Cheerleaders, Cheer Coaches, And Gym Owners.................

Date: Tue Feb 19 2:57 PM, 2008

RE: Cheerleaders, Cheer Coaches, And Gym Owners.................

Date: Tue Feb 19 3:18 PM, 2008

Anonymous wrote:

Competition fees, coaching fees, choreography fees, uniform, shoes, makeup, camp, travel to distant competitions, practice gear....I could go on almost forever.

My point is that some gyms will say "oh it only costs $150 a month" (or $100 or 200 or whatever the number is). And then you get an invoice for a month that has 3 competitions and another chunk of your uniform cost and maybe the shoes just came in and suddenly you owe $600 for one month. And if your kid crosses over, forget it! Double the comp fees and you could be looking at $800-900 for the one month.

So just make sure you ASK! Ask what the TOTAL for the season is including EVERYTHING. Ask what you can expect to be billed for, and when. Some places will break it down to a monthly charge where they just take the total for the season and divide it by 11 or 12 months, but don't assume - ASK! Sometime around January/February my daughter's team always sees kids dropping because of money, because they saw $150 for tuition and thought that included everything, and by January they were so far behind that they can't continue.

yes our gym last year said 200 month and then comeptetion fees. well the season started and we had extra for camp clothes that were originaly stated as included, i cant remember but i think we paid for make up and shoes although it said included. then there was tumbling class on top of that
so most of my invoices were between 250- 300 & something a month until the last couple of months or so.........
so needless to say it was not 200 a month plus competition fees.
im not complaining at all but understand now that there are extra cost and maybe when they said it was all inclusive they miscalculated and needed to charge for those things. but if that is the case they should communicate it.
the new season says 150 or something like that plus competition fees. we shall see though

Date: Tue Feb 19 3:20 PM, 2008

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Competition fees, coaching fees, choreography fees, uniform, shoes, makeup, camp, travel to distant competitions, practice gear....I could go on almost forever.

My point is that some gyms will say "oh it only costs $150 a month" (or $100 or 200 or whatever the number is). And then you get an invoice for a month that has 3 competitions and another chunk of your uniform cost and maybe the shoes just came in and suddenly you owe $600 for one month. And if your kid crosses over, forget it! Double the comp fees and you could be looking at $800-900 for the one month.

So just make sure you ASK! Ask what the TOTAL for the season is including EVERYTHING. Ask what you can expect to be billed for, and when. Some places will break it down to a monthly charge where they just take the total for the season and divide it by 11 or 12 months, but don't assume - ASK! Sometime around January/February my daughter's team always sees kids dropping because of money, because they saw $150 for tuition and thought that included everything, and by January they were so far behind that they can't continue.

yes our gym last year said 200 month and then comeptetion fees. well the season started and we had extra for camp clothes that were originaly stated as included, i cant remember but i think we paid for make up and shoes although it said included. then there was tumbling class on top of that
so most of my invoices were between 250- 300 & something a month until the last couple of months or so.........
so needless to say it was not 200 a month plus competition fees.
im not complaining at all but understand now that there are extra cost and maybe when they said it was all inclusive they miscalculated and needed to charge for those things. but if that is the case they should communicate it.
the new season says 150 or something like that plus competition fees. we shall see though

oh and sometimes 600 a month depending on comp fees etc..

Date: Tue Feb 19 3:39 PM, 2008

$600 a month?!!!!!! That is insane. Why do you continue to pay that amount when other programs give you a true amount per month that does not change?

Date: Thu Feb 21 7:27 AM, 2008

Unfortunately, all those "add-ons" are outside expenses of which a gym doesn't profit from. Why is it the gym's fault and everyone gets upset that the gym is charging too much for these items? it's time to start contacting the competition host and uniform companies about their high prices and see what they can do. Unity is one of which can happen.  Maybe, if we patrons starts applying the pressures on their outside entities the expenses of cheerleading could drop?

Which brings up a good point about money. If someone is going to open up a cheerleading business you'd better have some strick policies on the customer requirements when it comes to paying your gym costs.

