The Greatest Rhythm Show: The Big Day!

In Episode 12 of RhythmPod, we’re covering everything you need to know about your dancer’s BIG DAY… Show Day! 

From parking and check-in to hair, makeup, costume prep, dancer dismissal and more, we’re walking you through all the important details so your family feels confident, prepared, and ready to enjoy every magical moment of The Greatest Rhythm Show!

Transcript

Speaker 0:04

Welcome to Rhythm Pod, the podcast from Rhythm Dance Center for Rhythm Dance Center. We're here to bring you studio updates, tips from our teachers, and fun chats about everything happening in our rhythm community.

Speaker 2 0:15

Rhythm Pod will be your go-to source to stay inspired and connected. We can't wait to share all the rhythm fun. Hi everyone, welcome to Rhythm Pod. I'm Dani Rosenberg, and we do not have Miss Becca today with us on today's episode, but we do have the fabulous Miss Jenni West here with us. Hi, Miss Jenni. Good morning. Glad to be here. For those of you not familiar, Miss Jenni wears many, many, many hats at Rhythm Dance Center. Um, if I had to guess, I would think her most fun hat and the most rewarding is um hat that she wears is the director of our Toral and Twist preschool and kinder program. Am I right, Miss Jenni? It is. It's the best, best job in the whole world. So as the season comes to an end, another really big role for Miss Jenni is managing the holding areas at the theater and during the shows. This is a really big job, and Miss Jenni and her team work super hard to ensure that all the dancers make their costume changes, get backstage at the appropriate time for their performances, but most and most importantly, make sure to keep them safe and entertained as much as we can while you and your guests can enjoy the show. Okay, so we're back today with our third of three episodes where we have talked about all things year-end show. In the first two episodes, we discussed tickets, which I'm hoping everybody at this point has secured all the tickets that you need. Um, we do have some more seats available. So if you need more tickets, let us know. You can absolutely purchase those. Uh, we talked about dress rehearsal, which everyone successfully completed last week. We loved seeing everyone in their costumes coming through the studio. And on today's episode, we are going to talk about the big day, the day of your dancer's final performance of the season. So before we dive in, and I turn things over to Miss Jenni for her input, tips, and expertise, we do want to remind everyone of a few basics that are super, super important as you head into the shows. Um, number one, just a reminder that all the shows will be held at the First Center at Georgia Tech. Um, I know we had dress rehearsal here at Rhythm last week, but the shows are downtown at Georgia Tech, so make sure you're planning on that. Some of the shows may fall during heavy traffic time, so please keep that in mind when you're planning. Um, number two, be sure that when you get down there that you're going to be parking in parking area three. This is definitely the most convenient parking area with the easiest access to the front of the theater. This is a paid parking lot or parking garage with a flat rate of $15 per car. They will only accept credit cards or debit cards, so no cash. Um, once you park, you'll see that we'll have rhythm signs that will guide you to the front of the entrance to the theater. Number three, this is the day that your dancer has been working towards all season long. So please take extra time to prepare the best that you can. Allow plenty of time to get their hair done, get their makeup completed if they're if they're wearing makeup, if they're older. Um, allow plenty of time to get to the theater, get parked, get inside to the appropriate dressing area or holding area. Just really, really plan ahead to ensure that the it's the most, you know, successful, you're setting yourself up for success that day. Number four, your dancer will need to be checked into the appropriate holding area, which we'll discuss more details in just a minute, at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the show. The holding areas will be open, accepting check-ins 45 minutes prior to showtime, not before that. Um, but they do need to be back there and checked in at least 30 minutes prior to showtime. And lastly, number five, as you approach the theater, there are going to be two main holding areas that you will need to drop your dancer off in. Inside your year-in-show packet and also in your uh My Rhythm app, you'll find exactly which location your dancer and their class will be assigned to. If your dancer is assigned to the fun house holding area, you're gonna enter through the front doors of the theater and immediately turn to your left. If your dancers are assigned to the big top holding area, you're gonna head down the sidewalk on the outside, the right side of the theater, and follow the signs to the check-in area down there. If you have a boy dancing, you'll receive an email with specifics. But for the most part, all the boys are in the clown town um holding area, which is backstage on stage right, and we'll help you find your pathway to get down there. Okay, Miss Jenni, as they approach their holding area, their specific holding area, what can they expect?

