Stockton On Tees

The press can’t get enough of Michael French’s amazing story, from West End and Hollywood performer to successful theatre school Principal and business owner!

 

Read the full story here: https://www.thestage.co.uk/advice/meet-the-actors-starting-their-own-stage-schools.

Every day is a school day. Actor, singer and dancer Michael French’s career has encompassed performing all over the UK and overseas including the West End, working with artists such as George Michael and a recent appearance playing a Toy Company executive in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie film. The latter role might be viewed as art imitating life since, off-screen, the actor actually does play an executive role as a theatre school franchisee with Razzamataz.

“I was in my early 30s doing a show in the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton. I remember looking in the mirror and thinking that my performing days were coming to an end and I didn’t have a plan moving forward. I knew a couple  of people in the Razzamataz network, and they spoke very highly of it. I also remembered seeing the founder, Denise Hutton-Gosney, on Dragons’ Den. I knew nothing about advertising, building a market, creating a customer base, retaining customers or all the other things that it takes to build a school but I was reassured that there would be people to support me through the whole journey.”

French’s school in Barnet now serves about 130 students per season, with a second in nearby Potters Bar due to open in September.

“Being my own boss means that I can decide when and how I work, which has allowed me to take advantage of incredible opportunities and continue to perform professionally, but, aside from how it fits into my lifestyle, being a franchisee is incredibly rewarding. For example, we have just finished our annual showcase and the feedback from parents has been overwhelming.

“One family got in touch to say that their daughter has been going through a very difficult time but seeing her on stage was the first time that she looked like she was back to her old self.”

This week, our Founder & MD, Denise, was interviewed by Jess Sharp for Sky News’ Money Blog!

Jess is speaking to several women who are succeeding in their respective fields and Denise was delighted to be asked about the challenges, the positive experiences and the advice I can now give other entrepreneurs.

If you think appearing on Dragons’ Den means Denise was handed success in business on a plate, you’d be very wrong.

The 51-year-old’s first memories are of sharing an “airing cupboard bedroom” as a child – and it was this childhood that instilled in her the ethos that if you want something, the answer is to work harder.

She grew up in a little town near Glasgow in a two-bedroom council flat with her mum, dad and three siblings. 

“Money was very, very, very tight,” Denise said. “I don’t remember having a TV or a wardrobe.

“We always laugh that my first bedroom until I was 10 was an airing cupboard and an airing cupboard that I shared with my sibling.

“We didn’t have a lot of money but it was a very happy childhood.” 

Denise said that back then she was quite shy.

“I didn’t enjoy school, I was bullied and I felt out of place. I just lived for dance and for performing arts. It gave me so much confidence and transformed my self belief and self-esteem,” she said. 

Years later and working as a dancer for Butlins, she took £200 and set up Razzamataz to bring the same opportunities to other children across the country. 

She was 27 at the time and already had a successful career as a dancer, performing on cruise ships around the world, in pantomimes, and on the West End. She wrote some posters and put an ad in the newspaper to get going. “I didn’t really know anything about business but honestly it didn’t cost me much. Maybe I spent a couple of hundred pounds starting the business, so that’s not bad,” she said. 

In the beginning, she would travel to a different location in Scotland every evening to host a class, but when she started “running out of days in the week” she looked at a franchising ethically. In the same year that she appeared on Dragons’ Den, Denise had two miscarriages and fell pregnant with her first son, Callum.  She actually discovered she was expecting as soon as she got back home from filming the show.  “We always laugh now that he has been on Dragons’ Den because he was in my belly,” she said. 

Referring to her failed hair and beauty business, she said that a company that’s set up without passion will not succeed. “It failed because I thought it was going to be easy… it is not easy to run a business. You have to have a lot of passion,” she said. “I’ve seen people go into business and they start getting quite bitter, counting up how many hours they’ve worked and how much money they’ve earned.” She warned that you’ll work “the hardest you have ever worked in your life for nothing” at first – but it will all pay off eventually. “You have to be patient. If you expect your business to make you a return and make you money overnight, then don’t do it, don’t run a business,” she said. 

“Nobody gave me anything on a plate. I had absolutely nothing when I started out.”

Read the full article here: https://news.sky.com/story/money-blog-consumer-skynews-latest-13040934?postid=7977776#liveblog-body

 

 

After more than twenty five years of teaching, Kathryn Whale decided that it was really now or never and took the plunge to follow her dream of running her own theatre school to inspire children with the magic of performing arts. Her story of becoming the new Principal of Razzamataz Wakefield will motivate others to follow their passion.

