Introductions - Personal Trainer Community - Forum

[AktorPT]

Hello all!

I'm so glad to find this forum! I've been studying for my ACE exam and have been exploring other "fitness" forums, only to find people looking to start arguements and harass each other. It's so nice to find a forum that has a more inviting feel to it.

I'm 29 and I've been working as an actor and an office temp for some time. However, I can't stand the sedentary lifestyle of working in a cubical and now that I'm married, I needed a "day job" that was much more fulfilling and a bit more consistant yet allowed me the freedom to go to auditions and perform in the evenings. That was when I started talking to other actors who had been working happily as Personal Trainers. As I happen to already love working out and staying fit, it seemed the perfect....fit!

Since I started studying I have learned so much and have been able to tweak my own workout to give me better results. It's been a really wonderful experience.

However, I did have a rather unsettling experience. Despite having not earned by ACE certification yet, I was hired by a rather well known chain health club here in New York (I won't give any names, but suffice it to say, they have had to claim bankruptcy). I found some of their practices rather shady towards both the trainers and the clients. And frankly, the clientel didn't seem all that happy to be there. On several occasions I had clients tell me I should be working someplace better! After a huge debacle with the gym losing my paycheck, I decided it was the last straw and left to complete my studies on my own.

I'm taking my test next month and I was wondering if anybody could recommend a good gym in New York for somebody who is just starting out. I was rather frustrated since I threw myself into my work there and tryied to get clients (I was working the floor constantly and making follow up calls) but only had one client. I'm not sure if it was me or the gym to blame for that. And when I found out I wouldn't get paid for all those floor hours I put in......well, that's another story.

Anyway! Sorry to babble. Just wondering if anybody knows of a good gym for a newbie. Thanks!

AktorPT

[muscletrainerdh-NSCA CPT]

Hey AktorPT (Love the handle),

I'm not from NYC, but just in general it's best to stay away from National Gym Chains of the variety you were with.

In NYC there are no shortages of Personal Training Botique type gyms or smaller chains.

I'd check out Equinox, David Barton, or New York Sports Club.

Go to gymticket.com and put your zip code in. It should pull up the nearest gyms and personal training studios near you. Go visit them first.

They may not hire you because you don't have your certification yet, but if you let them know you are taking the test next month, they may take you on.

It's VERY IMPORTANT to read any agreement you may sign with a gym. The agreement should spell out :
1) What the trainer/gym split is on client fees. (If they charge $50 a session, what % of that are you getting?)
2) The Floor Hour requirements (how many floor hours are mandatory per week), and what the floor hour wage is. (This is often minimum wage or slightly above)
and
3) And insurance requirements.

Good luck.

Dave

[AktorPT]

Thanks Dave! Really appreciate the advise. I'm more than happy to wait until after I have my certification to check them out (it will probably boost my confidence as a trainer too). But I'll look into those and the boutique idea is a great one too.

Thanks a lot!