Unknown Speaker 0:02
Hello friends I'm Amanda bar. And I'm Rebecca Lu Brennan and welcome to Dance principles united the podcast. Together, we are passionate about helping studio owners with the business of running their studio. Join us as we talk everything through marketing systems studio culture, motherhood, life and everything in between. This is the dance principals United podcast.
Amanda Barr 0:30
Hi, friends, and welcome to a very special episode of the dance principals United podcast. It is the day after dance teacher Expo 2024. And I'm here with the whole crew. I'm here with the lovely Bec.
Rebecca Liu Brennan 0:43
Hi guys.
Amanda Barr 0:44
I'm also here with Nate.
Nathan Barr 0:46
Hello, everybody!
Amanda Barr 0:47
And our amazing support crew who you might have not heard on the podcast before the beautiful Cara.
Kara 0:53
Hi, everyone.
Amanda Barr 0:54
And Tim!
Tim 0:55
Hi, everybody.
Amanda Barr 0:57
So exciting. Oh my god, how great was Expo Bed?
Rebecca Liu Brennan 1:01
I mean, it was epic event. I don't know. I don't know if you remember this moment. But there was kind of this moment where you Nathan, I would just like we actually can't believe that we have created this like it was Do you remember that they were just standing there together. And it was this surreal moment of I can't believe that this is actually happening and ours and all the things.
Nathan Barr 1:23
Yeah, especially being so much bigger and better than last year as well. Like last year was epic and amazing. And then walking in this year, especially that vendor arena, that was just absolutely next level, especially with a cat walk in there and all the lights and everything like
Amanda Barr 1:38
Oh my gosh, the people that weren't there, we took the vendor arena. to the next level. It looks so professional. It was so amazing. And that we had 60 Incredible brands, you know, Australian brands, but also plans from Canada. The UK, America was awesome, right?
Rebecca Liu Brennan 1:57
It was so insane. And think we had like nearly 60 brands in there, right? Yeah. And like everything from costume companies to software to all the things like syllabuses. It was the vibe, the vibe was like my favourite part, I think like just how everyone was getting on with each other. Everyone was so supportive of each other. And I think, you know, that's just, it doesn't happen in our industry very often.
Nathan Barr 2:25
No, it does. It doesn't happen nearly enough, right? bringing everybody together, because it's obviously so incredible having the brands there. But what makes the event such a success is having all those incredible studio owners and teachers come together to bring that vibe that you're talking about.
Amanda Barr 2:39
Oh my God, it was so good. We'd love to we had over 1000 people join us. And it was an amazing event. Everybody really just was there supporting each other. You know, it's interesting, I was talking to I don't know if I've told you guys this car. And I was talking to Kate Evans from acrobatic arts. And what she said to us was, it's so interesting to talk to different studio owners and different teachers. You know, she works for acrobatic arts, and obviously teachers as well. And she's like, you know, I have the same problems that you guys are all facing. I have the same problems in my class that you guys are all doing. We all are exactly the same. No one special no one's different. It was a, she had some really great insights. And she Kara.
Kara Clarke 3:24
She sure did. And that's what it's all about. Like, in the dance industry. I think everyone thinks it's all about competition. And it's really nice, like the absolute scale of the event, and just how many people were all in the same space. But we were all in the same space this time and under the one roof, all there for the same purpose. And everyone was just vibing it like, I spoke to so many people at registration and I stayed on the registration desk for the whole day on day one. And then day two, I moved into the vendor arena and had so many conversations with people. And everybody just absolutely loved it. Like no one had a bad word to say about anything. And so many people that were strangers became besties and just the connections that were made were just so amazing. It just warms my heart I loved it.
Rebecca Liu Brennan 4:18
But I think that's like one of the biggest things that Amanda Nathan I've always wanted Kara, is for people to connect with each other in this industry and we all say Together we are stronger. And Amanda and I got up in our opening address and said try and meet people next to you. And also in that opening address I said that I would have been the last person to have gotten number one gone to this event. And number two being brave enough to go up to people but you know when you put yourself out of your comfort zone and as I keep saying that's how I made an eighth and I met was at a business event not quite to the extreme of that by any means but you know at a business event and look where it's bought us and you just never know you might meet your best
For and they're like people have connected from last year's Expo and they're now coming to Expo together. Crazy. So good. I was chatting to some studios that were there, Candace and Brad from Harvey Bay. And they were with another studio owner there. And I'm so sorry, I can't remember the name of that studio. There was a lot of people we've met. Yeah. And I thought the three of them were there together. Because they were sitting there chatting, I thought the three of them were all there together.
