here's a question for everyone..with the current state of our country's economy (and it's predicted to worsen) how does everyone think this will effect allstar gyms? this is not intended for anyone to name gyms and how they think such and such gym will do in these unstable times, this is a legit question just about allstar gym business in general, since big businesses across the country are all feeling the brunt and layoffs are happening daily do you think our industry will be ok? of course i hope and pray it is but it's scary out there right now will all the layoffs and foreclosures and of course if gym numbers go down then the competition companies will suffer a blow too. It's getting harder to remain optomistic when you open the paper or turn on the tv and hear about another blow to the economy daily. Do you think parents will do whatever it takes to keep their kids in the activity they love? I will but alot of other parents may not be able to
Great topic! For me personally, I will do anything to keep my kids in their sport. It is their lives I'm not sure what they would do without cheer. I know it's a luxury, but we already make sacrifices to afford this sport and I will continue to do so. We only have a couple of years left and I am determined to see it through to the end. I think anyone who has a daughter/son who is serious about this sport will do the same.
What I think you will see more of is car pooling and or sharing/swapping attending of competitions between parents. Gyms that travel far may need to assign parent chaperones as I think less families will travel due to increasing costs. I know I'll be willing to help whenever/wherever to see kids continue.
Do you think parents will do whatever it takes to keep their kids in the activity they love? I will but alot of other parents may not be able to
As parents we will do whatever it takes to keep our kids busy with curriculum activities. But times have changed. My husband and I are not as busy as when our daughter first started all star cheer. Now it's getting to be a challenge with paying tuition every month, plus tumbling classes. We are up front with our daughter about money issues. When we go to the comps, she doesn't ask us for a shirt or a stuffed animal. It's up in the air whether we'll come back next year.
thanks for the replies I think you both have some good ideas as to how to keep the kids in but cut back on the "extras". Yes our kids do not need a sweatshirt or goodie from every competition and carpooling is a great way to cut down on the crazy gas prices!
Maybe it might come down to gyms cutting down on the competitions each year, since they are costly. Especially the ones where you have to travel more than a couple hours. We spend a lot on hotels, flights, etc... If our gym just had one competition that was not local (instead of 2 or 3), right there we would save quite a bit. And as much as we all like our flashy sparkly uniforms, I'm thinking if you had to you could save quite a bit on those too.
As the poster of "life after cheerleading" I posted that one of the reasons we left all star cheerleading was the expense. I one hundred percent agree that the number of long distance competitions has gotten out of control. I really don't think the tuition and tumbling cost is that crazy. The traveling expenses are the killer. Yes, there is fund raising. But realistically it doesn't cover 3 trips that require airfare, hotel etc. My older daughter has left cheer. I do have a younger daughter(that no matter how much I love the sport of cheer) will never encourage to do cheer just because of the costs involved in traveling.
I really hope the owners and directors of the programs out there are evaluating the pros and cons of so many out of town competitions. I know it has alot to do with getting bids etc. to worlds. Also, maybe a little bit of keeping up with the Jones. Maybe it is time for a gym to reel this craziness in and set an example. Maybe their numbers might start growing instead of declining when it becomes a more realistic sport. At the lower levels 2 and 3 keep it to one big one. Maybe when go for two long distance competitions at only the higher levels.
Oh well, I do love this topic, because I think the sport is in danger of dying out because of the economy unless some changes are made to make it more affordable.
And this would make ONE giant, TRUE nationals competition even MORE appealing.....
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OC Mom, Mom of 5 great kids! A cheerleader/softball player, a RETIRED cheerleader, a football/baseball player, 1 Airman and future Police Officer and one college student!
Especially for mini's and youth, I dont see a reason to travel. Build it up as they get older. It keeps things more cost efficent for the parents and gives the kids something to look forward too.
Although I would not call us "non-traveling" teams, our goal was to give our kids the same program at a lower cost. We know that there are so many kids out there with dreams of becoming "cheerleaders" but the cost of the entire package is just more than their parents can pull. We believe that EVERY child should have the same opportunities, regardless. We attend six or seven competitions a season, beginning in December, we charge approx 350 for comp fees, just enough to cover actual costs (it was 345 this season) and stay within a 45 minute drive time of our gym with the exception of the final competition of the season, which is our "big blowout", this year we are traveling 1 1/2 hours (from the gym) to a two day competition, the parents have the option to stay the night, or to make the drive both days, depending on their budget.
Our exception would be Nationals, we attend USA Anaheim Regional, and if we qualify I allow the parents to vote on attendance to Nationals (due to the expense, USA Nationals is just a short drive for us, but with Disneyland... I think you all know how this story ends.) We did the same thing last year when qualifying for Las Vegas Nationals, the parents voted to go, and we went. Many gyms have disagreed with our idea of allowing the parents to be involved in the "decisions", but we treat our kids like family, and the parents too, because of this we value their opinions and take their thoughts and wallets into account when making major decisions (don't get me wrong, they don't run the gym).
I guess my point was, simply put, you can have a program that the kids enjoy, and attend multiple competitions without having to break the bank.
We have a wide diversity of socioeconomic backgrounds that attend our gym. Somehow the owners make it all work. While i don't know all the inner workings (and do not need to) I know they help a lot of parents/students...from level 1-5. We travel as a group, stay in the same hotel, eat at the same restaurants, etc. No one stays at Motel 4 (two steps below Motel 6) unless they choose too.
We usually post our comp schedule inside the gym right at tryouts. (we had to change that last year due to some local cheer drama but parents still know far in advance exactly where we will be competing at and the cost) Usually we do 7-8 comps a year, with a couple of "nationals" such as Jamfest or Athletic Championships. Any way they can cut costs the owners do so. One thing we do to cut costs is to travel within driving distance of the gym. That way there are no airfare issues. Also since we take all of our teams to every competition instead of just the level 5 kids, we have to look out for all the parents in the costs.
The costs of competitions (entry fee, crossover fee, parking, hotel costs, entrance fee for parents/siblings) usually dictate where we go. Not levels, teams, programs attending, but cost. If we can't bring everybody without it being a strain, we just don't go.
Our gym owners have done an amazing job with our competition schedule. Choosing almost all local comps. As a parent, I appreciate getting the competition schedule well in advance to the competition season starting. As well as knowing what are competition fees would be for the season.
Having the schedule in advance and them giving us the cost well in advance, made it so much easier to budget for the season. I for one appreciated that ...
Overall they have done great keeping the cost down as a whole for the people in their program and as a parent it is appreciated!
I would go for less traveling and more local competitions. I don't mind going to one big national comp, but Las Vegas, Anahiem, Long Beach, etc. It really starts to add up. I can see why the level 5 teams would have to travel more, but the lower level teams really don't. I know this is what hurts the pocket book more then anything, with Airfare, Gas, Hotels, Food, etc.
and of course if gym numbers go down then the competition companies will suffer a blow too. It's getting harder to remain optomistic when you open the paper or turn on the tv and hear about another blow to the economy daily. Do you think parents will do whatever it takes to keep their kids in the activity they love? I will but alot of other parents may not be able to 
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