instructors: do you have other jobs?

HollySatine started this discussion · 11/1/2011

Sorry if this has been asked before, but if it was I couldn't find the thread. I was just wondering if those of you who teach (whether you work at a studio, rent space somewhere, or teach out of your home) have other jobs as well, and how do you balance the two? And for those of you that don't have another job, how many classes/students do you teach, and how many hours a week do you put in to teaching? How long have you been teaching? Thanks! :)

26 replies

chemgoddess1 · 11/1/2011
Full time chemist. I teach anywhere from 2-4 classes a week (typically only 2) and it one class per night. I am probably on the light end of number of classes that are taught. I do not teach weekends and with it only be 2 times a week it is not that difficult to find balance. When I cover it gets a little crazy because we have to set up and tear down poles for each class.
Danielle Tillie · 11/1/2011
I have a part time fine dining service job and I also teach horn lessons. I will teach about 4-6 classes a week, with at least 2 in one block. This month I'm teaching 4 classes in a row in one night. They are scheduled so that the least tiring class is the last one. My only issue with balance right now is strictly related to my own pole progress. I can't wear myself out the day before I have to teach, and I'm usually pretty pooped the day after. The days in between I'm working the serving job (which is tiring itself). It's been a little difficult to find time to dedicate to my personal pole goals, but I've managed some progress still. I've only been teaching since July.
Kobajo84 · 11/1/2011
I'm a registered nurse and teach part time as well as getting ready to go back to school to further my degree in nursing. I teach one day a week right now (Thursdays) 1 class is 90 minutes and 1 is 60 minutes, take training classes for myself on Fridays for 2 hours, and I also teach family & close friends on the side sporadically. I've been teaching since January of this year. I just recently had to go part time working as a nurse to fit everything in. I'm also married and love seeing my husband. It's become quite a challenge to find balance with a career, personal life, and my own hobbies. I'm determined to keep everything I want in my life and have made necessary sacrifices as life continues to change. Hopefully once school is back out of the way I can go back to a full time position again or think about family planning. I've put in more than just my studio time for my teaching, I'm constantly researching and organizing my lesson plans (that's where my nursing obsessive organization behavior shines through LOL). I find that no matter what everything just falls into place. It could have something to do with my demeanor, but I don't believe in rushing around trying to do as much as possible. There are things that I'd like to do more of (visit family & see friends more often) but everyone else in my life has become so busy that those things have been pushed aside for important dates or require planning. I'd recommend when starting out, take on one class and let your life adjust before taking on too much.
aryannapoledancer · 11/1/2011
Hi there, I used to work in a communication agency 9 to 5 and opened my pole dance courses in someonelse's dance studios. I now teach to 8 classes, work in the evening 4 days a week 1-3 hours depending on the day. First week it was really tiring, now I'm getting used to stress but the thing I feel is missing much is the time for doing anything relating pole dance outside the pole room (prepare and plan classes, train for my progress, train for my performances, even going out to buy pole dance outfits!) I'm going to make the best out of it and manage my time, I love my job and I Love Pole Dancing too!
Ember · 11/2/2011
I'm a full time hairdresser, I teach 4-6 classes a week ranging from 45 minutes up to 2 hours. I practice with my group Aerial Intensity usually once a week for 2 hours at least. I train on lyra once a week, then I perform on a regular basis with a local burlesque/ aerial arts group. :) I love my life!!! :)
kissingaudrey · 11/2/2011
I teach at a local studio... I teach on 2 days of the week. One day I offer 3 classes (only one is pole, the other 2 are aerial/circus related). On the other day, which is every other week because I rotate with another instructor, I offer 4 classes... a pole boot camp, an aerial class, a pole class, & a hoop class. I also have a full-time job in retail management, I take at least 2 (sometimes more) pole classes a week, as well as yoga almost every day & spin/core classes as my schedule allows. I don't get as much pole practice time as I wish I did, but I have a pole at home so my excuses are just... excuses! :)
onepinkprincess · 11/2/2011
I'm a full time Orthoptist (Specialist in childrens visual development and adult double vision) No one has ever heard of it! I teach 4-6 hours each week. It's mainly 4 hours but I do cover other instructors at times and I have a 1 hour polejam each week with my fellow instructors. It does mean I see my husband less in the week but it's part of the routine now so isn't an issue unless I cover too many extra classes and don't see him at all. I keep my weekends free from pole too.
glitterhips · 11/2/2011
I have like a hundred jobs :) I'm a makeup artist so in the summer i do tons of weddings, I also have a waitressing job that is really flexible with scheduling. I only started teaching a month ago, right now I teach 2-4 classes per week. However my studio is 40 mins away so I try to teach 2 classes back to back if I can. I just started teaching and am now starting a new waitressing job so I am currently trying to work out a schedule so my own practices aren't being neglected like they have been the past month. I teach privates as well, usually after my class or on a day off. I also have my own hair accessory and jewelry line :)
