One of the most under-rated part of roller skating is the music. Music is why we skate. It inspires us to move. And it needs to be respected and correctly programmed for maximum success. Many times I hear unnecessary announcements, songs cut off to start a race or activity, the wrong type of music, or other issues. Radio stations have music selection, day-parting, and rotation down to a science so as not to piss off their listeners. Nightclub jocks don’t announce that someone’s food is ready. We can learn a lot from them. Here is a list of what to keep in mind when handling music in your rolle ..read more

A case for Skating in the REVERSE Direction When was the last time you skated in the Reverse Direction in a roller skating rink? I’m hopeful your local rink does this at least once an hour, if not once per session. But lately, I haven’t seen it that often. Maybe I don’t stay long enough (like all day) to skate in the opposite direction. However, RSIs, or repetitive stress injuries are real, and skating only in one direction may lead to that. Especially as we age. All Skate vs. Reverse Skate First off, let’s explain. The “regular” skating direction in a roller rink is counter-clockwise. The “re ..read more

I’ve been in old rinks and newer rinks, and learned from all of them. The things I loved. The things that drove me crazy. And whether the experience was wonderful, or not so great, either as a customer or when I was on the payroll as an employee. I learned along the way how to mitigate issues before they crop up to keep everyone safe, and foster a great atmosphere that creates positive memories. Here are some things to consider when building or upgrading your roller rink. Building Barriers Big Box retailers and other businesses reduce risk by using bollards, those sturdy barriers placed in the ..read more

There’s an old saying, that “you don’t know what you don’t know.” That is, until you experience it and learn from a bad (or good) idea. I’ve skated and worked in enough rinks to experience a few of concepts that seemed like a cool idea at the time, until I learned why they didn’t work very well. So, let’s learn from a few rinks that have come and gone and the mistakes that were made, and I’ll write about some good ideas in my next blog post. I’ll start with a roller rink where I grew up and skated weekly in a small western town, population 12,000 at the time. Adding an attraction without consi ..read more

It seems like a lot of businesses, from Walmart to Applebee’s has someone welcoming customers when they arrive onsite. They are commonly known as “greeters.” Nightclubs have “bouncers” that eject unruly customers. Both have an important to role to fill, because they help welcome guests, while protecting the business. The customer has a positive experience, and the business is reducing risk at the same time. That’s why a Doorman or Greeter makes sense for roller skating rinks. These businesses tend to have a lot of “drop-offs” (parents drive up, leave their kids and pick up them up later). They ..read more

A common theme I see at the roller rink is ill-fitting rental skates. The typical scenario involves older adults who were avid skaters 20-40 years ago and show up for a grandchild’s birthday party. “I used to be a rink rat, and was at the rink every weekend,” is the usual comment, as they receive a pair of “brownies,” the nickname for rental skates. It’s not the skate’s fault Once those former rink rats lace up those rental skates, their ego is quickly crushed. The fear is obvious, and they can’t seem to get along on them. A rigid body, combined with years of not skating, on a pair of rental s ..read more

The most common question I get when people are putting together their business plan is how much does a rink cost? That will vary from market to market, depending on real estate values, the local labor force, how much you plan to do it yourself, if it’s a retrofit of an existing building, or you’re starting from the ground up. It’s a hard number to pin down. It’s like asking how much does a house cost? Or how much is a new car? And then once you’ve signed on the dotted line, you realize you didn’t include the $400,000 needed to pave the parking lot. Or that the outdoor signage can run $10K. The ..read more

What to know about each Many of today’s new roller rinks offer more than just skating. With additional attractions, they become known as Family Entertainment Centers, or FECs. Both are feasible operations, depending on the number of residents nearby to support the business. There are pros and cons of both, so here’s what to know. Higher Costs An FEC can cost a small fortune to build and maintain, with higher utilities, a larger staff, and daily operations. For one you’re going to need more land and parking spaces. Then you’ll need an architect to figure out the best floor plan, (this is not li ..read more

It’s a lot harder than it looks. As with any business, a great roller skating rink becomes great because of its people, first and foremost. And that starts with the owner/operator. If you plan on owning a rink, you’re going to need to be there and be involved for it to succeed. It’s a fun gig. It’s also a bit chaotic, especially public sessions. Before taking the leap to roller rink ownership, read through this list of typical scenarios you’ll encounter on any given Saturday. Yes, you’ll be working weekends and a lot of nights. And dealing with a lot of different characters. Saturday Matinees ..read more

Through the years, there has been debate about windows in a roller rink. They seem like a good idea, but I’m not so sure, so I asked a few rink operators about them. As a skater, I have dealt with them during day and at night, and here’s my take on the practicality of windows in a roller rink. The Pros of Rink Windows Free Marketing Several roller rink operators told me the original idea of putting a giant window in a roller rink was to spur interest among drivers cruising by or idling at a traffic signal outside. Seeing the lights and the crowd inside skating around and having fun would surel ..read more