And all business partners or work together, first time they've ever met, but I saw them having such great conversations. And I was like, that's what it's all about. Right? Like, yeah, they had so much in common that never met before. It was so lovely to have that so amazing. And Tim, I know like a lot of the vendors in the vendor room because that was your jam talk. Or Tim the king of the vendors.
but I feel like the same thing like vendors were connecting with other vendors and getting on with each other up there as well.
Tim 5:54
Yeah, definitely look it. It was such an amazing event and at risk of going on with it. But just the whole community and a few more highlights. We're just having it seeing and hearing people for a high amount. I haven't seen him since two years ago from this or there or vendors actually connecting with students that they used to teach or even think it was Maddie from block going over to see Debbie from dance the budget. Yeah. And they were just just reconnections and rekindling old I was gonna say romance and friendship. So it was just such a good environment and think having vendors in competing areas, there was no fighting, there was more connections, there was more growth. And it's just the realisation that there's enough people to to service every business. And that's, it was just such a good environment and a dance. People just bring that extra bars and just humming the whole time. It's such an amazing experience was so good.
Amanda Barr 6:54
And I know we were talking about, we saw a few different, you know, companies chatting with each other and talking about how they can collaborate together and work together. And God that was good, right? Like, because that's what it's all about. It's about, you know, building our brands together building this industry that we all love together. Because as you said back together, we're stronger.
Rebecca Liu Brennan 7:17
Yeah, absolutely. But today, guys on the podcast, we thought we would chat to you about our each of our biggest lessons from the event because you know, we all go to these events, we have a great time and all the things but it's also a place to learn and self reflect and absolutely find what your biggest lesson was from the event. We had some amazing sessions as well, which we were kind of in and out of, obviously, because we were running around doing things, but we did get to listen to some stuff. But Amanda, I know you got to interview a few people. But you know, I'd love to know, like, what was your biggest lesson from this event? What was the one thing that your lack? Right? You know, that was the hugest, or moment your big aha moment, my big aha moment? That's a big question on a Monday after a huge event.
Amanda Barr 8:05
You know, I had so many of them. And I really think I got the pleasure of interviewing Shannon Atkins, which was amazing. She was talking about what a judge is looking for. And that was incredible. She had some incredible insights into that. And some of them was that all judges are different. There's not a set thing she was really talking about, about that. But also about how she just really feels that kids should be kids, which I loved hearing as well. And that, you know, sometimes those you know, not everything matters so much. He said, You know, when she was a studio owner, she used to be so pedantic about every little thing that the kids did from what they wore to how they presented to all those things. And she said, Yes, why it does matter. She said that she you know, some interesting things she said was that she often disagrees with some of the other adjudicators. You know, for example, about you know, how they wear shoes, or you know, if they're wearing one turning shoe or something like that, some some adjudicators. It's such a big thing now. Yeah. And she said, I don't care in reality, because in reality, they're not wearing any turning shoes when they're working professionally. So if they want to wear a turning shoe, great sometimes they're in a school hall and the you know, the flooring isn't safe. Sometimes it's a safety thing. She's like, but really doesn't matter. Why does that matter? She's like, I do think grooming matters but some little things like that the tights the no tights, the one shoe the two shoes that no shoes, she's like, there's such little things that sometimes we just should, you know, skip ahead from and not worry about. I thought that was really interesting.
Rebecca Liu Brennan 9:40
Very interesting. And I'm one of those co owners who's really thinking about that exactly that at the moment, my staffer as well. Amanda, it's like us so worried about whether that judge is going to like the new shoe thing, not like the new shoe thing. It's like this transition in our industry at the moment. Yeah, I love Seannah.
No, she's, she's so encouraging and beautiful. She was. And I feel like she would not never judge a child on that. And we always, you know, and I hope all judges would be like that. Because the kids work. They're God's absolute,
Amanda Barr 10:14
You know who else I interviewed. Marco Surya is a potter and Will some from the cost of new era. Oh, my God, that was so many takeaways will die soon, I'd never met Will before these and he's only 19. And I've never met him before. And oh my god, the insights he shared with the room, everyone was like, floored, like, he just hit the nail on the head. So many times, it was incredible.
