All-Star Special Treatment From Ep's & Vendors

[CoachTamara]

All I have to say can be summed up like this:

 

[REA Dad]

There are two types of customers. The gyms/programs themselves. They represent you. And even though you may have given the money to pay with, they are still the ones handing over the giant check/credit card bill. The other customers are parents paying in to watch the event. I

I see your point but shouldn't the real customer be the cheerleader??

 

[King]

I see your point but shouldn't the real customer be the cheerleader??

The cheerleaders are customers of the gym (unless you are counting the dip n dots stand). I have not seen a cheerleader (outside of individuals) individually pay and register for their team they were going to compete on. (yes I am sure it has happened once in the history of time but that is obvious an aberration).

 

[Ashley]

I see your point but shouldn't the real customer be the cheerleader??

Adding no to what Kingston said, the cheerleader also isn't the one who decides the comp schedule.

 

[cheer8]

All I have to say can be summed up like this:

Bahahhahah! Love it!

 

[REA Dad]

The cheerleaders are customers of the gym (unless you are counting the dip n dots stand). I have not seen a cheerleader (outside of individuals) individually pay and register for their team they were going to compete on. (yes I am sure it has happened once in the history of time but that is obvious an aberration).

When I say the customer should be the cheerleader I am referring to the cheerleader/parent combo. I can also say I've never seen a program/gym owner pay the registration fees and/or travel costs for a cheerleader/parent. I see the cheerleader/parent as customer to the gym and to the EP. I see the gym as a service provider to the cheerleader in the gym/cheerleader relationship and I see them as more of an escrow account for the relationship between the EP/cheerleader/parent/gym.

I know my position is flawed because reality is that the program/gym owner makes the decision of which competition companies get the cheerleader/parents money and as a result that is why the program get the perks from EP and not the paying customer. Imagine if your credit card miles or points went to the CEO of the car company that you used to drive to the store even though it is your earned money that paid for the car, the gas to drive to the store and of course to make the purchase on your credit card at the store.

 

[Tosh]

Competition companies letting teams compete at their events for free (local AND world's bid)----NO NO NO!

No comment on the World bid thing, because I do not know enough about it. That being said, I have had some experience in the AS world when my daughter cheered for a local very well known gym, and I loved the competitions. I actually go to competitions now just for the show, and I will go and pay the ourtragous admission fee only because of certain teams that will be performing/competing....To me is like going to watch a movie because of who is starring in it...so well known actors get paid more than unknown ones....so I see nothing wrong with giving certain gyms a waiver or discount of fees to attend their competitions, because it attracts spectors....At the end of the day it is a business....Not say it is all about the $, but it does matter. JMO

 

[BlueCat]

When I say the customer should be the cheerleader I am referring to the cheerleader/parent combo. I can also say I've never seen a program/gym owner pay the registration fees and/or travel costs for a cheerleader/parent. I see the cheerleader/parent as customer to the gym and to the EP. I see the gym as a service provider to the cheerleader in the gym/cheerleader relationship and I see them as more of an escrow account for the relationship between the EP/cheerleader/parent/gym.

I know my position is flawed because reality is that the program/gym owner makes the decision of which competition companies get the cheerleader/parents money and as a result that is why the program get the perks from EP and not the paying customer. Imagine if your credit card miles or points went to the CEO of the car company that you used to drive to the store even though it is your earned money that paid for the car, the gas to drive to the store and of course to make the purchase on your credit card at the store.

Instead of arguing the semantics of which entity in the economic circle of life fits the theoretical definition of "customer", I am curious about what is your primary concern about the EP/Gym owner relationship?

 

[REA Dad]

Instead of arguing the semantics of which entity in the economic circle of life fits the theoretical definition of "customer", I am curious about what is your primary concern about the EP/Gym owner relationship?

I would prefer EP's to focus more on the cheerleader and less on the gym owner. Without the cheerleader there is no reason to hold the competition in the first place.

 

[BlueCat]

I would prefer EP's to focus more on the cheerleader and less on the gym owner. Without the cheerleader there is no reason to hold the competition in the first place.

(I'm actually curious and not trying to be argumentative) From a practical point of view, how would an EP do this? What are they doing for the gym owners that should go away in favor of doing what for the athletes?

 

[King]

I can say my ultimate solution is the USASF hires out officiating crews (so judges, safety judges, and so on) and all the judging and rules enforcement comes from the USASF. Them the EPs can can focus on customer service and making their presentation the best it could possibly be.

 

[yojaehs]

My gym doesn't get "free gear" (that I know of) but I understand why a company would go with a larger gym/higher profile, everyone talks, more people want to buy. Same thing as Oregon Football teams uniforms, but you don't see local JUCO's with the same thing, simple thing is they just aren't seen as much. I'm not bashing on "small gym" I'm just saying I understand.
I've heard many EP's offer discount or team A, B, C for free. I don't really understand it, bc around here the "big gyms" show up on the schedule and the "small gyms" miraculously disappear off of the schedule.
I 100% agree with all that BlueCat has said, I'm gonna give my general summary - any and all "perks" to a gym are what they are and are a piece in a marketing puzzle, as long as they in NO WAY affect anything on the score sheet/placement it's all marketing.
Dear parents and gym owners - if you DO NOT support what an EP is doing, don't go to that event, seems simple enough to me.

 

[5-6-7-8]

I can say my ultimate solution is the USASF hires out officiating crews (so judges, safety judges, and so on) and all the judging and rules enforcement comes from the USASF. Them the EPs can can focus on customer service and making their presentation the best it could possibly be.

yes! 1000 times yes!

Then EPs can give whatever perks it wants without looking like it might favor a gym (in scoring.)

 

[BlueCat]

I can say my ultimate solution is the USASF hires out officiating crews (so judges, safety judges, and so on) and all the judging and rules enforcement comes from the USASF. Them the EPs can can focus on customer service and making their presentation the best it could possibly be.

I agree as a general principle that the judging should be separated from those who profit from the event itself. There is too much incentive (or appearance of incentive) to manipulate results for reasons other than what happens on the floor.

However, you are starting with the assumption that the USASF (in its current form) should be getting more power, more control of our industry, and generally more items on their plate. I'm not certain that everyone is willing to go that route at the moment.

 

[REA Dad]

(I'm actually curious and not trying to be argumentative) From a practical point of view, how would an EP do this? What are they doing for the gym owners that should go away in favor of doing what for the athletes?

@Kingston's idea is a great one and a couple other suggestions I would add are...

1. - Make all discounts for the competitions public and on the front end (before the competitions). Less expensive competition fees could create tremendous growth.

2. - Instead of having a coaches/owners lounge use that space for a secure, clean changing area for cheerleaders. I would prefer that each program get their own area but I know that isn't feasible.

With my two suggestions and Kingston's I think the EP's would actually save money at each competition. The gym owner unfortunately would end the year with a slight decrease at the end of the year but if I'm correct that cheaper competition could create both retention and growth then both would actually increase profits.

For once all three groups would profit and they would all live happily ever after...

I look forward to your feedback.