June 2015 – NEXTSTEPPAD

By Steve Sirico of DanceTeacherWeb.com and Dance Teacher Web LIVE Conference & Expo.

We have been asked this question many times. The answer is now!

We need to think about our marketing in the same way that we prepare for our classes. If we taught only one class to students, we wouldn’t expect results right then and there – even if it was a great class. Marketing, I have learned, is the same way. It’s not about running one ad or putting out a few flyers. It is developing a plan to put into action for the growth of your business. I can tell you right here and now that there is no magic bullet or ad that will be the one that will change everything. There is, however, a plan that you can develop that will make a big difference to you and your bottom line.

To start, you need to try many different things. What works best for one may not work that great for the next. One thing is for sure: you need to make your clients an offer they can’t refuse! We will get more into the offer later. For now, let’s focus more on the plan.

We have found that the best time to focus on our advertising is as follows:

1. May and June, or five months prior to the start of your new semester. This is the best time to focus on getting both new and returning students to register for your program. If they are leaving their former school, this is when they will be looking for another school, and you can lock in returning students.

2. August and September, the month before or when your new semester starts, as we know this is the time many new people come in. During this period, offer free trial lessons or placement classes for new and returning students. If the schedule is filling up, make sure you have it posted with the words “class closed” across it.

3. October or the month following the start of your new semester. By this time the people who have forgotten or not made time to find an activity for their child will be in a panic. Also, soccer season is coming to an end. Your ad will help them to find a good solution.

4. December. Make a holiday gift package offer. We have found that these are the times we have had the best bang for the buck!

Are you stuck inside of your studio?

You may have the best classes, choreography, faculty and facility, but if you don’t get out and promote it, it will be the best-kept secret in town!

Here is the good news!

It does not have to be really expensive to market your services to your local community. Think about it – since your target market is close to where your business is located, you do not have to spend thousands upon thousands of dollars to get the word out. A continuous flow of advertising to the right markets in different media will do the trick. Best of all you can personally get out to spread the word. Who else will have the kind of passion that you have for your business? Join local clubs, and go to the meetings. You will be surprised, no matter how long you have been in business that many people do not know who you are. Think about this: wouldn’t you much rather do business or recommend a business of a person you know? Help your community to get to know you and watch your business grow.

For more essential studio success tips, make sure you attend Dance Teacher Web LIVE this summer, hosted by the amazing team of Steve Sirico and Angela D’Valda Sirico. A four-day event that caters to dance teachers and studio owners, DTWLive will take place at Foxwoods Resort and Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut, August 3-6. DTWLive will include an expo of the world’s top dance merchants, movement classes and business seminars. Make sure to come and meet the Dance Informa team there!

The post When Is The Best Time To Market Your Studio? appeared first on Dance Informa Magazine.

By Christine Dion of Mode Dion.

Makeup in Egypt during the time of Pharaohs was more than just a beauty ritual. Both men and women sought youthful beauty and used many cosmetics and skin care products to enhance skin tone and radiance. Egyptians believed makeup had magical powers. Black Galena Kohl was used as eye liner applied with a special stick tool from a Kohl Pot to create almond-shaped eyes. This eye shape was to resemble the falcon eye of the god Horus, son of Osiris the god of the after life. Osiris was depicted as having green skin. Favorite colors for eye painting were black and green. Malachite is a copper ore that was used to create the green eye shade. This green was applied from lash line to under the brow.

The Black Kohl eye makeup was thought to have magical protective powers to ward off evil spirits. It turns out the Kohl was more than magical, it was also healing as Kohl helped prevent ocular infection and eye diseases often caused by the flooding of the Nile. The lead-based substances in Kohl promoted the production of nitric oxide in their skin, which helped strengthen their immune system against diseases.

The soot in Kohl also helped in reducing the damaging effects of sun glare on their eyes. Of course these wonderful benefits were thought to be the magic in the makeup. Egyptians, especially royalty, liked to be depicted as art and in an ideal state of youth as part of their divine nature. Talented makeup artists were used to paint their faces into works of art for public appearances and to honor their beauty. Sacred oils like castor and sesame oil were used in their daily skin care regime to fight wrinkles and milk baths with rose petals became the legendary beauty secret of Cleopatra.

Here is an easy Egyptian make up tutorial with step by step instructions to achieve Cleopatra beauty. It can be applied to either a clean fresh face or as a quick change Egyptian look to add on to already applied standard stage makeup.

Bold Brows– Black (if you don’t have a costume change) or dark brown applied sweeping down at the sides of the face so the upper eye liner can meet at the brow in the outer corner.

Magic Liner on the upper lid line across lash line to sweep out and up almost into where brow ends. This creates the “Eye of Horus” for good luck. Apply white pencil at outer corner straight out for seperation of line and the black liner across lower lash line sweeping down at inner eye corner creating a “cat eye” which was thought to bring protection. Line to outer lower lash line sweeping down at outer corner for a “fish tail” look. The fish tail was thought to enhance abundance in life.

Kohl Eyes– Since Black Kohl was used as makeup, use the black shadow shade to create a very angular eye shadow application across eye just above eye crease blending out to where the eye brow ends. Ancient Egyptians also used a pigment for shadow that was an emerald green color. It was applied from lash line to under the eye brow. I found from a distance it closed the eyes a bit so I prefer the Kohl look instead. Both are historical. Blend the edges of the black shadow with brown eye shadow to soften edges and look more polished. Warm the outer eye bone just a bit with a balancing warm shade to create dimension.

Add a little Glamour– Use a shimmer shadow or powder to lift lids, under brow arches and cheek bones. This enhances the facial bone structure and adds a little glamour to the look. Really shade the contours of the face. Just a little stage red cheek color on the cheek rounds.

Cleopatra Lips– Reddish orange lip shades were used in Ancient Egypt made from henna. You can go with that shade or lighter for a more Hollywood version.

Egyptian Glitz– If the costume is glitzy and you would like to step away from historical accuracy, try a little glitter for fun and to help bring out the costumes detail. In the video I used gold glitter on lips, at outer eye corner, inner eye corner and brow arch to tie in the costume.

MODE DION COSMETICS Products used:
5-Color Pro Pallet Eyeshadow, Shimmer Pot, Contour Cheek Color, Stage Red Cheek Color, Russet Lip Liner, Rhubarb Lipstick and Gold Glitter Pot.

For more great tutorials and to purchase Mode Dion cosmetics, visit www.modedion.com.

Photo (top): Christine Dion’s model in Mode Dion Cosmetics Egyptian makeup. Photo courtesy of Christine Dion.

The post Get the Cleopatra Look: Egyptian Make Up Tutorial appeared first on Dance Informa Magazine.