I agree that cheerleading is expensive! The way I have to look at it is, my daughter is getting tumbling, dance, and acro all in one. If she paid that amount just for dance (for example) I don't think I could justify it. But she gets so much more.

But what I do think is getting out of control are the competition fees. $75, $90 per person is just outrageous. Also, I'm not too thrilled with Jamz, who on top of comp fees, charge $15 per spectator at regionals, which does not even include an up-to-date schedule (and printing it out on the computer before leaving doesn't work because it's usually out-of-date). What's really sad is to pay an outrageous amount per cheerleader, and then end up not going against anyone (which will happen more often if these competitions keep charging outrageous fees). Just venting.

Responding to Janice's post, I don't think it's a small gym vs. large gym issue -- we were with a smaller gym (as someone else mentioned too) and it was more expensive. Why I don't know. The problem is, you can shop around and find less expensive gyms that will fill your needs, but if they're not closeby, it wouldn't be worth the commute (time and gas). So I guess you have to take all of that into consideration before switching. But like you, I wonder what the costs are too (besides renting/maintaining the gym). Maybe a few owners could shed some light?

I can sympathize with you. If I were a parent, I'd be wondering where my 3 or 4 grand a season is going. Sometimes it does seem a bit excessive, right? But realistically, has anyone asked if Danny and Morton own a house? Cause the answer is no...they live in apartments. Derick and I drive used Honda's (thankfully mine has a stereo). Many others have to have other jobs to supplement their income. I'm not asking for pity, because all of us love our jobs and wouldn't trade it in for new cars or fancy houses, but perhaps I can help shed some light on this subject, from the perspective of a person who has worked with cheergyms.com for 5 years.

First off, let's talk real estate. Anyone in the Bay Area able to find a house for under $400,000? No? Well, business real estate isn't much different. It's expensive to rent space. Really expensive.

Then, let's talk insurance. Imagine going to an insurance company and saying, "yeah, I'm going to have 50 - 100 18 year old and younger kids in my facility throwing each other around on a 2 inch foam mat while at the same time these kids will also throw their own bodies at the ground and try to use their arms to stop themselves from hitting the ground". Not many insurance companies are going to give you the best of deals.

Now let's talk expenses. From uniforms to competitions to camps, etc...those things cost money and are out of our hands. We try to make things worth while by going to competitions that are enjoyable and give back. Hey, we could always pack up and head to the local High School for that competition. And uniforms...they aren't cheap. These things cost money.

How about travel? Not very many people want to compete locally anymore, especially with some companies providing bids to Worlds, the new big thing within cheerleading. Flights, hotels...they all cost money.

What about standard bills? These gyms are anywhere from 4,000 - 10,000 sq feet. I love having the ability to turn the lights on in here! Practicing in the dark would probably suck.

Then after all that, well, you need someone to actually teach the kids, right? You have to pay your staff, and if you want someone good who is willing to put in the time, then you gotta make sure they can keep a roof over their heads and food on their table.

As I said before, I really can sympathize with parents. If I were a father and my child came home and said he/she wanted to cheer and it would cost me 3 or 4 grand a year (a car payment perhaps), I'd wonder if I were being gouged. But if you look into it you'll see that we're here because we love what we do, we love to teach and work with kids. It's not about the money, it never has been.

If it really was, I think I'd go out and get me one of those new Lexus IS 350's. Until then, I'll just have to enjoy my current Lexus IS 300 on my Need 4 Speed video game.

Nelson

Thanks for all the info Nelson, it was very helpful. Correct me if I'm wrong, but perhaps the reason some gyms are more expensive than others (afterall, they all have the same rent problems you mentioned, insurance, and so on) has to do with paying their staff, versus coaches who volunteer. I know some gyms do not pay their staff, and as a matter of fact they usually end up paying their way to the competitions too (not saying it's right). You mentioned making sure the staff has a roof over their heads -- well here in the bay area, that takes a lot of $$$, so I can understand how expensive that might be.

Veteran cheer mom, I would disagree with you there about looking at this as a service. Unlike a skate rink or fitness center, this is a sport we're talking about, one that we hope becomes an olympic event someday. Cheering through youth football and high school just doesn't cut it these days, you need more. But a lot of folks just can't afford it. So there's nothing wrong with trying to make it as affordable as possible. The question asked was why is it so expensive, and a very informative answer was given by a gym owner. But to basically say how the money is spent is none of our business and if we don't like the "service" don't go there is not really an acceptable answer, and I'm very glad you're just a cheer mom and not an owner.

This isn't really a response to anyone in particular, more so just my take on money and the sport.

Yes, cheerleading is very expensive. And yes, we all hope we can make it as cheap as possible so more people can afford it. And as Nelson metioned, it does take a lot of money to run a gym, which quite frankly, sucks. But as he said, its all for the kids.

As a coach, (I've worked for cheergyms, along with a new program down here in the San Diego county), its definitely not about the money, because to be honest, I've never made that much. But when I walk into the gym, and all my Jr. Prep kids jump on me, and hug me, and tell me about the newest exciting thing in their lives, its so much more rewarding then getting a big paycheck at the end of the next 2 week pay period.

As an athlete, having a great coach means the world. And you can tell the difference between coaches who are in it for money, and the ones where its all about the kids. I've been on these boards and boasted about how amazing I think Nelson is, so I'm not going to get into that again. But the fact that I still get so excited to call and tell him about the new and exciting opportunities that are being presented to me in the world of college cheer now, means he's so not in it for the money. And I owe alot of what I'm doing now to him, given that he is the one who saw potential in me, encouraged me to leave to move on to bigger and better, and taught me the skills I needed to get this far.

And as a daughter, I couldn't be more grateful. Starting in gymnastics, (which is WAY more expensive then cheer), my parents have done everything in their power to keep me involved in a sport that I loved. $300+ per month for tuition, traveling expenses (and coaches traveling expenses) to go to worthwhile competitions, $40+ entry fees per comp, $20 for each practice leotard, $30 for warm up leotards, $75+ for competion leotards, $100+ for warm ups, plus gas and other expenses to get me to and from the gym EVERY DAY, and thats PER SEASON (not per year). It has pretty much cost my parents an arm and a leg to keep me in the gym and in cheer, but I'm sure if you asked my mom, she'd tell you it was so worth it. And my parents know how grateful I am for all they've sacrificed.

I do agree that we should make it as cheap as possible, and available to more people. More and more schools offer scholarships now, so I really do believe that it will just take time for the sport to grow to the point where All-Star programs will be able to offer more price breaks, but it is hard to keep parents and kids happy, and to keep the gym doors open.

But hey, that's just my 2 cents.

Do you just not understand that this is someones business and they have to make a living just like any other business owner out there and it is still NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS even if it is a sport...





VCM

okay I will respect that we each have a right to our own opinions.

vcm

Whoa, first of all, VCM wasn't apologizing. Secondly, go back to the original post and look at the question before you get defensive, and, well frankly, rude! The question was simple -- why does cheer have to be so expensive, and comments from cheer owners were requested since they know what it takes. These questions have been answered, and I might add those who know didn't appear to have a problem pointing out the expenses to us, who don't know. The approach VCM and yourself, "sorry", thinks they should have taken is to tell all of us "yeah, it's expensive, so what, it's a business, and never mind how we spend it". Well, they have a little more class than that.