Graduating fencers...how to retain?

[edew]

This summer, I will have several fencers graduate from high school and go off to college. Obviously, I will not be charging them a membership fee. On the other hand, when they're back, I would like them to represent the club and continue to fence here. Should I charge a regular floor fee rate? Should I put in a new, special, alumnus rate? Any suggestions?

In other words, how should they be treated?

[oiuyt]

This summer, I will have several fencers graduate from high school and go off to college. Obviously, I will not be charging them a membership fee. On the other hand, when they're back, I would like them to represent the club and continue to fence here. Should I charge a regular floor fee rate? Should I put in a new, special, alumnus rate? Any suggestions?

In other words, how should they be treated?

When I was a member of Boston Fencing Club they had a special membership rate for former members of their junior competitive program. Looking at the site now I don't see that option listed. They do (and did when I was in the Boston area) offer designated nights free to college students (a different night for each weapon, corresponding to the nights each weapon was generally strongest anyway).

I'd choose a dozen or so of the clubs that tend to have large/strong junior programs, check their websites, and talk to the owners/coaches/managers to see how they handle the situation you describe. Survey the answers that people have already come up with and, ideally, get information on things they've tried and abandoned for some reason (with reason(s)).

You're more likely to get useful information from a targeted series of requests like that than from a general post here. See what your peers and near-peers are doing. It's more likely to fit than what non-peer or far-peer clubs have come up with.

If you do, it might be interesting to see a summary of your research here.

-B

[edew]

Of course, it'll be a matrix of pricing, value offered and pros and cons, together with a PPoint presentation and a 10 minute youtube discussion.

[oiuyt]

Of course, it'll be a matrix of pricing, value offered and pros and cons, together with a PPoint presentation and a 10 minute youtube discussion.

Perhaps use Google Wave.

-B

[fdad]

Of course, it'll be a matrix of pricing, value offered and pros and cons, together with a PPoint presentation and a 10 minute youtube discussion.

http://fencersclub.com/pdfs/Fee_Schedule.pdf

FC charges students a little more than 2/3 of the adult membership price.
Members that fence for a college team are charged 1/2 of the student rate.
This covers college fencers that previously attended the club and moved away for school, as well as those that had no previous affiliation that are attending schools in NYC area.

[rudd]

My old club in the UK charged students 2/3 of the standard rate. They also had a cheaper one night per week option. An alumnus rate sounds like a good approach.

[edew]

http://fencersclub.com/pdfs/Fee_Schedule.pdf

FC charges students a little more than 2/3 of the adult membership price.
Members that fence for a college team are charged 1/2 of the student rate.
This covers college fencers that previously attended the club and moved away for school, as well as those that had no previous affiliation that are attending schools in NYC area.

FDad, thanks for the fee schedule. What exactly does one get for the annual membership. How much are classes and do all fencers have to sign up for classes? How much are private lessons? I can't imagine $750/yr alone can sustain a club the size of FC in a city of the caliber of NY. And charging youths less than adults makes little sense considering that kids are far more time and resource consuming than adults.

I guess the main question wrt FC's fee schedule is what does one get for the money they pay.

[seak]

If you really want to retain college kids, don't kill them on cost. Realize that for many of them this is when they'll have to start paying out of their own pocket for fencing and that they just don't make that much money. Offer to let them help out with camps/coaching/fixing equipment instead of charging more money.

Over winter break a floor fee might make the most sense (as opposed to a monthly or fixed cost rate), since they won't be around that long, and part of that will probably be taken by holidays.

[fdad]

FDad, thanks for the fee schedule. What exactly does one get for the annual membership. How much are classes and do all fencers have to sign up for classes? How much are private lessons? I can't imagine $750/yr alone can sustain a club the size of FC in a city of the caliber of NY. And charging youths less than adults makes little sense considering that kids are far more time and resource consuming than adults.

I guess the main question wrt FC's fee schedule is what does one get for the money they pay.

I sent some additional details in a PM. Membership gets you access to the club for open bouting, group class and private lesson fees vary by coach. FC is non-profit (along with the co-located Peter Westbrook Foundation). Like any smart purveyor of additive activities, FC charges less in the beginning but attempts to make it up after you are hooked for life As far as I know, FC runs at a significant loss which is offset by a few very generous benefactors.

[DLEE]

This summer, I will have several fencers graduate from high school and go off to college. Obviously, I will not be charging them a membership fee. On the other hand, when they're back, I would like them to represent the club and continue to fence here. Should I charge a regular floor fee rate? Should I put in a new, special, alumnus rate? Any suggestions?

In other words, how should they be treated?

We let them come back at vacation times for free. We are happy to see them and happy to see that they are moving forward in school and in life. There is no financial sacrifice to the club, the lights are on and the doors open anyway. Also it provides our current kids somebody else to fence and often times a role model.
The club makes every effort to be helpful to the kids over the years and it is rewarding that they want to come back. It is a positive thing all around.

[adrianhk]

In our club, any former student can drop in at any time we are practicing and fence, but the lessons are the same as normal. Group lessons are once a week and about $750 for 9 months (we don't have lessons in the summer, don't ask me why). Anyone who does anything that takes skill (reffing, armory, ect.) for one day gets $5. If they are poor, they get more.

[oiuyt]

(we don't have lessons in the summer, don't ask me why)

Based out of schools, right?

Not surprising that their usage rules and schedules are different during the summer.

-B

[adrianhk]

Yeah, but there is free open bouting in the summer...

[prototoast]

FDad, thanks for the fee schedule. What exactly does one get for the annual membership. How much are classes and do all fencers have to sign up for classes? How much are private lessons? I can't imagine $750/yr alone can sustain a club the size of FC in a city of the caliber of NY. And charging youths less than adults makes little sense considering that kids are far more time and resource consuming than adults.

I guess the main question wrt FC's fee schedule is what does one get for the money they pay.

I don't think FC is the best place to model, because they actually have a lot of college fencers who train there full-time in season.

[dradtke]

As a college club, we don't have a regular floor fee or any of that. But one of the things we do is invite alumni back for an alumni-"newbie" tournament, all in good fun. Maybe this would be a good idea for your club? I would leave it up to you to figure out pricing, but maybe you could invite the alumni back free of charge? Just throwing in my 2 pennies.