Anyone who is or used to be a trainer: how do you deal with the GOD DAMN BULLSHIT!?

[Atomini]

Is it the same thing at every Goddamn gym?

Here's my story, i'm a trainer at my gym. I just started here about 3 months ago in the new year and i'm starting to hate it because i'm pretty much just a salesman, and not a trainer even though thats what this job is supposed to be. The gym doesnt give a crap about the clients or their results. They just care about whether or not we (the trainers) renew them to get more sessions. So that pretty much throws what i'm supposed to be doing out the window. I am assuming i'ts the same way in every damn gym. I was thinking yesterday about switching to a new one, but its probably the same BS everywhere.

So here's what happened, the whole training staff got crapped on yesterday. We had a meeting and the manager was all like "last month we bombed in bringing in the money and we need trainers to start renewing clients and making more money otherwise we're gonna have to fire some of you because I see some of you aren't fulfilling our expectations" blah blah blah because a nearby gym closed down and all the members from there have been coming here, and also all the trainers from there are coming here as well looking for jobs as trainers here. So they basically said they're gonna boot people out who are not bringing in the money in order to make room for these new dickheads that are coming here.

The thing thats also BS is that I have barely any clients. I started in the new year and the gym is supposed to be funnelling me the clients. I expected to be overloaded with them when I first started, and now they're like "get out and hustle the gym floor". Screw that, they're supposed to funnel me the clients, not tell me to go out and look myself! That's the whole reason why I chose to be a trainer under a gym management. If I wanted to look for clients myself i'd freelance train people, not work under some bullshit gym management!! I've been working here for 3 months and I don't even have more than 5 clients at this point. The gym is supposed to funnel them to me, but after my first few, I wasn't getting any more because things have been really slow (people not getting personal training sessions). Now they're pushing the trainers to rake more money in from the clients. I can't do that if I have less than a handful... lol. It's pathetic, i'm only getting in 8 hours a week (now it's even less because some of my clients have used up all their sessions at this point)... thank God i've got other income on the side.

I don't get what they're on about with this money shit. It's not like i'm on a salary and i'm falling below their expectations. I get paid WHEN I get clients. So because i'm not getting many, they dont have to pay me except when i'm training someone... so whats their freaking problem? We have over 3000 members already (the gym is only about 8 months new) plus MORE coming in recently from the recent closedown of a nearby gym. So what the hell is the sales department bitching about getting more money? Jeez.

I just don't like doing things that wasn't listed in the job description. I'm a trainer, not a fvcking salesman. Has anyone else had experience with this bullshit before? Is it the same everywhere? Should I move to a new gym? Should I put up with the bullshit? Help me with this situation by suggesting something.

[BITTAPART2]

bro, working for gyms as a trainer is not really the best option for the most part. working for yourself is the way to go IMO

[sorel_C]

thats the field,, i did it for 1 and a half years,,, i hated it,, it made me look at the fitness industry in a completly different way.. thats the business,, they want you as a trainer as well as a salesman,,,

[BITTAPART2]

I dont have a problem being a salesman conditionally, those conditions are:

I need to be selling the product for my own compensation
I believe in the product
I can come through with the product

otherwise F-off.....these gyms will pimp out a trainer so fast, also it never is going to stop being that way, you can expect more contracted fitness companies to fill gyms with trainers in the future, so my opinion is if you want to be in the business then you need to be at the top of the food chain. Another reason to be at the top of the operation is because you cant work as a trainer when you are 60 years old, and people arent retiring as early as they did 20 years ago.

[Atomini]

I dont have a problem being a salesman conditionally, those conditions are:

I need to be selling the product for my own compensation
I believe in the product
I can come through with the product

otherwise F-off.....these gyms will pimp out a trainer so fast, also it never is going to stop being that way, you can expect more contracted fitness companies to fill gyms with trainers in the future, so my opinion is if you want to be in the business then you need to be at the top of the food chain. Another reason to be at the top of the operation is because you cant work as a trainer when you are 60 years old, and people arent retiring as early as they did 20 years ago.

Yes, I have been a salesman before. But I like being a salesman when I KNOW that is what I am going to be doing.

I'd freelance train if I could, but I don't know where to start in terms of getting clients. And then there is the whole insurance thing.

