Recruiting Adults

[RITFencing]

The club I work at is looking to start an Adult Beginner/Rec program, and I've been put in charge of it. Right now, we only have a few people, and I'm worried that without building up a decent number soon, those few will lose interest. I know that I can run a good and fun program; that's not much of an issue. What I'm asking about, instead, is anything people have had luck with (or would counsel me to avoid) regarding:

1) Getting them in.

2) Keeping them in.

[Allen Evans]

In my experience in working with adults, it can be difficult to get them to try new things. My previous club -- Salle Auriol Seattle -- started by advertising classes for the local outreach Community College (many big cities have these) that specialized in fun and unusual activities for adults.

Eventually we found that we could fill up monthly classes without dealing with the college, and just made sure our web site emphasized activities for adults. If you are offering classes for adults in your community, you have to think of your market: are you marketing to busy adults with limited time who have careers, but always wanted to try fencing? Then you might want to make only one class a week, at a time well after working hours. Are you in a college town with a lot of young adults looking for new things to do? Emphasize the romantic aspect of fencing, and the fact that the classes welcome both women and men. You have to have an idea of your market, and what is going to fly. Talk to your first couple of classes and find out why they came to your club.

Once your class gets in the door, adults are more interested both in knowing why they are doing something, and in getting the motions "right". I never spent a lot of time giving a history of fencing at the beginning of class, but wove it into the things that I taught. I also emphasized that it took a long time to learn to fence, and made sure that I gave a lot of positive reinforcement. Salle Auriol was smart enough to ensure that the beginning classes always had one or two assistants to help in showing actions. Even more helpful, we often used adults who had been through the beginning class a few years previously, so they knew exactly where the new students were at, and what they were going through.

I've said it before on the forum, and I'll repeat it here: classes are often the financial life blood of a club. Your best TEACHER should be teaching these classes: the person who knows fencing inside and out and can hold an audience.

Many clubs feel that "anyone can teach beginners" and perhaps that's true. But not anyone can teach a class that wants the students to continue with the sport, and with the club.

AE

[Durando]

Originally Posted by RITFencing

2) Keeping them in.

Refreshments and gab session after each class. Put out a bit of wine and cheese, etc. I think half of our adults come to club for this. Be very careful about how your teachers come off: adults rarely come to clubs to be scolded. I once quit a club cold because of its paternalistic vibe.

[Fencergrl]

a) You might consider getting the parents of kids to try it... perhaps offer them introductory sessions.

b) One of the things that drew me into the sport was because it is one of the few sports where you can keep up with younger opponents. Try marketing to people who have played sports their whole lives an miss competing and training. A lot of former basketball, baseball, soccer, players etc... are looking for a sport they can take up in their retirement besides golf.

c) Fencing works the mind as well as the body. This appeals to many adults.

[VorpalCat]

I've seen the spark of idle interest jump into flame by the casual mention of veteran fencing. Seems to be a combo of relieving the perhaps sub-conscious concern that they're too old really to start fencing now and the knowledge that they don't have to compete against (i.e. risk being beaten by) people half their age or less. I don't bother pointing out that by the time they're ready to start competing, they'll very likely have completely forgotten they were ever worried about facing those younger fencers, heh.

[wahrman]

Cool!

The club I'm at now has been talking about the possibility my teaching an
adult women only class.

I'd love to make use of anything you figure out.

[RITFencing]

Originally Posted by wahrman

Cool!

The club I'm at now has been talking about the possibility my teaching an
adult women only class.

I'd love to make use of anything you figure out.

I'll let you know. I'm going to be teaching a women's class and a men's class; there's already a mixed one.

[Beloit Fencer of Old]

Originally Posted by Durando

*snip* I once quit a club cold because of its paternalistic vibe.

Uh...this wouldn't happen to have been a club in Chicago, would it? Perhaps with the number "2000" in its name?

[Beloit Fencer of Old]

Our club is trying to increase membership in general right now. I, in particular, have an interest in having more adults join.

One of your greatest marketing tools, not to be forgotten, is those fencers who are already in your target demographic. Our club is working on re-designing our website to make it more inquiry-friendly, then we will try to drive traffic to it by asking our members to email a link for the website to their friends, family and co-workers. The fencers you already have? Each of them knows a dozen people just like them. Their kids go to the same school. They go to the same church. The attend the same town meetings. Recruit them to help you bring in fresh meat.

This does not have to be a sign that your club is weak. Spin it for their benefit: "We would like to grow the club to a size where you can get the most fun and enjoyment. We want you to have enough people to fence with so that you enjoy each day you come. And, the more fencers we have in the club, the more funds we have to buy new equipment."

[Phaeton]

Take a pan, preferably one without teflon as that apparently causes cancer. Head down to a bar, and on your way out: knock out an unlucky stumbling patron.

Take him or her to your club and hold him or her hostage and hope that Stockholm Syndrome sets in and you'll have a regular Patty Hurst.

This may be a good time to note I'm not allowed to fence in several countries.