You know, he was talking about ways that teachers and studio owners can encourage upcoming talent to really support them. And both human Sariah we're really talking about how our words as teachers have such massive impact on those children. And how we've got to remember the power we have as teachers, yes, that sometimes a throwaway comment, that doesn't even mean anything to us, can mean the world to a child. And you know, Marco was kind of, you know, leaning into that as well, and was talking about something that was said to him when he was at an open class in Melbourne, that changed his whole life. He's like, that teacher doesn't probably even remember me in that class, saying that to me, and it changed my whole life. And, you know, it made him, you know, pursue his professional career because of one comment. And it was just incredible. I really Oh, my God, and there was so I can't even begin. I don't think I have enough time in this podcast to talk about all the incredible things that Marco said. Because I like I love my car, as you know. Yeah. And he always has so many incredible things to say, yeah, I,
Rebecca Liu Brennan 11:54
Sophie Holloway had something interesting as well, she was talking about that, as teachers, we should truly care about the way that we're teaching kids because she teaches mostly in full time schools. And she said she has a lot of kids come to her and it's too late. Like, it's almost like they're at a stage where they haven't developed enough professionally and Matt Lee was the same actually. He was like as as G as teachers. Now we're tunnelling these kids into one thing. So rather than being able to do singing, dancing, acting, blah, blah, he was like, you know, it should be a holistic view on teaching, but it's gone into this whole, like, you are just going to be this one thing. And that's the one thing we're going to push you forward for. But the problem with that is then when they get out in the big, bad world, they don't have all the things anymore. Yeah, it's like this new trend in car ownership, which I thought was a really interesting way of looking at it. It's interesting that so many of them said the same kind of ideas. Yeah.
Amanda Barr 12:55
They're all noticing the same thing. So many of that meeting so many amazing teachers and choreographers like, yeah, really, really interesting night. You didn't really get to any session. No, because I was making sure
Nathan Barr 13:09
I made that one. But oh, yeah, cuz I was getting out helping the tech, the tech setups and all those things, making sure it was all running smoothly with the ICC team there.
But yeah, that was really interesting what you guys were saying there just to sort of go off on a tangent A bit. Do you think it's sort of going away from because they're obviously both like talking about professional like getting work? As a performer? Is it almost sometimes what's what's going on in the current world maybe isn't so much translating sometimes to that side of things? Yeah.
Rebecca Liu Brennan 13:39
Matt Lee was talking about that. Now that everything is so the kids are on Instagram so much and seeing all funny. Karen was talking. I don't know you didn't say Caracal accession. But he's talked about the Instagram. Yeah. So sorry to interrupt. No, it's fine. They're just saying that like the kids now on Instagram think that because those kids are winning comp. And the parents I said to Matt, I know you don't see that side of it, but as a studio and other parents as well, because those kids are winning comp that that's the way the world of dance is going. But as Matt Lee said, The reason he's had such a long career and the reason he's knows that his career will continue is because he can do all the things you're seeing dance act, he's like, You need acrobatics, you now need circuits. He's like, You need to be good at everything. Not just I'm a technical dancer, because the technique will get you through the first two rounds of even a crucial audition but gets around three and you're screwed. So it's just like that whole realisation in our industry and thinking about what we're giving our kids is are we giving them a long career or are we just giving them that very short career and it's interesting trophy? Or the very short trophy, the trophy career because I think the whole trophy career is a whole different kettle of fish, right? Yes, but Matt also said you can only do the sector so a contract or the technical
Whatever it is contract for five to 10 years max. Yeah. And then your body cannot physically cope with that anymore. So it was it. Yeah, I loved interviewing him. I was such a fangirl, too. I was literally so nervous to interview him because I was like smelly. No, I like it out for so long. I said that to be the beginning but um, it was like one of the best experiences of my whole life getting
...We're so lucky to be surrounded by the people were surrounded with on the weekend. They're amazing. Like Glenwood from Glenwood Tap.
We've all got to talk about we all have stories about Glenwood Yeah, it was amazing he like blew me away with you know how we talk about brands that have survived through the ages Coca Cola perfect example. Okay, like it was what born in the 1950s or something is still one of the best I mean, we all had a Coke Zero at lunch today.
Do you know what I mean? Like it's a brand that is Leapt Through Time and moved and evolved and done all the things so you know, when Glenwood was one of our premium sponsors and bought in young kids tapping had a very fresh look to his stall just did all the right things connected with everyone had Darren Disney in there like it was one of the most epic things I've ever seen. And I went on the team will tell you but like was that the Desert Storm mucking around and stuff like, he is just someone who evolves. I was so impressed with that. I think we all work. I use all that..
