04/09/2026
💜A LITTLE BEHIND THE BUSINESS…
Tomorrow, the studio doors open again. For the dancers, it’s the exciting return to routine, seeing friends, getting back into class and starting a brand-new dance year.
But if I’m being completely honest… my tank is almost empty. 😂 The last month has been a juggling act. While my own children have been at home, and at times with very little childcare, I’ve been working behind the scenes to get Grazia ready for the year ahead, restructuring systems, planning ABD competitions, costume planning, organising summer camps, mentoring the team, planning classes, chasing payments, planning privates, updating policies, insurance and licenses, and trying to make sure we are ready for tomorrow.
And whilst I’ve been busy, I have managed to make some amazing memories with my family too. 💜 We’ve had some lovely moments together that I’ll always be grateful for.
But now… tomorrow is here.
And whilst everyone else is ready to get back to their routine, I’m arriving at the start of the new school year already a little exhausted. 😂
And you know what?………. That’s okay.
Sometimes you come back from the “break” needing another break. 😂
I often hear parents joke…
“I just give you all my money!” 😂
“You must make a fortune running a dance school!”
And I completely understand why it can look that way from the outside.
But what you don’t always see are the hidden hours, the invoices behind the scenes.
So here’s just ONE of them…
🎵 MUSIC. Our cost simply to legally play music within our classes?
Over £100.00 EVERY. SINGLE. MONTH.
This is one of the bills I grudge paying the most. 😂 It’s literally just for the ability to press play!
And that’s before rent, staff wages, insurance, licences, booking systems, accountancy, cleaning, equipment, maintenance, training… and everything else that keeps Grazia running.
I’m not sharing this for sympathy or to complain. I LOVE what we have created at Grazia. But I think sometimes it’s important to show the other side of small business ownership. Behind every class your child walks into, there is an entire business working away in the background to make sure everything is ready.
And tomorrow…
The doors open.
The dancers are back.
The studio is ready.
And even if my tank is almost empty… I’m ready!!!
Here’s to another year at Grazia. ✨
You enjoy watching your child walk into class, dance their heart out and leave with a smile, and I’ll keep opening those invoices behind the scenes 🤣
Nicola Dugmore