In this week’s episode, Nathan and Bec go deep on a question a lot of studio owners wrestle with: should you expand (open a second location) or lean into optimising what you’ve got first? They share stories from their own journeys, cautionary tales, and strategies you can use now to grow smarter - not just bigger.

We talk about why expansion isn’t always the answer, what “fullness” really means in your studio, how your timetable could secretly be holding you back, and when (and if) a second location actually makes sense.

Key Takeaways:

• Expansion is expensive - fit‑out, extra staff, marketing, more admin time
• Many studios who open a second location might not be ready - headspace & risk are often underestimated
• What does “bursting at the seams” actually mean? Look beyond just one busy evening
• How to audit your studio’s capacity: class fill rates, age distributions, under‑utilised slots
• The power of optimising your timetable - getting students into more classes without needing more students
• Back‑to‑back scheduling (e.g. circus + acro) and designing it for what’s easiest for parents (not teachers)
• Watch demographic trends and local growth cues before choosing a new location
• It’s okay (and smart) to focus on maximising what you already have before chasing “more”

If this episode got your wheels turning and you’d love more support, don’t forget: podcast listeners get 1 week free in our Dance Principals United Tribe. Hit the link in the show notes and come see us inside: https://danceprincipalsunited.com/dpu-tribe/

In this week’s episode, Amanda is joined by Nathan as they dive into one of their fave mantras: “Big moves = big results” - especially when it comes to enrollment pushes in your dance studio.
They share what works (and what doesn’t), real numbers from members who went all in, and how to confidently lean into follow-up (even when you're terrified of sounding “salesy”).

In this episode you’ll hear:

• Why the one‑and‑done email/messaging approach almost never gets you big results
• How to plan out a two‑week bring-a-friend / open-week campaign: what pieces to include
• The power of every touchpoint: emails, texts, socials, teachers in class, flyers, posters, balloons
• Why the follow-up is where most studios drop the ball, and simple systems to plug that gap
• Real studio numbers: how one team landed 135 extra class placements in one week
• How to lean into rejection, build confidence in calling leads, and see the upside
• Why consistency + iteration beats reinventing the wheel every time

Want more support?
If you’re feeling inspired (or overwhelmed) by all this, remember: our Dance Principals United Tribe is here. You might also hear some of our Studio Growth Club members on the podcast soon, sharing their stories. To get a week free in the Tribe, click here: https://danceprincipalsunited.com/dpu-tribe/

Buckle up! In this week’s episode Bec and Nath go deep on one of the biggest, most emotional events in studio life: the end‑of‑year concert. They talk about why it often doesn’t make money, what costs secretly drag you down, and how small shifts in ticket pricing or marketing can make thousands more in profit. And yes, there’s talk about late‑night hair, juggling sick kids, and what being a studio owner really means when you also have a family.

What we cover:

• Why your concert must be profitable, especially when revenue turns off for several weeks after shows.
• How big rehearsal schedules and added production costs (think epic stories, flying props, etc.) can spiral out of control.
• The importance of looking at concert expenses (venue, staff, décor, extras)and knowing all your costs.
• Using your “tickets per dancer” metric: what are people already buying, and how to nudge them even a little more.
• Why raising ticket prices by just a few dollars can sometimes bring in more net profit than trying to sell programs, roses, etc.
• How to think about the parent / audience experience (comfort, show length, activation, fun) so people are happy to come back.
• The psychology of asking parents for “add‑ons” vs wrapping everything into the ticket/fee.

Free tool alert: we drop in a concert concept profit calculator + training video to help you crunch all these numbers for your studio.

If you want help running the numbers yourself, grab the Concert Profit Calculator here: https://danceprincipalsunited.com/concert-profit-calculator/ (it comes with a video walkthrough so you know how to use it).

Also, if you’re listening and not yet part of the Tribe, we’ve got a special offer: two weeks free in Dance Principles United Tribe (link in show notes). Would love to have you in there!

https://danceprincipalsunited.com/dpu-tribe/

Backstage at concert time doesn't have to be a disaster waiting to happen. In this week's episode, we are diving into the real nitty-gritty of how to turn concert chaos into absolute kiddo magic.

We share everything from cringe-worthy horror stories (yep, preschoolers in actual cubicles) to the sweet, simple ways we've transformed backstage into a place kids never want to leave.

This one's full of golden ideas, hilarious tangents, and real talk about how to stop concert day from turning into a pressure cooker.

In this episode, we chat about:

• Why your backstage experience might be driving families away
• How Bec's party room made her concert the event of the year
• Amanda's tips for making drop-off smoother with less stuff and more magicThe difference between what teachers want and what kids need
• How to train your staff to lead fun, calm, kid-friendly groups
• What to do instead of a dress rehearsal
• Why it's all about the kids (not our ego!)

Plus, we share loads of practical ideas for your next show - boxes of fun, DJ-led party zones, bravery dust, and more!

Tune in now and let’s make concert day feel like a celebration, not a survival mission.

