5 Unique Incentivizing Challenges That Aren’t Barre Bingo

Barre bingo is great, don’t get me wrong. It’s a fun challenge and one that is pretty easy for studio owners to set up and execute, plus clients always have a lot of fun with it. I’m not saying don’t keep doing barre bingo but it’s fun to change up your barre challenges sometimes. If you’re looking for some inspiration, look no further than these fun challenge ideas that are sure to motivate your clients.

The Buddy Challenge

This buddy challenge was inspired by The Dailey Method in Colleyville, TX. They ran a #DaileyDuo challenge that encouraged members to fill up jars to gain points.

Source: instagram.com/tdmcolleyville

How it works

• Teams work in groups of 2-4. You can pair up your clients with each other if individuals sign up.
• Have the teams decorate the jars at the beginning of the challenge for extra bonding time.
• Assign points worth different values depending on the task. For instance, attending 1 class is worth one point.
• Designate a collectible that they put in their jar each time they earn a point. For instance, they could be craft pom poms or similar objects from a craft supply store.
• Collect prizes as your team achieves milestones with their being a grand prize for extra incentive.
• The first team to fill their jar wins. Alternatively, you designate a colour-coded system, so a green pom pom is worth one point, for example, an orange worth two points, etc. At the end of the challenge, it’s not who has the fullest jar but the most points collected as a team.
• Throw an optional end-of-challenge celebration where you can crown the grand prize winners and celebrate everyone’s hard work.

What is encourages

• A buddy system to keep each other accountable
• Community building. If you’re an introvert like me, you appreciate it when your studio pairs you up with a buddy.

Barreopoly

Source: instagram.com/studiobarrejamesisland

How to play

• Have clients sign up ahead of time and give them a printable game card you create.
• If you’re familiar with the iconic game, then you’ll know roughly how this works. Clients earn points by completing various tasks like taking classes, bringing a friend to class, or posting to social media, etc. Every point they earn gives them a chance to move around the board, bringing them closer to buying up more properties and taking out their opponents.
• The exact logistics of how you would run this are up to you.

What is encourages

• Friendly competition
• Gives your clients a chance to play a game that drums up all sorts of nostalgia.

Download this editable bracket challenge template at barregoods.com/downloadables/

Want more studio resources and templates? Visit our store for easy-to-edit downloadables.

How it works

• You’ll need to make a bracket printable with different exercises. If you need a template, you can download one from our sister site Barre Goods Co. here.
• Divide each section of the class into different groupings, such as upper body versus lower body. Each week, clients vote on which exercises they want to see in the following week’s classes. For example, you have a “clamshell” versus “fire hydrant” pairing where clients can vote on which exercise they like more.
• Work the winning exercises into the choreography for the next week.
• You can also turn this into a friendly competition where teams compete in fun challenges, such as who can hold a wall sit or plank the longest.

What it encourages

• Team building
• Community building

Source: instagram.com/purebarregrandrapids

How it works

• Arrange clients in teams of 2-4 or have them compete individually. For fun, have them come up with team names or assign them a country they can compete as.
• Create a set of activities or events that clients have to compete in. For instance, how long someone can hold a wall sit or plank for, or have instructors judge form of different exercises.
• This can be a single-day event or run over multiple days.
• For added fun, host a medals and awards ceremony after the competition is complete.

What it encourages

• Commroderie
• Friendly competition
• Community building

Photo credit: instagram.com/purebarremclean

How it works

• Decide what the mural is that clients will fill in together. If you’re not the artistic type, hopefully, you know someone who can help you draw the outline of the painting.
• This doesn’t need to be a paintbrush and paint activity either. Think pre-cut puzzle pieces that when put together creates a full picture of whatever you decide it should be.
• Assign points for different tasks that clients will need to complete. Each time a point is earned the client will get to fill in a space.
• When it’s complete you have (hopefully) a lovely mural to display in your studio.

What it encourages

• The nice thing about this exercise is that your studio clientele will need to work together to complete this activity, creating a bonding experience.

Spice things up with unexpected rewards

• Mystery prizes at the end of the month. Don’t advertise what the prizes will be ahead of time. Keep clients guessing by waiting until the end for a big reveal.
• Spot rewards for achieving milestones throughout the challenge. For example, let the winner of a milestone reward decide what the theme should be for the end of the challenge party or class for all challenge finishers.
• Host a wellness workshop for challenge participants like how to prepare smoothies at home, a meditation session or something you think your clients would like.
• Give them access to unique retail, events or workshops. Keep it exclusive so they feel like they are getting something that most other clients are not.
• Have a unique space in your neighbourhood that you think hosting a class at would be cool? Reward challenge finishers with a complimentary pop-up class at a desirable location such as an aquarium, football stadium, brewery or rooftop terrace for example.