Behind the Curtains with Dionne + Britt from TTT Dance

Hello, friends, I'm Amanda Barr. And I'm Rebecca Lou Brennan. And welcome to Dance Principles United, the podcast. Together, we are passionate about helping studio owners with the business of running their studio. Join us as we talk everything from marketing systems, studio culture, motherhood, life and everything in between. This is the Dance Principles United podcast. Well, hello friends and welcome to the Dance Princip Fools United podcast. It is Beck here and I have some amazing guests on with me today. I have Dion and Brit from Triple T Dance. They are SGC members. Their journey has been incredible. You guys are gonna absolutely love this podcast today. How are you, Dion and Brit?

We're awesome. Thank you for having us on the show.

Oh, we're so pumped to have you. And we were just chatting a second ago about and trying to work out when we first met because it seems like such a long time ago, but it's actually not that long ago when you think about it. It's like what, three and a bit years ago when we actually first met each other.

That's like so crazy when you think.

About how different all of our lives are now compared to them. But we met in 2021, which was our very first in person event that Amanda Nathan I held before we had tribe, before we had SGC or any of the things. Do you guys remember that day well, or.

We do, I do, actually, I do.

I remember being so nervous.

She was just so nervous and she wouldn't talk to anyone and I, you know, me back like, I'm like, will you go and talk to somebody please? You know, and I'm just talking to everyone and asking them questions about their studios and stuff like that.

And, and I was like your shadow behind.

Yeah, that's not doing anything.

And I remember that. I do remember that.

Yeah. And then you were asking us about us and our studio and we both said, you know, we're. We've taken the day off work to be here. I think it was. Or I don't know if it was or we were. Yeah, we're gonna, we both worked full time as well as doing the studio. And you said, well, I'm gonna change that. And. And sure enough, this is our full time job now.

That's so crazy. And how many kids did you have at your studio? Do you. If you remember at that point we.

Had about 70 to 80 students.

That was right after Covid, like the first battle.

Yeah. So yeah, so we, when we went into 2020, we, we. Because we'd never cracked that hundred students Mark and 2020, we were tracking really well, we thought we're going to do it, and of course, you know, it didn't happen. And then we come out of lockdown in the 2020. Lockdown? Yeah. I think we were sort of about 79, 78 kids. Kids or something like that.

I vividly remember having two preschoolers.

Yeah, we had two preschoolers, because we didn't. We lost all our preschoolers. Yeah.

That is so crazy. And so you guys joined us and started on the journey, and you just. I guess I want to ask you, like, what do you think was the first thing you implemented at that time that kind of really worked for you? Because the thing with D and Brick, guys who are listening out there is they are such action takers. So, you know, if we say try this, they just do it straight away. Dion is on every single call without fail. And, you know, Britt is on nearly every call, although she does have two little people that she also has to look after. So life's pretty crazy, right? But, yeah, like, what do you think was the first thing that you. I'd love our listeners to go. Right. The first thing that we probably need to start implementing is this.

I think the consistency is key and focusing on the bottom. So focusing on our preschool, advertising for preschool. And I used to always stress what our competitors in our area were doing, and I stopped doing that. And I think that was the turning point for us, was those three things. I think just consistency with how we marketed, how we treated our preschoolers like, we now treat them like they're the most important, you know, like, clients in our studio. Because as, you know, like, the lifetime value of them is, you know, is quite high.

I love that. I love that. And I love, you know, that you have grown from the bottom up. But I also love that you just said you didn't look at other studios around you as much. And it's so easy to do that, isn't it? It's so easy to compare yourself to the studio next door and go, oh, I should try that. Maybe I should be like that. Whereas I feel that you two now are so strong in what you want your studio to be, that.

That.

That's another reason that you're just stepping forward so easily.

Would.

Would that be right?

Yeah, I agree 100%.

Like, I mean, you always.

You.

Everyone's on your radar. Right. Like, you do look, but we don't. Yeah, we definitely don't look and compare. Or we're just in our own lane, doing our own thing and loving that.

Yeah. And we're doing so many Things we can't add anything else that anyone else is doing anyway.

I love that, I love that. And so are you guys really strong in your belief system, your morals? Like, do you know everything you know, do you know who your ideal client is? Like is that more structured now than when it was when we first met you with your 70 students?

