The Fitness Tip Jar... the solution?

To improve the financial reward in our profession and to dissuade instructors from fleeing the ranks, or better yet, to encourage more people to join our ranks so that we can find a sub - we need to put out a tip jar!

Yes, gasp, indeed I said it! The time to beg has finally come!

Sure we appreciate that kind pat on the back with a "great class" which is occasionally thrown our way... but we can't buy new music with kind words.

Sure we have our professional pride, but we're not really professionally paid! While $15.00 an hour might sound like professional pay, we CAN"T physically or mentally teach enough classes - so it's actually only $15.00 a DAY.

So WHY NOT do what the service industry does where tipping shows that service is appreciated - we are providing a service, right? Maybe not tipping that is expected or required for every class, of course, but occasionally, why not put up a tip jar with a sign that says "Mary needs a new pair of shoes!" or "Your change can help provide new tunes!"?

Bold move, yes, I know. First thought?

Management won't like it, right?

Don't forget, these are the people who think you must not be that good because you're not pulling big numbers in your "Early Bird Gets the Worm" workout at 4:30 a.m. They are also the same ones who have no problem paying a big commission on a membership to a 21 year old who simply fills in the blanks of a contract - when it's your friend who's joining because you are teaching there!

Yeah, it might get their attention!

But what about the members, our faithful fans regulars?

Would they think twice about coming to your class because they don't have a pocket in their shorts to store a dollar until after class? Or, they might be embarrassed to give you a wet one because they had to stick it down their bra top.

And what if they weren't so thrilled with your class?

Let's say, maybe you're actually having a bad teaching day, where you keep confusing "V" with "knee" because all you've had to eat that day was a few slivers of a protein bar. Would they feel obligated to save face as a 'good tipper', when you really don't deserve a tip?

Then there is the possibility that they'd stop coming altogther... because they're cheap skates, or because they assume you are already well paid because they spent $600.00 on their membership.

Hmmm, lots to consider for us charitable fitness do-gooders... that could all happen.... but hey, we won't know until we try!

So here's one way we could test the waters.

We'll contact the Hallmark Card Company and have them declare a week as "National Group Fitness Instructor Week" - sorta like secretaries week... no that would take too long to get it on calendars.

We don't need Hallmark. We just need to get the word out. Besides, if it works, we don't want to be locked into doing it only ONCE a year. We need more money than that...

Okay, so here's what we do. We'll pick a week this summer and hit the really committed workout regulars first. They are the most likely to understand and support you and the concept, because they are the most likely to be sick of your music.

We have taken it upon ourselves - since no one else appreciates what we do - to designate the last week in July as the official "National Group Fitness Instructor Appreciation Week" - so that we can all do this at the same time. This is important, because short of forming a union, making it BIG is the only way that we will be heard or stand any chance of being taken sorta seriously.

Next, we've got these really clever tip jars* and they're really cheap - they cost about the same as a couple of batteries, a half a class - but they come with a nickel already in it to "prime the pump".

But don't think that just any jar will do... these are special ones that have chains with suction cups which will allow you to stick them on the mirror right in the front of the room - or better yet, ON the door where they have to walk OUT at the end of class! (That way they can't claim "I didn't see it".) The suction cup is also necessary so no one will steal it when you run to the bathroom before class.

I feel a little like Norma Rae - Union! Union!... Tip Jar! Tip Jar!

And if the plan doesn't work? You can just stick a label on it that says "Give a Fitness Tip, Take a Fitness Tip" and provide little slips of paper for people to write inspirational fitness tips...that would be a charitable do-gooder use for it!

Keep the nickel - consider it an instant rebate.

But listen, it's taken me 2 days to write all this, so if you have enjoyed reading it, feel free to put a tip in my virtual tip jar*!

You select the amount... no obligation...I'm good...really... after all, I have DSL wired to my '72 Chevy.

maryg

Update - 06/06

*We really did have tip jars when this article first came out... but we don't have them anymore.

We also discontinued the virtual tip jar... but one person actually tipped me 10 bucks!

Along with that, the National Group Fitness Instructor Alliance... or whatever it was called, has also folded due to a lack of interest.

Sighhhh.... we tried!