I started my career as a personal trainer back in 2002.
To give a little perspective on how long ago that was:
- Joe Millionaire was one of the top-rated television shows that year.
- The standard reaction to anyone requesting almond milk was one of two things: 1) a cold, blank stare into the abyss or 2) a cold, blank stare into the abyss followed by a definitive “the fuck outta here.”
- Justin Bieber was still six years away from inundating our lives with his general levels of douchery.
More to the point…smart phones and social media didn’t exist. Nor, really, did the concept of semi-private training, which is the idea of training multiple people at once in a group setting.
Copyright: ramain / 123RF Stock Photo
What Is Semi-Private Training?
There are a few iterations of semi-private training, so I think it behooves the conversation to make a clarification first:
#1 = One program for a small group, generally in the ballpark of 10+ people.
#2 = Individual programs with a group of people (usually 2-4) training at the same time.
#3 = One program, one chain saw, 14 ninjas, last person standing wins.
For this article I’m referring to option #2.
As I mentioned above I started my career as a personal trainer working almost exclusively with clients in a one-on-one fashion.
I can’t stress this enough:
“You need to be good at training ONE person before you start training a group.”
I have zero doubts the five years I spent working with people one-on-one helped to dampen the shock when I eventually started working with several people at once.
To that end, it wasn’t until 2007, when I helped start Cressey Sports Performance with Eric Cressey and Pete Dupuis, that I got first-hand experience with the semi-private training model.
Up until then there weren’t many fitness professionals, let alone commercial or privately owned facilities, utilizing this model…and full credit has to go to Alwyn Cosgrove for serving as the nudger and architect for us adopting it.
He and Eric had many, many conversations on the matter, and considering Alwyn had built one of the most successful training studios in the country – Results Fitness located in Newhall, CA – utilizing this approach, who were we to question it?
That would have been like telling Gandalf “nah, I think we’re good.”
Compound that with the fact Eric, Pete, and myself knew we’d be catering to the athletic population and that we very much wanted to emulate more of a collegiate strength & conditioning vibe it seemed like a no-brainer.
Long Story Short: The model worked (for us) and today more and more facilities (and individual coaches) are seeing the merits of the semi-private training approach.
Long Story Short (Part II): I left CSP in 2015 to start my own small studio in Boston. And even though I now work with predominately gen’ pop’ clients I still use this model and see many benefits.
Long Story Short (Part III): I am not implying CSP is responsible for the semi-private explosion. But I’d like to think we – along with other facilities such as I-FAST (Mike Robertson & Bill Hartman), Mike Boyle Strength & Conditioning, Mark Fisher Fitness, and many others – have helped to promote its popularity over the years.
WU-TANG!
Tony, For the Love of God, Shut up, and Tell Me WHY I Should Adopt the Semi-Private Training Model?
1. Yes, It’s Safe
The most prominent argument I’ve seen against semi-private training is that it’s dangerous.
Well, if that’s the case then CrossFit, Bootcamps, and Aerobic and Spin classes are the fitness industry’s equivalent of getting into a hugging match with a grizzly bear while wearing a steak vest.
I think it was Alwyn Cosgrove, fittingly enough, who made the best rebuttal of date:
“People learn to swim and shoot guns in a group setting.”
So lets pump the brakes on the whole “danger wagon” scenario.
2. People Stay Motivated
I think most people have an inherently competitive side, and that most tend to work harder and are more motivated when they’re surrounded by like-minded individuals getting after it in the gym.
I believe it’s important to reiterate to clients not to compare themselves to others and that it’s no big deal if “so and so” can perform seven chin-ups or lift “x amount of weight” and they can’t.
“You do you,” I’ll say.
However, it’s uncanny how a group environment will often bring out everyone’s “fuck that shit” side, and as a result they end up working juuuuuust a little bit harder.
3. Be Part of a Community
I’m biased, but my clients are the shit.
They’re cool.
They’re jacked.
And they’re just overall a bunch of amazing human beings with diverse backgrounds, interests, and experiences.
