We have very different views of STP. Not that I'm a supporter but, we had a parent that worked for Sheraton who basically stated the common link for STP are those sports/activities such as soccer, baseball, cheer, etc. that rely on city property for competitions and need certain time slots for championships. We can argue this point until the cows come home but, I agree with her this is not all about Varsity. Do they receive spiffs? Probably, just like you and I would if we reserve a block for a wedding, you get a room or two comped for a day or two. I don't have a problem with that if it is going to offset the cost of doing business such as housing judges or staff. So, why do they have to reserve blocks? Eighteen thousand rooms are a lot to come by and people are complaining about being 20 miles away. Can you imagine if they didn't reserve rooms? According to Sheraton mom, hotels are the ones that state the demands of how long and how much, not Varsity. Contrary to belief, Varsity does not control all other businesses.
Conflict of interest can get quite murky when you have things such as uniforms that have to be turned around in a VERY short amount of time for your industry to keep it's clientele happy. If outside industries can't meet your industry deadlines for comps, what is the best solution? You find a way to do it yourself. But, the little guy can't sell product at their venues? This is where I'm going to call people out on the carpet and ask if they have to pay for the square footage and charge a price to these vendors that they often don't make in a day, do you then come in and provide the service with your own merchandise to fulfill that need? Parent, athletes and coaches alike mocked the whole "National Champion" thing and now that we are presented with a few options, they're evil and taking advantage of parents because it costs a lot? No kidding. Practice wear? Don't even get me started on parents wanting more merchandise for their kids. Parents complain and want the uniforms to be more modest, so they go to full tops.....Varsity did that just so they could get more orders.
I was a customer service exec for years Varsity, I get it. You're the big guy, no one is going to like you now even if you do what they ask you to. Protect your interests, protect your employees, protect yourself from the guy across the pond. People will complain right up until it is taken from them and then it's all, "What happened? I loved them. I guess it was poorly managed."
:splat:
Thank you, it means a lot. I think that there is a way for all of this to work and for everyone to be happy. We just need to work together to figure it all out! Maybe we're wrong and Varsity is giving us the cheapest possible experience and I'd love them for it if this was true! There needs to be more communication I think, that's all.
. The business I work for is named Big 10 Cheer and Dance, but we're the Cheer Magic All-Stars! They've been around for a while but the last few years we've been really lucky to gain a lot of new athletes and add more teams! I'm also extremely fortunate to be a tumbling instructor and coach there. it's always nice to meet a fellow Mainer.
To you. That is what cheerleading is about to you. And I'd wager- most coaches, owners, cheerleaders, parents, etc. And on the times I remember the good days (lol) that's what it was/is to me.
Too bad I can only shimmy this one time! Shimmy Shimmy Shimmy!!
To you. That is what cheerleading is about to you. And I'd wager- most coaches, owners, cheerleaders, parents, etc. And on the times I remember the good days (lol) that's what it was/is to me.
My argument is that it's not necessarily what it is to Varsity. On the one hand- people need to enjoy it if they're going to continue, but Varsity doesn't get paid in smiles and happy fun times rewards (granted, neither do coaches but it's a spiritual payment for them instead lol). That's the happy feel-good stuff that hopefully turns people into repeat customers, but Varsity is a business. Varsity's market is the cheerleading industry, and their main goal is profits. As long as they're a monopoly, they have a fair amount of free reign. Anything that interferes or that might jeopardize that is no bueno. If you're at the point of sending 'knock it off or there will be trouble' letters to cheerleaders/coaches halfway around the world, that stops being 'about the love' and more about 'keep in line or we'll kick you out.'
ETA: For the record, this is NOTHING to some of the utterly amazing people who work in affiliate businesses. We have some lovely people on here who are really awesome, but happen to work under the umbrella of a company who we know is super shady. I still like you
most people in Varsity probably are amazing people, but one bad apple can spoil the whole bushel. But the transparency is nonexistent so we can't even be sure of that!
