Sunday, November 21, 2010

One Foot On the Matt, and One Foot Behind the Desk

An aspect of the job description (if there was one for my position) would be the need to have the ability to transition from teaching classes and working with the kids, to signing contracts and taking payments from parents.  This is quite challenging since teaching classes requires a very minimal amount of words that don't need to be grammatically correct, but talking to parents in the same syntactical style would not get any contracts signed, ever.
One such occurrence, not too long ago, it was a Friday, and I was alone in the busiest, most visible of the three studios.  While teaching a class full of students ranging from white belt to black belt, about 3 people came in (at separate times) wanting information and class schedules, and needing to be convinced to sign up for our special trial program.
"10 jumping jacks ready GO!" I say and I sprint off the matt to the visitors
"Hi, how are you, would you like some information?" I say hurriedly, since the time it took for me to get to them, and say this short line took already 5 of the jumping jacks.  Normally I would ask the person "how I could help them" but there is no time in this particular instance so I have to jump right to the kick punch.
"Push -up 20 ready GO!" I command from behind the desk, since the visitors answer used up the remaining five of the jumping jacks.  Push-ups take a little longer, so I relax and turn on the professional charm as I pull out schedules and guarantee that our trial program is a win-win situation for them.  Once they agree to fill out the registration for our trial program I excuse myself and sprint back to the front of the matt just as the last slow student is shakily finishing up the last 2 push-ups.
"Wow, nice push-ups!!", I say, "Everybody STAAAND UP! Now Jimmy (not a real student) line up here! (up to the front of the class where I usually stand) Who can count and stretching better than Jimmy, I'm gonna check!!!, Jimmy say, 'hold your knees' and Jimmy count first--Hannah...Dool... Set.... Good job!" Jimmy continues counting and leading the stretch, as I sprint back to the desk where my visitor stands watching the class and ready with a (hopefully not an American Express) credit card ready to have her little 5yr old son try Tae Kwon Do.  I run her card through and get her child set up with a uniform and giving new student advise to the student and parent.  All the while commanding the class when Jimmy forgets what stretching technique comes next.
"Would you like a receipt", I ask, "Ok, well then you are all set, thank you very much, and I'll see you on Tuesday at 4:20.  Don't be late!" I say as my visitor leaves with her son and nice new uniform.  The repetitive counting has stopped and Jimmy is now a frozen statue in front of the class.  I sprint back to the matt and change hats.
"Aaallll right! Nice Stretching! Everybody face Jimmy, Charyut, Kyung Nae (Attention, Bow) say 'Thank You Jimmy'"
"Thank you Jimmy" the class repeats, and I resume teaching.
"Thank you, Jimmy, back to your spot.  Now, EVERYBODY 10 Jumping Jacks READY GO!!!"

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