There are always a handful of people that will not want to pay you. And the seem to think they can do so. "Oh, they need my kid on the team." Parents will ride this wave for some time.

    "You know I am good for the money"
    "I'm not going anywhere"
    "Oh sorry, I just changed out my purse, and left my checkbook in the other purse."
     "Can I postdate a check" [two weeks later] "oh, um my checking account was hacked into and now my account is frozen can you hold that check for another couple of weeks?"
    "I can't pay you this month because I have a huge vet bill"
    "Someone took the money I had for you in my wallet"

The excuses go on and on and on.

It's important that your parents know that your daughter/son will not be allowed to cheer in our gym unless their invoices are current. If you don't set this policy you, as the gym owner, can anticipate a HUGE PROFIT LOSSES.

The sad thing is that the cheerleader just wants to cheer. The parents will then hop to another gym and start all over again.

This brings up another point.

Do the gyms ever call each other and find out if a parent was in good standings with their gym [dollar wise]? Perhaps, it's time that all gyms start looking out for each other. When a potential cheerleader walks in your gym for sign ups and mentions that they have cheered at another gym in the past or just recently, that there is a reference call made to the previous gym. If the previous gym wasn't paid then their is a really good chance that your gym won't be paid either. Maybe with a gym unity of sorts the customers will come to realize they can't get away with not paying that previous bill at the last gym.

Date: Thu Feb 21 11:00 AM, 2008

Anonymous wrote:

Unfortunately, all those "add-ons" are outside expenses of which a gym doesn't profit from. Why is it the gym's fault and everyone gets upset that the gym is charging too much for these items? it's time to start contacting the competition host and uniform companies about their high prices and see what they can do. Unity is one of which can happen.  Maybe, if we patrons starts applying the pressures on their outside entities the expenses of cheerleading could drop?

Which brings up a good point about money. If someone is going to open up a cheerleading business you'd better have some strick policies on the customer requirements when it comes to paying your gym costs.

There are always a handful of people that will not want to pay you. And the seem to think they can do so. "Oh, they need my kid on the team." Parents will ride this wave for some time.

    "You know I am good for the money"
    "I'm not going anywhere"
    "Oh sorry, I just changed out my purse, and left my checkbook in the other purse."
     "Can I postdate a check" [two weeks later] "oh, um my checking account was hacked into and now my account is frozen can you hold that check for another couple of weeks?"
    "I can't pay you this month because I have a huge vet bill"
    "Someone took the money I had for you in my wallet"

The excuses go on and on and on.

It's important that your parents know that your daughter/son will not be allowed to cheer in our gym unless their invoices are current. If you don't set this policy you, as the gym owner, can anticipate a HUGE PROFIT LOSSES.

The sad thing is that the cheerleader just wants to cheer. The parents will then hop to another gym and start all over again.

This brings up another point.

Do the gyms ever call each other and find out if a parent was in good standings with their gym [dollar wise]? Perhaps, it's time that all gyms start looking out for each other. When a potential cheerleader walks in your gym for sign ups and mentions that they have cheered at another gym in the past or just recently, that there is a reference call made to the previous gym. If the previous gym wasn't paid then their is a really good chance that your gym won't be paid either. Maybe with a gym unity of sorts the customers will come to realize they can't get away with not paying that previous bill at the last gym.

As a parent who pays their invoice and cheer bill on time because we were told if you are not current, your child will not be allowed to participate in practice or at cheer competitions... This pisses me off beyond all measures. I am under the assumption that every kid on the practice floor or at a cheer competition is current with thier invoice as well. I understand things come up, but if the gym owners would just stick to what they say and the very forst time that a family is behind sit them out... then they will do what they need to to pay the invoice like we all have to. Compassion is good and it is a good thing to have, but it is so unfair to the rest of us who make the same sacrafices to have our kids in cheer and make those payments when we could use it for something else too. when you sign up for cheer you know it is very expensive and you have to budget your money and make the payments. I don't find it the least bit flattering when a gym dismisses a family at the end of the season basically because they are behind so far that they can't catch up or they are now sick of it. I would be more impressed if they gym did what they said they would do in the beginning and sit them out like stated. As a paying parent you lose points with me with integrity and it doesnt make me want to sign those papers next year because if you lack intergrity there, you lack it in other places as well. The gym is trusting us to make payments and we parents that pay are trusting that you are being fair all the way across the board.
Parent who sign your children up for cheer. you have to pay your invoices and it is your responsibilty to stay current. if you cant afford it, it is ok to say no to your children and find something else to get in to. it really is ok.

