We have all heard the sayings about elections: “Elections have consequences,” or “Don’t Vote, Don’t Complain,” etc..etc..but elections have an impact on everyone, definitely on small businesses, and the dance business is no exception.
“Arts Mean Business”
One of the more intriguing bumper stickers I saw many years ago said, “Arts means Business.” This was in a very large metropolitan area where my assumption was that businesses need to support the arts. This city had a very well known ballet company, symphony, and theater industry. Many large businesses used to fund these entities through advertisement, sponsorship, and annual fundraising programs. When businesses do well, the arts do well is the idea I gathered from such a slogan. Why, then, do elections matter to a dance studio?
There are two things to consider.
The first is how elections affect small businesses. Most dance studios fall into the small
business category. At the national level, the federal government comes up with taxing levels, healthcare rules, and incentives that small businesses may be able to take advantage of during their lifetime. However, the biggest impact elections have on the dance business is how families feel about spending discretionary income. In a healthy economy, more middle class families will feel fine about enrolling their children in dance. Afterall, it does cost money for kids’ activities. (I also think that investing in your child is worth the cost.) Presidential and Congressional candidates can certainly affect “that ‘feeling.” In Aiken, we have significant levels of federally funded organizations that greatly impact our economy. This includes Savannah River Site contractors and the Department of Energy oversight, Fort Eisenhower in Augusta which houses the nation’s CyberCommand team, and a rather large Veteran’s Hospital. Ensuring these places are funded at the federal level directly impacts small businesses relying on discretionary income for viability. For example, during President Clinton’s first term in office, he slashed thousands of federal jobs in our area, which sent our community into a tailspin that many local leaders felt; it was a hard time for the dance business. Small businesses are affected by federal jobs that rely on government spending and the state of the economy.
The second thing to consider is how elections affect the industry of dance as a whole. It’s safe to say that dance studios, conventions, competitions, theaters, concerts, amusement parks and cruises are not essential for our survival. However, they are essential to the survival of anyone working in the dance industry. Without those industries, dancers don’t have many options for earning a living. Pockets of our country are affected in different ways. That leads to the bigger picture….
The Bigger Picture
Which party is better for ensuring a viable dance business? Traditionally, the Democratic Party has supported government programs that fund arts. That is not to say that Republican platforms don’t support the arts, but their position has been less about government involvement, and more about private citizens and corporations lending their support. It has been my experience that performers and entertainers have traditionally favored the Democratic party in hopes to continue securing government funding for the arts. However, I am not as convinced that owners of studios, conventions, competitions, and organizations that hire performers are of the same political persuasion. It’s a perspective that I can see as a source of personal conflict. The biggest market for sustaining the dance industry is kids. For a kid to excel in the dance business, they have to have a significant level of funding and training from an early age. The elected officials who throw support and action toward sustaining parents’ ability to fund their kids’ activities is generally where I feel they would vote.
With that said, I recognize that many voters have much bigger issues that they care about. Certainly, the dance business is not nearly as concerning as border crisis, crime, healthcare, or education funding. However, those issues do trickle down into the dance business in a few ways:
A family that may have come here illegally may still want to enroll their child in a dance class.
A dance studio situated in an area of rising crime doesn’t really make for safe visits for
kids. Low rent or property costs may be attractive, but they also come with headaches
which in turn affects business.
Dance studio owners, while usually healthy, need to be able to afford insurance for
themselves or their families. Costs of healthcare and insurance factor into tuition rates
and cost of doing business.
A dance studio in an area with higher education funding and resources attracts more
upwardly mobile families that can afford activities for kids. Suburbs of Columbia, SC are a great example of dance studio disparities.
“Don’t Vote, Don’t Complain.”
In any case, the one slogan I will agree with is, “Don’t Vote, Don’t Complain.” No matter what, I truly plan to get behind and support our President and local leaders in making our city, county, and country better. I encourage people to get to know the local leaders, read the national platforms of the presidential candidates, make a choice that you feel proud about, not necessarily pressured into. I personally have talked to every state and national representative of my area. I want them to know I’m paying attention. At Burns Dance Studio, dance training reinforces life training in hopes that dancers can grow into great adults and great citizens; we want to set good examples. An election is a big deal. Our decisions make a difference
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