August 14, 2025 • 36 mins
In Episode 86, we welcome back Melissa McGee from Lineage Dance in Columbus, Ohio. Melissa has had incredible growth since opening her studio just a few years ago, and she’s here to continue our 5 Fun Things series and share what she’s doing at her studio right now that you might want to try, too!
1. Back-to-Dance Merchandise Boxes
Melissa noticed there weren’t many local dancewear shopping options, so she created an easy, branded “dancewear in a box” package. Parents can order or attend try-on nights, and each box includes everything dancers need—shoes, tights, leotards, and more—ready for pickup at the studio’s open house. It’s a huge time-saver for parents and ensures dancers are performance-ready from day one.
2. Choreo Camp with Clues
For their competition hip hop production, Melissa added extra excitement by mailing physical clues to dancers before camp. Each clue hinted at the theme, building anticipation and making the choreo week feel like a big reveal and team-bonding event.
3. Friday Night Lights Parents’ Night Out
Capitalizing on football season, the studio offers themed “Friday Night Lights” events so parents can enjoy the game while younger dancers have fun at the studio. These are offered a few times each fall, sell out quickly, and are a great way to provide a community service while bringing in extra revenue.
4. Studio Orientation Videos with Kids as Hosts
Melissa’s team created short, engaging social media videos featuring an adorable young dancer guiding viewers through the new studio space. This fun, shareable format communicates important information in a way parents and kids love—while also showing off the studio’s personality.
5. Academic Partnership Incentive (In the Works!)
Inspired by programs like Pizza Hut’s “Book It,” Melissa is working with a local business, Storyline, to create a reward system for academic achievements. The idea is to encourage dancers to excel both in the studio and at school, with incentives like dancewear or special perks for reaching reading or grade goals.
We love how Melissa combines smart business ideas, strong branding, and creative twists to make her studio experience stand out. Whether it’s streamlining the parent experience, building anticipation for big events, or finding new ways to connect with the community, these 5 Fun Things are full of inspiration you can adapt for your own studio!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_01 (00:01):
Welcome to Make Dance Fun, the podcast from
Confetti on the Dance Floor, allabout adding fun, festiveness,
and a little fancy to your dancestudio.
We're here to share tips and funideas that have helped us
successfully run our studio forover three decades, and
hopefully inspire you to do thesame.
I'm Becca Moore.
And I'm Dani Rosenberg.
Together, we own Rhythm DanceCenter in Marietta, Georgia,
(00:21):
where we are known for our funand energetic atmosphere.
We created Confetti on the DanceFloor to inspire dance teachers
and studio owners through ourfun products, creative ideas,
and And of course, this podcast.
(01:00):
A repeat guest.
I'm honored.
Take two.
Honored.
It's actually take three becauseher first one was in two.
We are here with Melissa McGeefrom the Ohio State dance team.
Bum, bum, bum, bum.
And from Lineage Dance.
And so we...
Well, first we're just going tochat before we say what we're
(01:21):
going to do.
Hi, Melissa.
How's it going?
It's so good.
And so Melissa's here too withher team.
And we have a lot of our teamhere.
And so we've gotten to like kindof hang out with them and hear
about some of the things they'redoing.
And also Melissa had a class atDance Teacher Summit.
Yes.
And we're all here trying tolearn and be better.
(01:41):
And so how do you think...
How do you think it's going hereso far at Day Teacher Summit?
I mean, we're having a blast.
I think.
We're a newer studio.
So all of my staff is like, wideeyed and just getting to know
who the people are in theindustry and learning and being
able to meet people, I think islike the most beneficial thing.
(02:03):
Yeah.
it's cool because they're all onthe team.
So it's like a very full circlemoment for me to see them like
(02:24):
have careers in dance.
Yeah.
Able to, it's very fulfilling.
Yeah.
I'm like, you know, yeah.
And they also probably,obviously they've worked with
you for a long time and theyunderstand you and what you
expect.
And in a four year hiringprocess.
Yeah.
I mean, you can't, you can't bethat.
That's, that's awesome.
So, yeah.
(02:44):
So we've got to see them kind ofa lot this week, like just
walking around and they willlisten to the pod.
Oh, yeah, yeah.
(03:19):
basically depending on yourgeographic region, there's some,
you know, differences, but onthe whole, the message is put
the dancer first.
Right.
Let's all work together.
Yeah.
Make sure they have optionsafter, after their student time.
Yeah.
And we were just talking aboutthat with Melissa too.
Like we, Right.
Right.
(03:59):
Generally now, generally now.
And kids are seeing like theopportunity to dance in college
and, you know, be able tocontinue doing that and being
part of a team and all of that.
So, and I think our job isstudio owners or teachers to see
maybe what's next.
They don't know that they wantto do that, but it's the ball is
starting to roll.
The momentum's picking up.
(04:19):
So maybe in three years it'll bebigger and to get ahead of it
and not be chasing it.
Yeah.
Which is where a lot of us areright now.
Yeah.
We have kids that areinterested, but they do feel
they're chasing it because theysee the level of what's
happening.
And they know they're not there.
No, they're not there because wehaven't met.
You know, right.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
We're working on it.
Yeah.
(04:39):
I think a lot of people arethough.
And I think that's like thewhole vibe is like, everybody's
trying to figure it out.
Right.
What does this mean?
What can we do?
How do we not change what we'vealways done?
Right.
Evolve.
Yeah.
Sort of.
Also, I'll point out that sinceMelissa was on the podcast last
time, you have another nationalchampionship.
Oh my gosh.
Yeah.
Congratulations.
July.
(04:59):
Yeah.
So we yeah.
Was it July?
Yeah.
And then crazy.
Yeah.
And also Ohio State is alsofootball national.
Yes.
I can't believe she's.
And they came to Atlantastraight from their big win.
Yeah, that was crazy.
Yeah.
I mean, go dogs.
But not not so much this.
I mean, you know, they they.
(05:20):
They were SEC champs.
Exactly.
So we'll just have to take that.
Dramatic fashion.
Absolutely.
Yeah, I'll take it.
I was really happy about that.
That was good.
We'll see what this year has instore.
Open with a 1-2 game.
We're two and Texas is numberone.
Oh, my gosh.
I didn't know that.
Oh, yeah.
Home opener.
I'm excited.
This one, actually.
Boy.
Okay.
Yeah.
That's exciting.
Yeah.
(05:41):
I'm not a huge Texas fan.
I will admit that.
Yeah.
We beat them on the way to thenational championship.
So everyone was sort of eagerfor this rematch.
Yeah.
It's at home.
Sorry if you're a Texas fan.
I don't mean to offend.
I'm just a...
Just passionate.
I'm just a...
I'm a UGA fan.
But, like, also just getting toknow Melissa and all of that,
(06:02):
too.
Like, I respect...
I respect the Ohio State.
We'll take it.
You know, I respect.
I respect.
Okay, one other thing I wasgoing to ask.
So, like, before you came herewith your team, did you guys
talk about, like...
what you wanted to get out ofit?
Or was it more like, we haven'tdone this together as a team, so
(06:23):
we're going to kind of...
It was kind of all of the abovefor us.
We're so young in studio life,and my team is really young.
I'm the oldest member of theteam.
Me too! I'm way older, butwhatever.
So I just wanted them to besurrounded by like-minded
people.
I think that is priceless.
And kind of what we were talkingabout on the elevator is the
(06:46):
motivations the getting yourwheels turning.
Yeah.
Like, obviously the content andthe classes is...
Right.
Yeah.
But to me, I think a lot of thenetworks and picking each
other's brains and like, I mean,my team hasn't left your team
alone.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So I think that stuff ispriceless.
Yeah.
For sure.
(07:07):
To have that internal motivationand not be like, hey, waiting
for you to, can you think aboutthis?
Right.
Can you do this?
Right.
It's just kind of like.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And I did listen to the podcastcoming here.
So then I signed them classes.
I'm going to debrief.
Nice.
Yeah.
I mean, even for me to learn,you know, I just feel like
that's how I figured dance teamout.
I didn't have a, I didn't knowabout it.
(07:28):
I just figured it out.
And that's, you know, kind ofwhat I'm trying to do in this
space too.
Right.
Cool.
Well, now that Melissa's here,we are going to, since we've had
so much fun with our five funthings.
I love it.
I love the theme.
We are going to do five funthings with Melissa McGee from
(07:49):
Lineage Dance.
So we're going to have her talka little bit more about her
studio this time because weheard about the Ohio State dance
team and her journey there andso now like maybe I think we did
do a little bit of the journeyon the previous podcast and
maybe just give us a shortlittle synopsis on how you got
to the studio and then how farin you are now yeah We did, I
(08:13):
think, touch a little bit.
Yeah.
So we just finished our fullthird season.
Which is insane that you'rewhere you are.
Yeah.
So congratulations.
I feel like in some ways it'sgone so fast.
