We all have the worry when our class numbers are low, "is it me?" Believe me when I tell you, that many instructors struggle with the issue of small classes. But what may seem small to one instructor, might be a packed class for another. Everything in these slides for tips on building your class takes work and time. The reality is that no matter if it's two or ten in class, they deserve your best energy. Avoid going into class and saying "Where is everyone?" Oh, I'm guilty of it too, and now I walk in and simply say "I'm so glad you are here." Embrace the smaller numbers, what is small to you might be another instructors's wish!
Put the time in. It is easy to get caught up in the rush of it all. Rushing to drop kids off and get to class, rushing to leave to get to the next thing. But you miss the opportunity to build your class connection. The very thing that brings them back to you. When you build in the extra five or ten minutes to greet your class, meet new attendees, and get to know an extra piece of info that makes you human to them. You are building more than a class, you are building a community.
Bring the energy. Leave whatever you have extra going on in your life at the door. Put thought into your playlists. Do you know how to build a playlist that will keep your class energized? It will have highs, and lows, just like a movie with the peak right in the middle. But if you're thinking you can pull up any workout playlist from Spotify, think again. Chances are high that you'll be fidgeting with your phone, skipping songs. and it kinda looks messy. That can also effect class number retention
Collaborate with local businesses. This is one of my favorites and underutilized class builder. The worst you can get is a no, and you move on to the next business. 90% of the time, you will get a yes. The goal is to promote you and the business. Approach with an offer. "you will get posted in all our social media for our event if you could help us with xyz..."
No one loves to spend hours on social media, but posting a simple message about class time in your local community FB pages, is a valuable resource.
Like I said in the beginning, you have to put the work in to growing a class, but once you notice the small efforts working, I promise you'll want to go for the moon.
~Tamra
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