Economy and Cheerleading

Date: Mon Apr 21 10:56 PM, 2008

Economy and Cheerleading

Date: Mon Apr 21 11:51 PM, 2008

If you want to see how today's economy is effecting gyms, you need to wait a month or two since tryouts and new enrollments are just getting started.

Date: Tue Apr 22 4:24 AM, 2008

someone started a thread where you were not allowed to say anymore that cheer was expencive. I found that funny kind of like the head in the sand mentality,all season long I have heard people complain about the cost.Now that the season is over it will be very telling how many families come back to cheer.

Date: Tue Apr 22 5:46 AM, 2008

Cheerleading can be inexpensive! It take some work and time but it can be done. It's fundraising! You can fundraising and make a ton of money. I've done it. I've spent hours in a bingo hall, sold items to family and friends, had people sponsor my child-by just sending out an official call letter to family, friends, local business, etc. worked my share of hours at crab feeds, spaghetti feeds, pizza booths., and car washes I did what ever it took to allow my daughter to stay with a sport/activity that she loves.

In every fundraising activity, I have a great time. I met new friends and became closer to the parents in the gym because of fundraising.

It takes a bit extra time and energy, but it can be done.

I think that is where parents fall short. There are so many parents out there that will not invest the time and engery to fundraise. I seen so many parents complain because they don't have enough money for cheerleading. Or they don't have the time. I fine this answer a cope out. I work full time, have children (great one's at that), a great marriage, a wonderful home and I still make time to fundraise. It's EFFORT and it's time the parents start making it happen.

It's TAX free money when you fundraise and easy to do. I you just need to set aside a couple hours a week to make it happen.

Date: Tue Apr 22 5:59 AM, 2008

Anonymous wrote:

someone started a thread where you were not allowed to say anymore that cheer was expencive. I found that funny kind of like the head in the sand mentality,all season long I have heard people complain about the cost.Now that the season is over it will be very telling how many families come back to cheer.

We will be returning, but I can honestly say we did seriously think about calling it quits this next season. Just this morning on the news they were talking about gas being $4.00 dollars a gallon, housing prices dropping, and the price of food going up because of the hight cost of gas. Oh and utilities are probally going to rise also. Everything is affected when the economy is unstable. The cost of cheer does not fall under necessities, but we will cut corners elsewhere, and try fundraising because out daughter loves it. We are not rich and by no means am I saying poor me. It's just that we are not the only ones feeling the pinch, so it will be interesting to see if some gyms enrollments go down, or stay the same. I'm not complaining it's our choice. Just don't blast me for stating the obivious cheer is expensive and if I post it here on a message board I'm just venting. I love the 'Head in the Sand Mentality' comment'. This board is just a place to post you thoughts and opinions. My OPINION is that cheer is expensive and reserve the right to state the obivious.

Date: Tue Apr 22 5:59 AM, 2008

I wish I could be you.You are everthing I am not.

oldcheermom · Senior Member

Fundraising is a great idea, but the economy has been better than right now, and people have to spend/give money for us to make any fundraising profits. I think we will have to work a little harder at it this coming season.

Anon 6:46am - You must be a "super" mom. Not all of us are so lucky to have your energy!!! I'm jealous!!

Vegas Cheer · Veteran Member

I will let you know that in Vegas, alot of the all star cheerleaders are going to school cheer next year because it is significantly cheaper than All-Star. I agree fundraising is a great idea as we have parents that have paid for their entire year and most of next year just by working with our Booster Club but, it does take a considerable amount of time and effort that many parents do not have do to work and family constraints. We are trying to help our customers however by putting together a competition schedule that is significantly cheaper than previous years. Also, since our tuition is staggered by levels, if a parent feels they can not pay for a level 4 or 5 tuition and competition fees(Since these teams travel and compete more) we offer them a spot on a lower level team where they feel they will be able to afford the cost. This not only helps them, but it also makes our lower level teams better as well. Cheerleading is expensive and we all know this, if you can help your customers and show them you are trying to work it so they feel comfortable, they will stay and do what it takes to stay. I just hate thinking about a parent sitting there and debating on paying the cheer bill or the house payment. The cheer bill loses out every time.

Date: Tue Apr 22 7:53 AM, 2008

Vegas Cheer wrote:

I will let you know that in Vegas, alot of the all star cheerleaders are going to school cheer next year because it is significantly cheaper than All-Star. I agree fundraising is a great idea as we have parents that have paid for their entire year and most of next year just by working with our Booster Club but, it does take a considerable amount of time and effort that many parents do not have do to work and family constraints. We are trying to help our customers however by putting together a competition schedule that is significantly cheaper than previous years. Also, since our tuition is staggered by levels, if a parent feels they can not pay for a level 4 or 5 tuition and competition fees(Since these teams travel and compete more) we offer them a spot on a lower level team where they feel they will be able to afford the cost. This not only helps them, but it also makes our lower level teams better as well. Cheerleading is expensive and we all know this, if you can help your customers and show them you are trying to work it so they feel comfortable, they will stay and do what it takes to stay. I just hate thinking about a parent sitting there and debating on paying the cheer bill or the house payment. The cheer bill loses out every time.