And then in some ways I'm like,just three?
Yeah.
Yeah.
I think too, because every yearwe've had something big.
(08:34):
Right.
Year one, it was just figuringit out.
Year two, we were growing.
Year three, it was like, we'rebuilding a new space.
Yeah.
And so as you two knowfirsthand, I mean, we're not
even close to that yes but it'sa whole side business I mean
it's a whole entity that takesyour space so we just moved um
in June 2nd we opened our doorswhich honestly I think is really
(08:54):
cool and impressive because Iknew you were moving but then
like I honestly didn't know thatit was just like done when you
when you announced it it wasdone yes so good job way because
we had so many issues inconstruction and permitting okay
that we had like seven differentversions of, okay, we're moving
this state.
(09:15):
That's where we are, I feellike.
You're so established.
That's like your parents arelike, yeah, we'll figure it out.
We'll move with them.
My parents are like, who's thisnice studio?
Let's dance.
That's all over the place.
I was very nervous to make surethat I didn't want to move
mid-summer.
It worked out.
We moved at the beginning of theseason.
(09:36):
We've tripled the space.
That is just really awesome.
We needed it.
That's so exciting yeah yeah sonow we've we technically this
was our fourth summer we didbecause we opened with summer
okay so okay and then now we'restarting season four we have
just under five markets you guysthat is awesome wow okay okay
(09:59):
okay stop stop do you know whatthat looks like in four more
years yeah yeah yeah you'reready to move again no but i
think number one that you've hadthat much growth so quickly is
awesome.
And then also like having thatmany kids under that age group
(10:19):
is insane.
Well, it's been really nice toyours telling something, but it
is to like, focus on the littlekid curriculum because I feel
like, well, two things wouldhave happened if we would have
done the full age range.
One, I didn't want anybodymoving to Columbus with
preconceived notions that thatwas going to help in any way,
shape, or form.
Right.
Right.
Makes sense.
So that was kind of great.
(10:40):
But then the second thing islike to get the foundational
level curriculum, class flow,attention, instructor training.
We don't have to worry.
I'm not even thinking about a14-year-old, really.
Right.
Yeah.
Thinking about we have, that'llbe set in solid in place.
Right.
Yeah.
75, Awesome.
Okay, that just actually made methink of something because I
(11:02):
hadn't thought of that before.
So I'm going backwards here.
But do you see that as a thingeventually where you would have
training specifically for thedance team?
I don't think so.
I think like for me.
At least right now.
Yeah.
Who knows?
Right, right, right.
I think for me, it's great tohave a really national
(11:23):
recruiting model.
Yeah, I agree.
And to keep that really sort ofimperative.
I mean, and you've seen successwith that, and it makes sense.
Clearly.
Why change things?
Right, right.
Yeah, but I do hope that we canbe a studio that maybe has a
little bit more of it in thecurriculum.
Yeah.
As a differentiator.
Yeah.
Than maybe if I would have...
open a studio without havingthat.
(11:44):
Right.
Oh, 100%.
Well, you need to do that forsure.
That is an absolute revenuestream, which we were also just
discussing.
Yeah, we do some college danceteam prep workshops in the
summer, and it's great.
Oh, and so do you open that toolder kids?
Okay, cool.
That's the only thing that wehave that's older.
(12:05):
And how was the turnout forthat?
It's great.
Was it good?
Yeah, honestly, don't push it aton.
Right.
But even for the local Columbuskids to have an option to train
in that way, a little bit moreof an intimate, private setting,
I think they really enjoyed it.
Yeah.
Yeah, that's cool.
I think all of our teachers havethat background, so it's an easy
thing for us Right.
Yeah.
That's really awesome.
(12:26):
Yeah.
All right.
So you're in a new space.
You're going into year four.
Yes.
Crazy.
And you have 500 students andyou're going to have to move
again soon.
Sorry to tell you.
Yeah.
Okay.
So I'll.
I'll just say a little bit aboutmy observation of you guys,
(12:47):
which I kind of geek out onseeing people be successful in
what they're doing and alsobeing authentically successful.
who you are and showing thatthrough your social media.
Cause I look at social media allthe time.
And so I think your social mediais so good.
And I think that it's justreally, it's just been really
(13:09):
fun to watch and see, likeobviously knowing you and then
just seeing how it's likeportrayed and put out there and
everything looks really good.
And they are confetti customers,FYI.
And I'm telling you like, yeah,they look so cute.
And yeah, it's, it's, you're,you're doing, you're doing,
you're doing a good job.
We're confetti customers.
We listen to the podcast.
(13:30):
We're basically having you onspeed dial.
Yes.
That's pretty much.
Yes.
Yeah.
No, like, but, but, but, butyou're doing you and it's like,
that's to me that that's thebest thing.
Like that's, I'm just so drawnto people that know who they are
and have a clear point of view.
And, and, I mean, I think whatwe do is great, but we are
(13:53):
rhythm dancer.
You know what I mean?
So it's like, yeah, like I loveto see people maybe be inspired
by what we're doing, but takingany things that we're giving
them and like making it fit youand who you are.
Yeah.
You guys are so open aboutsharing your ideas, which I
think is great.
Also, my mentality is I canshare more ideas on the dance
team side of the studio side.
(14:14):
I'm still building that arsenal,but I think that's been so
helpful to have people likethat.
And then Sammy does a lot ofgraphics.
She's just...
say who Sammy is Sammy McFaddenis you might know who she is
she's a jack of all tradesreally which I didn't know well
because she came to the studioand she taught and by the way
(14:37):
she was amazing and her energywas incredible and just she's
really really cool 10 out of 10all the things but we were
talking about your social mediaor something and she was just
like yeah like I'm I don't knowthe next morning she was leaving
And I was like, oh, okay.
But yeah, it's really good.
(14:58):
She's the best.
Well, obviously, it helps thatshe's a dancer.
Yeah.
Definitely, you know, pickingphotos and things like that.
But also, she's just insanely...
Branding-wise, very creative,and not afraid to tell me, like,
I want to do X, Y, Z, and she'slike, that's going to look
pretty bad.
That's a bad idea.
Yeah, yeah, it's not.
We're going to do that.
So do you guys share photos,like, through Google Drive or
(15:21):
iPhone, or what do you do?
A little bit of everything?
Sammy, she's a little, like...
She just works whatever.
She just works however.
Okay.
But normally Google Drive.
Okay.
But then we have a shared photoalbum.
Okay.
Depending on what it is.
Yeah.
But then her like kind of likefinished things or things that
(15:41):
we're working on back and forth.
We have a Google Drive.
Okay.
But we normally try and meet onbig projects.
Yeah.
and align at least a little biton creative vision.
Okay.
Okay.
I just let her go.
Okay.
And then she can just go fromthere.
And so how often would you sayyou meet with her about that?
Honestly, maybe like officially,formally, like three-ish, four
(16:02):
times a year.
Okay.
But we're close friends.
Yeah.
She gets you.
Yeah.
Our convo goes from like, wouldyou have for breakfast to like,
can you get the post-ed?
Right.
Yes, yes, yes, yes.
But she's also an insanelytalented choreographer.
Right.
LSU alum does their choreographyand travels all over.
Yeah.
That's really cool.
All right.
Well, yeah, that's great.
(16:22):
Okay.
So now let's go.
Let's go back in and Melissa'sgoing to share.
five fun things that you'redoing at Lineage Dance.
I am.
And it was just really hardbecause I had to think of things
that were like unique to whatyou're doing.
I can't give them their ideasback.
No, yes, you could.
(16:45):
But I think most of them werelike things that we were like,
Kind of things that are going onright now.
Okay.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So for us, right before we left,we had this back to dance
merchandise box extravaganza.
So what I noticed when I startedthe studio is there's not a lot
of dance studios in our area.
One, there's not a lot of dancestudios.
wear stores.
(17:06):
So you're driving as a parent 25minutes maybe to get to the
closest dance floor.
No one's doing that.
No one's doing that.
Exactly.
So then they're like Amazon-ingwhatever they can get.
So I was like, okay, we have tomake this easier for our parent.
And I'm sort of like a dressphone crazy person.
(17:26):
I think it's the team side ofme.
They must match.
They must be locked in.
I had to loosen it up a littlebit.
But at least for our That's sofunny.
They look really cute, too.
Yeah.
So we did these boxes thatparents could purchase,
basically, that are likeeverything you need.
It's like dancewear in a box.
Okay.
Shoes, their tights, theirleotards.
(17:48):
Nice.
Spandex for one price.
They can come in and try it onif they want.
Okay.
Or they can just order.
Okay.
So it's up to them.
Okay.
So we have three differenttry-on nights.
Okay.
One for our kids because theyhave different stuff.
Okay.
And then two for everybody else.
Okay.
And then we place all theorders.
We put them in a box.
They pick them up at our openhouse.
And then they're like ready togo.
That's awesome.
