If you have a passion for dance and performing arts, it could be that you want to start your very own dance company. You may want to create a dance class for kids or teens to give them a place to pursue the arts and express themselves. It can be quite a tall order, which is why we have put together a list of considerations for starting from scratch.
Dance Rehearsal Space
The first thing you need to plan is where you are going to rehearse! The likelihood when you are first starting out is that you wouldn’t be able to purchase your own commercial premises, but there are plenty of dance studios that will allow you to rent space. When looking for your space, there are many things you need to think about. You will need to make sure that it’s in a desirable location, that it is within your budget, and that the space is suitable. Ensure that you visit the space a few times before confirming that you want to hire it. There’s the new Pirate dance studios, for instance, which are hugely popular and might be worth looking into.
Creating your Brand Identity
Branding is really important in any business. It gives any prospective customer an insight into your personality and what you are looking to achieve as a company. Branding can be different to get right on your own, so you might want to bring in the experts. There are some general branding guidelines and rules that should always be followed such as fonts, typefaces and size of text. You also might want to think about the psychology of colour. For example, the colour blue is known to boost creativity so that could be something that you look to include as part of your branding. Here is a handy guide of what colours typically represent.
Building a Support Network
It takes a village to build a company! If you are starting your own professional dance company, it’s likely that you will need an effective support network. An accountant is always a good place to start. They will be vital in ensuring that you have your finances under control. They can help you put budgets in place and manage your cash flow.
It could be that you want to take your company global, in which case a business coach could be a good idea. They will help you to stay motivated and ensure that you are meeting your targets and goals. That way, you will be able to hold yourself accountable and keep on track. Sometimes this can be a large investment, but it will be well worth it if your dance company is a success.
Marketing and Promotion
You need to make sure you are doing everything you can to get the word out about your business. Networking is hugely important. There are many virtual networking events active at the moment which can make life a little easier for you. You can do a lot of the legwork from the comfort of your own home.
SEO is also a consideration. If you invest in branding and a website, you want to make sure that people can find it. You need to consider your on-page content. Does it contain the relevant keywords that your target audience is searching for? Does your website load as quickly as it should? Here are some SEO tips that could help you out.
Social Media
Although this is a subcategory of marketing and promotion, it’s so important that we have given it a section of its own. There are so many ways to use social media to your advantage. It’s a great way to show what your brand is about, and give real-time updates about what your dance company is up to.
There’s no doubt that people are paying more attention to the people behind the business when deciding on a product or a service. That’s why it’s critical that you update on these mediums as regularly as possible. You can use cool new features such as Insta reels to give people short and snappy excerpts of your dance activities and what they can expect if they decide to join.
You can also use social media to promote events, particularly if you are having open auditions, or if you have a show planned —to generate traction and interest. You can also spend advertising budget on reaching a wider target audience, especially if you have a specific demographic in mind.
If you have been considering starting your dance company, but are not quite sure where to start – hopefully this will help you on your way.