Date: Thu Feb 21 12:51 PM, 2008

I think what astounds me the most is people who know they aren't paying on time and can even have the room to talk about anyone else in a program. If your not paying, then you have no room to say anything about anyone. You also should be volunteering around the gym until your invoice is current because other people are current.

Date: Thu Feb 21 1:05 PM, 2008

Agreed, or when people that owe money to the gym flaunt new cell phones and purses around like its nothing. I love that one.

Date: Thu Feb 21 2:46 PM, 2008

Or buy new cars and their hair and nails are always done!! LOL!!

Date: Thu Feb 21 2:49 PM, 2008

...or brand new digital cameras...

Date: Thu Feb 21 2:53 PM, 2008

Or when you hear the kids say, I want this or that and you dont love me if you dont get it for me. Not like these parents bend over backwards for you to do cheer. So selfish sometimes.

Date: Thu Feb 21 2:56 PM, 2008

I guess there's those type of parents in every gym!

Date: Thu Feb 21 6:03 PM, 2008

Wow...you all seem to know alot about what parents in your program have and have not paid, it that common public knowledge?? I have absolutely no idea who owes what at my daughters gym weirdface

Date: Thu Feb 21 6:17 PM, 2008

Anonymous wrote:

Wow...you all seem to know alot about what parents in your program have and have not paid, it that common public knowledge?? I have absolutely no idea who owes what at my daughters gym

THAT WAS SO FUNNY!!! I WAS JUST WONDERING WHAT CRAZY GYM SHE ATTENDS THAT LETS OUT ALL THAT INFO, I WANTA KNOW I NEVER WANT TO WALK THROUGH THOSE DOORS, EVERYONE HAS ISSUES SOMETIMES. LAST TIME I CHECKED SEEMED LIKE WE WERE HEADED TOWARD A RECESSION.

Date: Thu Feb 21 6:30 PM, 2008

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Wow...you all seem to know alot about what parents in your program have and have not paid, it that common public knowledge?? I have absolutely no idea who owes what at my daughters gym

THAT WAS SO FUNNY!!! I WAS JUST WONDERING WHAT CRAZY GYM SHE ATTENDS THAT LETS OUT ALL THAT INFO, I WANTA KNOW I NEVER WANT TO WALK THROUGH THOSE DOORS, EVERYONE HAS ISSUES SOMETIMES. LAST TIME I CHECKED SEEMED LIKE WE WERE HEADED TOWARD A RECESSION.

the sad thing is at our gym one of the owners has enough nerve to discusss with other families and even the kids about people that havent paid. very sad but true. recently a girl was kicked off and the onwer announced you wont be seing her anymore as well as told my daughter the reason why at a practice.
so yes that is how people know and then you have those parents who pride themself on not paying and let it slip they havent paid

Date: Thu Feb 21 6:48 PM, 2008

Anonymous wrote:

Wow...you all seem to know alot about what parents in your program have and have not paid, it that common public knowledge?? I have absolutely no idea who owes what at my daughters gym

I was thinking the same thing. I personally would never want anyone to know, especially for my childs sake, that I was behind on tuition due to some unforseen circumstance. Just be grateful you are able to pay your tuition and let others worry about thier own finances.

Date: Thu Feb 21 8:28 PM, 2008

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Wow...you all seem to know alot about what parents in your program have and have not paid, it that common public knowledge?? I have absolutely no idea who owes what at my daughters gym

I was thinking the same thing. I personally would never want anyone to know, especially for my childs sake, that I was behind on tuition due to some unforseen circumstance. Just be grateful you are able to pay your tuition and let others worry about thier own finances.