(18:08):
Now, did you require it?
Okay.
We don't require it.
Okay.
But I will tell you we have...
We only have like 55 comp kids.
38 of them purchased somethingat that age.
Okay, okay, nice.
So my percentage.
Yeah, that's great.
But I actually think it's mostbeneficial for the littles.
Yeah.
And the moms just want to justsay, give me what I need and I'm
(18:30):
going to do that.
A lot of our families havemultiple kids.
Right.
So this is just an easy thingaround town.
Well, but they're frustratedwith it.
Exactly.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And so who do you use for your,like, do you, use, who to use
for your merch?
We ended up doing some majoritywise things.
Okay.
Yeah.
Easy.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Um, did some revolution.
(18:51):
Yeah.
We have like a little bit of acurated collection.
So we just like put the Leos outand this is like R1, R2, R3, or
W1, W2, W3.
So that was like our internallike system.
Great.
And there's only options by eachclass.
So like there's a rack for, wecall them millennials, our
babies, like If you go over tothat class, you pick from that
(19:13):
rack.
What's your legal code?
And then we just...
That sounds great.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So then we'll go back andpackage all of those.
Package them.
Are you going to do any...
Like, are you going to put likea...
Are you going to brand it?
You know it.
You know it.
Tell me about the branding.
We do a back to dance party.
Okay.
And usually we're not as likecoordinated as you guys, but we
do a theme that was likewhatever Sammy and I decided the
(19:35):
like launch was going.
Okay.
So this year it was like all thelight blue, bright orange, Kelly
green.
Like we did lockers.
Yeah.
Cute.
So the sticker, it's like ablack box, but the stickers are
the same color and tissues ofcolor and they get a little hair
bow.
That's the same thing.
Nice.
I love it.
I can't, are you going to postthis on your social media?
We'll post it.
(19:56):
Can't wait to see it.
Don't replay it, but I'll postit.
Yes, post it so I can see it.
Sammy will do it.
Yeah, she's great.
Okay, cool.
I love that.
Yeah.
Okay.
And the back to dance party isfun.
That's like when we do our meetthe teacher.
Yeah.
We do it the weekend before westart.
Okay.
Because a lot of our familiestravel.
So we try to do it earlier andthen work.
Yeah.
Right before when I know they'rein school.
(20:17):
Yeah.
That's great.
Yeah.
Awesome.
I love that.
That's one thing.
That's a big thing.
That's a big undertaking.
Yes.
Now we have a system, but atfirst it was like.
Yeah, I'm sure.
And then we have more kids.
So then it's like, yeah, we havea system, but the volume, you
know.
Yes.
Oh, yeah.
So that's crazy.
The next thing that we're doingwhen we get back, though, is our
comp choreo.
So we have a choreo camp.
(20:38):
But I was like, we used to dojust a team bonding thing
because I love that.
Yes.
But.
our competition, Josie and Katiewere like, we need more time.
Get started.
We need more time.
So what can we do?
So I was like, fine, we can do achoreo week, but let's make it
fun.
So we have a hip hop productionthat all of our hip hop, our
teams do.
So we actually mailed out clues.
(20:59):
Oh, so fun.
That's going to be.
Okay.
So they got like a, in the, likein the physical mail.
Yes.
That's great.
Love that.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So they got one.
glue look at another when we getback and then they'll figure it
out that's a great idea choreocamp so cool i bet that was so
(21:20):
fun for them they were kind oflike the first one we sent out
is like roller skates orsomething and i think the next
one's a neon sign so they'relike all over the map i was
guessing these are gonna be yeahwhat you guys yeah for a show
but yeah it's a big reveal likethat yeah so that's cool yeah so
that happens next week yeah nextweek when we get back i can't
believe i know the music okaythat is that's pretty normal
(21:44):
Yeah.
Yeah.
So I think that'll be fine.
And it's like the one numberthat everybody in our company.
Yes.
Way to start the season.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And we'll do 17 bonding games.
But that was like, how can weget more time for Corey?
Right.
Right.
Still have excitement.
Was kind of like trying tofigure out.
I love it.
That's great.
So we've got that going on.
(22:04):
Let's see.
I'm on number three now.
I don't know how many.
You're on number three.
Well, football.
We tend to act like that.
That's for us a big thing.
So we actually capitalize onthat a little bit.
Yeah.
We do a Friday night lightsparents night out.
So we'll launch that when we getback.
So basically a lot of our kidshave older siblings.
Their parents want to go to thegame, but they are, have a
(22:25):
little one.
They don't want to drag themoutside.
So we do like a little Fridaynight programming situation.
Nice.
Nice.
Theme it out.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Is it always like, what arelike, what do you theme it out
as?
Is it always like, Ohio State.
But our local school is Yellowand Black.
So we're like, maybe this yearwe'll do one of those or
(22:47):
something.
Up Burlington Bears.
Friday Night Lights.
We'll just go to dinner.
Yeah.
Now, do you go to these ever?
Or is this your team that'sdoing it?
Crying Night Lights.
I used to.
Okay.
When there was only like threeof us.
Yes.
But more often than not, if Igo, I'm going to do like, I'll
(23:10):
manage the front desk and then Ican like get my work done.
Okay.
But I sadly am not teachingFriday Night Lights though.
I think I would crush that.
Yeah.
I'm sure you would crush that.
I have no doubt.
Six year olds, that's like myteam.
Yeah.
But yeah, our team.
And a lot of times it can be.
And like, what's the timeframethat you do on that?
So we normally do either 530 toeight or six.
six to eight 30, depending onlike what the age.
(23:32):
Yeah.
We can't get a four year old tosay, right.
But yeah, depending on what we,and so have you been doing this
for a little while?
We did it last year and it wasreally successful.
It's like right away.
And are you doing it like everyFriday night?
Okay.
Do it every Friday.
But like for the home opener,we'll do it.
Um, and then we'll pick a coupleof other dates.
We only did two last year andthey both sold out really
(23:52):
quickly.
So we're like, Oh, we can acceptthis.
This is it.
That's awesome.
Our parents love to like, andhow much are you charged?
How much do you charge?
for it?
It's a great question.
I think 45.
That sounds good.
The one time we did an extendedtime, we did like a pizza party.
I think we obviously charged alittle bit.
Yeah.
Yeah.
That's really easy.
I just get nervous withallergies.
Yeah.
No, same.
Yeah.
(24:13):
Absolutely.
You got to watch out for that.
Yeah, exactly.
Yeah.
I know.
I know.
I would too.
Okay.
Yeah.
I like that.
I mean, I wish we did somethinglike that.
We honestly don't do that muchof the like weekend party stuff.
Like we've had, we've tried it.
It's starting to be on boardwith it.
Yeah.
Timing wise, it just hasn't.
(24:34):
Yeah.
But it's such a, I think it'ssuch a good idea.
Well, it's just nice to havelike the, like ad hoc, like, you
know, you don't have to have aconsistent Friday, but like if
you're willing to pick up a,yeah.
One of the Fridays.
Yeah, for sure.
Yeah.
And we don't have differentthemes too, but Friday night for
us is like, we don't have Fridayclasses though.
(24:54):
Okay.
So we do, but we don't have thatmany.
UNKNOWN (24:57):
Okay.
SPEAKER_01 (24:58):
But they are younger kids.
We have lots of rehearsals onFriday nights.
That's right.
Yeah.
But during football season, it'shard because, you know, the
girls got to go to the realFriday night lights.
They are not really okay withmissing it.
So it's funny how, like, theculture of that has changed.
It's been changed for a longtime, to be clear.
But, like, I feel like whenDanny and I were doing, like,
(25:20):
when we were doing, like, moreteaching and choreo and stuff,
like, none of the kids we taughtcared about missing football
games.
Right.
Like, I'm not saying ever.
Yeah.
But now, I swear, like, you see,like, tears welling up in
people's eyes if they, like, ifyou say, like, and Katie, who's,
(25:42):
like, are, you know, in chargeof, like, most of our
upper-level choreo and stufflike that, she is really busy,
so, like, sometimes it is, shehas to do whatever, you know?
But she's even, like, I feellike Originally, she was like,
well, I'm just going to do whatI have to do.
I'm sorry, guys.
But now she's even like, shewill stagger it or she will
(26:05):
finish her rehearsal at 745.
So they can get there by 8 p.m.
or whatever.
So, you know, I mean, and likewe were talking about earlier,
like you do kind of have to likeadapt and give and take.
And, you know, times change.
And if you want to.
I think it's evolving, but stillstaying true to who you are.
I think people, when they thinkthey have to evolve, have to be
totally different.
It's like, no, you just have to.
(26:26):
acknowledge is a trend and mykids want to do this.
That's important to them.
Right.
Right.
How do I get my rehearsal and.
Yeah, for sure.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Good.
So that's that.
What else was I going to talkabout?
Oh, we were just actuallytalking about this when we were
down at the booth.