Yes, 100%. Like yeah, it just, everything is very clear and we're on the same page now. We, we majority of the time don't even have to discuss it. We're already on the same page in our brains anyway. So. Yeah, it's just, it's made life so.

Much easier and yeah, and, and going back to our ideal client, like it constantly evolves. Like, I mean I don't know whether that's what you find as well, but who our ideal client was five years ago is not, you know, it is more matured now. You know what I mean? Like, I think as you mature as a studio, your clientele base does too. And, and we're firm believers. You attract what you put out there. So if we put out good energy and, and good, you know, vibes, that's what we will get back in return.

I love that. I love that. So you had your 70 students, you joined when you then came to SJC, which I think would have been a good 18 months later. How had you tracked by then? Like you were in tribe, you were doing all the things but I think you still, did you still have your full time jobs. What, what was happening there?

I feel like I'm trying to think so. No, because you had Oakley by then so. Yeah, so basically yes. So I think prior, I'm trying to think because like I said to you earlier, Covid really screws with your brain with what is here it is. But we'd, I think when we come out of 20. Yeah. So 20, 21. I just made a decision at that stage, stage to leave my job. I wasn't enjoying the job and I just said to my husband, he was lucky enough to he got a promotion so it sort of benefit that way as well. And I said we're not going to grow unless we actually put ourselves into the business a bit more, you know, like as much as we treated it like a business always but it was a side, I felt like it was more of a side hustle and we were trying to grow it. We were trying to do all the things but you just can't do it when you're working 9 to 5 in a normal job. So yeah, secondly in the March that year, which was funny that it timed, you know, not long before the second bout of COVID But. But yeah, Brit was pregnant with her first baby that year, so she was still working up until she had him. And then she hasn't returned back to full time work after that. But yeah, but yeah, going back, working.

Full time in the studio.

In the studio. Mom of two, two toddlers that are 11 months apart. So that's, you know, fun times. Yeah.

So you joined sgc, you guys have tripled your numbers, is that right?

Yeah, we're, we're so frustrated. Like last year we did crack 300 students.

This year, 292.

Yeah, we're sitting. It's just, just that carrot is just in front of us, you know, and yes, so we cracked 100 preschoolers. Just last year we also cracked 300 students. So we're just under that now. We're just under the 100 because we had a lot of preschoolers graduate. So they're fed into, you know, our school age system. Yes. So we're so close. But yeah, it feels like it's just so far, but I'm sure it's not really. It's just, you know, keep. Keep what? What does Robin keep saying? We keep hustling.

Yeah, keep hustling. Keep hustling. All right, so tell me what your number one thing advice, one from each of you would be to studio owners out there. Like, what's the one thing that you're like, either I wish we'd done that from the start or, you know, that was the big game changer for us. That was the big moment that we really kind of had the light bulb.

Yeah. If you've got one. I think learning your identity is the, the key. Like, I think when we rebranded because originally we were tip tap toe dance company and when we joined sgc, it was something that we talked about but we were never brave enough to do. But we decided that we'd outgrown that name and we wanted something a bit more mature and that's why we changed it. We always shortened it to TTT just because it a mouthful. So that's why we changed our name to Triple T Dance. And I think once we sort of really learned our identity and that and our brand awareness and stuff like that, I think that was when it like fed a bit of like a breed. What's the wording? New life into the studio. I, I believe.

Yeah, I agree.

And what, what sort of things do you mean by identity? Like, give me some ideas around that.

I don't know, see, we never, we were never strict on uniform policy or anything like that. You know, we never did that. Whereas we. I've got a firm, you know, uniform policy now. And, and it wasn't until you told us your story that I really gave it credibility about, you know, like, thinking, you know, everyone's the same. Then there's not, you know, the kids in the high brand, your crop tops and all that sort of stuff. And because I was that kid, you know, like, and it's not like I, you know, like, I never thought of it that way, that I always just thought, you know, like, we're putting too much pressure on our parents. But now, you know, like, if they can afford the, the cozy G stuff, you know, or, you know, whatever other brands are out there, they can afford to buy our brand and be proud of it, you know, and, and, and changing. I think when we become proud of the brand, then I think, you know, like, our, our kids and families do too. Like, we've even got parents now that buy merch when we go to competitions and that they're proud to wear our merch. So, you know, whereas I don't think we had that sort of alignment prior.