It’s not uncommon for clients to want to schedule sessions at the same time or to hang out outside of the gym to hit up a concert together, go out to dinner, or, I suspect, sit around and write poetry about how amazing of a coach I am.
The sense of being part of a community and the camaraderie it entails is an unparalleled advantage and why many people tend to stick around for the long haul.
4. See More Clients – Leverage Your Time – Make More Money
This past Monday I coached from 4 pm to 8 pm.
I saw ten clients during that time
I don’t know about you, but I’d rather have a four-hour “work day” compared to ten hours.
Not only that, on a per hour basis, you can do the math and see how the semi-private model bodes in your favor for making money.
Lets say the average trainer makes $60 per session working with clients one-on-one.
That’s not too shabby.
The same trainer, though, could charge $30-$45/person in the semi-private format and make 2x (if not 3x) that much depending on the numbers:
Two People = $60-$90
Three People = $90-$135
Four People = $120-$180
5. More Cost Effective For Clients
Pigging back on the above, the semi-private model is financially prudent for the client as well; it lowers the financial barrier.
Generally speaking this approach is 10-15% (maybe a smidge higher) cheaper compared to one-on-one training.
This can be very enticing to many.
6. A Godsend For Introverts
This point is 100% selfish and may not resonate with some of you reading, but as a self-proclaimed crazy cat gentleman introvert, I can say the semi-private format has helped me a ton.
It sounds counterintuitive, but hear me out.
I can turn on the charm and be extroverted when I need to. But it can (not always) be infinitely harder when working strictly one-on-one with clients (especially with fellow introverts) and the impetus falls on me to be the curator of conversation.
Me: “Soooo, you watch Game of Thrones?”
Client: “Yeah.”
Me: “Dragons are cool.”
Client: “Yeah.”
Me: “Okie dokie, ready for your next set of deadlifts?”
Client: “Yeah.”
Me: “Excuse me while I go throw an ax into my face.”
When on the gym floor with a group of people, and the music’s blaring, and everyone’s moving around doing their thing, I typically don’t have to generate any gab.
It just happens organically amongst the group.
THANK YOU.
Some Cons
Semi-private training isn’t all butterfly kisses and rainbows.
1. Some Clients Get Less Attention
I saw this Tweet on Pete Dupuis’ feed yesterday and it fits well here.
On employing a semi-private model: “I like to imagine that I’m hosting a party, and every client is a guest. The last thing I want to do is socialize with a single guest the entire night while everyone else is neglected in my home.” – @ONeilStrength 👍
— Pete Dupuis (@pete_dupuis) September 4, 2018
Some clients may get irritated and feel they’re not getting enough coaching, and that’s a very valid point to bring up.
I do feel if you take the time to do your due diligence and structure things accordingly – maybe offer a few “ramping” or introductory classes so people can learn some basics, cueing, etc – this is a non-issue.
However, some people just won’t be a good fit for the semi-private model and it’s important to have referrals (or systems) set in place to accommodate them.
2. I Wouldn’t Jump In Right Away
After reading this post the last thing you need to do is contact all your clients and tell them you’re revamping your entire business model and that everyone’s going to be training BFF’s moving forward.
If you do I guarantee you’ll be receiving a few emails with the title:
“Fuck this shit, I’m out.”
Ease your way into things.
Maybe block out a few set hours per week to give the semi-private approach a test drive and to allow an opportunity for a few of your clients to get her’s feet wet with the concept.
There are MANY things I haven’t even touched on in this post which are relevant – systems that need to be put in place, templates involved, marketing strategies, etc – but I encourage you to check out THIS post by Mike Robertson (who mirrors many of my same thoughts).
3. It Can Be Draining
Working with several people at once isn’t everyone’s bag.
It can be very draining.
I get it.
Some people prefer working with people one-on-one and that’s totally cool. Many fitness pros still do it, do it very well, and are very successful with it.
There’s no real right or wrong here.
Except, you know, I’m right….;o)
Did what you just read make your day? Ruin it? Either way, you should share it with your friends and/or comment below.
from Blog – Tony Gentilcore http://tonygentilcore.com/2018/09/6-reasons-consider-semi-private-training-model/
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