But one of the things that weare struggling with or still
trying to figure out iscommunication.
Yes.
(26:46):
So my newest version that we'regoing to try for this year is
when we post on social, thethings that get the most
interaction are our kids.
Yes.
Yes.
it's a human.
It's a small one.
So when we did our grand openingof what we're moving, we used
this dance.
It was so cute.
And so I was like, peoplewatched it.
(27:06):
I'm losing Maddie again.
And she's like this littlespitfire.
So cute.
You can clear a line.
She should be like in Hollywood.
So she just filmed it.
It's so cute.
She's in a little brandedoutfit.
Her mom always brings her with acute little bow.
Shout out to Regan.
She's amazing.
And she's like standing at thedoor.
She's like, hi, I'm Maddie.
Welcome to Lineage.
We're so excited to have youwe've got a new studio and i
(27:28):
want to show you what it's likeand so she like oh my gosh a
little one guiding this entireyeah that's really good so she
that is really like walk throughwe just filmed it before we left
of like here's a new dressingroom oh my god and she's so
great she like ad libs like sheadds her own thing she's like
you might not have seen itbefore but it's really cool oh
(27:49):
my gosh that's awesome that'sawesome little ones line up here
and moms we know you want towatch but that lobby is right
for you.
And it's like so cute.
Are you going to post it onsocial media?
Okay, good.
I cannot wait to see that.
Josie wrote the script and wejust fed her lines.
So I'm hopeful that people willwatch it because we have 500
people coming in with the newflow.
(28:11):
So I'm I think maybe that mightbe my one.
I use it all the time.
Yeah.
No, I love that.
As long as you can.
Yeah.
We should try that too.
That's a really, it's a reallygood idea.
And then they share it.
Cause they're like, Oh, look atMaddie.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And they're sharing a studiotour, which hopefully get more
people in to take it.
Ooh, I like that a lot.
(28:33):
I was going to ask a question.
Okay.
So, Oh yeah.
Well, I think I was just goingto say, we've talked about,
We've talked about that and justthe logistics of when we do open
our studio because we've justbeen the same for so long.
Every person who comes in thatstudio could probably come in
with their eyes closed and getwhere they need to go, even
(28:53):
though there is stuffeverywhere.
And it's a giant nightmare.
People could still navigatetheir way because they just...
You know, have they done thesame thing for so long?
And so we were talking aboutwhen we have the new studio,
like we feel like we're going tohave to have like.
It can't just be like an openhouse.
Legitimate like orientation andtours.
Yeah.
For kind of probably each group,because like each group is going
(29:16):
to kind of have a different.
How are you going to use it?
Yeah, like to know like, okay,you know, Senior Fusion, you're
going to be upstairs.
This is going to be your generalarea.
When you need to get to thisstudio, you're going to go here.
These are the restrooms we'dlike for you to use.
Like, you know, so...
you know and then so many thingsyou don't think yes there is
where the props go when a spillhappens yes lost in phone like
(29:38):
all these things I was like ohand we've only been over for two
years like I cannot imagine yeahwell I think one thing we did
when we were trying to designthe studio is we were really
trying to think of like everypain point that we've had how
cool is that and I'm sure we'remissing I'm sure we're missing
something but like we'vedefinitely have tried to like
design it thinking okay likewe're gonna yeah yeah how
(30:00):
exciting for you to have a spaceNow I'm excited.
So like, okay, so you're goingto do, you're going to do this
little thing, but.
Some people have been in thestudio if they've taken summer
classes.
We did do an opening night,like, exhibition, whatever.
And we did parse it out.
Like, our comp kids came first.
Okay.
We wanted them to be the firstones to see the studio.
Yes, yes.
And then we actually had theparents in for a little
(30:22):
champagne toast.
Nice.
Super cute.
That's fun.
And then the next group came in.
Okay.
And we kind of, like, phased itout.
And we had cotton candy.
And it ended up being a blacklight.
Do you know that cotton candyis, like, one of my favorite
things in the whole world?
There's this, like, lady.
She's so great.
She has a little cotton candytruck.
And she, like, I think got somuch business.
because all the kids wantedtheir birthday party.
I love cotton shoes.
(30:42):
We did it.
We had Cotton Candy at our showone time a long time ago.
I was the one making it.
It was not.
It was like we rented a machineand did it.
She was a one-man band.
I was so impressed.
And she just parked in ourlittle parking lot.
And that turned into like alittle block party.
Cute.
Cute.
Okay.
We have summer.
Camps are different.
They're very different.
(31:03):
Than your 45-minute In-N-Out.
So will you post the videobefore your welcome party or
right before you start back?
That's kind of same time for usso we'll post it that week
before kind of try and do a dripof like here's the dress code
here's your teacher here's thething whatever so that week
before we'll probably post thatvideo and also probably have it
(31:24):
playing back to dancing becausethat's chaos they're not going
to get the flow I think we'regoing to try the patches Yes,
for sure.
I think we're going to employthat activity.
They're so cute.
Yeah, they're so cute.
Well, one thing we were talkingover, I was talking about, we
had our class earlier, thesocial media class.
(31:45):
And one thing that I see that alot of people do is they'll,
they put a lot of text on theirposts, which is fine.
Like you have to do it sometimesor whatever, but like, like if
you're having, if like openhouse Friday, September, blah,
blah, blah, blah.
And it's this big post and it'sthese words, but then you look
(32:06):
at it a week later and it's nothappening anymore.
I think it's so much better tohave, like you were saying, just
like the action of someoneshowing, showing rather than
just like spinning it all out inwords, you know, show them what
you need them to do and wherethey need to go.
And then, you know, and then oneof my team members, because
(32:27):
they're, you know, social mediasavvy.
Yeah.
Just showed me how to hidethumbnails.
So even if we, yes, a graphic.
Yes.
I'm starting to then take it on.
Yeah.
So it's not like, yeah, cloggingthe feed.
Yes.
I didn't even know you could dothat.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Shake that off your feet.
Oh, okay.
That's so funny.
So you just, yeah.
So like I, cause sometimes I'mlike, well, I want to get this
(32:48):
information out and it'srelevant for this week.
Right.
But then I don't need Fridaynight lights.
Yeah, no, totally.
And especially when we didn'thave a lot of photos to pull
from.
I was like, honestly, I feellike those posts get like zero.
Like I feel like they get zeroengagement.
And I'm just like, I agree.
Yeah.
I still think they're seeing.
Well, I was saying just put themin stories.
(33:10):
Yeah.
You know what I mean?
Just put them in stories.
We do that a lot for the team.
We'll put a photo first.
And then.
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.
Yeah.
Yes.
So good.
good is that four i think thatwas four oh my fifth one my
fifth one is like in theprogress but i'm excited about
okay so we did we took a pageout of the book of community
partnership for camps yes wehave a cute little uh it's
(33:31):
called storyline it's one of ourmoms has two dancers that go
here they came in and it's redfor summer camps which was great
i love that but then i'm like anerd i like really liked school
so i was like how can weencourage our kids to do well in
dance, but also academics.
So thinking of implementing,this is in the works, but like
some sort of grade card or likeI was really motivated to put
(33:54):
food as a child.
And so Pizza Hut had those likeread for a personal band and you
got like a personal band.
Like trying to do something likethat with like dancewear.
But like read books, partnershipwith Storyline, get a leotard.
Nice.
It's in the works.
I don't know what it's going tobe.
I like that.
But yeah, everybody will thinkthat's the most amazing.
(34:16):
Right.
Like academically, you know,just to encourage them that we
always say we want them to bewell-rounded and humans and all
this.
Yeah.
It's like, All we see them in isdance.
Right.
Trying to do some leadershipstuff.
Yeah.
That's really cool.
I love that.
Come to fruition.
Stay tuned for the details.
Yeah.
Okay.
Well, stay tuned.
On the next episode of Part 7.
(34:36):
Part 7 of Making It Fun withMelissa.
So those are some things.
All right.
Well, cool.
I love it.
Yeah.
I'm super excited about all ofthose things.
Hopefully somebody can use someof that.
Oh, I'm sure they can.
Oh, my gosh.
I'm using it.
It's already.
It'll be spread.
I love that.
That's great.
That's what it's all about.
That's what it's all about.
It is.
(34:57):
Okay.
Well, anything else we need to,we need to talk about?
We're going to finish up ourDance Teacher Summit day.
Yeah.
We have, tonight is the AceAwards.
And then.
My first time.
Yeah.
I'm excited too.
You guys are excited too?
Yeah.
We have an alum.
Yeah.
Presenting tonight.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And then we have one more day ofSummit.
(35:20):
And then we're heading back toreality.
Back to reality.
Oh, boy.
New season.
But we're going to be reallymotivated because we're getting
lots of good motivation here.
It's so smart.
I know.
We could probably talk foranother hour.
We could.
We could.
I'm sure this is longer than weneeded it to be.