I love that everyone wants to belong to something, you know, like, everyone wants to feel like they're a part of something. And when you create that studio like you guys have, where everyone feels a part of the family and a part of being, being in that uniform, it gives them that sense of belonging, then they're going to stay for longer because they feel like, you know, they're connected to it. So I love that so much. What about you, Brit? What's. What's your game changer?

Well, I was very young when we opened the Shoe. I was only 21, so I feel like I was a bit of a baby, which I know most your owners are when they open their studio. But I remember on one of, like our kind of retreat or workshops that we did, someone said, like, you are the expert in the room. Most of your clients would have never have done dance before. Don't know the world. Don't know. You need to believe that you're the expert and talk to your parents like you're the expert. And I wish I had have done that from the start because it's true. And education around dance and what we do in the studio is so important to our business. And so I wish I had have done that from the start and really believed in the product I had to offer was a good product. And I knew that. I knew what I was talking about, because as soon as kind of we rebranded and I took that, that advice on, I just feel like I changed as a leader. And, you know, change always happens from the top. We know that, you know, so, yeah, I think that's my biggest thing is with studio owners. Just believe that you are the expert in the room and that you have quality to give to your clients.

I love that. And it's so easy for parents to make us feel like we don't know what we're doing or to question what we're doing, and then we question it. And especially if you're not certain of that in your own self, then you start going, oh, maybe I should do that, or maybe I am doing that wrong. And I think that's such great advice. I know every studio owner out there has felt like that. I know I. There's still times when I feel like that, you know, and I've had my school for 21 years now. Oh, far out. When those parents just question and then you, you know, double guess yourself. But your confidence, Brit, is just crazy different, right? Like to go from that little person in that room who wouldn't speak to anyone to now saying that. And, you know, how do you deal with difficult parents now? Like, if they do question you, what. How do you deal with it within your own self?

I think, I mean, like you said, even, you know, as a person who's owner studio for 21 years, sometimes you do kind of step back. And we've been open, I think it's our 12th year open. So sometimes it does take me by surprise. But I guess because like I said, I just know that our core values now are so strong and our sense of identity is so strong that, you know, I just have to take a breath sometimes and deliver what I need to deliver. And if our clients don't align with that, then they don't align with our studio. And that's okay. It's okay to lose clients that don't align with your brand because at the end of the day, then they're not bringing anything to, to your business and you want. And it's. And it's a cohesive relationship and it's a relationship that needs to work well together because people who represent and wear your uniform, you want to embody your brand, your brand and your values and your. And everything. So I'm okay with losing clients that don't fit in with our values. And if they don't respect what I have to say or don't believe in what I'm trying to give, then that's okay. There's probably a studio that does believe in what they want or, you know, offer what they want and that's great for them. I hope they find happiness within that.

And you know, our area, there's plenty to go, you know, like there's plenty to go around. So I mean, you know, throw a ball and you'll hit any one of our competitors. So. And that's okay. That's okay. Like, I mean when we were, that's the difference. When we were smaller, you would keep them even, you know, like, even if they were rubbish clients. You know what I mean? Like you would bow, you know, you bow to their every need and want because you were afraid to lose that client. Whereas we don't have that fear anymore. And I feel like as soon as.

We lost that fear.

Yes, I feel like that was a turning point as well. Yeah, once we lost that fear factor, I think that was a big turning point as well. Do you agree, Brittany?

Absolutely.

Yeah. Huge turning point. I'm so. It makes me so proud, Brit, when I hear you speak like that because you've just had such a, you know, incredible, incredible journey and you're such a leader now. Yes. I'm just so proud of you. So I just wanted to talk to you guys about the new building and the new renos that went on and all of that sort of stuff and. Yeah, tell me about that first.

Well, we had our building since we opened. So when did we open? What year? 2012.

Sorry, 2013.

2013. And, and not, not this year. Last year we ended up moving premises to a much better location even though it's only two minutes down the road. It's just so much better in terms of public transport and access and things like that.

And it was already a ready built studio so we didn't have to do any fit out. It has air cond. Which our old studio did not. And yeah, and it's quite a bit bigger than our, our old premises.