Kara Clarke 16:39
The lunchtime tap session, like this store was just it was like, they got their tap boards out. They were doing little demonstrations with their assistance at lunchtime, they got out there and did a little show. They brought a crowd and the crowd just stood around their store and just watch them do this little tap show. I was mesmerised. I was literally sitting there with my jaw dropped just watching because I was like, This is so fun. Like, I didn't get to go out to any of the sessions. I was busy doing other things. But you know, to be able to come down in the vendor arena and see them demonstrating what they were actually talking about to people. And it's just a melee as well.
It was amazing. It did not stop. And it he was just incredible.
Nathan Barr 17:26
It was it was almost like a bit of a marketing masterclass. Like it was for as incredible as it was. It wasn't like a big bells and whistles production or anything like that as well. Yep, he had they do the thing that they do. Amazingly, the Glenwood tap, obviously, they literally had two tap boards, and a bunch of really friendly, welcoming people who also happen to be amazing tappers hanging around and showcasing what they did. And I think it's yeah, just like I said, a really good example of just doing what you know, and doing it really well. And being friendly and personable and the crowds come. Definitely be I was I was at the other corner of the vendor arena, which was a big group of witches.
Tim 18:12
And he said it was an impromptu lunchtime session. The the whole just stop because you just heard that rhythmic tapping just their distinctive tap tap tap tap sound and everyone just stopped like what is that I need to go and see it was like that sort of Pied Piper mode or everyone just kind of huddled around to see what was happening it was such a easy thing to do or so organically to marketing masterclass exactly what you said through the people
Rebecca Liu Brennan 18:39
I think you guys need to think about that with your studios like what are you doing in your local area to stand out a little bit what's something a bit different that you can bring, you know, if you are going to the local feed or fair, what are you bringing with you to the local feed or fair that's gonna make you stand out from other studios if your marketing What are you doing to market to make you stand out and be completely different from everyone else because there's a lot of noise in the marketplace but when you do something that you know, we could have talked about any of the 58 brands but we all are talking about Glenwood tap and you know it that's why because he was so well they were so smart with how they did that.
Kara Clarke 19:17
They were captivating you know like they just captured people's attention and don't get me wrong or the vendors or the vendor arena this year. Next Level. Oh my god. It was like a looked incredible. All the stores looked amazing. All the vendors were amazing. I went around and checked out every store. Even after set up on Friday night I had a little sneaky look at everyone's store and was just like I was so excited for the weekend because I just knew everyone was going to walk into that hole which we were so scared about having originally because we thought it was going to be huge. It was you know this scary thing but it was packed out. And it just looked epic and it was epic and everyone was loved it.
Rebecca Liu Brennan 20:01
You know what else I think was interesting was this the vendor people who, for me put a little bit extra effort into their store, like one of the ones that I want to say is a Tod. Yes, they, their store, like they obviously invested in it. But they just put that extra little bit of finesse, I guess you'd say and effort into it. And I think again, like with your dance studios, first impressions are very important. And that first impression of when people walk in, can really make or break something. And I think when you looked at their store, that first impression was very, very impressive. I don't know if you felt Yeah. 100%.
Nathan Barr 20:44
Yeah, something we talk about all the time with our studios, right? That, like you said, you get one chance to make a first impression. And too often, in our studio, sometimes we get a little bit lazy when we're waiting rooms are looking sloppy. They're looking looking looking a little bit Oh, yeah, with the amount of small humans we have coming through every week, that popcorn on the floor.
And the paint gets chipped here and there and it keeps get like it just those little things that we keep overlook that we get to acclimatised to, and we got it like we got to look at it with fresh eyes that pretty regularly, it's thinking about what the message is that you're sending people when someone first walks in as well.
Rebecca Liu Brennan 21:22
Like, you know, What message are you giving them? Are you giving them a fun, friendly message? Are you giving them a professional message? Are you giving them a week care about your kids message? Because that's, that's the top three things. I think that we need to be thinking about. What about hope from enrol? Yeah.
Nathan Barr 21:37
Oh, well, she was talking about that. She does the amazing from enrolling, but you can't see backspace, because it also has a studio herself. Talking about that one back.