15, 20 minutes.
Yeah.
(35:40):
Always.
Always.
Yeah.
Well, thank you so much,Melissa, for sharing and coming
on.
And we love you.
And we think you're really cooland really awesome.
And you got, oh, tell me whatyour social, tell them your
social at Lineage Dance.
Lineage Dance Co.
Lineage Dance Co.
At Lineage Dance Co.
Yeah.
So check it out.
And I know I feel pressure.
So I'm sure we're like on it.
(36:01):
That's what it's about.
You got it.
You've been a little spotty.
Pressure is a privilege.
It is.
It sure is.
So I feel it all the time.
Believe me.
I'm like, wait, is it aprivilege?
I don't know.
But like, yeah.
All right.
Well, we think you're reallyawesome.
Thanks.
Thank you so much.
All right.
We'll see you on the nextepisode of Lineage.
(36:22):
Make this fun with MelissaMcGee.
SPEAKER_00 (36:26):
Yeah.
All right.
UNKNOWN (36:29):
Bye.
Welcome to Make Dance Fun, the podcast from
Confetti on the Dance Floor, allabout adding fun, festiveness,
and a little fancy to your dancestudio.
We're here to share tips and funideas that have helped us
successfully run our studio forover three decades, and
hopefully inspire you to do thesame.
I'm Becca Moore.
And I'm Dani Rosenberg.
Together, we own Rhythm DanceCenter in Marietta, Georgia,
(00:21):
where we are known for our funand energetic atmosphere.
We created Confetti on the DanceFloor to inspire dance teachers
and studio owners through ourfun products, creative ideas,
and And of course, this podcast.
(01:00):
A repeat guest.
I'm honored.
Take two.
Honored.
It's actually take three becauseher first one was in two.
We are here with Melissa McGeefrom the Ohio State dance team.
Bum, bum, bum, bum.
And from Lineage Dance.
And so we...
Well, first we're just going tochat before we say what we're
(01:21):
going to do.
Hi, Melissa.
How's it going?
It's so good.
And so Melissa's here too withher team.
And we have a lot of our teamhere.
And so we've gotten to like kindof hang out with them and hear
about some of the things they'redoing.
And also Melissa had a class atDance Teacher Summit.
Yes.
And we're all here trying tolearn and be better.
(01:41):
And so how do you think...
How do you think it's going hereso far at Day Teacher Summit?
I mean, we're having a blast.
I think.
We're a newer studio.
So all of my staff is like, wideeyed and just getting to know
who the people are in theindustry and learning and being
able to meet people, I think islike the most beneficial thing.
(02:03):
Yeah.
it's cool because they're all onthe team.
So it's like a very full circlemoment for me to see them like
(02:24):
have careers in dance.
Yeah.
Able to, it's very fulfilling.
Yeah.
I'm like, you know, yeah.
And they also probably,obviously they've worked with
you for a long time and theyunderstand you and what you
expect.
And in a four year hiringprocess.
Yeah.
I mean, you can't, you can't bethat.
That's, that's awesome.
So, yeah.
(02:44):
So we've got to see them kind ofa lot this week, like just
walking around and they willlisten to the pod.
Oh, yeah, yeah.
(03:19):
basically depending on yourgeographic region, there's some,
you know, differences, but onthe whole, the message is put
the dancer first.
Right.
Let's all work together.
Yeah.
Make sure they have optionsafter, after their student time.
Yeah.
And we were just talking aboutthat with Melissa too.
Like we, Right.
Right.
(03:59):
Generally now, generally now.
And kids are seeing like theopportunity to dance in college
and, you know, be able tocontinue doing that and being
part of a team and all of that.
So, and I think our job isstudio owners or teachers to see
maybe what's next.
They don't know that they wantto do that, but it's the ball is
starting to roll.
The momentum's picking up.
(04:19):
So maybe in three years it'll bebigger and to get ahead of it
and not be chasing it.
Yeah.
Which is where a lot of us areright now.
Yeah.
We have kids that areinterested, but they do feel
they're chasing it because theysee the level of what's
happening.
And they know they're not there.
No, they're not there because wehaven't met.
You know, right.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
We're working on it.
Yeah.
(04:39):
I think a lot of people arethough.
And I think that's like thewhole vibe is like, everybody's
trying to figure it out.
Right.
What does this mean?
What can we do?
How do we not change what we'vealways done?
Right.
Evolve.
Yeah.
Sort of.
Also, I'll point out that sinceMelissa was on the podcast last
time, you have another nationalchampionship.
Oh my gosh.
Yeah.
Congratulations.
July.
(04:59):
Yeah.
So we yeah.
Was it July?
Yeah.
And then crazy.
Yeah.
And also Ohio State is alsofootball national.
Yes.
I can't believe she's.
And they came to Atlantastraight from their big win.
Yeah, that was crazy.
Yeah.
I mean, go dogs.
But not not so much this.
I mean, you know, they they.
(05:20):
They were SEC champs.
Exactly.
So we'll just have to take that.
Dramatic fashion.
Absolutely.
Yeah, I'll take it.
I was really happy about that.
That was good.
We'll see what this year has instore.
Open with a 1-2 game.
We're two and Texas is numberone.
Oh, my gosh.
I didn't know that.
Oh, yeah.
Home opener.
I'm excited.
This one, actually.
Boy.
Okay.
Yeah.
That's exciting.
Yeah.
(05:41):
I'm not a huge Texas fan.
I will admit that.
Yeah.
We beat them on the way to thenational championship.
So everyone was sort of eagerfor this rematch.
Yeah.
It's at home.
Sorry if you're a Texas fan.
I don't mean to offend.
I'm just a...
Just passionate.
I'm just a...
I'm a UGA fan.
But, like, also just getting toknow Melissa and all of that,
(06:02):
too.
Like, I respect...
I respect the Ohio State.
We'll take it.
You know, I respect.
I respect.
Okay, one other thing I wasgoing to ask.
So, like, before you came herewith your team, did you guys
talk about, like...
what you wanted to get out ofit?
Or was it more like, we haven'tdone this together as a team, so
(06:23):
we're going to kind of...
It was kind of all of the abovefor us.
We're so young in studio life,and my team is really young.
I'm the oldest member of theteam.
Me too! I'm way older, butwhatever.
So I just wanted them to besurrounded by like-minded
people.
I think that is priceless.
And kind of what we were talkingabout on the elevator is the
(06:46):
motivations the getting yourwheels turning.
Yeah.
Like, obviously the content andthe classes is...
Right.
Yeah.
But to me, I think a lot of thenetworks and picking each
other's brains and like, I mean,my team hasn't left your team
alone.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So I think that stuff ispriceless.
Yeah.
For sure.
(07:07):
To have that internal motivationand not be like, hey, waiting
for you to, can you think aboutthis?
Right.
Can you do this?
Right.
It's just kind of like.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And I did listen to the podcastcoming here.
So then I signed them classes.
I'm going to debrief.
Nice.
Yeah.
I mean, even for me to learn,you know, I just feel like
that's how I figured dance teamout.
I didn't have a, I didn't knowabout it.
(07:28):
I just figured it out.
And that's, you know, kind ofwhat I'm trying to do in this
space too.
Right.
Cool.
Well, now that Melissa's here,we are going to, since we've had
so much fun with our five funthings.
I love it.
I love the theme.
We are going to do five funthings with Melissa McGee from
(07:49):
Lineage Dance.
So we're going to have her talka little bit more about her
studio this time because weheard about the Ohio State dance
team and her journey there andso now like maybe I think we did
do a little bit of the journeyon the previous podcast and
maybe just give us a shortlittle synopsis on how you got
to the studio and then how farin you are now yeah We did, I
(08:13):
think, touch a little bit.
Yeah.
So we just finished our fullthird season.
Which is insane that you'rewhere you are.
Yeah.
So congratulations.
I feel like in some ways it'sgone so fast.
And then in some ways I'm like,just three?
Yeah.
Yeah.
I think too, because every yearwe've had something big.
(08:34):
Right.
Year one, it was just figuringit out.
Year two, we were growing.
Year three, it was like, we'rebuilding a new space.
Yeah.
And so as you two knowfirsthand, I mean, we're not
even close to that yes but it'sa whole side business I mean
it's a whole entity that takesyour space so we just moved um
in June 2nd we opened our doorswhich honestly I think is really
(08:54):
cool and impressive because Iknew you were moving but then
like I honestly didn't know thatit was just like done when you
when you announced it it wasdone yes so good job way because
we had so many issues inconstruction and permitting okay
that we had like seven differentversions of, okay, we're moving
this state.
(09:15):
That's where we are, I feellike.
You're so established.
That's like your parents arelike, yeah, we'll figure it out.
We'll move with them.
My parents are like, who's thisnice studio?
Let's dance.
That's all over the place.
I was very nervous to make surethat I didn't want to move
mid-summer.
It worked out.
