My classes are growing so is my insanity LOL

**freedomfighter04** · 08-27-2007, 18:28

Hey all since we moved into our new building (you can see the building at this link http://www.hongkongkimtaekwondo.com/lawrenceburg.html )

and the new session will be starting up on September 04 my enrollement went from 8 students to now 27 students but would have more due to the room size that were in. So I'm excited about it and hope that they stick with it like the students that I currently have have stuck with it. The most that I have had at one time is around 16 so this is even a big jump on that. The one question that I have for you all is how do yo draw more adults to your classes ??? They seem to be the hardest to draw for me. I have two adults on that is handicapped and she is my black belt and a lady that is a red belt. So how do you draw in your adult students.

**TonyU** · 08-27-2007, 19:03

Aaron, I moved it to School Management where I think is better suited.
Good luck.

**Abbax8** · 08-27-2007, 20:01

Originally Posted by freedomfighter04

Hey all since we moved into our new building (you can see the building at this link http://www.hongkongkimtaekwondo.com/lawrenceburg.html )

and the new session will be starting up on September 04 my enrollement went from 8 students to now 27 students but would have more due to the room size that were in. So I'm excited about it and hope that they stick with it like the students that I currently have have stuck with it. The most that I have had at one time is around 16 so this is even a big jump on that. The one question that I have for you all is how do yo draw more adults to your classes ??? They seem to be the hardest to draw for me. I have two adults on that is handicapped and she is my black belt and a lady that is a red belt. So how do you draw in your adult students.

Start them young grasshopper and keep them interested into adulthood.

Peace

Dennis

**Kwon Pup Maze** · 08-27-2007, 20:07

We have been open for about five years now and we have around 130 students. It varies and I've seen 170 active students at one time. Gets hard remembering names though.

We have a strategy," we get students and student getters". Our students earn $30 for every person they bring in and we sign up for six week trials. Most stay past that though. We give the students postcard size ads that they pass out at school, friends, family, and sports events.

**freedomfighter04** · 08-27-2007, 20:31

Thanks for the feed back and keep it coming. Its a great problem to have but the city that I teach in has taken over paying me and they have cut the cost to my classes from $35.00 per month to $15.00 for three months but haven't attracted any new adults. I'm hope that the parents will see what its like with the children and join class.

**Eliz** · 08-27-2007, 21:08

Adults can be tough to draw. Some ideas that I have seen work:

Family discounts.

If you can run two classes simultaneously (we had two matted rooms), run the adults and kids at the same time. Many of the parents have to be there anyway and will be more apt to sign up for classes.

If you can run two classes simultaneously, put a cardio kickboxing class at the same time slot as the adults. It will draw in people who would not normally come into a MA school.

One of the things that makes adults difficult to draw is they are interested for different reasons. Some are interested in the stretching and fitness. Others want hardcore SD. Others love the forms and sparring. Finding a way to balance the classes can be challenging.

Good luck.

**shodog** · 08-28-2007, 10:04

If you're teaching adults and kids in the same class, that may be a big problem.

A lot of adults do not want to be in a class with a bunch of kids, for several reasons:

1) They see the instructor as potentially distracted in having to keep the kids in line, which detracts from their own learning.

2) Adults have a hard time viewing someone younger than themselves as higher ranking (it doesn't matter if you're talking martial arts, or computers....adults have a hard time seeing kids are superior).

You certainly don't want kids teaching adults...the adults will not take them seriously.

You may try splitting classes up. One for kids and one for adults. You can have one "mixed" class a week, but as a regular basis, it's not a good idea to have an all-age-inclusive school.

Just a few thoughts.

Good luck,

Jim

**moogong** · 08-28-2007, 11:31

Originally Posted by shodog

If you're teaching adults and kids in the same class, that may be a big problem.

A lot of adults do not want to be in a class with a bunch of kids, for several reasons:

1) They see the instructor as potentially distracted in having to keep the kids in line, which detracts from their own learning.

2) Adults have a hard time viewing someone younger than themselves as higher ranking (it doesn't matter if you're talking martial arts, or computers....adults have a hard time seeing kids are superior).

You certainly don't want kids teaching adults...the adults will not take them seriously.

You may try splitting classes up. One for kids and one for adults. You can have one "mixed" class a week, but as a regular basis, it's not a good idea to have an all-age-inclusive school.

Just a few thoughts.

Good luck,

Jim

I certainly agree with this as I have seen this problem ruin schools.