Yeah, so yeah, we. What did we do that. So a month and a half.

Yeah, so we, yeah, we founded in the. In the early December or late November, signed the lease mid December and we moved in basically the January after. So it. And. But the problem was we weren't out of our lease of our existing property and we weren't going to be released from it. So we needed to do something with it.

Yeah.

Yes. So that's what I wanted to ask you because you've now done something incredible with that as well. So tell me about that, well, we.

Sat on that property for six months with it just being a storage unit to be honest. So that was kind of terrible. But yeah, we decided no, it's not going to do that anymore. If we've got this locked in till next year, we're going to try and do something. So we fully fit out a new circus slash gym space which is wild and crazy and amazing and it's like.

Yeah. So my husband Brit and I, we fitted it out so it's got a proper gym floor on it, it's got six points and, and we've got like a kindy gym for the little kids so siblings and that. So the. Because it is open area so the kids, the little siblings can play in like a fenced off area that's got soft play area. Yeah. So it's, it's still growing and we're operating out of there two days a week. But we really foresee next year that we'll, we'll need both premises full time because we're growing so rapidly that we'll probably need essentially a five room studio. So there is still a jet studio upstairs over there. And so we'll try and incorporate dance and, and Cirque every day. Yeah, so we'll have basically five rooms.

How incredible. That is so awesome. I love it. And you guys, what I wanted to say is like Brit, Andy, you both are so invested in your learning and you know, Brit, I know when I first met you you didn't even have circus in your studio but you've learned it so well you're on every course call. Like tell me about that because it's. I think sometimes people just want to bury their head in the sand and just know what they know and they think that's enough. Whereas you guys are just constantly stepping up in that sense, right?

Yeah, I am a big believer in that. You can never stop learning. I mean I worked before I. Well not even before but while I opened this, I worked in a school so I'm big on education and I just think also within our industry, like teachers, great, amazing unicorn teachers are so hard to find. So once you find them, why not upskill? And so I'm always upskilling myself and trying to upskill my teachers. So circus just seemed like such a natural progression. Especially because I went to a performing arts school that offered it. So I actually did it previously in a previous life. So I kind of already had my fingers and toes dipped in there.

And we always wanted to introduce it, we just didn't know how. So yeah, and then yeah, when you just brought the program out like it.

Was just, just not even a flawless.

It was a no brainer.

Yeah, I love that. I love that. And Dee, you are on every SGC call but you also come on the tribe calls and you know, you're in everything. Why, like talk to me through that.

I feel like, see when you originally started DPU basically in 2020, I found when you, you and Amanda did the lives every. I can't remember whether it was Friday. I feel like it was because I was always doing wages at work when I would listen. So yes, so I just found that one the, you know, like knowing that our problems weren't just our own problems, everyone was having the same problems. I'm not a dancer by trade so learning those skills as well, you know, like, like I, I can see things, you know, like I don't need to be a trained dancer to know that they're doing something wrong or right, what have you. But, but knowing the business side of things, I've got a background in accounts and that sort of stuff. So yeah, I learned all that. But learning all the other little intricacy things that we do with tribe with sgc. Yeah, I don't know. And also I'm social butterfly. You know that fact.

Absolutely. All right, well, what is the future of Triple T? What are your big goals moving forward? Tell me your number one goal each or what you see the future of it looking like. Brit?

Well, last year was just massive for us, massive growth. We opened the second premises. We started like our college this year. So we had a really big kind of growth and change within our studio last year. So our big goal this year is just to settle and, and get all of those things moving the way we want them to move and making sure we're giving each aspect of our business the love and attention it deserves. So that's kind of my goal for this year is to kind of get everything working properly and having time for everything and making sure I'm managing that and being a really good leader across all facets of the business. So that's my goal this year.

Love it.

I always get tricky, you know me, I always find it tricky to pinpoint one. So numbers wise, I think, you know, like we've hit one of our goals. So our goals was we wanted 200 school age students which we've achieved that. Just this week I would like 200 preschoolers. That is a massive goal. And you know, like, like I said we're just under 100 now. So it's a big goal to get, but I really do believe we will get it. For me, personally, trying to put the systems in place so that I can eventually see of. Step back a little bit. My husband wants to retire early. Not that I think I'm ready for that just yet because, you know, as much as I love him dearly, I'm not prepared to spend all day, every day with him. But. Yeah, but, yeah, like, just putting those steps in place that, you know, we can take Brit off class and she can take more of the. The leadership role and I can step back and. Yeah, just getting the systems in place because the problem is we've still got that small studio mindset. We keep thinking we're still small, but we're.