We moved at the beginning of theseason.
(09:36):
We've tripled the space.
That is just really awesome.
We needed it.
That's so exciting yeah yeah sonow we've we technically this
was our fourth summer we didbecause we opened with summer
okay so okay and then now we'restarting season four we have
just under five markets you guysthat is awesome wow okay okay
(09:59):
okay stop stop do you know whatthat looks like in four more
years yeah yeah yeah you'reready to move again no but i
think number one that you've hadthat much growth so quickly is
awesome.
And then also like having thatmany kids under that age group
(10:19):
is insane.
Well, it's been really nice toyours telling something, but it
is to like, focus on the littlekid curriculum because I feel
like, well, two things wouldhave happened if we would have
done the full age range.
One, I didn't want anybodymoving to Columbus with
preconceived notions that thatwas going to help in any way,
shape, or form.
Right.
Right.
Makes sense.
So that was kind of great.
(10:40):
But then the second thing islike to get the foundational
level curriculum, class flow,attention, instructor training.
We don't have to worry.
I'm not even thinking about a14-year-old, really.
Right.
Yeah.
Thinking about we have, that'llbe set in solid in place.
Right.
Yeah.
75, Awesome.
Okay, that just actually made methink of something because I
(11:02):
hadn't thought of that before.
So I'm going backwards here.
But do you see that as a thingeventually where you would have
training specifically for thedance team?
I don't think so.
I think like for me.
At least right now.
Yeah.
Who knows?
Right, right, right.
I think for me, it's great tohave a really national
(11:23):
recruiting model.
Yeah, I agree.
And to keep that really sort ofimperative.
I mean, and you've seen successwith that, and it makes sense.
Clearly.
Why change things?
Right, right.
Yeah, but I do hope that we canbe a studio that maybe has a
little bit more of it in thecurriculum.
Yeah.
As a differentiator.
Yeah.
Than maybe if I would have...
open a studio without havingthat.
(11:44):
Right.
Oh, 100%.
Well, you need to do that forsure.
That is an absolute revenuestream, which we were also just
discussing.
Yeah, we do some college danceteam prep workshops in the
summer, and it's great.
Oh, and so do you open that toolder kids?
Okay, cool.
That's the only thing that wehave that's older.
(12:05):
And how was the turnout forthat?
It's great.
Was it good?
Yeah, honestly, don't push it aton.
Right.
But even for the local Columbuskids to have an option to train
in that way, a little bit moreof an intimate, private setting,
I think they really enjoyed it.
Yeah.
Yeah, that's cool.
I think all of our teachers havethat background, so it's an easy
thing for us Right.
Yeah.
That's really awesome.
(12:26):
Yeah.
All right.
So you're in a new space.
You're going into year four.
Yes.
Crazy.
And you have 500 students andyou're going to have to move
again soon.
Sorry to tell you.
Yeah.
Okay.
So I'll.
I'll just say a little bit aboutmy observation of you guys,
(12:47):
which I kind of geek out onseeing people be successful in
what they're doing and alsobeing authentically successful.
who you are and showing thatthrough your social media.
Cause I look at social media allthe time.
And so I think your social mediais so good.
And I think that it's justreally, it's just been really
(13:09):
fun to watch and see, likeobviously knowing you and then
just seeing how it's likeportrayed and put out there and
everything looks really good.
And they are confetti customers,FYI.
And I'm telling you like, yeah,they look so cute.
And yeah, it's, it's, you're,you're doing, you're doing,
you're doing a good job.
We're confetti customers.
We listen to the podcast.
(13:30):
We're basically having you onspeed dial.
Yes.
That's pretty much.
Yes.
Yeah.
No, like, but, but, but, butyou're doing you and it's like,
that's to me that that's thebest thing.
Like that's, I'm just so drawnto people that know who they are
and have a clear point of view.
And, and, I mean, I think whatwe do is great, but we are
(13:53):
rhythm dancer.
You know what I mean?
So it's like, yeah, like I loveto see people maybe be inspired
by what we're doing, but takingany things that we're giving
them and like making it fit youand who you are.
Yeah.
You guys are so open aboutsharing your ideas, which I
think is great.
Also, my mentality is I canshare more ideas on the dance
team side of the studio side.
(14:14):
I'm still building that arsenal,but I think that's been so
helpful to have people likethat.
And then Sammy does a lot ofgraphics.
She's just...
say who Sammy is Sammy McFaddenis you might know who she is
she's a jack of all tradesreally which I didn't know well
because she came to the studioand she taught and by the way
(14:37):
she was amazing and her energywas incredible and just she's
really really cool 10 out of 10all the things but we were
talking about your social mediaor something and she was just
like yeah like I'm I don't knowthe next morning she was leaving
And I was like, oh, okay.
But yeah, it's really good.
(14:58):
She's the best.
Well, obviously, it helps thatshe's a dancer.
Yeah.
Definitely, you know, pickingphotos and things like that.
But also, she's just insanely...
Branding-wise, very creative,and not afraid to tell me, like,
I want to do X, Y, Z, and she'slike, that's going to look
pretty bad.
That's a bad idea.
Yeah, yeah, it's not.
We're going to do that.
So do you guys share photos,like, through Google Drive or
(15:21):
iPhone, or what do you do?
A little bit of everything?
Sammy, she's a little, like...
She just works whatever.
She just works however.
Okay.
But normally Google Drive.
Okay.
But then we have a shared photoalbum.
Okay.
Depending on what it is.
Yeah.
But then her like kind of likefinished things or things that
(15:41):
we're working on back and forth.
We have a Google Drive.
Okay.
But we normally try and meet onbig projects.
Yeah.
and align at least a little biton creative vision.
Okay.
Okay.
I just let her go.
Okay.
And then she can just go fromthere.
And so how often would you sayyou meet with her about that?
Honestly, maybe like officially,formally, like three-ish, four
(16:02):
times a year.
Okay.
But we're close friends.
Yeah.
She gets you.
Yeah.
Our convo goes from like, wouldyou have for breakfast to like,
can you get the post-ed?
Right.
Yes, yes, yes, yes.
But she's also an insanelytalented choreographer.
Right.
LSU alum does their choreographyand travels all over.
Yeah.
That's really cool.
All right.
Well, yeah, that's great.
(16:22):
Okay.
So now let's go.
Let's go back in and Melissa'sgoing to share.
five fun things that you'redoing at Lineage Dance.
I am.
And it was just really hardbecause I had to think of things
that were like unique to whatyou're doing.
I can't give them their ideasback.
No, yes, you could.
(16:45):
But I think most of them werelike things that we were like,
Kind of things that are going onright now.
Okay.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So for us, right before we left,we had this back to dance
merchandise box extravaganza.
So what I noticed when I startedthe studio is there's not a lot
of dance studios in our area.
One, there's not a lot of dancestudios.
wear stores.
(17:06):
So you're driving as a parent 25minutes maybe to get to the
closest dance floor.
No one's doing that.
No one's doing that.
Exactly.
So then they're like Amazon-ingwhatever they can get.
So I was like, okay, we have tomake this easier for our parent.
And I'm sort of like a dressphone crazy person.
(17:26):
I think it's the team side ofme.
They must match.
They must be locked in.
I had to loosen it up a littlebit.
But at least for our That's sofunny.
They look really cute, too.
Yeah.
So we did these boxes thatparents could purchase,
basically, that are likeeverything you need.
It's like dancewear in a box.
Okay.
Shoes, their tights, theirleotards.
(17:48):
Nice.
Spandex for one price.
They can come in and try it onif they want.
Okay.
Or they can just order.
Okay.
So it's up to them.
Okay.
So we have three differenttry-on nights.
Okay.
One for our kids because theyhave different stuff.
Okay.
And then two for everybody else.
Okay.
And then we place all theorders.
We put them in a box.
They pick them up at our openhouse.
And then they're like ready togo.
That's awesome.
(18:08):
Now, did you require it?
Okay.
We don't require it.
Okay.
But I will tell you we have...
We only have like 55 comp kids.
38 of them purchased somethingat that age.
Okay, okay, nice.
So my percentage.
Yeah, that's great.
But I actually think it's mostbeneficial for the littles.
Yeah.
And the moms just want to justsay, give me what I need and I'm
(18:30):
going to do that.
A lot of our families havemultiple kids.
Right.
So this is just an easy thingaround town.
Well, but they're frustratedwith it.
Exactly.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And so who do you use for your,like, do you, use, who to use
for your merch?
We ended up doing some majoritywise things.
Okay.
Yeah.
Easy.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Um, did some revolution.
(18:51):
Yeah.
We have like a little bit of acurated collection.
So we just like put the Leos outand this is like R1, R2, R3, or
W1, W2, W3.
So that was like our internallike system.
Great.
And there's only options by eachclass.
So like there's a rack for, wecall them millennials, our
babies, like If you go over tothat class, you pick from that
(19:13):
rack.