Rebecca Liu Brennan 21:49
Look, I'm obsessed with hope after the weekend, I have to say, but she has done a lot of training in the Disney Experience, which Amanda and I have tried to do, but we can't do it because we're in Australia. But anyway, she has done a lot of training with that Disney experience. So she was telling me things like when when you walk into the studio, she has music playing. And she has like this garden that you walk through. So you feel like you kind of going into a fantasy room that at the end of her classes, she gives out lavender flannels, like to every child to wipe their faces and hands over with. But like I can imagine the experience in her studio would be absolute next level. These are not hard things to do, though. Like it's just small, little things. That's what I'm saying. Like you don't have to go out. We're not saying go and spend $50,000 and refurbish your waiting area. But like little things like that, that you do that show that you care so much about those kids and about the experience is what's going to make it next level you can do consistently as well. 100%
Amanda Barr 22:49
Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. So can we talk about the fashion show? Can we like, have a pause and talk about the fashion show because that was one of the highlights of the event for everybody. The Saturday night event? It was amazing. The girls at future stars did an awesome job of choreographing 10 brands. So much fun. So everyone was so enjoy it. Right?
Rebecca Liu Brennan 23:15
Yeah, it was epic. I'm look, I'm really proud of the girls. And I also think that they tried really hard to use different kids from different studios as well as my studio, obviously. But you know, there was a lot of diversity in there, there was a lot of kids from different studios who've used future stars. And I think that was really nice to see those kids working together. As Matt Lee said in the session, you know, there's no point being competitive with each other at your age group, because you're all going to end up working together at some stage. And that's something that Marcos always said as well. And I think we really need to think about that in our industry. And I'm glad we're now bringing studio owners together that's really important. But that fashion show was absolutely incredible. The the brand so and that the look of those costumes, I was just blown away by some of the costumes. And that's what I was saying to everyone on the stage and you were to them and you can see it in a catalogue and you can see kind of what it looks like when you actually see it on a dancer. Dance.
Amanda Barr 24:18
Yeah, it is a totally different experience. Yeah, I absolutely loved it. And I loved you know, there were so many different brands that had a different feel to it. Right. You know, there was you know, classic brands that had you know, that was really aimed at young children there was more adults kind of style brands and everything in between more edgy kind of styles or more more traditional styles. And it was so great to say that there was something for everybody and for every studio owner or different type of dance or whether it was a record or class because sometimes we need different sort of styles of costumes so many little cuties you know the moment I absolutely loved that there was a little girl who who wasn't very happy onstage.
Gabby, she was so cute. She She was crying on on the catwalk. And it was so lovely to see because in a room full of 1000 studio owners and teachers, every single one of us got that, right. We've all had that moment with a preschooler who we thought would do great, and they cried on stage, she could never run so fast backstage and
Rebecca Liu Brennan 25:27
so bad. She was fine. She was fine. And they always are right.
Amanda Barr 25:30
But like every teacher got it. We've all been there. We've all seen that. And I thought that was just so lovely. That everyone was like very supportive. You know, they clap too, but we're also really mindful. The thing I noticed was everyone gave her a clap, but didn't like overwhelm. It wasn't too loud. It was like the right level. I think everybody got the moment you don't want to like start screaming and cheering for them? Because we all know that that doesn't work. No, it overwhelms them more. So lovely. Heartwarming, a lot of pressure on her like, Oh, yes, I think she's just turned six a week ago. Oh my god. I just thought was heartwarming. Yeah, teachers and the studio owners everyone gave her so much love.
Rebecca Liu Brennan 26:07
You know what else I loved the uniforms like yeah, a lot of brands chose to show studio owners the types of uniforms they can get and Amanda and I did in one of our sessions a big talk on the fact that you guys should be making profit off of uniforms. I'm a big believer in that. We are a business we should be making profit. And you got so many different types of uniform. I can't believe how much is out there. For those of you who are listening to us who don't have uniform in your studio yet check it out. Like there is so much out there for you to get so many new brands
Kara Clarke 26:39
Incredible like don't do this. Don't just value how amazing having a uniform in your school is. And I also think like parents prefer uniform. I've seen that thing I hate in one of our sessions. I said the thing I hate most in my life is Mufti day like Tim will tell you the torture that we go through on Mufti day of our kids, and how much they have anxiety over what to wear right to him.
Tim 27:05
It's a hard enough time getting them all into school uniforms and matching socks and shoes at the same time. Now having certainly being having a, what's called a uniform, everyone's in the same sort of outfit. Nobody feels like they're, they're left out or nobody feels like they're the odd one out. Yeah.