 

A bit about me

I studied drama at Reading University along with a QTS which enabled me to also become a teacher. After uni, I went to drama school and from there worked professionally as an actor on TV and in theatre. When I met my husband, we moved to Africa for a year and on returning, I had my daughter Natasha who is now 21. I’ve maintained strong links with the arts through my teaching, directing many different productions. I’ve been a teacher for 28 years and have always said at some point I would love to have my own performing arts school.

 

Why franchising

I’ve been talking about running my own theatre school for so long that it felt like it was just a pipeline dream. Last winter felt particularly depressing and one day when I was off work sick, I just started googling drama school franchises in Wakefield. One thing that I was sure of was that without any business experience, I really would not be able to do this alone. The thought of it was just far too overwhelming and I understood that I needed the support that the franchise system offered.

 

Why Razzamataz

Everything about Razzamataz really stood out to me and upon doing some research, there were things that really resonated with me. I loved reading about all the opportunities that the students can take part in; everything from performing in the West End to overseas trips to New York, Paris and now I’ve heard about Dubai. But what was the most important thing to me was the positive reviews from parents and how they spoke about how Razzamataz makes their children happy.

 

First steps into becoming a franchisee

I contacted the Head Office who arranged for me to attend a Discovery Den. It was basically just an initial conversation so I could find out more about Razzamataz, franchising and they could find out if I was the right fit too. I also learned that the Wakefield school was up for sale, which was ideal for me.

 

Any worries or concerns

I have been teaching for years and my experience in the arts meant that I was confident with the creative side of things. But I have never run a business before and I was pretty scared about how I would even start and what would be expected. But what put my mind at ease was talking to James at Head Office and finding out that many other franchisees were in the exact same position as me but are now running thriving schools. There are a lot of teachers in the network and James explained that most people start with no business experience but that is not a barrier.

 

Training

The training week was so detailed but it hasn’t stopped there. I’ve been in lots of contact with professionals working at Razzamataz to help me with various aspects of running a school. Everything from databases through to PR and marketing, everyone has been so professional and helpful, I’ve been so impressed. What is also reassuring is that I have a support and onboarding manager who is always at the end of an email and we have been set various home tasks which have really helped to keep me on track.

 

What are your work goals

In terms of the business, I aim to have a full school by Christmas and then I’ll make plans to continue to expand. I left my full time teaching job and I’m currently a supply teacher but my aim is to make Razzamataz my full time career. What has been inspiring is that many others have done this too, so there is a clear path to success to follow, which is very reassuring.

 

What is your mission

First and foremost is that every child that attends can have fun and take advantage of all the extra events that I will offer. I’m passionate that every child has the same opportunity to join in and no one gets left behind. I want parents to know that their children will be participating in classes where standards are high and children are learning in an inspiring environment. I love working with children and I know how much performing arts benefitted my life, so I want to pass this on to others and enjoy being in a space that is buzzing with excitement.

 

Fun so far

I’ve really appreciated the network and all the support that is available. There is always someone to chat to on a WhatsApp group and already it feels like a warm family environment.

 

Advice to others

I should have done this years ago so I would say to others, if you have a dream, then don’t put it off. I wish I had decided ten years ago to join Razzamataz but I’m excited that I’m here now and ready to get stuck in.

 

Words to live by

Asking for strength and guidance from a spiritual being gives me the confidence to believe in myself and follow my dreams. I practice gratitude and I believe that it has helped keep me going in life when things get tough.

 

Make a difference to young lives in your community

Join us in time for our 25th Anniversary celebrations at The Eiffel Tower, Paris next September! Current fee is £12,995 plus VAT or ZERO upfront fee with a flat fee return, ask us about this! Every now & again we have resale opportunities, please contact us to find out more!

Training takes place regularly at the Razzamataz Head Office in the beautiful Lake District and Flagship school Razzamataz Carlisle. 

 

Choreograph your future with us: train, teach, own

Join us at Pineapple Dance Studios, London on Sunday 29th September, for a completely FREE professional development day & meet the founder & our team to talk about opportunities to train with us, teach with us, own with us!

 

Email franchise@razzamataz.co.uk by 1st July for more information as places are limited!