I recently spoke about the fundamentals of being the perfect pole studio student in Brass Monkey, a UK-based online pole magazine dedicated to providing dancers an uncensored platform to discuss pole dance and all that comes with it. The same applies to guest etiquette! I cite real instructors and their thoughts, so check it out here.
If you didn’t read the title and immediately start singing “Be Our Guest” from Beauty and the Beast, go watch the movie again. It’s 84 minutes long. Go ahead, I’ll wait.
Anyway, it’s September, and in Las Vegas, the temperature capped at 48 degrees Celsius. That’s ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY DEGREES. 120. One two zero. 120 has no business showing up on a thermometer unless that thermometer is in Joe Rogan’s sauna.
Thankfully, summer is almost over, and people are taking their last trips before autumn swoops in. However, if you currently belong to a pole gym and decide to take a trip, what happens to your pole schedule? Should you sacrifice pole kisses for vacation days, or should you let your introverted turtle head pop out of their shells in another pole studio?
This may seem like the scariest thing in the world, especially while abroad in a country with a different language. Remembering a few key manners will ease the newness, but keep your training regimen intact.
Here are some tips on how to show up as a guest at a pole studio.
how to be an amazing pole guest
Full disclosure: I haven’t been to a “real” gym in a few years, but Nerd Fitness was right on the money with their post regarding gym etiquette, and a lot of the same practices apply for pole studios. Enjoy some tips inspired by a strong, beefy genius.
Scope out specials
Some gyms will have a first-timer discount, or a Members Welcome coupon, or something of the like. Do it! They’re there for a reason: to get you interested and enjoying the classes they have to offer. Check out the studio’s website, or those sneaky targeted ads on Facebook and Instagram, to see what’s available.
Not sponsored idea: to maximize your pole experience, check out Groupon. For example, several Las Vegas gyms, such as Shine Alternative Fitness and Sunny’s, have deals on their pole and aerial services. See if there’s a deal in the area you’re traveling to!
Introduce yourself
Nothing is worse than a brand-new dancer that stands in the back with their pants on, dead silent, waiting for the teacher to come around to greet them. Worse, if an experienced dancer has studio exposure, that’s a rude move. Come a couple of minutes early to say hello!
Don’t be afraid to interact despite a language barrier, either. Downloading a translation app is the best move for breaking the ice at a foreign gym, especially to take care of details such as payment. Some apps for international translations are Google Translate, Papago, iTranslate, and TripLingo.
A tip though: learning a few important phrases, such as “My name is” and “Thank you” will leave an impression. Using the same etiquette that you would use in your home gym is a basic courtesy, and it will only help you integrate into the culture further. Plus, you’ll learn a few new, sexy words to throw out at the bars later.
expect a drop-in fee
There are thousands of pole studios around the world, and each one is unique in its membership offerings. Some studios offer a free class for first-time visitors, where others charge a fee for visitors. Ask what the particular location asks before signing up for a class.
Ask to film tricks for later
Instructors at one studio tend to take each other’s classes and pick up on a wide range of tricks. Each studio will have its own arsenal, so take a video from your temp teacher. They may dream up a combo you never knew existed, or something you want to add to your arsenal. Plus, you can ask your home instructor about it later. Spread the love.
Don’t steal grip. Just don’t.
Your bag is packed, your shoes are in your hand, your kneepads are already on, and – SHIT. You forgot your chalk grip.
If you see an unclaimed bottle lying around, LEAVE IT ALONE. Don’t use it. It’s not yours.
I did this once, right at the beginning of my pole career. I left my only bottle of Dry Hands at home and found a bottle with someone’s name scratched into the side. I ended up using it, but it was so dry and expired that it left my cuticles nasty and bleeding after the class.
If you forget chalk, there are two routes to take: ask the teacher to borrow some, or buy a new bottle. Otherwise, be prepared to clean the living daylights out of your pole with your alcohol spray, and say your prayers as you train.
Pay it forward on the Internet
Check-in on Facebook. Leave a five-star Yelp review. Blow up Instagram or Tiktok. Tag away, my friends.
The studio can only gain from the positive exposure you give them as a satisfied guest. A lot of instructors use social media to help book their private lessons or advertise classes at the studio they work at. Posting about your positive experience with them isn’t ass-kissing; it’s marketing.
Sign up for the future
If it makes financial sense to do so, and you’ve fallen in love with the place and its people, sign up for classes at the studio.
Some of us dancers are travelers by nature and move from place to place quite frequently. Ask about traveler’s memberships or punch cards to pay in advance. There are also week passes, packages, and other services for
For example, my current home gym is Pole Fitness Studio in Las Vegas, Nevada. The gym offers a punch card for ten prepaid classes, for those that can’t commit to a full-time monthly membership, but visit often enough to take advantage of the space. Since Las Vegas is a transient town, this is an amazing deal for travelers and part-time residents that want to keep their regimen intact.
Keep an open mind
No two pole dance studios are the same. There are different names for moves, a million different transitions, and a thousand and one styles. All of them are learning experiences in some way, so take the opportunity to expand on your craft as a guest.
If any amazing studios need to be bragged about to the universe, comment below! It inspires us to travel as well 🙂 happy dancing!