Want more support like this? Join us in the Tribe! Just for podcast listeners, you can get 2 weeks FREE.

https://www.danceprincipalsunited.com/offers/4znu2MFP/checkout

This week, Nathan and Bec dive into giving clients that coveted “five‑star experience” in your studio - even if your budget doesn’t match a fancy hotel chain. After some hilarious (yet cringe-worthy) hotel misadventures - keys to wrong rooms, falling door frames, showerheads dropping mid-rinse - they ask: if hospitality fails there, how do we ace it in our studios? Expect oodles of practical tips from managing prop piles to mastering warm greetings, role-play training, and the magic of small but big-hearted gestures.

Key Takeaways

• Team alignment is everything - when everyone’s on the same page, service fails are less likely.
• Props away, studio pristine - it’s the little prep things so easy to forget that signal care.
• Role-play plus feedback equals service upgrade - practice phone manners or end-of-class chats.
• Build those connections - parents stick around (and forgive little mistakes) when they feel seen.
• Meet, reflect and train regularly - termly check-ins, peer-led sessions, and sharing wins.
• Train everyone - front desk and shy teachers, equally - service isn’t just one person’s job.

Head to the show notes link now to grab two weeks free in Dance Principles United Tribe: your backstage pass to more storytelling, tools, and support from Amanda and Bec. https://www.danceprincipalsunited.com/offers/4znu2MFP/checkout

Amanda and Bec are keeping it real: their studios finally hit that $1 million‑a‑year milestone: not by doing more, but by doing less. In this episode, they dive into the six surprising habits they had to quit so their businesses could flourish, and you can too. Think ditching the endless “wishlist” requests, pushing past word‑of‑mouth, and choosing vision over people‑pleasing.

What you'll take away:

• Stop being everything to everyone - Clarity over chaos is the name of the game.
• Word‑of‑mouth isn’t enough - Invest in marketing, ads, and systems that scale.
• Coaching isn’t optional - Business skills don’t come from passion alone.
• Don’t sweat small stuff - Quick action saves time, headspace, and sanity.
• Stop playing small - Believe you are a business, not “just a dance teacher.”
• Love your littles (not just your elites) - Make your preschoolers the future, not an afterthought.

If you’d love to join a community that lifts you while building your business, go grab two free weeks in Dance Principles United Tribe: https://www.danceprincipalsunited.com/offers/4znu2MFP/checkout

Let’s be honest: concerts these days need to do more than dazzle on stage. In this episode, Amanda and Bec are diving into how your end-of-year concert can (and should!) be a retention powerhouse, a marketing machine, and a profitable part of your studio year - all without sending your parents into meltdown mode.

They unpack what today’s parents actually want (hint: it’s not 15 makeup changes and a Pinterest-worthy updo), and how you can make your concert experience smoother, simpler, and more joyful for everyone.

If you've ever found yourself juggling costume chaos, payment overloads, or concerts that run longer than a Lord of the Rings marathon… this one's for you.

What we cover:

• Why concerts should be built for marketing, retention, and profit (not just your creative flair)
• The reason parents don’t want six tiny costume payments spread out over months
• How to simplify your concert offerings and make parents breathe a sigh of relief
• The power of the opt-out model to boost participation
• How to ditch complicated makeup and shoe requirements (please!)
• A practical new approach to costume pricing (that still looks fab on stage)
• Why studio owners should go and watch other concerts for fresh eyes
• Real talk about the TikTok-attention-span reality we’re all facing

🎧 Pop in your earbuds, grab that cold coffee, and let’s reimagine your concert season, minus the overwhelm.

👉 Got concert chaos? Let’s sort it inside The Tribe! https://www.danceprincipalsunited.com/offers/4znu2MFP/checkout

This episode is a must-listen if you've ever found yourself working your butt off in the studio… only to realise you didn’t get paid again this week. 😩

Amanda opens up about the moment that changed everything: when she was 21, running her studio, and realised she couldn’t afford to pay herself… even though she’d just done 10x the work of her staff. Yikes.

This episode dives deep into the real reason so many studio owners struggle with cash flow (even when the numbers look good on paper).

We’re talking about:

- That gut-punch moment when Amanda vowed never to go unpaid again 💥

- Why your wage isn’t a “nice to have” - it’s essential

- How profitable businesses still fail (yep, really)

- The ego trap of overstaffing too soon

- What the “Profit First” method actually means for studios

- Amanda’s go-to moves when cash flow gets tight (spoiler: it’s not cutting costs!)

- The smartest way to split your money into separate accounts

- The software trick that saves you 30 hours a week without hiring admin staff

If money talk makes you uncomfortable, this is exactly the episode you need. Because when you’re paid well, your whole studio thrives.

👉 Special offer: Grab two weeks free inside the Dance Principals United Tribe just for tuning in. It’s where the real magic (and mentoring) happens. 💛 https://www.danceprincipalsunited.com/offers/4znu2MFP/checkout

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