**DragonMind** · 08-28-2007, 14:54

Believe it ot not, your price is too low. Adults, in particular, are influenced by the Sony Effect. This is a well known phenomenon in marketing that basically says Quality = Price. For example, people will pay thousands of dollars for a Viking stove despite it having one of the worst failure and maintenance records in the industry.

All the suggestions you've been given are on target, but I'd bet that the killer is your price point. The only thing worse than cheap is free when it comes to enrollment and retention.

**freedomfighter04** · 08-28-2007, 15:19

Originally Posted by DragonMind

Believe it ot not, your price is too low. Adults, in particular, are influenced by the Sony Effect. This is a well known phenomenon in marketing that basically says Quality = Price. For example, people will pay thousands of dollars for a Viking stove despite it having one of the worst failure and maintenance records in the industry.

All the suggestions you've been given are on target, but I'd bet that the killer is your price point. The only thing worse than cheap is free when it comes to enrollment and retention.

I know what you mean by the Sony Effect an all but I'm living in a city that has more money then they know what to do with it cause of the casino. So since the organization that I've been with is being disbanded and we moved into this new building that the city is running an they lowered the price. Just because its cheap doesn't mean that the product isn't good

**DragonMind** · 08-28-2007, 16:11

Originally Posted by freedomfighter04

I know what you mean by the Sony Effect an all but I'm living in a city that has more money then they know what to do with it cause of the casino. So since the organization that I've been with is being disbanded and we moved into this new building that the city is running an they lowered the price. Just because its cheap doesn't mean that the product isn't good

That's exactly my point. Sony Effect plays out regardless of the real level of quality. People with more money are even more susceptible to it. Since you don't get to set the price, you'll just have to live with it. Just don't expect a lot of adults.

**shodog** · 08-29-2007, 05:50

I must concur with the pricing thing. My former instructor (I moved out of town. I didn't quit) ran one of the largest karate schools in the country. He and I sat down and talked about the "business" of running a school before I moved and this was a big point for him.

If the city has set your price, I'm not sure what you can do about that except move into your own location.

You sound like you're in the same boat I am.....the chicken and the egg scenerio: You need your own location, but can't afford it until you build up your student base....but you can't really build up your student base until you get your own location.

If I figure out a solution to that problem I'll let you know....or maybe someone can offer us both some advice on that (beyond bite the bullet, take out a loan and take your chances).

~ Jim

**Kwon Pup Maze** · 08-29-2007, 13:53

Make your current students partners. Have them help pay the rent, the more students they send you the more money they make.

**Louise** · 08-31-2007, 07:18

I am the only adult female in my club and there are only a handful of adults. It does seem to be hard to attract and retain adults. From what I've gathered most are nervous of the sparring and we have lost adult females after they've been smacked in the face a couple of times by lively lads. Try to make sure that you have a balance right (as has been said before) and for sparring, sort into ability groups. I tend to be put with the older children but as I'm a small woman, I struggle to hold my own against adult/large teenage men. Good luck.

**Kwon Pup Maze** · 10-06-2007, 05:44

So how is the class working out FreedomFighter04 ?

We have gone to trying out 10 marketing ideas a month and if we don't get results then we will elimenate what is not working.

Signs, VIP passes, news add, school add, seminars, phone book, mailings, web page, discount specials, phone followups to people that did not sign up but checked us out to see why or to give them another shot at it, outside events like festivals where we will pass out flyers and interact with people and get at least 20 phone numbers to set appointments.

There is more but these things are where we are seeing our greatest results.

**Kwon Pup Maze** · 01-02-2008, 20:15

During December we signed up 13 students and two families of five at a family rate, a substantial savings for them. How are the rest of you guys doing ?

One thing we did was have the kids make Christmas cards with an invitation to someone as a gift for thirty days of training for free. Once they came in some signed for six months.

**Rasputin** · 01-02-2008, 22:23

Our classes are $5 a person per month, three classes a week, to YMCA members, and we can barely get 2 people in on Saturdays at 11am.

The Sony effect at work.

**TonyU** · 01-03-2008, 10:19

Originally Posted by Rasputin

The Sony effect at work.

I'm sorry. What's the Sony effect?

**Musubi Dojo** · 01-03-2008, 10:28

Originally Posted by TonyU

I'm sorry. What's the Sony effect?

I'll take Sony Playstation for 1000 Tony!

**CEB** · 01-03-2008, 10:31

It happens when your product becaomes a Prestige Good. Basically, people don't think what you are selling is worth anything unless you rape them on mat fees. I used to see the same thing in the band business. More we charged people for weddings the more work we would get.