How To Handle This: Gym related

Future · Jul 2, 2007

Tami met a lady through myspace that contacted her for training her in our city. Tami and I are members at several clubs so Tami suggested she join one of those clubs. She was just informed that management told her client that she wasn't allowed to higher an outside trainer...but Tami is a member. She doesn't solicit business etc. Honestly, I am very livid because this gym stated to the member she needed to use THEIR trainer which is also DOUBLE what Tami charged as well. Can they honestly do anything about this since they are both members? Besides training all business is conducted at our office or via the web.

oldfella · Jul 2, 2007

Future said:
Tami met a lady through myspace that contacted her for training her in our city. Tami and I are members at several clubs so Tami suggested she join one of those clubs. She was just informed that management told her client that she wasn't allowed to higher an outside trainer...but Tami is a member. She doesn't solicit business etc. Honestly, I am very livid because this gym stated to the member she needed to use THEIR trainer which is also DOUBLE what Tami charged as well. Can they honestly do anything about this since they are both members? Besides training all business is conducted at our office or via the web.

We all have training partners, right? Tami has a new training partner!!!!

No trainer needed then!!

doug1 · Jul 2, 2007

oldfella said:
We all have training partners, right? Tami has a new training partner!!!! No trainer needed then!!

i would have expected the opposite reaction, has your philosophy changed?

sup · Jul 2, 2007

Can they do that? Probably... can you work around it? most likely.

I would just claim that Scorpio and client are just workout partners and keep it under teh table.

Odds are if you try and fight it, they will just boot you from the gym.

Crimson Ghost · Jul 2, 2007

My gym has the same rule: No outside trainers allowed. I think every gym I've ever gone to has the same rule....sorry man!

1badboy · Jul 2, 2007

All gyms I've been at have the same rule- no outside trainers- BUT the Gold's Gym here in Redondo Beach allows independant trainers. They have to pay $450 monthly just for the right to bring your clients in, so you better keep busy!

I am friends with a trainer there and know the details- and he trains many people I know (no bodybuilders, and he is not one either, although has fitness-model physique and is a starving-actor). You would not believe how many out of shape, people-without-a-clue people he trains for $1000/10 sessions (give or take a little).

I think you'll eventually have to open a personal studio, but until then, maybe you can strike an arrangement with a gym that for x dollars/month you can bring in people (members or pay guest fee) and train them.

Just my $.02 - I know it different here but I would never believe any Gold's would allow outside/independant trainers unless I knew it first-hand.

Good luck to you and Tami!

LEX · Jul 2, 2007

that's a common BS rule

rotty · Jul 3, 2007

most gyms are like that, they want the money or their cut. talk to the manager, they will probably let you do it if you give them a percent or flat fee. if they see you training someone they might warn you or just cancel your membership. sorry, but it's just how it is in most gyms. not much you can do besides pay them or open your own gym/studio.

oldfella · Jul 3, 2007

doug1 said:
i would have expected the opposite reaction, has your philosophy changed?

No my philosophy has not changed but I can not handle the rip offs and the scams that some of these operators get up to. I do allow outside trainers in my gym as long as they have credentials and I get a % of their client fee. I am a reasonable person and believe this should be accessable to all people. I have been to other gyms and seen the experts at work............my last post on that subject was not worded diplomaically enough and I deleted it myself. But let's just say.....I was not impressed and leave it at that. A fair price for a good service is fine. I have no objections to that. I have plenty of people that come to my gym, both are full paying members and one ends up training/training with the other. I am not out in the cold as I am collecting fees from both!

lucian · Jul 3, 2007

....

if they have in house training which is what it sounds like you need to check the contract you signed when you joined.
if it is inouse they can kick tami and the woman out for good.
the only way around this is to do all buisness out of the gym and if anyone asks its her cousin and she is training with her as a partner or just spotting her. theres no way for them to prove it. but dont try to fight it cuz it will bring attention to them and then theres no way you can pull it off. its a way of protecting their trainers. some places only allow certain certs to train there and then have you go through house training to make sure you know all the rules and they are sure there asses are covered incase of lawsuits. alos the trainer is covered by the gym insurence, tami is not. if something happened in the gym the woman could sue, its just their way of protecing themselves....its nothing personal.
lucian

lucian · Jul 3, 2007

1badboy said:
All gyms I've been at have the same rule- no outside trainers- BUT the Gold's Gym here in Redondo Beach allows independant trainers. They have to pay $450 monthly just for the right to bring your clients in, so you better keep busy!