Speaker 1 4:39

So, right, just to reiterate Dani's points, make sure you're allowing time. Look, keep looking at your Google to see how long it's gonna take. There's nothing worse than starting off stressed for both you as a uh audience member and your dancer. Absolutely. So uh we will start accepting dancers 45 minutes before. We don't do it way before that, but I I'm okay with earlier is better so that they can get settled, get used to not having you in there if there's a line because we've got a lot of people checking in, those kinds of things. Um, so yes, fun house, you're gonna go in to the first center and then turn left. Um, for any you'll see on your rhythm map or on the spreadsheet, any usually K1 or younger is in that dressing room upstairs. Uh older kids are going to not come in the building at first. They're gonna go down that right side of the building, exterior, bring an umbrella as a side note if it is raining, and then they'll be in it. We're really lucky to have that nice big space for the older dancers. Uh, Clown Town, just to mention it really quick. Um, you will come in the building and their check-in and checkout is actually right next to where the fun house check-in and checkout is. We don't allow parents to take them backstage. Um, and you'll get an email about that. I will say if you have a preschool boy in like a hip hop and pop, we'll probably keep them with their class. We will just have mats and allow for discrete painting of costumes and those kinds of things, but just for the normalcy of them, not having them backstage with big kids. But if they're a bigger kid, they're backstage in the boys' area. Um we do have TVs in both dressing rooms so that they can watch the show when they're not participating. So let me back up a little bit though. So you come in the building. Um, I would love to have every dancer in their first costume. We don't allow parents to come into the dressing rooms. It's just too hard. It makes it a harder uh separation, those kinds of things. So if you can have them in their first costume uh ready to go, touched up lipstick, all those kinds of things if you're keeping that with you. Uh, the way that we do check-in and check out is we have an app that was created by another dance studio called Show Sculptor. So, what we will do when you check in is we will verify the phone number on file in your Jackrabbit account. Uh, you will we will check your dancer in, that you will get a text that says Jenni West has been checked in to her the greatest rhythm show dressing room. You will need this text to retrieve your dancer. So that's important. We verify that number, you get that text when it comes time for pickup, either at intermission or the end of the show, which we'll talk about in a little bit, you will use that text instead of a paper or an ID. It's gone really smoothly the last few years and provides that additional level of security. Uh regarding when your daughter, when your dancer checks out, uh, you can see the information. You also look at the show order when your dance or dances take place. They will be dismissed either at intermission if they are complete, completed with their dances, or at the end of the show. And we're pretty strict about that. And I always give the analogy, uh, a lot of the shows we had seven tickets. So say you had a small class of 10 students and each of them brought seven people. If we dismissed after each dance, even the preschool dances, that's 70 people. Getting up and leaving the theater, it's really disruptive. During another dancer's performance while other guests are trying to enjoy. So I it's just important to reiterate that. I promise you, we have your phone number. If a child is having a huge issue, we are going to contact you. The kids are usually fine. It's parents that get nervous, especially in an evening show. But I just want to reiterate that our rhythm recital year-end show experience is amazing. And we don't want you to have to miss any of it. We promise it's our job to take care of the kids. We have several company parents who are experts, not only at security, but hair. We can do any kind of hair change. Um, we have a lot of teenagers who just love kids and they're helping. So we are good. We have a really good system backstage.

Speaker 2 8:38

We we really appreciate your cooperation with this policy. Um, it really does keep the show running smoothly. In addition to the audience staying focused on the dancers on stage, which is number one priority in the theater, it also keeps the holding room in order. You know, everybody has their job of making sure kids are getting changed and lined up and backstage at the right time. And as soon as we have one interruption of somebody trying to check out early, it disrupts that flow.

Speaker 1 9:03

It disrupts that, and also the kids who complied, it makes it harder on them as well. Um so if you are your dismissal, say your dismissal, you're in a preschool class, your dismissal's at intermission, and your rhythm app or the packet says on stage dismissal. What that means is you're just gonna stay in the theater. We have signage, and obviously you'll see your child's group in their costumes, but we will just dismiss them to you at the stage, and there'll be signage, like I said. So you'll know where to find your child, you'll show that text, you'll claim them, and then you can either stay the rest of the show, or if you guys are ready to go, you'll head out. Uh, the same is true of second act dismissal. There are some cases where just in order to relieve congestion, that downstairs dressing room, if it says onstage dismissal, same thing. We'll have signage, you'll stay in the theater to claim your dancer instead of going back to that dressing room door and waiting in line there. So it's really important to look at that. Otherwise, you're you're not natural instinct.

Speaker 2 10:00

If you don't look at anything, natural instinct is to stand up and walk out of the theater. Right. And you're you're gonna miss out on where to pick your dancer. Right.

Speaker 1 10:07

They're gonna you're just gonna and they're gonna be. They're gonna be waiting for you. They're gonna be waiting for you. So just just that's another important thing to look at is to know where your dancer is being dismissed.

Speaker 2 10:17

You might have mentioned this, but at the um drop-off moment, we do ask that just one parent bring them to that area if at all possible, rather than all of the guests. Right. Um it does to get a little congested, and we're trying to keep it as organized as possible. So if one parent um could bring them to the check-in area, that'd be great.

Speaker 1 10:34

And that's for drop-off. Obviously, if the earlier you want to get there, you can do all your photo ops when your dancer's fresh, they're in their costume, their makeup, their hair. You can run them to the bathroom. We obviously will do that once they're in the dressing room, but that's great too if you can run them. Yeah, use in the restroom. The restroom, which um for the women's side is directly outside of the fun house. And then there are also restrooms outside of where you check in for the big top dressing room.

Speaker 2 10:58

Yeah, and there will be lots, like Miss Jenni just said, there will be photo ops. You're welcome to do that after the show as well. It's a little more crowded um during intermission and at the end of the show. So if you if you want to get lots of photos, try to get there even earlier, make that happen before you check them in.