[damiongage]

Sounds like a great business structure for the Gym. Rotate out the bottom performers.

Training people is a sales position...you need to sell yourself as the person that can transform them. Once their sold you need to keep selling them on you and the results you can provide to them. They provide you with the soap box (and an expensive one at that)...now get up on that box and sell!!!

[damiongage]

I don't know where to start in terms of getting clients.

any Ice cream parlor will be filled with people who need your help.

[gixxerboy1]

Atomni that's personal training. Actually training someone is just a small part of it.

This is what i did. I made a deal with the girls who signed the memberships up. Get them to pitch training too and refer them to you. I gave a little kickback for everyone they gave me that bought packages. It came to a point were they told everyone to come to me. Because they were benefiting 2.

[damiongage]

Atomni that's personal training. Actually training someone is just a small part of it.

This is what i did. I made a deal with the girls who signed the memberships up. Get them to pitch training too and refer them to you. I gave a little kickback for everyone they gave me that bought packages. It came to a point were they told everyone to come to me. Because they were benefiting 2.

So thats why all the hot girls were talking to me....

[maxex]

Yes, I have been a salesman before. But I like being a salesman when I KNOW that is what I am going to be doing.

I'd freelance train if I could, but I don't know where to start in terms of getting clients. And then there is the whole insurance thing.

Starting is the easy part. Get a trade name: your name..and a tax ID, then put your name in the phone book. That will give you an ok base to start with. Word of mouth travels more rapidly than anyone can imagine, so in time you will probably have to turn clients away because you won't have the time.

The easy part is getting the clients, the hard part is the paperwork and time management. As long as you have other income, why not do your own thing.!

[taiboxa]

i did personal training for many many years.. after first few months i began hating it though.. felt like a car salesman.. so i just quit it

[maxex]

Insurance is a non-factor, you'll probably pay 1-2k per year, then you might have to pay certain gyms to be able to train your clients there. But sometimes they will let you do it for free if you get people to sign up at their location.

[Atomini]

Starting is the easy part. Get a trade name: your name..and a tax ID, then put your name in the phone book. That will give you an ok base to start with. Word of mouth travels more rapidly than anyone can imagine, so in time you will probably have to turn clients away because you won't have the time.

The easy part is getting the clients, the hard part is the paperwork and time management. As long as you have other income, why not do your own thing.!

Hmm freelancing doesn't sound so hard now. Can you expand on the paperwork part?

[gixxerboy1]

Hmm freelancing doesn't sound so hard now. Can you expand on the paperwork part?

A lot of gyms dont allow outside trainers so be aware of that. I'd also be shocked to get alot of referrals out of the phone book. Also the phone book comes out once a year so you may have missed it.

[Atomini]

A lot of gyms dont allow outside trainers so be aware of that. I'd also be shocked to get alot of referrals out of the phone book. Also the phone book comes out once a year so you may have missed it.

Yeah I know most gyms don't allow that, which is a huge wrench thrown into the situation... unless i'm a member of like 10 different gyms, lol.

[BITTAPART2]

wellm I have and still do that from time to time, I will train people at my gym later at night around 7-10pm because I have built a good relationship with these people and I give them tips when they make my smoothies or whatever, I made a deal with one gym that I would get someone to sign up if I could train on their facility, they were cool with that but told me they needed to pay me off premise (parking lot) it fine. NOW ABOUT THE INSURANCE....you are going to be liable for them during training but also for example if you tell them to do a 20minute power walk when they wake up and they fall over dead during their walk, even though you are not there you can be held liable, so make sure you get insurance. are you certified? I would get certified if your not, doesnt have to be ACE or NASM (although they are great certs) you can go with a good company like NESTA for half the price and they will also insure you if you pass your certs, you can buy it direct from them, I mean travelers insurance has a personal trainers plan, it is no big deal but I would also have them sign a waiver as well. Set up a tax ID# and an LLC and your good to go, working for yourself you may be getting a lot of cash so it is up to you to report that to uncle sam look around for gyms and talk to managers about what you can work out with them but definatly think about doing some in home training, get some bands,dumbells, a bench, medicine ball, stabilizing ball etc, all things you can tote around, I train a guy now that I do most of are stuff at the park, we have pullups,dips,sprints,medicine ball throws,sandbag runs,kettleball lifts, explosive box jumps,dip bar pushups I can go on and on in fact I will do a lot more in the summer months outside for the masses who are doing it to loose fat. I will be back on here tomorow with more info for you bro

[Atomini]

Thanks bitta. I don't have to deal with Uncle Sam because i'm Canadian, lol. I'm already certified (otherwise I wouldn't be working at the gym I am now). Also that's the other thing, I gotta get separate equipment, and there are disadvantages to not being able to work in a gym and stuff. I'm sure in the long run, freelancing is much better. How long have you been freelance training for?

