A more adult daydream
Nov. 30th, 2006 04:43 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
flexagonI've spent half this afternoon daydreaming about either franchising or buying a local gym and turning it into something wonderful. Damn Bally's and the survey they sent me! I wanted to fill it out because I want to ask them to buy a Viper, but by the time I finished fully answering the question of what they could do to improve their space I was basically whimpering because I could see it all so clearly and I know they won't do it. Probably not any of it.
How about this... I buy Fitness First from the current owners. I keep their lovely stretching area.
I sell most of their crappy weight machines and use the space to expand the free weight section with a squat rack, more benches and some kettlebells. I add a tiny noncirculating library, just a small bookshelf with books (and issues of Crossfit Journal, etc) so people can read about things to do.
I add a Viper, a QuadMill, an actual climbing rope, a glute-ham machine, a good pullup/dip station, a pair of rings and a couple of pairs of parallettes. There might not be room for a static trapeze, alas... it's a small facility.
I upgrade the cardio machines, but have fewer of them.
I post the Crossfit "WOD" every day just to give people ideas. (I remain hypocritical and don't do them myself.)
I find people to teach yoga and pilates and handstands, and occasionally fun things like juggling or hacky sack, in the downstairs classroom.
I have fun explaining in my FAQ that there is no women's only area, and no men's only area, and no childcare area (though we have an affiliation with a nearby daycare center).
I have another small bookshelf over by the cardio machine, pre-stocked with cheap paperbacks from The Book Rack. I put up a sign saying "Take a Book / Leave a Book" and hopefully the system keeps itself going.
Sigh... is this out of my system yet?
How about this... I buy Fitness First from the current owners. I keep their lovely stretching area.
I sell most of their crappy weight machines and use the space to expand the free weight section with a squat rack, more benches and some kettlebells. I add a tiny noncirculating library, just a small bookshelf with books (and issues of Crossfit Journal, etc) so people can read about things to do.
I add a Viper, a QuadMill, an actual climbing rope, a glute-ham machine, a good pullup/dip station, a pair of rings and a couple of pairs of parallettes. There might not be room for a static trapeze, alas... it's a small facility.
I upgrade the cardio machines, but have fewer of them.
I post the Crossfit "WOD" every day just to give people ideas. (I remain hypocritical and don't do them myself.)
I find people to teach yoga and pilates and handstands, and occasionally fun things like juggling or hacky sack, in the downstairs classroom.
I have fun explaining in my FAQ that there is no women's only area, and no men's only area, and no childcare area (though we have an affiliation with a nearby daycare center).
I have another small bookshelf over by the cardio machine, pre-stocked with cheap paperbacks from The Book Rack. I put up a sign saying "Take a Book / Leave a Book" and hopefully the system keeps itself going.
Sigh... is this out of my system yet?
no subject
Date: 2006-12-01 02:22 am (UTC)I think you could possibly do well competing against Bally's in Porter Square just by advertising "No Music". And Porter Square would be much better than taking over Fitness First all the way out in the boonies.
no subject
Date: 2006-12-01 03:11 am (UTC)I didn't complain about the music. (I like their music fine.) I just told them to get more equipment for body-weight based exercises, and buy a Viper, and create a decent stretching area, and that if they don't think they have space they can use the stupid womens-only room.