You are not.

No. So, yeah, so just changing that mindset. That's. That's my. That's my goal for this year, I think. Yeah.

I love it. I love it. I'm just going to ask you about SGC to finish up. What is your favorite part about it? What do you love? If someone was thinking about joining sgc, what would you say to them is the best part?

The best part is the. Basically the group itself, like, we're such a supportive bunch. I love all the templates. Don't get me wrong. That just makes your life so much simpler. You've. Essentially, you've engaged your marketer and, you know, and that sort of stuff there without, you know, having to put a person on sort of thing. But, yeah, I really, I really love the group and, and that support system. I know that you guys were there for me when I was struggling with some personal stuff, and. And for that, I'm forever grateful and loyal. You know what I mean?

So I love that. I love that.

And Brit, well, mine's very similar and thought mum was going to let me get mine in, but that's okay. She took mine. But of course, I love all the things and the people, but I think the mentorship that you guys offer, and I know in your introduction of this podcast, you talk about not only being a business owner and a studio owner, but you talk about being a mom and the advice and the support that you gave around me in such a time of like, you know, becoming a mom and becoming a very. A mum of two very quickly, and dealing with those things like that was so important and so, like, yeah, just above and beyond, you get. You get more than what you pay for, I believe, and you get more than what you could ever imagine. So I love it. I love it. My favorite part of sgc.

And I think too, what you, what you will get out of it is what you also put into it. So if you're not prepared to put into it, you know, like, you're wasting your time. And I'm not just talking about, like, doing the jobs and all that sort of stuff. I'm talking about even interacting with the group. You know, like, if you sit back and you be, what do you call it, A gate, lie on the wall and a gatekeeper, then, you know, like, it's, you know, you're not going to get out as much out of it as what you do when you interact. And, you know, look, I, I've got a business bestie that I got out of, you know, meeting them at, you know, summit, you know, and we talk every day and, you know, we're great.

Mates and, and that business bestie is so close to you, really, we're literally.

We'Re literally region and, and she has become a very dear and loyal friend. So, you know, like, and I just, and for that I'm grateful as well. So.

Isn't that incredible? I just, I, I, I really do feel like the industry has changed a lot since dance principles united in that sense. Because there's no way, I don't think, anyway, D that you guys would have been business besties. Like, you would have been, you know, arch enemies, intimidated by Robin.

I tell her this all the time. Like, when we seen her at a comp and she's strutting through with a little midriff top and all the rest of it, and I'm like, she looks like a piece of work. You know what I mean? Laughs and, and, but I love Robin and she's like, she's such a great person in the industry to have. She will give you the shirt off your back if you need it and, you know, like, and she's willing to help anybody. So, yeah, I'm, yeah, I'm grateful for Covid that you created this, this group. And I'm grateful for Covid because, you know, like, that's when we reached out to each other about what we were going to do when we come out of lockdown. So.

Yeah, so amazing. I love that. Well, I love both of you so much. Brit is just, you know, she steps out of her comfort zone even with her teaching. She's come to my studio a few times and watched just to learn from people. These guys are absolute rock stars. And what I want to say to all of you is, any of you can have this journey. You know, these guys started with 70 students. They're now rocking 300. They're crushing goals financially. They both are working full time in the business and they're just consistent. They're on every call. They do all of the things. They're great leaders, and their consistency is what's got them there. And we're so, so proud of both of you. Thanks so much for jumping on the podcast today. How much fun was that?

It was fun. Thanks for having us on the pod.

Yeah, we had a great time.

Amazing. Thanks, guys, and thanks everyone out there. And we hope you got some inspiration from this today. And I'll talk to you next week. Bye. We hope you enjoyed this episode of the Dance Principles United podcast. If you'd love to learn more from us, we have a special offer just for our podcast listeners. Go to the link in the show notes right now to get two weeks free in Dance Principles United Tribe. We would love to see you there.