Rebecca Liu Brennan 27:24
And it's flipping your thinking on that, guys. It's like, you know, I'm worried that parents won't want to pay for it. Whereas if you tell parents the benefits of it, I think it can be a huge game changer.
Nathan Barr 27:34
I know. That's one of your pet peeves back that you're like because it's always it's almost the first objection if you're talking with Juliana's on any of our calls that we do. It's always the first objection you hear when they say they don't have uniform. i Oh, no, my parents wouldn't like it. Well, that's not true. Like you will hear from the two like whinging parents that you always that always complain about everything you'll hear from them, but the other 200 will actually appreciate it. So like don't listen to those more powerful negative voices it'll actually be a net positive for your studio, a huge positive studio and will be something you can make money from.
Rebecca Liu Brennan 28:09
Absolutely. Hey, can you guys tell me when we're talking about the Saturday night the fashion show in the cocktail hour? What was your like standout car? What was the best part of the fashion show the cocktail hour? Was there a moment in the fashion show that you like? Oh my god, I'm so this. I love this. And what was it?
Kara Clarke 28:25
Look, I was like, into the fashion show because I was making sure everyone got, you know, your dean, I stood at the back of the room, and I looked and I was just like, blown away. I think I've showed you guys 20 times the photos I took on my phone. Yeah. And from the back of the room of just the scale of it, like how many people were there and watching it from the back of the room. Everybody was just loving it. Like there was studio owners or they're like mingling together that didn't know each other that had become besties during the day in sessions. They were watching the fashion show. You know, seeing like you said seeing the movement of the costumes and uniforms on actual bodies and not just someone standing there someone actually posted about it on socials about you know, if you want to market you know, a product, get a dancer to wear it like how much better especially on the dance industry. How much better Did it look when someone was actually up there dancing in it rather than like back said seeing it in a catalogue? We'll sing it hang on it could have been airbrushed or Yeah, so I think my biggest thing was just that seeing everyone in that room watching everyone came together. There was none of this. Oh, I can't sit next to that person or be in the room with that person. It was just Yeah, epic. So I can't get over the scale. So good night was your favourite? Well, I had like almost the exact opposite perspective because I was right at the front. I was like, bringing it back to me obviously possibly the most important person
Nathan Barr 30:00
But because, because because I exactly. I had to press spacebar 10 times to start to start the music. Yeah.
But for me what I absolutely loved exactly what you were saying. And like what we've all been saying about, you know, studio owners how much more powerful it is for them to see the costumes on the like, I had a view of a whole bunch of studio owners and teachers across from me. And as their I can't demonstrate this on a podcast now can see me. But every time like a costume that they were a uniform, they would like come out, you can see them like tapping the person next to them, like pointing at the like, and like describing the things that they loved about it. Like, I presume because my lip reading is not that good. But I presume talking about like, what sort of class I would think that
that'd be good. Yeah, exactly. So that sort of thing I thought was really really cool. Yeah. So so good. Tim, did you have a moment on Saturday night? Was it was it the beers was that
Tim 30:55
it was a long day and a long week leading up to run in all sorts of logistical things. But I think for me and the reason I love being around you guys, is you really good storytellers. You can create a really good story. And being a footy dad. I honestly didn't think and Amanda said this during the show as well. She said could you did you think two years ago you'd be watching ballet outfits.
Unknown Speaker 31:19
Block
Tim 31:21
just the whole storytelling of che and turn in the future star media, your future stars media.
The way that they can tell a story through movement and exactly right. You got the uniforms, and they're good to go. But they're better to be seen moving and doing. They were really clever with that because they they told I don't know. They seem to tell a different story for every single brand. I did. And so every brand had their own flair and they were in style and they were in music obviously.
Rebecca Liu Brennan 31:52
Absolutely. But I feel like they did suit that really well. I totally agree. So many good ones. I love those like the cute little moment with the Barbie and the can and the old 50s outfits with the little girls coming out of here in Hamilton theatrical outfits. Oh my god, that was so out of the box. Little Barbies. That was such a moment.
Amanda Barr 32:09
And then also Archie with his Taylor's with his Taylor Swift hat. The one they got given by Taylor Swift. Yeah, and the whole Taylor Swift theme. Oh my god, that was for she Oh, seven then that was that was so so cute. And the friendship bracelets. Yeah. So many clever ideas like that. I know the studio seven team gave to take Yeah, shower. They came up with that idea. It was. I always say that wrong.
