How Much Does it Cost to Produce a Pole or Aerial Show? Student Showcase

Putting on a showcase or creating a community in your own pole dance studio may sound easy, but there is a lot of work and finances that goes into producing a show.

This post is specifically about producing a show in a pole dance studio context which presumes you are not paying any additional costs for the space.

Showcase Logistics

Showcases are a great way to build a sense of community among your students and give them a way to showcase their skills in a non-competitive environment.

Logistical considerations for showcases include:

• Does your studio own chairs, or will you have to rent them?
  • If you have your own chairs, do you own enough for the audience?
• Do you own all the equipment you need for performances or will you need to buy additional equipment? (such as additional rigging or apparatuses)
• Do you have a light and sound system that would work for a show (or do you care about that)?
• Do you have employees or contractors who will work the show?
  • If so, are you paying them? In money? In a work/trade agreement?
• Do your students have ample opportunity to attend open gym sessions to train their routines?
  • Do you need to add more open sessions to your calendar?
  • Does your studio have space for more open sessions in the schedule?
• Will you have to cancel classes the day before/of/after the show?
  • How much lost revenue will you have for canceling classes?
  • Will ticket sales make up for the lost revenue?
• Does your studio insurance policy cover having spectators?
• How will you advertise your showcase? Just to students via your newsletter and social media or to a broader audience?

Running the Numbers

Please note, costs will vary depending on your location.

For the purposes of this estimate, presume 30 spectators.

• Chairs: Rental $1.50 each for folding chairs per day x 30 spectators = $45 (if you return same day)
• Additional Equipment: ?? (if needed)
• Light system: Rental $22 per light per day X 8 lights = $176 (if you return same day) (if needed)
• Sound System: Rental starting at $189.99 (if needed)
• Additional Advertising: ?? (if needed)
• Employees: 5 employees (1 lighting, 1 sound, 1 rigging, 2 stage hands) X 4 shows (tech rehearsal, dress rehearsal, 2 shows) x 1.5 hours (estimate run time of show with intermission) x $25 (hourly rate) = $750

Estimated total: ~$1200

If you sell out both shows at $20 each, you’ll break even for the costs listed above. If you take credit card fees, payment processing fees etc. into account, you’ll have to charge even more to break even.

This does not include any lost revenue from canceling classes to accommodate show time and/or dress rehearsal.

It also does not include any gained or lost revenue for open gym times. Some studios may charge for that while others may offer some time for free for performers.

Final Thoughts

Don’t forget, the numbers above don’t take into account other things you may wish to offer for sale to performers or to audience members. For instance, some studios offer training or choreography sessions for showcase performers. Many studios will offer snacks for sale during the show(s).

Hosting a student showcase is no small feat!

They are a great way to build community, bring people together, and even have your students advertise for your business by showing off their skills!