When I first started in the performing arts tuition sector in the 90s, I vividly remember sitting in the chilly foyer of the local parish hall, collecting pound coins and 50p pieces from each child as they arrived.

Armed with a scruffy Bic biro, I meticulously recorded each payment on paper. Once the children had shuffled into class, the cash was securely stashed away in a hefty tin until the evening’s end.

Surprisingly, some institutions still cling to this old-fashioned approach, resistant to change despite the evolving demands of the sector.

As extracurricular activities have surged in popularity, so too has the expectation for each child to be accompanied by what seems like their own personal assistant, chauffeur, and debit card. Unlike in the past, when a family calendar and a few fridge magnets sufficed, modern households now struggle to juggle an avalanche of schedules and paperwork.

Enter the app - stage right.

In theory, administrative chaos can now be managed from the comfort of the sofa. Bills can be paid, tickets ordered, uniforms shipped, and waivers signed with just a few taps. Yet, adoption of these tools remains sluggish. Even now, many dance schools and similar organisations juggle between phones, spreadsheets, WhatsApp chats, and notebooks to manage not only the children but also their parents - and sometimes even grandparents!

Why the resistance? One major reason is a lack of investment in the sector and a failure to value a business owner’s time. When classes were paid for in loose change, there was little incentive to adopt advanced systems. On top of that, small-scale operations often prioritised practicality over efficiency - understandably so, given the daily whirlwind of managing energetic young students.

And in theory, this is all fine.

That’s if you want to spend the majority of your time as an administration assistant.

If you don’t - then there are numerous options in the marketplace today but none of them manage to deal with more than about 75% of your required duties which means that it’s still back to the triple threat of notebook, phone and spreadsheet!

Enter the Swish app - centre stage.

With 3 years in development, the Swish app is transforming the way in which the sector’s business owners are running their enterprises. From the individual school, all the way to the multi-sited academies.

So what does the Swish app do?

• Enrolment

• Trials

• Confirmation by SMS & Email & In App Notifications

• Attendance registers

• Attendance metrics & Absenteeism

• Digital accident forms

• Health information

• Privacy information

• Scheduled payments and payment plans

• Multi-parent notifications

• Classes, Camps & Show management

• Timetable publishing

• 2 way messaging

• Instant individual achievement notifications

• Instant video push by class/child

• and much more

In a nutshell, you are in control of your whole performing arts business from the palm of your hand - which frees you up to excel in the creativity you love, not the monotony you loathe…