You are a very smart person. Fill the need of the customer. Cheer is a bussiness I get it you need to make money but you also need to keep people in the gym. Choice is a wonderful thing. I do not need to travel the states to prove my daughter is a National champ, big deal thats a dime a dozen. Local comps are fun maybe just one big trip at the end of the season.JMO

CheeRacerMom · Veteran Member

Yes, cheerleading may be expensive but its cheaper than rehab! Gotta keep those kids occupied and outta trouble.

Date: Tue Apr 22 8:31 AM, 2008

Oh you are so right. Pay now or pay later. Keeping kids involved in wholesome activity.

Date: Tue Apr 22 8:46 AM, 2008

Local competitions that are cheaper to attend, and maybe one (not two, not three) out of town competitions. Just that alone will save parents some money. Do gyms ask for parent input when putting together competition schedules? I was just wondering because ours does not.

Date: Tue Apr 22 9:51 AM, 2008

CheeRacerMom wrote:

Yes, cheerleading may be expensive but its cheaper than rehab! Gotta keep those kids occupied and outta trouble.

Yes, so true! Idle kids with idle minds will find their way into trouble. Keep them busy!!!

Date: Tue Apr 22 11:17 AM, 2008

What is considered local? Even in Northern California, attending a 2 day comp in the bay area or Sac is not local. You will have to stay at a hotel and still pay these crazy gas prices. I would rather compete less locals and bigger out of town comps. Save money on random local comps and go to bigger out of town competitions. There is no point competing against the same teams 7 times a season.

Date: Tue Apr 22 11:38 AM, 2008

Anonymous wrote:

What is considered local? Even in Northern California, attending a 2 day comp in the bay area or Sac is not local. You will have to stay at a hotel and still pay these crazy gas prices. I would rather compete less locals and bigger out of town comps. Save money on random local comps and go to bigger out of town competitions. There is no point competing against the same teams 7 times a season.

Why not then everybody gets a chance to be a national champ,. spread the wealth. It could be like little leauge then at the end of cheerseason have allstars real allstars of cheer. Then they do the big travel. Just an idea.

Date: Tue Apr 22 12:33 PM, 2008

I'm not a gym owner but I can tell you all better than they can guess from a tryout that my family cannot afford cheer this year. I'd like to say I'm going to plan for next year but I guess that's all up to the economy. We'll miss it and we'll attend competitions to get us through the season.

For those of you who take time off? How much time can the kids take off, taking class/privates, before they start to regress skill wise?

Date: Tue Apr 22 1:44 PM, 2008

1 month to 2 months. I have seen kids lose their back handsprings in just a months time. The kids are developing/growing mental, as well as physically. They are in a constant state of adjustment every 1/2 inch that they grow. You need to at least have them continue tumbling classes if the plan is to return next season.

AirborneOwner · GURU

This is such an important topic to me. I do believe that cheerleading is a gift and a privilage you give your child. With that being said, I think that as business owners we need to listen to our customers.

At the end of last season we gave the customers an oppurtunity to voice their concerns through email, phone call or in person. We asked questions about the competitions, uniform, travel and other topics.

The responses and the recent economic downshift gave us the idea of the Non Travel team for this year. We have a strong response and the kids and families that have signed up are happy as they probably would not of been able to participate at all if we did not give the option of the Non Travel team. They will be with us until the end of the season when our full program will go down south.

I think that offering this is a great way to also introduce people to the sport.

Date: Tue Apr 22 2:00 PM, 2008

Anonymous wrote:

1 month to 2 months. I have seen kids lose their back handsprings in just a months time. The kids are developing/growing mental, as well as physically. They are in a constant state of adjustment every 1/2 inch that they grow. You need to at least have them continue tumbling classes if the plan is to return next season.

One of my daughters has been out of cheer for 2 years due to personal reasons and she still has the same tumbling she had 2 years ago. She tumbles all over the yard and on the playground at school. No she has not progressed but she has not lost anything either. She has also grown alot she is now 12. If they have solid skills when they leave you should be fine to return next year.

Date: Tue Apr 22 3:01 PM, 2008

AirborneOwner wrote:

This is such an important topic to me. I do believe that cheerleading is a gift and a privilage you give your child. With that being said, I think that as business owners we need to listen to our customers.

At the end of last season we gave the customers an oppurtunity to voice their concerns through email, phone call or in person. We asked questions about the competitions, uniform, travel and other topics.

The responses and the recent economic downshift gave us the idea of the Non Travel team for this year. We have a strong response and the kids and families that have signed up are happy as they probably would not of been able to participate at all if we did not give the option of the Non Travel team. They will be with us until the end of the season when our full program will go down south.

I think that offering this is a great way to also introduce people to the sport.

Attention Gym Owners:

Please take note of the above option. This is a PHENOMENAL idea. It has the potential to knock thousands off of a cheer season since the family won't need to pay for travel and hotel.

Great Job AirborneOwner!