Unknown Speaker 32:38
Why didn't
Rebecca Liu Brennan 32:40
I do? That was such a smart concept. And yes, studio seven said they wanted to do the Taylor Swift idea. But to throw out the friendship bracelets with studio seven written on them. I was like, that is so smart. And then luckily, Archie from my studio obviously got that Taylor Swift hat, which was so cute.
Amanda Barr 32:59
And when Suzy interviewed him, he's just so proud to talk about his heart. 100% good again, like let's learn from Studio seven. That was a really standout moment. They were smarter. I know. Heaps of brands asked for that after and the Taylor Swift theme and Shane Tara like Sorry, someone's already taken it. But like what a smart theme to come up with it again as a studio. What are you thinking about? That's a little bit different. A little bit out there. Like I think we all just can learn from stuff like that for sure.
Kara Clarke 33:26
Do you know what's really clever about those bracelets like for if you want to Expo and you didn't see this? They made you know, the Taylor Swift friendship laces that were all beaded. Yeah, they threw them out to the crowd. Do you know what happened yesterday was one of those friendship bracelets. The security brought it into me and said someone's lost a bracelet. It's got a name or something on it. And we looked at it and Nathan I looked and we went, Oh, studio seven. It's seven spaces.
Like I mentioned if someone picked it up on the street, so studio seven so smart, so smart.
Nathan Barr 34:02
Those extra little things. It's like we're talking about with like the stuff that the Glenwood team we're doing like sometimes it's just the simplest things that are just so well executed that make the biggest difference like square rows when they were showcasing their uniform range. The kids were coming out with square rose socks on and it just had that extra just that little bit just that little bit of brand recognition that was all uniform that looked the same that just like topped it off the little tiny things I have to mention Hamilton's who came with dough doll boxes for their Barbie thing that she had got printed saying d t e dolls.
Rebecca Liu Brennan 34:39
Yeah, like that is so smart. It's not just cute though. It's smart. It is so smart branding attention to detail. Yeah, like does taking things to that next level and doing that little bit extra can make such a difference. I mean to Amanda's point earlier, you don't have to go and spend 50 grand redoing you can spend it
Tim 35:00
about little things. Not the money spent. Yeah. Socks, the bracelets. The not lots of money. Yeah. It's not a lot. It's just coming up with a good idea. And we all have good ideas.
Amanda Barr 35:13
Yeah, on trends. Yeah. Just unique ideas. Yeah. And that's what we're talking about tomorrow. Actually, it's funny. Well, yeah, we've been prepping our sessions. We're doing a studio growth club day tomorrow, and we've been prepping our sessions, we're talking about executing those ideas, which is so so exciting. But oh, my god, Expo was just amazing. There was so many amazing brands, I was blown away by some of the outfits, I was blown away by so many of the vendedores the session, I'm gonna, every single thing about, I'm just gonna, because it was incredible. It was incredible.
Rebecca Liu Brennan 35:46
I want to say, though, and I know we're probably wrapping out. But, you know, the amount of work that we put into that event was insane. Oh, yeah. And every person knew what they were doing for every second, we had everything down to the last detail. And obviously, our team is super exhausted and have done all the things but to I think just putting it again, out to you guys like to have a really successful event in your studio, you've got to put that hard work and effort into it. And you've got to realise that to make something you know that that huge, you really have to know what every person's doing. You've got to you know, I mean Amanda, you were so smart with the marketing and the ideas behind we sold out of merch Kara in like, how were the merch was next level.
Kara Clarke 36:38
So Amanda and I literally had this discussion, like a couple of weeks before in regards to the merch about how much do you think we need? Do you think anyone will even buy it? Like, what should we do about the merch the first day to know how many people I have lining up saying, I want one of those merch bags and one of those merch bags.
Rebecca Liu Brennan 36:58
clever about it is so smart with like coming up with those ideas. And you know, I know your car has powers incredible support with that. But it's like the two of them with those incredible ideas. And that is just, it's just those little things that Ponton thing is like, but then yeah, there's just so much that goes into that. And I think you guys need to think about if maybe you're causing what concept wasn't what you wanted it to be, maybe it wasn't as successful as you think self reflect and think why? Because I don't know, I feel like we have a great team here. We each have our niche of what we are great at in that event. And we each do our things. I mean, they created this incredible app, every single person taught every vendor team, you agree with me really talked about that app, and how amazing it was. Tim's there, you know, chatting to the vendor people the entire time helping them with the logistics, like we each have our thing that we obviously are doing, but I feel like it is so much work to make an event like that. Amazing. And you guys need to think about that with your concert. You're doing all the things. That's gonna be the next shirts.
