he's being hit hard by market changes (as well as certain family members, who we're helping financially), I've already had to start considering this. Luckily, no changes have had to be made, yet, but they will happen.

I don't know just what will happen. I've talked about it with my teacher, and he knows the situation and is willing to work with me/barter so I can continue with at least some private lessons. Other than that, though, I'll begin to really consider which dances I go to. (They're all $15 each, with about an hour of driving to/from.)

 

[etp777]

Yeah, I'm just giving it thought right now, no way for me to figure out nwo what situation will be. I was already limiting myself to only one private a week (though I took all the free group lessons I could fit in my schedule). Don't know, will see.

 

[tj]

Privates?

Not covered...