Deesse Jesse · 11/2/2011
I'm a researcher in an HIV lab, which my boss loves to remind me "is not a 9 to 5 job" meaning we are expected in a lot and weekends are not off limits (you can really feel the love I have for this job, right?). I teach about 2-3 classes per week usually on the weekends because it's easier for me to be off work those days. I also try to get in an hour or more of practice or class per week for my own improvement. No pole at home so I have to make do whenever I can squeeze in time. Some weeks I feel really stressed out trying to balance work, pole, and a husband, but most weeks I just love having an escape from everything else. Overall for me it's all bout proper scheduling. I have a schedule up at home so my husband knows when I'm gone and I try to plan my experiments at work around the fact that I can't be stuck at work late some days.
Dakota Fox · 11/2/2011
I'm a police officer - my mother and I run Aradia Fitness in Cary, so I do all the online marketing, website, schedule and teach anywhere from 2-8 classes a week 😕 Honestly I don't sleep a lot and I drink a lot of Red Bull haha Its a challenge to juggle everything at once (plus a husband and two dogs), but fortunately I am the type of person who doesn't know how to sit still & do nothing... I'm constantly on the go! I am so passionate about both my career in law enforcement and my involvement in the pole community that I don't think I could give up one or the other... my students are definitely the driving factor in the pole world. I don't know what I would do without them and I want to do everything I can to make them feel like superstar pole divas! Seeing their growth in physical strength and inner confidence as they progress through classes makes everything worthwhile in the end. The biggest challenge for me is finding time to pole & train for myself... I try to make it a put to set aside a 2-3 hour block once a week to make it happen.
UTpoler · 11/3/2011
Yup, I have a full time day job, have a photography business I run on the side (shoot on weekends), and help Becca Butcher with her stuff, so I only teach 1 night a week. Unfortunately this means I only get to pole for myself 1-2 times a week and rarely pole at home any more. Never enough time in the day! My only regret is I think my hubby wants me home more but he's supportive and doesn't complain -- too much.
nymphdancer · 11/3/2011
I haven't really started teaching yet, we plan on opening a studio soon. We would be under way with it already but for my mom being in ICU for 17 days. I quit my retail job in July so I don't have that job but I do run a horse boardings stable and I'm an arbonne consultant and one for adryss as well. Plus I make and sell hoops and other things. Oh and I have a 9 year old and 7 year old. and a husband who thank goodness is the most loving supportive and wonderful man!
chimponaut · 11/3/2011
I've been teaching since March of this year and I teach at both a pole studio and a circus school. I have a full-time job as a research scientist and work 8-4 (and finishing up my PhD). As of Jan, I will be teaching at a local university during my lunch breaks and I should add that I have 2 young kids and do both pilates and yoga twice a week as well so busy busy! At the pole studio, I am down to just 1 day a week and teach two 75min back to back classes and at the circus school I teach one class that can be anywhere from 1-3 hours. I found that I have very little time to work on progressing myself so I have to schedule times and force myself to stick with it. The easiest way for me to do that is to go in before I teach and play around for awhile.
amberpoledancer · 11/4/2011
I own and run my own pole school and have a studio so it's my only job. However before I took the plunge and went self employed I had a full time job in mobile phone sales, whilst teaching classes ( for other people) when I finally decided to open my own pole school the pressure of running it plus having a full time job was too much and eventually something had to give so I was brave and quit my job to go self employed! I hated my boss and my Job in general and my dream for a while was to be my own boss running a pole school so it wasn't a hard decision, plus I felt the degree I achieved at university was going to waste! All my instructors however have full time jobs. One works in finance, one is a pharmastist, one is a receptionist and the other an administrator. They typically help me out 1-2 classes per week depending how busy classes are and what days/nights I can do. Let me just say that running a pole school extends beyond teaching, when I'm not teaching I'm planning classes, doing a tonne of paperwork, answering emails/phone calls, planning pole events/workshops, advertising and training. I would say I'm always working! But I love it x
amberpoledancer · 11/4/2011
I own and run my own pole school and have a studio so it's my only job. However before I took the plunge and went self employed I had a full time job in mobile phone sales, whilst teaching classes ( for other people) when I finally decided to open my own pole school the pressure of running it plus having a full time job was too much and eventually something had to give so I was brave and quit my job to go self employed! I hated my boss and my Job in general and my dream for a while was to be my own boss running a pole school so it wasn't a hard decision, plus I felt the degree I achieved at university was going to waste! All my instructors however have full time jobs. One works in finance, one is a pharmastist, one is a receptionist and the other an administrator. They typically help me out 1-2 classes per week depending how busy classes are and what days/nights I can do. Let me just say that running a pole school extends beyond teaching, when I'm not teaching I'm planning classes, doing a tonne of paperwork, answering emails/phone calls, planning pole events/workshops, advertising and training. I would say I'm always working! But I love it x
