How I plan Black Girls Pole Retreats
Black Girls Pole is back in the swing of things and starting to have our Retreats again!
When I started BGP, having pole retreats all over the world was a high priority for me and seeing it come to fruition has been one of the best blessings! It is so rewarding to see women of color come together to celebrate Pole dancing and sisterhood!
Retreats can be so much fun and are a great stream of income for your business. Since starting retreats and getaways in 2016 I have learned A LOT! If I have heard this question once I have heard it 500 times…”How do you pick locations and plan your retreats?”
Here are some tips and questions answered that you all have asked! Hope you enjoy!
How long does it take to plan a retreat?
For Local retreats I give myself 9 months to plan. I start with accommodations, Studio Contracts, instructor contracts, hotels and things to do while we are there etc. For international retreats I allow 12-15 months of planning. Since the retreats are a farther distance and working with different time zones and sometimes language barriers, you need plenty of time to find venue’s and also book tours! Popular destinations and cities book up fast so you want to ensure you can build an itinerary and get things reserved far in advance.
How Far in Advance should I announce a Retreat?
For domestic/local retreats, I like to announce the retreat 6 months from the date to give people a full 6 months to prepare for it. For international retreats, 12 months. If I have already been to the location and built a relationship with that country, it takes less time to plan and I can announce it 9 months in advance. BGP has been to Bermuda 3 times, so by now I can plan that retreat pretty much in 3-4 months!
How should I pick the Location of my Retreat?
Because Black Girls Pole is a specific kind of retreat the first thing I have to make sure of is that there is a pole studio that meets BGP’s standards of hosting a retreat. I told myself years ago that I never wanted to use Stage Poles for a retreat so I am sticking to that promise. The main questions I ask are ‘What is attractive about the location? Is there a beach? Is it in a major city? Is there a popular event going on at the time I want to have the retreat? Unfortunately people are not excited about a retreat in a place like Warren Ohio (where I am from) or cities that do not particularly have a big pull so chances of having retreats there are very slim. Most people will have to travel by plane, train or automobile to come to a retreat and I do not ever host at a location because people ask to “Come to my hometown!”
How expensive will my retreat be?
If it don’t make dollars, it don’t make sense. PERIODT. While there are some beautiful places all over the world, like itty bitty island 2,000 miles off the coast of Hawaii with pole studios, these places cost an arm, leg, your dog, and car to get to. In order for Black Girls Pole to profit and for the retreats to not cost a million dollars, I stick with certain budget for hotels, transportation while there and excursions for the group. If a studio is asking for $200+/hour to rent the space and I need the studio for 10-12 hours...it is a no.
How many people should attend my retreat? What’s a “good amount” to have?
My magic number is 14. Again, because BGP retreats can only accommodate how many students depending on how many poles are in the studio, the retreats will never have more than 2 to a pole. This is also for safety of both the students and instructors. Instructors need to feel comfortable controlling the room and be able to spot everyone while everyone can also feel safe. Anything over 16 can be very overwhelming. That is a lot of personalities to take in!
I hope this gives you some insight on what it takes to run a retreat! They are a lot of hard work but trust me when the first date of the retreat finally arrives and you see how excited everyone is to be there, it definitely pays off!
Have a location in mind? Drop it in the comments!