Battle For fame?

cheerwatcher · GURU

RE: Battle For fame?

Cheer411 · Senior Member

cheerwatcher wrote:
AbbyByTheBay wrote:
Regarding USA, I think that some of us have stated that for youth and school teams, it's fine, that seems to be what they are geared towards. But for all-stars, their competitions are pretty sad, for a variety of reasons that have already been stated numerous times.
It makes sense that nobody can predict who is going to which competition so early in the year when you need to decide. However, I don't know what it's like in Southern California, but in Northern California there are particular competitions that are almost always well attended, and those gyms who want competition know which ones to sign up for. You can look at the attendance of the competitions this year so far... the ones with the most competitions are the ones that usually are well attended, year after year. If our gym only signed up for obscure competitions nobody has heard of and avoided the ones that are historically well attended, flags would go up for sure. Just my 1 cent.
Couldn't have said it better myself. Its good to try new comps every once-in-awhile .. but not soley concentrate on up and coming competition at the sake of calling your teams "NATIONAL CHAMPIONS" I dont think you deserve it unless you truely competed against other teams. In a sense, I like the format that some of the posters in this thread talked about. That in order to actually get 1st , you have to score so much. However, IT would still be wayyyyy funner (<--I know "funner") to truthfully compete.

USA however, is one company that is perfect for school and rec teams NOT ALL STARS.

And danny, Thats so funny about the novice, intermediate and advanced divisions-I was just talking about that the other day. It was so much more competitive when all teams used to go to 1 certain nationals and we used to be happy just to place in top 10!! haha. Man, those were the days!

Cheer411 agrees with both of you. You take Pacific Championships for example. According to their website, they are based on the East Coast. This company is trying to establish a market on the West Coast, but the West side doesn't know anything about them. So, why would a cheer organization take a change and have all their teams travel for a "risk". I like what the Rebels did. They took one team. That was perfect! The Rebels were testing the unknown waters. Or on for those that live in the area, in this case near Hollywood, okay try the company out. But to have a large gym travel all that way for the unknown, that would be hard to accept.

Worlds Watcher · GURU

One of the things Nelson said that I don't think we can ignore is that some competition companies offer "incentives" to go. I interpret that as possible reduction in fees or maybe no fees, if you are "helping" them to get established. But really, how many more competition companies do we need on the West Coast? We have so many now that attendance is ridiculously low because there are too many choices. STOP THE MADNESS!

my2girls · Veteran Member

Worlds Watcher wrote:
One of the things Nelson said that I don't think we can ignore is that some competition companies offer "incentives" to go. I interpret that as possible reduction in fees or maybe no fees, if you are "helping" them to get established. But really, how many more competition companies do we need on the West Coast? We have so many now that attendance is ridiculously low because there are too many choices. STOP THE MADNESS!

Very good point and a very valid point as well...... however, I think it becomes an issue when you start to question how many of these comps you should have to go to each season. One? Sounds great! ... Several?.........hhmmmmmm what's the motivation again?

I totally agree, that we need to weed out the comp companies that don't run a good show because we have TOO MANY.

xtofunk · Veteran Member

personally.i had fun at the battle for fame.true, it was a little tiring having to perform three times in a 2 hour period. but other than that. i made the best out of what was handed to me.and thats the problem a lot of people have. they let the slightest thing about the waya competition is run, and its all downhill from there. i just saw it as taking what was given to me, and having the best time i possibly could. when life hands you lemons, make lemonade.its not the companies fault that you dont like the competition, its all up to how you deal with it. either you can waste your time complaining about it, or you can look on the brightside.thats what i did. bam. and it worked.i had a super time.

AbbyByTheBay · Senior Member

When it's a new competition company with low attendance, that's understandable, and you're right, it's something that we have no control over when you show up and there is very low attendance. All you can do is make the best of it, and learn from it for next season? But when it's a competition company that has been around a while and there is low attendance, there is probably a good reason for it. Competition companies need to know when there are issues/problems/complaints, and attending them is definitely something we can all control -- it is in their best interest to fix issues that keep people from attending. So for that reason, I think voicing opinions is a very good thing. To throw another saying out, you know the one about the squeaky wheel?

-- Edited by AbbyByTheBay at 13:35, 2007-01-27

Cheer411 · Senior Member

Good for you! All you can do is make the best of the situation you are handed. Good luck the rest of your season. What's the rest of your season look like for your club?

CVCHEERMOM · Newbie

What about the gyms who charge a set fee for comps and then are given the incentives and not passed on to the"customer". Any thoughts?

SideShow · Member

CVCHEERMOM wrote:
What about the gyms who charge a set fee for comps and then are given the incentives and not passed on to the"customer". Any thoughts?

CVCHEERMOM - I'm confused. Why would or should the gym pass any profit from incentives onto the customer? If the gym is a non-profit organization I can see it but if the owner of a gym is offered a deal as a business person or finds a coupon..... whatever.....it's really their perk to enjoy. They're the one who's built the business that is worthy of incentives.

