When I first started pole dancing in 2004, there were only three pole dancing schools in NSW that I could find, now there are over 150 pole schools in the Asia-Pacific region. Pole dancing (outside of gentlemen’s clubs) is still relatively new and therefore most studios are owned and operated by former students with little or no fitness or business qualifications, which is fair enough seeing as how accredited instructor courses have only come into existence within the last year or two. However, the consequence is that the reputation and credibility of the industry continues to suffer, and so it’s not until some structure and regulation is brought to the industry, will pole dancing be seen as a genuine sport, dance, or art form, and not just some fitness craze; the Asia-Pacific Pole Sport Alliance (APPSA) intends to provide this structure and guidance as the industry’s peak professional body.
The APPSA recently launched at the Asia-Pacific Pole Dance Championships in Brisbane by a group of pole professionals who intend to provide career services to pole professionals and help create consistency in the industry through the APPSA. Such services would include discount insurance for members and job networking, and consistency would be achieved, for example by standardising judging criteria in competitions.
I played devil’s advocate with Cherene Thomas-Smith, the founder of the APPSA and asked, why do we need the APPSA? Why do we need a body to represent pole dancers to government bodies or the general public? How would studio owners who are already successfully in business benefit from becoming a APPSA member? Surprisingly, Cherene came back with a number of very relevant and persuasive arguments. For example, I’m sure most of you saw the news reports about Debbie Plowman, the young UK mother who became paralysed after falling off the pole last Christmas. This accident highlighted the danger of the sport and the need for professional instructor training, and whilst this may seem crass it is a reality, the need for adequate public liability insurance on the behalf of studios.
Another example is the increase of PPCA and APRA tariffs which would have had a huge and devastating impact on many pole studios if the original 3000% rise in license fees went ahead. Thankfully, Fitness Australia, on behalf it members, took legal action which prevented what could have been the end of many fitness businesses. It’s support like this that the APPSA intends to provide to its members when and if the time comes.
What Cherene did want to stress however was that APPSA is not setting out to be the regulator or dictator of the pole industry, rather she sees the APPSA as an information resource, guardian, and advocate for pole professionals. As the Managing Director of Pol-arise Australia Pty Ltd, Cherene too has encountered many of the unknown and unforeseen corollaries of operating a pole studio such as the onerous requirements of OH & S, and hopes to foster the pole industry through the APPSA by providing other studio owners and pole professionals with guidance and support through training programs, and other initiatives, which in the end will result in a more reputable and respected industry overall.
The APPSA website is currently under construction, so if you would like to find out more about the APPSA, email cherene@appsa.org.
The APPSA recently launched at the Asia-Pacific Pole Dance Championships in Brisbane by a group of pole professionals who intend to provide career services to pole professionals and help create consistency in the industry through the APPSA. Such services would include discount insurance for members and job networking, and consistency would be achieved, for example by standardising judging criteria in competitions.
I played devil’s advocate with Cherene Thomas-Smith, the founder of the APPSA and asked, why do we need the APPSA? Why do we need a body to represent pole dancers to government bodies or the general public? How would studio owners who are already successfully in business benefit from becoming a APPSA member? Surprisingly, Cherene came back with a number of very relevant and persuasive arguments. For example, I’m sure most of you saw the news reports about Debbie Plowman, the young UK mother who became paralysed after falling off the pole last Christmas. This accident highlighted the danger of the sport and the need for professional instructor training, and whilst this may seem crass it is a reality, the need for adequate public liability insurance on the behalf of studios.
Another example is the increase of PPCA and APRA tariffs which would have had a huge and devastating impact on many pole studios if the original 3000% rise in license fees went ahead. Thankfully, Fitness Australia, on behalf it members, took legal action which prevented what could have been the end of many fitness businesses. It’s support like this that the APPSA intends to provide to its members when and if the time comes.
What Cherene did want to stress however was that APPSA is not setting out to be the regulator or dictator of the pole industry, rather she sees the APPSA as an information resource, guardian, and advocate for pole professionals. As the Managing Director of Pol-arise Australia Pty Ltd, Cherene too has encountered many of the unknown and unforeseen corollaries of operating a pole studio such as the onerous requirements of OH & S, and hopes to foster the pole industry through the APPSA by providing other studio owners and pole professionals with guidance and support through training programs, and other initiatives, which in the end will result in a more reputable and respected industry overall.
The APPSA website is currently under construction, so if you would like to find out more about the APPSA, email cherene@appsa.org.
Just out of curiosity, wouldn't much the same outcome be achieved by joining whichever trade union or professional body currently looks after the health and fitness industry?
ReplyDeleteIf the main aim is to mitigate liability and have some kind of umbrella of support for small business then I remain unconvinced that a pole sport alliance is necessary if simpler paths are available.
In addition to this, it will be up to individual studios to join the alliance and as such many may prefer to remain outside of this sphere of influence and conduct their own business as they see fit.
Will be interested to see how guidelines are put into place, what constraints are placed on members and what the fees are like as I'm assuming this will not be a "not-for-profit" organisation. Hoping this doesn't start a line of Mcdonalds style franchises.
Just a few thoughts.
Hi Dunk-One
ReplyDeleteJust read your comments regarding APPSA and thought I'd take this opportunity to address some of the points you raised.
Sure, we join a Trade Union or some other already established organisation that looks after health & fitness, except:
1. To my knowledge, there are no trade unions that our industry could fall under, and as trade unions are set up to look after the rights of individual workers, NOT the businesses within an industry, we feel this would be detrimental to the industry as a whole.
2. After speaking with many dancers and business owners around Australia, New Zealand and Asia, the general consensus is that although some pole dancers are already members of the fitness industry, these organisations are of no great benefit to the POLE industry as they have little or no understanding of the needs of our industry.
3. Not all pole schools choose to promote the fitness side of pole dance. There are many different genres/styles of pole dance including exotic, dance based, fitness based, circus/acrobatic style etc, and obviously some these do not necessarily fit into the fitness category.
Of course it is up to individual business owners, independent dancers/instructors and suppliers, as to whether or not they wish to join the Alliance, and we don't expect that EVERYONE will necessarily embrace the concept initially (although the feedback we have received has definitely indicated otherwise). The majority of industry professionals we have spoken with feel that the Alliance is long overdue!
As Luxe pointed out in her initial article, APPSA is not setting out to be the regulator or dictator of the pole industry, but as an information resource, guardian, and advocate for pole professionals. Businesses and individuals who do become members will be free to run their business as they see fit! Every business has its own unique point of difference whether it be the style of pole they offer, the way they deliver their classes and so on... and that is exactly how it should be. This is what creates CHOICE for the consumer and the opportunity to try the different styles offered by various schools.
I would also like to point out that the Alliance HAS in fact been established as a Non-Profit organisation! The Steering Committee voted unanimously on this as we all felt it this was the only way to run an organisation that is truly established for the Members and which will be run by the Members.
In terms of your comment regarding “McDonald’s style franchises” – I’m not quite sure where you’re coming from with that????? APPSA has nothing on its agenda to create franchises, but I can say that as some pole school owners are already operating very successful franchised businesses, APPSA would also welcome their memberships and their franchisees as well.