What's your legal code?
And then we just...
That sounds great.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So then we'll go back andpackage all of those.
Package them.
Are you going to do any...
Like, are you going to put likea...
Are you going to brand it?
You know it.
You know it.
Tell me about the branding.
We do a back to dance party.
Okay.
And usually we're not as likecoordinated as you guys, but we
do a theme that was likewhatever Sammy and I decided the
(19:35):
like launch was going.
Okay.
So this year it was like all thelight blue, bright orange, Kelly
green.
Like we did lockers.
Yeah.
Cute.
So the sticker, it's like ablack box, but the stickers are
the same color and tissues ofcolor and they get a little hair
bow.
That's the same thing.
Nice.
I love it.
I can't, are you going to postthis on your social media?
We'll post it.
(19:56):
Can't wait to see it.
Don't replay it, but I'll postit.
Yes, post it so I can see it.
Sammy will do it.
Yeah, she's great.
Okay, cool.
I love that.
Yeah.
Okay.
And the back to dance party isfun.
That's like when we do our meetthe teacher.
Yeah.
We do it the weekend before westart.
Okay.
Because a lot of our familiestravel.
So we try to do it earlier andthen work.
Yeah.
Right before when I know they'rein school.
(20:17):
Yeah.
That's great.
Yeah.
Awesome.
I love that.
That's one thing.
That's a big thing.
That's a big undertaking.
Yes.
Now we have a system, but atfirst it was like.
Yeah, I'm sure.
And then we have more kids.
So then it's like, yeah, we havea system, but the volume, you
know.
Yes.
Oh, yeah.
So that's crazy.
The next thing that we're doingwhen we get back, though, is our
comp choreo.
So we have a choreo camp.
(20:38):
But I was like, we used to dojust a team bonding thing
because I love that.
Yes.
But.
our competition, Josie and Katiewere like, we need more time.
Get started.
We need more time.
So what can we do?
So I was like, fine, we can do achoreo week, but let's make it
fun.
So we have a hip hop productionthat all of our hip hop, our
teams do.
So we actually mailed out clues.
(20:59):
Oh, so fun.
That's going to be.
Okay.
So they got like a, in the, likein the physical mail.
Yes.
That's great.
Love that.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So they got one.
glue look at another when we getback and then they'll figure it
out that's a great idea choreocamp so cool i bet that was so
(21:20):
fun for them they were kind oflike the first one we sent out
is like roller skates orsomething and i think the next
one's a neon sign so they'relike all over the map i was
guessing these are gonna be yeahwhat you guys yeah for a show
but yeah it's a big reveal likethat yeah so that's cool yeah so
that happens next week yeah nextweek when we get back i can't
believe i know the music okaythat is that's pretty normal
(21:44):
Yeah.
Yeah.
So I think that'll be fine.
And it's like the one numberthat everybody in our company.
Yes.
Way to start the season.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And we'll do 17 bonding games.
But that was like, how can weget more time for Corey?
Right.
Right.
Still have excitement.
Was kind of like trying tofigure out.
I love it.
That's great.
So we've got that going on.
(22:04):
Let's see.
I'm on number three now.
I don't know how many.
You're on number three.
Well, football.
We tend to act like that.
That's for us a big thing.
So we actually capitalize onthat a little bit.
Yeah.
We do a Friday night lightsparents night out.
So we'll launch that when we getback.
So basically a lot of our kidshave older siblings.
Their parents want to go to thegame, but they are, have a
(22:25):
little one.
They don't want to drag themoutside.
So we do like a little Fridaynight programming situation.
Nice.
Nice.
Theme it out.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Is it always like, what arelike, what do you theme it out
as?
Is it always like, Ohio State.
But our local school is Yellowand Black.
So we're like, maybe this yearwe'll do one of those or
(22:47):
something.
Up Burlington Bears.
Friday Night Lights.
We'll just go to dinner.
Yeah.
Now, do you go to these ever?
Or is this your team that'sdoing it?
Crying Night Lights.
I used to.
Okay.
When there was only like threeof us.
Yes.
But more often than not, if Igo, I'm going to do like, I'll
(23:10):
manage the front desk and then Ican like get my work done.
Okay.
But I sadly am not teachingFriday Night Lights though.
I think I would crush that.
Yeah.
I'm sure you would crush that.
I have no doubt.
Six year olds, that's like myteam.
Yeah.
But yeah, our team.
And a lot of times it can be.
And like, what's the timeframethat you do on that?
So we normally do either 530 toeight or six.
six to eight 30, depending onlike what the age.
(23:32):
Yeah.
We can't get a four year old tosay, right.
But yeah, depending on what we,and so have you been doing this
for a little while?
We did it last year and it wasreally successful.
It's like right away.
And are you doing it like everyFriday night?
Okay.
Do it every Friday.
But like for the home opener,we'll do it.
Um, and then we'll pick a coupleof other dates.
We only did two last year andthey both sold out really
(23:52):
quickly.
So we're like, Oh, we can acceptthis.
This is it.
That's awesome.
Our parents love to like, andhow much are you charged?
How much do you charge?
for it?
It's a great question.
I think 45.
That sounds good.
The one time we did an extendedtime, we did like a pizza party.
I think we obviously charged alittle bit.
Yeah.
Yeah.
That's really easy.
I just get nervous withallergies.
Yeah.
No, same.
Yeah.
(24:13):
Absolutely.
You got to watch out for that.
Yeah, exactly.
Yeah.
I know.
I know.
I would too.
Okay.
Yeah.
I like that.
I mean, I wish we did somethinglike that.
We honestly don't do that muchof the like weekend party stuff.
Like we've had, we've tried it.
It's starting to be on boardwith it.
Yeah.
Timing wise, it just hasn't.
(24:34):
Yeah.
But it's such a, I think it'ssuch a good idea.
Well, it's just nice to havelike the, like ad hoc, like, you
know, you don't have to have aconsistent Friday, but like if
you're willing to pick up a,yeah.
One of the Fridays.
Yeah, for sure.
Yeah.
And we don't have differentthemes too, but Friday night for
us is like, we don't have Fridayclasses though.
(24:54):
Okay.
So we do, but we don't have thatmany.
UNKNOWN (24:57):
Okay.
SPEAKER_01 (24:58):
But they are younger kids.
We have lots of rehearsals onFriday nights.
That's right.
Yeah.
But during football season, it'shard because, you know, the
girls got to go to the realFriday night lights.
They are not really okay withmissing it.
So it's funny how, like, theculture of that has changed.
It's been changed for a longtime, to be clear.
But, like, I feel like whenDanny and I were doing, like,
(25:20):
when we were doing, like, moreteaching and choreo and stuff,
like, none of the kids we taughtcared about missing football
games.
Right.
Like, I'm not saying ever.
Yeah.
But now, I swear, like, you see,like, tears welling up in
people's eyes if they, like, ifyou say, like, and Katie, who's,
(25:42):
like, are, you know, in chargeof, like, most of our
upper-level choreo and stufflike that, she is really busy,
so, like, sometimes it is, shehas to do whatever, you know?
But she's even, like, I feellike Originally, she was like,
well, I'm just going to do whatI have to do.
I'm sorry, guys.
But now she's even like, shewill stagger it or she will
(26:05):
finish her rehearsal at 745.
So they can get there by 8 p.m.
or whatever.
So, you know, I mean, and likewe were talking about earlier,
like you do kind of have to likeadapt and give and take.
And, you know, times change.
And if you want to.
I think it's evolving, but stillstaying true to who you are.
I think people, when they thinkthey have to evolve, have to be
totally different.
It's like, no, you just have to.
(26:26):
acknowledge is a trend and mykids want to do this.
That's important to them.
Right.
Right.
How do I get my rehearsal and.
Yeah, for sure.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Good.
So that's that.
What else was I going to talkabout?
Oh, we were just actuallytalking about this when we were
down at the booth.
But one of the things that weare struggling with or still
trying to figure out iscommunication.
Yes.
(26:46):
So my newest version that we'regoing to try for this year is
when we post on social, thethings that get the most
interaction are our kids.
Yes.
Yes.
it's a human.
It's a small one.
So when we did our grand openingof what we're moving, we used
this dance.
It was so cute.
And so I was like, peoplewatched it.
(27:06):
I'm losing Maddie again.
And she's like this littlespitfire.
So cute.
You can clear a line.
She should be like in Hollywood.
So she just filmed it.
It's so cute.
She's in a little brandedoutfit.
Her mom always brings her with acute little bow.
Shout out to Regan.
She's amazing.
And she's like standing at thedoor.
She's like, hi, I'm Maddie.
Welcome to Lineage.
