Kids dance and cheer clubs?
- Thread starter BrunoMars420
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Welcome to Hell. Come on in and take a seat
That actually seems cheap.
Plus, that wont cover the apparel fees, competition fees, etc.
Plus, that wont cover the apparel fees, competition fees, etc.
My small town (5k) has a very popular dance center.
My daughter and all of her friends did it.
I hated 90% of it, and yes it's a huge money "scam".
You weren't allowed to video any of the performances because the lady would then sell you a dvd of it. However, the camera was back too far trying to fit every single girl in the picture you could barely see your daughter.
Then when you went to the competitions, if they did good YOU HAD TO BUY THE TROPHY awarded. In what sport do you have to BUY the trophy??????
In one competition, if they got a high mark (can't remember the name) the team would go to Wisconsin Dells for another competition as a reward for their hard work. I think every parent had their fingers crossed to NOT go. Anyways, the girls ended up falling a little short on their performance. Then, without even talking to the parents, the coach goes, "You know what, you guys did such a good job WE ARE GOING TO WISCONSIN DELLS!!!!"
I was so pissed. For her to make that decision without talking to parents? We all had to use up vacation and drop a bunch of money and I can about guarantee she got a cut of it.
I f'n hate this lady, it's a freaking racket.
My daughter and all of her friends did it.
I hated 90% of it, and yes it's a huge money "scam".
You weren't allowed to video any of the performances because the lady would then sell you a dvd of it. However, the camera was back too far trying to fit every single girl in the picture you could barely see your daughter.
Then when you went to the competitions, if they did good YOU HAD TO BUY THE TROPHY awarded. In what sport do you have to BUY the trophy??????
In one competition, if they got a high mark (can't remember the name) the team would go to Wisconsin Dells for another competition as a reward for their hard work. I think every parent had their fingers crossed to NOT go. Anyways, the girls ended up falling a little short on their performance. Then, without even talking to the parents, the coach goes, "You know what, you guys did such a good job WE ARE GOING TO WISCONSIN DELLS!!!!"
I was so pissed. For her to make that decision without talking to parents? We all had to use up vacation and drop a bunch of money and I can about guarantee she got a cut of it.
I f'n hate this lady, it's a freaking racket.
Hold on...will his wife be supportive when he signs the girls up for flag football?
I would have a conversation with my wife before signing them up (unlike my wife did with me) and I hope to god girls flag football becomes a big deal in Iowa like girls wrestling.
Town of 5,000. Massive dance place (at least it looks that way coming up hwy150). You're a degenerate that loves porn.
Sorry, thought it all added up.
Pray your girls don't like it.
I was very happy when my daughter decided that dance was not for her.
Why should the parents with kids moderately good at sports have a monopoly on wasting money for traveling teams?
Daughter did dance last year. The performances were brutal. She decided to do sports this year. I was pretty happy.
Daughter attended Milwaukee Ballet Academy. Around a decade or so ago. The number 3300 is coming to mind. Wife was enamored with it being a national or world renowned academy. Glad that only lasted a year.
$200 a piece or combined? Even at a piece, that is pretty cheap. However, I am assuming this is "Intro" or some crap like that. Tell you how awesome your kids are, blah, blah.. then bam... here is the competitive pricing.
My daughter did competitive gymnastics for about 5 years. Talk about ridiculous. They brought her in for the beginners class. It was like $100 a month or something like that. Then you found out just how much it was to really get into the sport and move levels. Good grief. I was one pleased papa the day she came and told me was done with gymnastics.
And one side note for you as I assume it may be the same for you. I loved watching her compete. The only problem, she was out doing her routines for maybe 5 minutes during a 3-4 hour competition. And you heard the same damn songs and routines over and over and over...
Good luck to you though Bruno.
Combined it’s $200 a month and they are 5 years old right now. I’ve been in my wife’s ear about how big of a waste of time and money it is at an early age since they have been born haha. Literally every dad or mom that didn’t grow up in dance say the same thing.
IMO, They get a better experience playing at the park and using their muscles and learning how to do shit on their own.
I have no doubt that competitive cheer contributed to my divorce. The travel was all over the Midwest with stops in Florida. Not only was the travel brutal, the last year we spent 20k on comp cheer. It’s a racket and not an endeavor for poors. I was so stoked when my son was done with it.That sounds like grounds for a divorce OP.
My niece does dance and it just doesn’t f—ing stop. There are lessons 3-4 days per week. They are traveling nearly every weekend to some ridiculous competition or another. After their “season” was over, the next one started two weeks later.
My sister and her husband are well into five figures out of pocket every year for this. For the money they’ve spent, they could have taken a three week vacation to Italy every year.
Plane tickets, gas, hotels, outfits, shoes, lesson, it just keeps piling up.
edit: i forgot to mention all the freaking photos. JFC, you wouldn’t believe the number of “professional” pictures they are taking of these kids in the outfits they make them wear. And what they’re charging the parents for copies. I refuse to allow them on my phone.
My sister and her husband are well into five figures out of pocket every year for this. For the money they’ve spent, they could have taken a three week vacation to Italy every year.
Plane tickets, gas, hotels, outfits, shoes, lesson, it just keeps piling up.
edit: i forgot to mention all the freaking photos. JFC, you wouldn’t believe the number of “professional” pictures they are taking of these kids in the outfits they make them wear. And what they’re charging the parents for copies. I refuse to allow them on my phone.
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We start the second year of competition dance tonight. I just keep writing the checks. It's outrageous but my daughter loves it. Who needs retirement??!!
Like I said Bruno. This 200/mo. is just to get your ass in the door so they can set the hook. Better not let your wife be the one taking them or you are screwed. Which really sucks for you. Now you are going to have to sit through every. single. practice. Sucker.