CVCHEERMOM · Newbie

Just for the sake of discussion-gym A charges 500.00 for comp fees. Midway through the year, they say, oops, we were wrong, comp fees are 600.00. I will pay the additional comp. fees, no problem. But if it goes the other way, say , XYZ company wants my gym at their competition because they will draw a crowd. AT no fee- should that savings get passed on to the cheerleader?

This is just a question- this does not happen at my gym, I love CO! But I have friends at other gyms that say this occurs . Or, The gym charges 1000.00 for comp fees and you then add up the fees for the individual comps and it comes to 700.00. What do we call that?

I guess they accept it, or find another gym. But it seems like it should work both ways....

Again, just a topic for discussion!!!

Cheer411 · Senior Member

SideShow wrote:
CVCHEERMOM wrote:
What about the gyms who charge a set fee for comps and then are given the incentives and not passed on to the"customer". Any thoughts?

CVCHEERMOM - I'm confused. Why would or should the gym pass any profit from incentives onto the customer? If the gym is a non-profit organization I can see it but if the owner of a gym is offered a deal as a business person or finds a coupon..... whatever.....it's really their perk to enjoy. They're the one who's built the business that is worthy of incentives.

Yes a non-profit organzition would DEFINITELY disclose the incentives that are being brought the the organization. Don't the non-profits have to show a budget, and have monthly meeting with the parents?

Are there All-Star organizations out there are even non-profit these days? If so, who are they? Maybe, this is a good question for them to answer.

Tamara · cheergyms.com Master Poster

CVCHEERMOM wrote:
Just for the sake of discussion-gym A charges 500.00 for comp fees. Midway through the year, they say, oops, we were wrong, comp fees are 600.00. I will pay the additional comp. fees, no problem. But if it goes the other way, say , XYZ company wants my gym at their competition because they will draw a crowd. AT no fee- should that savings get passed on to the cheerleader?

This is just a question- this does not happen at my gym, I love CO! But I have friends at other gyms that say this occurs . Or, The gym charges 1000.00 for comp fees and you then add up the fees for the individual comps and it comes to 700.00. What do we call that?

I guess they accept it, or find another gym. But it seems like it should work both ways....

Again, just a topic for discussion!!!

This is a tough one for me.

I guess in the first instance, I think it should go both ways. If the gym charges you extra when they underestimate, then they should reimburse you if they overestimate.

The second instance, I wouldn't like it, but I guess that's business - just like when you go to the auto mechanic and pay $97.50 for a part that you can go to the auto part store and pay $37.50, or the hospital where you pay $17 for one Tylenol.

OC Mom · GURU

And, it still costs money to attend anyway. You have coaches, staff, etc.... BUT if it's a huge difference, then just ask. You are ALWAYS allowed to ask your gym director these questions.

ROYAL STAFF · Newbie

Worlds Watcher wrote:

Wow, Sacramento Royals went all the way down to Hollywood for competition that is hardly know or attended? Don't think I would have been happy about that as a parent.

Yes, it was a difficult decision for us to take our teams down for such a small competition. I mentioned in a previous post about this. HOwever, when you already pay so much money (for us we paid for 9 or 10 teams) ANd then we dont know who is going until it is posted. Then you plan on going, hotel arrangements, our families may have other family members flying in to see their kids, then find out that the competition is small. We voted to go ahead and go and since our teams enjoy performing it did not make that big of a differnce to the majorit.

They did not want loose out on the money either. I would like to hear from others about their thoughts when you already pay and then find out it is so small.

At any rate we saw some great teams like Rebels Jr COED. Wow they came back the second round with a bang. Although we enjoyed the first one. THe second time they peformed we took a double take. RC, and Bladez.. It is always nice to visit with the other teams our kids meet new friends and have fun. We met some good people at this event.

Also they did not just give out National Titles. I saw many teams practicing between performances and step it up to earn their titles. All in all it was small and we would have preferred a larger competition, but to give away almost 9 thousand dollars which is what we would have lost if we cancelled just did not feel good. Most of us took a vacation out of it any way so we just took it as a vacation weekend... With a little competition to boot.

xpressjag · Senior Member

CVCHEERMOM wrote:

What about the gyms who charge a set fee for comps and then are given the incentives and not passed on to the"customer". Any thoughts?

Usually there is a set fee for a reason. If by a SLIM chance a gym gets a kickback from the competition company hosting, then they can put more into the gym, staff, or even back to the kids. I know usually when that happens you can get a nationals t-shirt, give a better banquet or do something that benefits the organization in some way. When a gym gives those fees, it estimated not EXACT, because most companies change their fees or a gym can change a competition to another event which might be more exspensive. As long as the fee's are up front I think thats the best way to go. Its the additional costs down the line that people get frustrated by.