Speaker 1 11:12

Yes. Um, I had mentioned having them in their first costume. If they have changes, bring everything. I would recommend a garment bag, something that seals, um, so that and labeled so that there's no question whose bag it is. Um, we do our best. I have a big matrix of knowing which kids have changes and especially the ones that will have quick changes, but it's not bad for you to mention that at check-in too. Oh, she has a jazz dance as well, that kind of thing.

Speaker 2 11:40

Like I said, we are on top of it and group the kids kind of in the dressing room based on a pretty well-oiled machine once Miss Jenni gets her organized matrix, yeah, spreadsheet ready.

Speaker 1 11:48

And pipe and drape so that there's privacy to change for kids that are more modest or for any anyone. So, yes.

Speaker 2 11:56

Perfect. Yeah. Um, all right. We talked a little bit about hair and makeup. You know, I think everybody nailed it last week in dress rehearsal. I I don't remember seeing anybody that didn't. So keep that up for the shows. Make sure that again, having it read, you know, done when you get there is going to help the flow of things. Um, otherwise, you're gonna end up in the restroom with everybody else trying to make it happen. Um, so think about that.

Speaker 1 12:18

And then hair, if they do need to go to a bun for a ballet class, just have all their supplies in a Ziploc with their name. So that we can we can we can do it. You do not have to come check on them to make sure they're changed or their hair is ready. You just have to have all their supplies with their stuff. And then we have our amazing worker bees that will get it done for even a real class.

Speaker 2 12:36

As soon as you check your dancer in, you're welcome to grab some snacks or get in line to enter the theater. Or once you're in the theater, you are you just stay there. Your job is to just sit back and enjoy the show. Yep. 100%. Um, I don't know that we talked about this yet, but if your dancer is only performing in act two, um, once you look at the running order of the show, they'll still have to be backstage and checked in at the top of the show, the beginning of the show, and they'll be back there the entire time. Um, most of our shows, none of them are fully sold out, but a lot of them are close to it. Unfortunately, we just can't, we can't run a smooth show if kids are running in and out of the theater. So we need to make sure that all dancers are in their checked-in um holding area at the top of the show. If they have any numbers in act two, they'll have to stay. They cannot exit the check-in area. Um Right.

Speaker 1 13:23

And certainly at intermission dismissal, we can't be accommodating checking in. So that's why it's mostly to keep your children safe. Safe. Yeah. So and like again, we have TVs, they can watch the show, they're hanging with their friends, they're great.

Speaker 2 13:34

Yeah, and Miss Jenni did mention this. If you have a dancer only in Act One and you check them out at intermission, we would love for you, if they if you can and your guests are willing, you know, excited to stay, take them back into the theater and try to watch Act Two. I know with some of the later evening shows, it it's a little late for the little ones, but it's always fun to have the dancers have the opportunity to experience the show from the audience side too. Um, so if you can do that, that's great. They do do not need to have a ticket by that point. There are usually plenty of seats. Enough people are getting up and leaving at intermission that seats can be available or they can sit on your lap if you don't have seats right next to you and your guests. But um, just knowing if they're only in act two, they will have to be back there the whole time. But like Miss Jenni said, we do have TVs, a live feed of the show. So they'll get to watch the show as it is going on. Okay, I think that covers just about everything you need to know for a smooth show day. Um I have one more thing.

Speaker 1 14:28

Yeah. Um, related to preschool, especially younger K1s, anybody that's using the numbers and the letters, if possible, going back to checking in, the sooner we get a whole group, we do try to take them backstage because it's their first time at that theater, to find their number and letter really quickly, just so they aren't just looking around. They know exactly where to go when they go on stage. We take care of that, but that's just another impetus to make sure you're planning ahead so that you're not getting delayed because we always have that stray kid that didn't get to do that. And then we have characters that help direct them where they need to go, but if they're just so much more confident when we can get them back. I know I'm going to number seven. It looks familiar. That's yes, they're gonna go to number seven, and then automatically when the music starts and the leader starts doing the dance, they're good to go.

Speaker 2 15:14

Yeah, it's a very, very good point. We love to make that happen for them right before. Um, so once you get there, we talked about this a little bit. You're gonna find lots of more photo ops, fun photo ops, um, an area in the lobby to pick up to the flowers. If you pre-ordered flowers, there's an area to pick those up. You will not miss it and it will smell lovely. Um, you can purchase flowers if you did not pre-order them while supplies last. We'll have concessions and other fun goodies. Um, Miss Shelley and Miss Krista will be set up the entire time up there in the lobby. So with any questions, you can address them. Remember to check and double check the My Rhythm app for all the most important details. And as always, please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions that you might have. Our goal is to always deliver as much valuable information as we can ahead of time to ensure that you, your dancer, and all of your guests have the best experience possible. We couldn't be more excited for our favorite week of the season, and we know you guys are going to love seeing your dancers shine on stage. Thanks so much, Miss Jenni, for joining us today. Anytime, it's favorite time of year. Favorite time of year, and thanks so much to all of you for a fabulous year and for all of your support and for allowing your dancers to dance with us. We will see you at the show. See you at the show. Bye.