Amanda Barr 38:10
We had, we had Taylor Swift shirts this year, next year, it's gonna be all the things shirts, because that's the thing, the amount of people that said to me, you guys need to have old shots. Every single podcast you talk about all that?
Kara Clarke 38:26
I mean, here in the background, we need all the things show.
Nathan Barr 38:32
Oh, I was gonna say sorry to cut you off Tim or one thing that I think you will definitely love back that I noticed this year, just sort of like as I was adding people into the app and monitoring the ticket sales as they came in. And things like that was how many people this year have bought along like studio owners incredible studio owners bought along so many more of their staff, and showing how much they're really investing in their staff and their team and bringing along for 567 Even like 10 Plus stars are coming down from
Amanda Barr 39:04
Queensland that they are bringing we're coming up from New Zealand we'd like six staff like that was huge,
Nathan Barr 39:10
and even people that weren't bringing massive amounts of staff and I spoke to two incredible studio owners that travelled from five hours out of Adelaide, the investment and like some people that were a few hours, like three or four hours out of Perth, but that's a big time and financial investment to get there to get across the country to come to an event like that too. So to be investing in their team so much is going to absolutely love off. So
Amanda Barr 39:37
yeah, as you said like, that's how you grow your studio is you make those investments in your team you all come over together, you make you know some big plans on how you're going to grow that studio, how you going to do better things in your classroom, in your marketing in in your customer service so that your studio can be you know, everything you've ever dreamed off and I see a lot of people always say like have the objection.
Nathan Barr 40:00
To that around not just in their studios, but in all businesses. What if I spend all this money on training my team, and they leave? And the flip side to that is, well, what if you don't? And they stay? Yeah, because that's 10 times worse, right?
Kara Clarke 40:12
Absolutely. And on that note, with the people travelling, I spoke to so many people, and we had so many people, like you said, from New Zealand, and we have people come from Western Australia, but this year, I really noticed. We had so many people from Queensland and also Victoria. And so I asked them, like, where did you come from? How did you find out? You know, what I found really interesting. They found out from another studio owner. Yeah, that had come last year that they saw post about it and say that they were coming. Yeah. And they actually reached out to them and said, was it good? Oh, how was it was it good. And when they found out how amazing it was, they then travelled down together to completely different studios in neighbouring suburbs, once upon a time would have been competitors actually travelling together to come and come to the event. And I just thought that was so nice. I haven't told any of you that you this yet. But Jade bonds from Dance life message me today, and said she is so blown away that we have created something in the DSA industry that she never thought was possible. Like I and I agree with that, like so many of them Darren Disney, Paul Malick, they were like back, we have seen so many of our friends here today that we haven't connected with for so long. And you guys are bringing the dance industry together.
Amanda Barr 41:35
So lovely.
Rebecca Liu Brennan 41:36
But it's true. Yeah. Now our dance industry should be together. We should be supporting each other. That's what is incredible. I think about you know, dance principles, United tribe SGC. We're bringing people together who normally would be competitors, who are now working together and supporting each other. And that's what we're all about. Right, Amanda?
Amanda Barr 41:55
Absolutely. Well, thank you so much, everyone for listening to this very special podcast, you have to excuse our husky voices. We're all feeling
very exhausted. I know, Bec's voice was very Husky this morning.
Unknown Speaker 42:10
This morning.
Amanda Barr 42:13
We're feeling exhausted. It was obviously a really big we did three days because we did compete on Friday of the event. But we've had the most incredible time we're up here. We're having we've had a bit of a half rest day today before we get into a studio growth club event tomorrow with all these news to both club members, which is
so exciting. So we cannot wait to do that tomorrow. But we just wanted to thank everybody again, for coming out to Expo for supporting our vision. It has been absolutely an incredible ride. And we've absolutely loved every single moment. So thank you so much. Listen to the podcast for coming to Expo. Drop us a message being breaking connection. Absolutely. If you're listening to this, drop us a message. We'd love to know what your favourite part about expo was we that means the world to us. We'd love to know because we'd love to know what we can keep working on and what we can do even better for next year. Absolutely.
Rebecca Liu Brennan 43:09
Thank you guys and we will see you next week. Thanks bye
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
