Make Lemonade! Tips for Overcoming the Unexpected in Your Classes

Two of the most important elements of a great group fitness class are music and cueing. In the perfect class, these elements work in harmony and your class is drawn into a collective, powerful fitness experience. That experience is a large part of what keeps them coming back for more. However, if you teach long enough, you will run into unexpected issues that can derail your ability to provide that experience. It’s inevitable. Luckily, today we have tools available at our fingertips to overcome just about any problem that may arise with only minor disruption. All it takes is a little prep work!

It probably goes without saying, but any time you teach in a new space, use a new tool, or incorporate new equipment, you need to set aside some time to test things out before going live in front of a class. Making sure you know how to use everything you’re planning to utilize in class is the best way to ensure you make a great impression and your class has an incredible experience. The time spent testing will pay off tenfold, but it won’t prevent the unexpected from happening.

So how exactly do you make lemonade when things go wrong in class? First, you have to be adaptable. Second, you have to have a plan. If you haven’t thought through what might go wrong, and equipped yourself with a few great tools and knowledge, you probably won’t end up with lemonade. You’ll end up frustrated and discouraged. Read on for tips to formulate a game plan and develop a “lemonade-making kit.”

Music

There are a lot of issues that may arise with the music element of class. Some of these will be specific to where you are teaching and the sound equipment you are using, but for the most part the back-up plans will be similar.

1. The stereo won’t work. It’s the stuff instructor nightmares are made of, but it happens. A great way to easily overcome this issue is to carry a battery-operated speaker in your instructor bag. Sure, the sound won’t match that of a professional sound system, but it will get the job done well enough to have class.
2. I can’t connect my device to the stereo. Again, nightmares! Depending on the stereo set-up, the reason you can’t connect may vary. Perhaps the dongle is missing. Perhaps the auxiliary cord is frayed. Perhaps the Bluetooth won’t connect to your device. This is a trickier situation to broadly address, but carrying a back-up dongle and auxiliary cord will save you in most cases. If all else fails, go back to step one and use your small speaker.
3. My device is dead. You’ll never realize your reliance on technology more poignantly than when you show up ready to teach a killer class only to discover your device won’t turn on. The solution to this is multi-pronged. First, have a back-up device. This may mean having music on your phone and an iPod or on your phone and your tablet, etc. Whatever your specific devices are, have a back-up. Keep the playlists on it updated. Carry it always. The day you neglect to update it, charge it, or take it with you is the day you’ll end up needing it. Second, keep chargers in your bag for both your primary and secondary devices (this goes for your speaker, too, if it’s rechargeable).
4. My music won’t work. Nothing is more frustrating that having your music play at home, but not play when you need it in class. There are a lot of reasons why this can happen, but you probably aren’t going to be able to fix your playlist in the few minutes you have after you discover the problem at the start of class. Instead, have access to an alternative music source. Streaming services like Power Music NOW are a great resource in this situation. You will be able to quickly pull up a playlist and get class going on time. Make sure to spend some time getting familiar with the selections available so you know what your “go to” playlist should be!

Cueing

If you don’t know what you’re teaching well enough to cue it, then your class won’t be able to follow. If your participants can’t hear you, they won’t be able to follow. We know this. However, sometimes those unexpected music issues alter your ability to teach what, or the way, you had planned—and your normally excellent cueing suffers. As with the music issues, a little bit of prep work can help you keep your teaching on point in those less-than-ideal situations.

1. The mic won’t work. Fitness mics are amazing, but they can be finicky. And when the mic doesn’t work, it has potential to undermine your entire class. If the mic you use requires batteries, carry spare batteries in your gym bag. Be sure to replace them occasionally so you don’t end up having dead batteries when you need them. If you like, invest in your own mic. You can carry it in your instructor bag and plug your receiver into the stereo system if needed. Be sure you’re familiar with how to do this before trying it in class. If all else fails, don’t waste too much time fussing over the mic. Play your music a little lower, speak a lot louder, and proceed with no mic.
2. My class is choreographed to the music. Many fitness formats are designed so that the workout is choreographed to be performed to a specific set of songs. In these situations, not being able to use your playlist can be even more panic inducing. However, if you spend some time really learning the patterning of your workout, you should be able to use alternative music and stay true to the bones of the class. Get comfortable with counting music and practice teaching to a steady BPM playlist. Know which BPM is normally used in each section of your class. Depending on the design of the class, you can use one steady-state playlist or mix and match songs from various playlists to get the tempos you need for each section. Power Music has a wide selection of these playlists both in the Power Music NOW app and the music catalog. You can choose a pre-mixed playlist or create your very own custom mix. Get these back-ups ready and have them on your devices so they are there if and when you need them.

Running into issues is never fun, but a little bit of planning can save you from a lot frustration in the moment when things do go wrong. Plus, the more seamlessly you overcome the unexpected, the more quickly you can get your class back to the workout. And they will love you all the more for being able to deliver in spite of the circumstances. No matter what, remember to smile and have fun. If you do, they will—then you can all enjoy a nice glass of lemonade together!             

Get access to unlimited group fitness music when you start a Power Music NOW membership!

About the Author: Danica Rhoades is a group fitness instructor, editor, and educator. In addition to contributing to the Power Music blog, she's currently collaborating with SOULfusion, MetKonRX, and AngieFit Choreo. Connect with Danica at danica.edits@gmail.com or on Instagram @danicathefitdealer.