Three Ways to utilize Apprentices or and their budding skills this Spring

Apprentices and junior-level Teachers are at your studio to learn as much as to earn a paycheck yet Owners often under-utilize these eager and hungry staff members.  Apprentices have been a core component to my studio growth plan for 15 years.  I don't lean on them to convert new clients but rather to building a prospect list that I can nurture.  Apprentices and Junior Teachers can be very successful in helping your studio build that database.  

1. Charity Mat Classes in the Park:  Offering mat classes in a park, or near the tennis courts, for charity, taught by apprentices sounds sooo basic (as my 16 year old would say).  But the goal isn't conversion here - we are building a database of prospects (ie. email list) while giving our apprentices confidence-building opportunities.    So call the town rec department or the tennis club and offer an apprentice teach a charity class once or twice a week.  Send out an email sign up sheet and in three months -- email them and invite them in to the studio for a reformer session
2. Group Sessions for Educators getting ready for summer: School teachers who aren't available for the 8, 9 or 10 am group classes or are just too damn tired for the evening options during the school year are perfect new client prospects for the summer season.  Carve out a 45 minute time slot once or twice a week and offer a 6 week Spring Teacher Special taught by an Apprentice in the school gym or a classroom after dismissal.  You can likely get an email blast sent out by the school to all the local teachers if you send the school secretary the email content (a school secretary is the best friend to have n the world). After the 6 week are up, you can offer them an in-studio series valid for the summer months when they have more flexibility.  
3. Thirty Minute Privates for Book Club/Bridge/Mahjong Groups:  These clubs are social groups where its reason for being is a book or a card game, yet the book rarely gets talked about.  You know what does get talked about?  Pilates, restaurants, vacation spots...basically everything that women have tried, loved and think their friends "just have to try".  Again, the goal here is to create a database of prospects.  So reach out to someone you know in a book club and ask her to circulate a flier offering $20 30 minute privates exclusively for those reading X this spring and let them spread the word at their club meeting. 

 Moral of the story, you can grow your prospect list while providing newbie Teachers with opportunities to build their confidence.