[PROTEINSHAKE]

thats the biz...... u gada sell to bring in revenue... if your clients are happy--they should re-new anyway.. NEVER train a person full bore, always make them need you to show them something new every time they re-new sessions.. I do just enough sessions at my gym to keep my pro/full-time status & benefits--- the rest I train outside the club in their home.I bring everything i need to them & even throw in a few perks to them for buying sessions. free stability ball, free session,etc..
they SAVE by training in home, I make MORE by training in home.... we all win AND i keep my benefits unfortunately u gada sell........

[Narkissos]

Hmm freelancing doesn't sound so hard now. Can you expand on the paperwork part?

Detailed cash flow records are required.

Helps to keep your nuts out of the wringer when taxation time comes around... That is, if you're doing it full-time.

Also... it helps if you're gonna pop on down to the bank for a loan to expand your business.

The bank asks to see what you've been up to... for how long, and how potentially lucrative it is.

Along with financial paperwork, there's the legal aspect of things.

Properly worded contracts and disclaimers etc.

These constantly need to be refined and expanded to meet the market requirements.

I personally have no disclaimer contracts that i'm modifying at the moment to make them legal.

These serve to protect my trade secrets and intellectual rights.

My training/diet/supplementation templates are copyright.

..Each and every customized one.

-CNS

[Panzerfaust]

i did personal training for many many years.. after first few months i began hating it though.. felt like a car salesman.. so i just quit it

I heard you got fired because 90% of your client base had a bad trip from all the Tren, you Tren lover.

Taiboxa Q&A with client:

Taiboxa: What brings you in here today?

Client: I'm looking to get toned

Taiboxa: You need Tren

Client: yeah,. but will that make me huge and muscley?

Taiboxa: No, its a mild supplement

Client: Awe, sounds great

Taiboxa: Yeah, no problem. Can i just get your credit card number?

[maxex]

A lot of gyms dont allow outside trainers so be aware of that. I'd also be shocked to get alot of referrals out of the phone book. Also the phone book comes out once a year so you may have missed it.

Right, you're not going to get a lot of referrals from the phone book but you will get a base, but u'd be surprised how many people turn to the phone book. If personal trainer is like any other business, then a lot of the highley recomended trainers will be booked or have a waiting list,or may never return a phone call....who knows? Unless you are a very well known person in your area and know a lot of people who will network for you, then getting your name in the book is a must. And if you missed the cuttoff then that gives you plenty of time to come up with a business plan.

[maxex]

Hmm freelancing doesn't sound so hard now. Can you expand on the paperwork part?

There is a lot of paperwork involved. Especially if you are going to accept anything other then cash.

You need a customer data base, contracts, calendars, recievables, payables ect. Paperwork aspect of business is what puts a lot of guys out of business. Just because someone is very good at a particualr trade, proffesion......does not mean they will make a good business person.

Getting the business started is easy, staying a float the first couple years is the hard part. Thats where having a second imcome to fall back on gives you breathing room.

[BITTAPART2]

^^^exactly, there are a lot of good technicians but nthey are not always good business men.

[Atomini]

There is a lot of paperwork involved. Especially if you are going to accept anything other then cash.

You need a customer data base, contracts, calendars, recievables, payables ect. Paperwork aspect of business is what puts a lot of guys out of business. Just because someone is very good at a particualr trade, proffesion......does not mean they will make a good business person.

Getting the business started is easy, staying a float the first couple years is the hard part. Thats where having a second imcome to fall back on gives you breathing room.

Sounds acceptable to me. If I have to do a bit more paperwork in exchange for not putting up with the shit i'm having to right now, sounds worth it.

[BITTAPART2]

i think it is, just fin a way to start with very low overhead cost, thats they key. wait for clients to build then you build your business