We're so excited to have youwe've got a new studio and i
(27:28):
want to show you what it's likeand so she like oh my gosh a
little one guiding this entireyeah that's really good so she
that is really like walk throughwe just filmed it before we left
of like here's a new dressingroom oh my god and she's so
great she like ad libs like sheadds her own thing she's like
you might not have seen itbefore but it's really cool oh
(27:49):
my gosh that's awesome that'sawesome little ones line up here
and moms we know you want towatch but that lobby is right
for you.
And it's like so cute.
Are you going to post it onsocial media?
Okay, good.
I cannot wait to see that.
Josie wrote the script and wejust fed her lines.
So I'm hopeful that people willwatch it because we have 500
people coming in with the newflow.
(28:11):
So I'm I think maybe that mightbe my one.
I use it all the time.
Yeah.
No, I love that.
As long as you can.
Yeah.
We should try that too.
That's a really, it's a reallygood idea.
And then they share it.
Cause they're like, Oh, look atMaddie.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And they're sharing a studiotour, which hopefully get more
people in to take it.
Ooh, I like that a lot.
(28:33):
I was going to ask a question.
Okay.
So, Oh yeah.
Well, I think I was just goingto say, we've talked about,
We've talked about that and justthe logistics of when we do open
our studio because we've justbeen the same for so long.
Every person who comes in thatstudio could probably come in
with their eyes closed and getwhere they need to go, even
(28:53):
though there is stuffeverywhere.
And it's a giant nightmare.
People could still navigatetheir way because they just...
You know, have they done thesame thing for so long?
And so we were talking aboutwhen we have the new studio,
like we feel like we're going tohave to have like.
It can't just be like an openhouse.
Legitimate like orientation andtours.
Yeah.
For kind of probably each group,because like each group is going
(29:16):
to kind of have a different.
How are you going to use it?
Yeah, like to know like, okay,you know, Senior Fusion, you're
going to be upstairs.
This is going to be your generalarea.
When you need to get to thisstudio, you're going to go here.
These are the restrooms we'dlike for you to use.
Like, you know, so...
you know and then so many thingsyou don't think yes there is
where the props go when a spillhappens yes lost in phone like
(29:38):
all these things I was like ohand we've only been over for two
years like I cannot imagine yeahwell I think one thing we did
when we were trying to designthe studio is we were really
trying to think of like everypain point that we've had how
cool is that and I'm sure we'remissing I'm sure we're missing
something but like we'vedefinitely have tried to like
design it thinking okay likewe're gonna yeah yeah how
(30:00):
exciting for you to have a spaceNow I'm excited.
So like, okay, so you're goingto do, you're going to do this
little thing, but.
Some people have been in thestudio if they've taken summer
classes.
We did do an opening night,like, exhibition, whatever.
And we did parse it out.
Like, our comp kids came first.
Okay.
We wanted them to be the firstones to see the studio.
Yes, yes.
And then we actually had theparents in for a little
(30:22):
champagne toast.
Nice.
Super cute.
That's fun.
And then the next group came in.
Okay.
And we kind of, like, phased itout.
And we had cotton candy.
And it ended up being a blacklight.
Do you know that cotton candyis, like, one of my favorite
things in the whole world?
There's this, like, lady.
She's so great.
She has a little cotton candytruck.
And she, like, I think got somuch business.
because all the kids wantedtheir birthday party.
I love cotton shoes.
(30:42):
We did it.
We had Cotton Candy at our showone time a long time ago.
I was the one making it.
It was not.
It was like we rented a machineand did it.
She was a one-man band.
I was so impressed.
And she just parked in ourlittle parking lot.
And that turned into like alittle block party.
Cute.
Cute.
Okay.
We have summer.
Camps are different.
They're very different.
(31:03):
Than your 45-minute In-N-Out.
So will you post the videobefore your welcome party or
right before you start back?
That's kind of same time for usso we'll post it that week
before kind of try and do a dripof like here's the dress code
here's your teacher here's thething whatever so that week
before we'll probably post thatvideo and also probably have it
(31:24):
playing back to dancing becausethat's chaos they're not going
to get the flow I think we'regoing to try the patches Yes,
for sure.
I think we're going to employthat activity.
They're so cute.
Yeah, they're so cute.
Well, one thing we were talkingover, I was talking about, we
had our class earlier, thesocial media class.
(31:45):
And one thing that I see that alot of people do is they'll,
they put a lot of text on theirposts, which is fine.
Like you have to do it sometimesor whatever, but like, like if
you're having, if like openhouse Friday, September, blah,
blah, blah, blah.
And it's this big post and it'sthese words, but then you look
(32:06):
at it a week later and it's nothappening anymore.
I think it's so much better tohave, like you were saying, just
like the action of someoneshowing, showing rather than
just like spinning it all out inwords, you know, show them what
you need them to do and wherethey need to go.
And then, you know, and then oneof my team members, because
(32:27):
they're, you know, social mediasavvy.
Yeah.
Just showed me how to hidethumbnails.
So even if we, yes, a graphic.
Yes.
I'm starting to then take it on.
Yeah.
So it's not like, yeah, cloggingthe feed.
Yes.
I didn't even know you could dothat.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Shake that off your feet.
Oh, okay.
That's so funny.
So you just, yeah.
So like I, cause sometimes I'mlike, well, I want to get this
(32:48):
information out and it'srelevant for this week.
Right.
But then I don't need Fridaynight lights.
Yeah, no, totally.
And especially when we didn'thave a lot of photos to pull
from.
I was like, honestly, I feellike those posts get like zero.
Like I feel like they get zeroengagement.
And I'm just like, I agree.
Yeah.
I still think they're seeing.
Well, I was saying just put themin stories.
(33:10):
Yeah.
You know what I mean?
Just put them in stories.
We do that a lot for the team.
We'll put a photo first.
And then.
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.
Yeah.
Yes.
So good.
good is that four i think thatwas four oh my fifth one my
fifth one is like in theprogress but i'm excited about
okay so we did we took a pageout of the book of community
partnership for camps yes wehave a cute little uh it's
(33:31):
called storyline it's one of ourmoms has two dancers that go
here they came in and it's redfor summer camps which was great
i love that but then i'm like anerd i like really liked school
so i was like how can weencourage our kids to do well in
dance, but also academics.
So thinking of implementing,this is in the works, but like
some sort of grade card or likeI was really motivated to put
(33:54):
food as a child.
And so Pizza Hut had those likeread for a personal band and you
got like a personal band.
Like trying to do something likethat with like dancewear.
But like read books, partnershipwith Storyline, get a leotard.
Nice.
It's in the works.
I don't know what it's going tobe.
I like that.
But yeah, everybody will thinkthat's the most amazing.
(34:16):
Right.
Like academically, you know,just to encourage them that we
always say we want them to bewell-rounded and humans and all
this.
Yeah.
It's like, All we see them in isdance.
Right.
Trying to do some leadershipstuff.
Yeah.
That's really cool.
I love that.
Come to fruition.
Stay tuned for the details.
Yeah.
Okay.
Well, stay tuned.
On the next episode of Part 7.
(34:36):
Part 7 of Making It Fun withMelissa.
So those are some things.
All right.
Well, cool.
I love it.
Yeah.
I'm super excited about all ofthose things.
Hopefully somebody can use someof that.
Oh, I'm sure they can.
Oh, my gosh.
I'm using it.
It's already.
It'll be spread.
I love that.
That's great.
That's what it's all about.
That's what it's all about.
It is.
(34:57):
Okay.
Well, anything else we need to,we need to talk about?
We're going to finish up ourDance Teacher Summit day.
Yeah.
We have, tonight is the AceAwards.
And then.
My first time.
Yeah.
I'm excited too.
You guys are excited too?
Yeah.
We have an alum.
Yeah.
Presenting tonight.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And then we have one more day ofSummit.
(35:20):
And then we're heading back toreality.
Back to reality.
Oh, boy.
New season.
But we're going to be reallymotivated because we're getting
lots of good motivation here.
It's so smart.
I know.
We could probably talk foranother hour.
We could.
We could.
I'm sure this is longer than weneeded it to be.
15, 20 minutes.
Yeah.
(35:40):
Always.
Always.
Yeah.
Well, thank you so much,Melissa, for sharing and coming
on.
And we love you.
And we think you're really cooland really awesome.
And you got, oh, tell me whatyour social, tell them your
social at Lineage Dance.
Lineage Dance Co.
Lineage Dance Co.
At Lineage Dance Co.
Yeah.
So check it out.
And I know I feel pressure.
So I'm sure we're like on it.
(36:01):
That's what it's about.
You got it.
You've been a little spotty.
Pressure is a privilege.
It is.
It sure is.
So I feel it all the time.
Believe me.
I'm like, wait, is it aprivilege?
I don't know.
But like, yeah.
All right.
Well, we think you're reallyawesome.
Thanks.
Thank you so much.
All right.
We'll see you on the nextepisode of Lineage.
(36:22):
Make this fun with MelissaMcGee.
SPEAKER_00 (36:26):
Yeah.
All right.
UNKNOWN (36:29):
Bye.
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