HollySatine · 11/4/2011
wow, thank you for all of the responses! i appreciate the insight, and it's really inspiring to hear about all of the different things you all do. :D
verucablue · 11/4/2011
First of all how cool is it that so many of us find a way to balance all of this with our lives 🙂. And yup - very full time job lol - I am a Director Of Production for a television network. Recently my husband (he is an actor) and I have been in the process of opening up an Aerial Studio in North Hollywood (pole, aerial yoga, silks, lyra, yoga, stretching, pilates & classic burlesque). Currently we are scheduled to be open 5 days a week with wed's and thursday's closed. My husband and I will split management duties on Sat & Sunday and we have a studio manager for Monday, Tuesday & Friday - hubby will work those days as well if he is not shooting or auditioning. The plan is for me to teach at least 1 if not 2 aerial yoga classes on the weekends I am at the studio to manage - but we shall see how that goes. The nice thing about opening the studio with the hubby is that he is very involved and it's our "together" project - I fear however our doggy is going to be really pissed off at us 😉
nilla · 11/4/2011
Cool thread topic, it's always cool to see the diversity of women in the pole world. I don't consider myself a real instructor yet since I've only taught two paid classes. And I don't have another job besides raising my kids, but man I wish I did. Before I had my baby I was a hike guide at a fitness resort and that was the perfect amount of "get me out of the house and interacting with adults" time. I have social anxiety, and without that regular "exercise" for my social skills I start to withdraw until I don't want to leave the house even just to go shopping or for a run.
Angel1201 · 11/5/2011
Yep! I work full time in a public school! I love it, but it's not very sexy! LOL. That's why I love my pole job! Keeps me balanced, sane, and I get to meet sooooo many cool and totally awesome ladies that otherwise I'd never have met.
bugsy monroe · 11/6/2011
i work two 13hr shifts in a laid-back single-screen independent cinema, and teach three pole classes per week. this pays all my bills and gives me plenty of time for creative projects. i feel very lucky! x
Princess K · 11/6/2011
Hi - it is interesting to see what varied backgrounds we all have ... I run a construction business with my husband during the day and also look after the admin and finance of my father's company. Then I teach 5 classes/ week over 4 nights (2 classes back to back on one evening) - this leaves me one free night during the week and I'm keep my weekends free - unless I hosting a Masterclass or running a workshop/event. I've got a couple of instructors in training and it will be great to pass some of my waiting list on to them without having to increase the amount of classes I do personally - my body aches most of times as it is without enough rest days!! But Pole Fitness is so addictive and knowing I've worked my muscles always makes me smile. Plus I do have a couple of children although they don't take much looking after at 24 and 21!! What busy Polers we are! 😉
Charley · 11/6/2011
I've had jobs while teaching but for the last year or so I've just been teaching and focusing on training. I have been a radio DJ, voice over artist, audio engineer, actor and a receptionist at a salon. i'm currently looking for a part time marketing position someplace - doesn't have to be pole related.
Charley · 11/6/2011
Oh and as far as how many classes a week...I teach 7 classes a week minimum - sometimes more...I'm usually the one willing to pick up extra classes.
PoleFitMom · 11/6/2011
I am a stay at home mommy/wife. My kids are definitely my full time job :o) I have a 2 year old and a 3 1/2 year old - Both boys. I teach 4 classes a week, so this is a great way for me to get out of the house! I make some fun money, get a workout, and also have a ton of fun. I don't know what I would do without my clients, they are the reason I love going so much! Don't get me wrong - I LOVE BEING AT HOME WITH MY KIDS! But it is nice to have a chance to get away and do something I love, and share in the excitement of such a creative outlet. xoxo, PoleFitMom
polevixen83 · 11/7/2011
I am a full-time nursing student. I had to stop teaching for a bit the last few months as I am wrapping up my studies and it's been pretty intense and hasn't allowed much time for anything else. Unfortunately now I am really out of shape and don't even pole much for myself 🙁. Kind of makes me sad. I want to get back at it and get back in shape before I go back to teaching again. When I was teaching, I had a tough time keeping up with my own pole progress. I taught a lot of beginning classes and some early intermediate stuff and was teaching usually 3-4 days a week. Combined with the committments to my schooling, I wasn't getting myself much further along on the pole. I am now debating if I should take some time to just work on my own pole work, or, if I should go back and teach too. Luckily there are now a few more people who are qualified to teach at the studio I am affiliated with, so I don't feel so much like I am desparately needed there- that had been a problem prior. It's nice to be needed, but I am not in a position to do this as my sole form of income.

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