I am friends with a trainer there and know the details- and he trains many people I know (no bodybuilders, and he is not one either, although has fitness-model physique and is a starving-actor). You would not believe how many out of shape, people-without-a-clue people he trains for $1000/10 sessions (give or take a little).

I think you'll eventually have to open a personal studio, but until then, maybe you can strike an arrangement with a gym that for x dollars/month you can bring in people (members or pay guest fee) and train them.

Just my $.02 - I know it different here but I would never believe any Gold's would allow outside/independant trainers unless I knew it first-hand.

Good luck to you and Tami!

there are 2 golds , franchise and corp.
franchise allow other trainers, corp do not.
lucian

doug1 · Jul 3, 2007

lucian said:
. alos the trainer is covered by the gym insurence, tami is not. if something happened in the gym the woman could sue, its just their way of protecing themselves....its nothing personal.
lucian

i was wondering about that....

OuchThatHurts · Jul 3, 2007

If I owned a gym and had a group of trainers that were on staff, yeah, I'd be miffed if someone (especially someone who is likely to attract clients as Tami is) and then I lose out on the cut.

On the other hand, if I was a trainer and someone asked ME for help and I wanted to help them but wasn't allowed, I wouldn't like that either.

Future, if the owner of this gym is a female, I have three words for you...

Ménage à trois!

I'm just kidding of course. Is there any way that Tam can train her somewhere else? I feel like anything under the table could turn out not so good (especially if an injury occurred). Then the girl could sue the gym, the gym could sue Tami, everyone gets kicked out, etc. The only other thing is to talk to management which I doubt will be sympathetic but you never know.

joshbarnett · Jul 4, 2007

fuck american health...thats one reason i wont go there

musclehead33 · Jul 4, 2007

i just treat them as a training partner.keep money out of there face and fuck emm.lol be like what do you mean trainin them see the beat down thier putin on me get the fuck out.peace

aquaholic · Jul 4, 2007

Crimson Ghost said:
My gym has the same rule: No outside trainers allowed. I think every gym I've ever gone to has the same rule....sorry man!

same here.
what do you expect though?
LOL

It's a business!

LATS · Jul 4, 2007

SOUNDS LIKE THIS GIRL NEEDS A TRAINING PARTNER.. now whether the lady in question wants to pay your wife for time and help is another story that only they need to know..

Future · Jul 5, 2007

Oh yes Josh! We love American Health...and their roach issues. LOL

Basically there is nothing in the contract saying you cant do that. Oh well...the lady was harasssed by their staff so she will most likely consider some type of litigation if need be for their treatment. Odd that grown adults can be more civil.

ScorpioGirl · Jul 5, 2007

She called to talk to the Manager this morning, but he's out until next Monday. She wants to void her contract. We'll be training at another gym.

The fact that they waited until I walked out the door and swarmed her is absolutely unacceptable. The Manager was telling the employees (supposidly) to go talk to me when I was still there, but no one would so they waited and pounced on her the second I left.

I have talked to the girl who signed my client up and told her that she could work with me. She, of course, is kissing my ass saying she WANTS me to be able to train there. The Manager is kissing Shawn's ass. Everybody is pointing to the other person doing the he-said, she-said bullshit. No one wants to step up and face me, or Shawn.

American Health is a SHIT HOLE. I have NEVER liked it even when I trained (just for myself) there on a daily basis. I will try to convince every one of their members who wants to train with me to follow me to one of the other gyms. I will also detour any potential member they might have NOT to join there.

street · Jul 6, 2007

It is a term in the contract if they tell it too you and it would be important to the carrying out of the contract,it is important to them.It sound like there is room for negation lats and old fella have the idea there are ways around their contract and they have no rights to ask what you are doing with her.I know most of you guys are in other countries ,i am in Australia but do you feel that nearly every business you deal with is run by a bunch of pricks and incompetent bastards just trying to rip you off or is this just getting worse.