Coming from a poor background and typically not having what others had (and you know how cruel kids can be to other kids), there is absolutely no excuse for taking it out on a child if a parent hasn't paid. It is not the child's fault the parent is irresponsible. How awful and incredibly insensitive they shared this with everyone.

Date: Thu Feb 21 9:10 PM, 2008

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Wow...you all seem to know alot about what parents in your program have and have not paid, it that common public knowledge?? I have absolutely no idea who owes what at my daughters gym

I was thinking the same thing. I personally would never want anyone to know, especially for my childs sake, that I was behind on tuition due to some unforseen circumstance. Just be grateful you are able to pay your tuition and let others worry about thier own finances.

Coming from a poor background and typically not having what others had (and you know how cruel kids can be to other kids), there is absolutely no excuse for taking it out on a child if a parent hasn't paid. It is not the child's fault the parent is irresponsible. How awful and incredibly insensitive they shared this with everyone.

you are so right. it isn't the child's fault. It's the parents. It should be the parent that steps up and lets their child know that their mismanagment of the household income has taken them out of cheerleading. Instead these parents wait for the gym owners to notify the child that they will not be participating in the next competition. The reason is never mentioned to the child, it just makes the coaches look like the bad guys. When are the adults/parents going to start taking responsibility and letting their kids know - it's me, I am the reason.

Diva Coach Melissa · Senior Member

I'm not saying you necessarily intended this the way I understood it, but I don't think anyone is saying the "add-ons" are unnecessary or that the gym profits from them. The point that was being made was that those "add-ons" are not presented to parents in the programs that are being described as being part of the cost of participation. They are told that cheering in their program will cost "only" $___ per month, and then don't mention that some months, they will have to pay $90 for this competition, $125 for that one, and a $300 uniform payment. So these parents think they will be paying $___, but end up getting billed much more than that. I believe the poster's point was not to say that these costs are not necessary, inflated, etc, but more that they are not disclosed up front. Also, I'm not saying or agreeing that all programs or even lots of programs do this (we do not, our parents have a choice as to how they are billed), but I've heard stories of it and obviously we've seen some here in this thread.

In addition to that, I think that often parents (especially those who are new to the all-star world) think that the "add-ons" shouldn't be that expensive just because they don't really know what things cost....the uniforms are teeny, who would ever think they cost so much? blankstare

The comp fees are high and getting higher every year, but what parent new to cheer really knows that? So even if they are told $___ plus uniform and comp fees...they have no clue that that could add up to some of the crazy monthly totals we heard above. And honestly, I don't think the totals are all that crazy when you consider what's involved...but I do agree that when you're told $150 or $200 and then you get smacked with a $600 or 800 statement, yikes!

So to sum up that long-winded post, I agree, parents should ask...ask for a total for the season, ask what they can expect monthly payments to be each month and how much they can expect them to vary based on uniform, comp fees, etc, if that's the way their program bills them. Everyone's lives change at the drop of a hat...and it's no business of ours why someone can no longer afford to cheer in the middle of a season. But I think if a lot of families knew up front what it *could* cost them, they would recognize that they will need to budget well in advance for those larger chunks, or even that it may be too much for them to handle financially and may seek out other, more budget-friendly options (like maybe youth/rec cheer or mid-season teams) that still allow their child to participate in what they love without causing a difficult drop-out in the middle of the season when the money catches up with them.

Anonymous wrote:
Unfortunately, all those "add-ons" are outside expenses of which a gym doesn't profit from. Why is it the gym's fault and everyone gets upset that the gym is charging too much for these items? it's time to start contacting the competition host and uniform companies about their high prices and see what they can do. Unity is one of which can happen. Maybe, if we patrons starts applying the pressures on their outside entities the expenses of cheerleading could drop?

Date: Thu Feb 21 9:34 PM, 2008

Well at our gym when people are no longer able to practice or compete people figure out why.