I’m reading all of the negative posts tonight to her lol.
Your daughters are going to love it and you are going to love watching them love it.
If they stick with it through high school they will be in fantastic shape and have a great work ethic.
Also, most of the complaints in this thread are completely valid.
If they stick with it through high school they will be in fantastic shape and have a great work ethic.
Also, most of the complaints in this thread are completely valid.
Great post. I have become very anti travel any sport because of experience. It is financially draining for many, the travel is difficult for most, many kids get burnt out, and at the end of the day, most of it is a money grab. My son would have gone to school for free had he stuck with it and my daughter went to a cheer powerhouse on scholarship, but you basically pay for it up front. There are many things kids can learn from travel sports, but most of it is horseshit.
We have a friend who came in town for a cheer / dance competition her 5th grade daughter was in. My mind was blown how much money they had to spend traveling to tournaments and that they still had to buy tickets to events which were like 25-35 bucks every event.
It’s not just cheer / dance. I also think a lot of these club sports / travel leagues in “real sports” are a scam by and large. I figured out with my oldest daughter in middle school who surprisingly was asked to join a Tallahassee area club for volleyball even though she seemed average. We showed up for “try outs” and it was packed and they clearly were going to have multiple levels of teams. And wanted a ridiculous amount plus travel costs. Thankfully she saw it the same way so that was about 4K saved. The whole industry seems to have expanded to tap into a massive well of taking money from parents who think if their kid plays enough somehow they will become elite. Back “in my day”, the local travel club teams for sports were not many and these were the best of best playing. Like the few kids who did it were the best on you schools respective teams.
It’s not just cheer / dance. I also think a lot of these club sports / travel leagues in “real sports” are a scam by and large. I figured out with my oldest daughter in middle school who surprisingly was asked to join a Tallahassee area club for volleyball even though she seemed average. We showed up for “try outs” and it was packed and they clearly were going to have multiple levels of teams. And wanted a ridiculous amount plus travel costs. Thankfully she saw it the same way so that was about 4K saved. The whole industry seems to have expanded to tap into a massive well of taking money from parents who think if their kid plays enough somehow they will become elite. Back “in my day”, the local travel club teams for sports were not many and these were the best of best playing. Like the few kids who did it were the best on you schools respective teams.
It’s largely a money grad based more on social status than actual ability.
The kids are more scared of being left out of something their social group is involved in vs actually not being good enough.
Have a good friend who's daughter is in dance and travels all over the midwest. She's 9, does major plays also. He tells me stories about the dad's sneaking off to the hotel bar all the time on their trips. Cracks me up. His wife is loaded so they don't really care about the money aspect of it.
My son has done club basketball for the last few years, he got injured halfway through this spring and although I was sad he got hurt, I was also happy we didn’t have to travel to Kansas City on back to back weekends.
He enjoys it and it has definitely helped his skill set and mindset but it’s not turning him into a Division 1 player either, he’s going to be under 6’ just like me. He says he’s done with it now and I hope he means it. The time and $ just aren’t worth it in my opinion.
Good luck OP, and get ready to get some looks from dad’s like me when you’re at a huge venue that hosts dance and sporting events. I could never be a dance dad!
He enjoys it and it has definitely helped his skill set and mindset but it’s not turning him into a Division 1 player either, he’s going to be under 6’ just like me. He says he’s done with it now and I hope he means it. The time and $ just aren’t worth it in my opinion.
Good luck OP, and get ready to get some looks from dad’s like me when you’re at a huge venue that hosts dance and sporting events. I could never be a dance dad!
Let me tell you a story about competitive band...
My 3 kids have gone through our band program all 4 years of their HS careers plus 3 seasons of 8th grade participation. That's 14 marching band seasons, 13 winter winds seasons and 1 winter drumline season for 28 seasons total. Average cost was $500/season. I didn't have to pay for tickets to shows since I am the operations coordinator for the program, but that does entail me using my personal truck and trailer to move equipment to ~100 shows. I also build props so another 100 hours/year for 8 years of after hours volunteer time.
And then my oldest decided to participate in DCI for 3 seasons at an average cost of $5k/season plus another $2000/year for the wife and I to attend shows. The middle boy won't be in DCI, but we may end up with the youngest doing a couple of seasons.
With that said, I wouldn't trade it for the world. My 3 boys are better people because of their participation in this activity.
My 3 kids have gone through our band program all 4 years of their HS careers plus 3 seasons of 8th grade participation. That's 14 marching band seasons, 13 winter winds seasons and 1 winter drumline season for 28 seasons total. Average cost was $500/season. I didn't have to pay for tickets to shows since I am the operations coordinator for the program, but that does entail me using my personal truck and trailer to move equipment to ~100 shows. I also build props so another 100 hours/year for 8 years of after hours volunteer time.
And then my oldest decided to participate in DCI for 3 seasons at an average cost of $5k/season plus another $2000/year for the wife and I to attend shows. The middle boy won't be in DCI, but we may end up with the youngest doing a couple of seasons.
With that said, I wouldn't trade it for the world. My 3 boys are better people because of their participation in this activity.
Serious question for parents with kids that travel for sports or things like dance every weekend. Why not take turns with other parents as a chaperone instead of spending every weekend away? When I was in school in the late 80's and early 90's I played AAU basketball. We had a tournament every weekend in the summer and fall. Out of 10 players maybe 2 sets of parents would go and the two coaches. Not one kid on that team cared if their parents were there, we were playing 100's of games a year literally. Also if you have 3 kids what in the hell are the other 2 kids doing these weekends?
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