Originally recorded in October 2023, we're re-releasing this conversation because it's still just as relevant today. Dan sits down with Jason Larkins, host of the Let's Talk Cheer podcast, to work through a list of real questions submitted by NextGen Academy gym owners - and it turns into one of the most practical, wide-ranging conversations on the show. They dig into how to fix choreography mid-season without blowing up a routine, Jason's parent-email strategy for cutting down athlete absences (and his "we're all missing kids" gut-check for coaches), how to keep practice productive when half a stunt group is gone, and why Jason has started making his teams finish their work before letting them go instead of ending practice strictly on time. They also get into the harder stuff: co-managing a gym with your spouse, managing stress on competition day, and Dan's ongoing gripe with the 25/75 scoring split. Before you dive in, make sure you're in the Cheer Gym Owners and All-Star Cheer Coaches and Owners Facebook groups, and if you want to learn directly from Dan's team, check out the upcoming Cheer Biz Accelerator events.

The cheer industry is huge, but the network behind it is small — and your reputation travels fast. In this episode, Dan Cotton breaks down why how you treat independent providers (choreographers, camp companies) and your own staff can make or break your gym's reputation — and what to do if you're already struggling with it. Dan shares a real story from this summer: a longtime program canceled 60 camp beds with only 14 days' notice, and what that kind of last-minute cancellation actually costs the people you hire. He also covers how staff turnover and disorganization build a reputation that follows you, and why every gym owner should have a business coach in their corner. Don't miss the Cheer Biz Accelerator events happening in 2026 and 2027 — visit cheerbizaccelerator.com for details. Join the conversation: Cheer Gym Owners (Facebook) → [link] All-Star Cheer Coaches and Owners (Facebook) → [link]

Winning Worlds is an incredible accomplishment—but sometimes the biggest lessons in cheer come from the moments that don't end with a trophy. In this episode of the Cheer Biz Podcast, Dan Cotton sits down with Kaden Snyder, World Champion with MACS Senior Starz and Weber State Cheer athlete, for an honest conversation about resilience, leadership, elite tumbling, and what it really takes to grow as an athlete. Kaden shares the highs of competing at the highest levels of all star and college cheer, but he also opens up about one of the most difficult moments of his career and how it completely changed the way he views leadership, teammates, and success. If you're a cheer athlete, coach, parent, or gym owner, this episode is a reminder that some of the most valuable lessons in cheer happen when things don't go according to plan.

In this episode of the Cheer Biz Podcast, Dan Cotton explains why the biggest mistake cheer gym owners make with artificial intelligence is treating it like a chatbot instead of an employee. Dan shares how he's using AI every day to automate repetitive tasks, manage communications, build software, organize information, and save hours of work each week. More importantly, he explains the mindset shift that every gym owner needs to make if they want to stay ahead as AI continues to transform business. Instead of asking AI to simply answer questions or write emails, Dan demonstrates how it can become a true part of your team—handling recurring tasks, summarizing information, drafting communications, improving workflows, and helping you focus on the work that only a human can do. In this episode, Dan discusses: Why AI should be viewed as an employee, not a chatbot How AI can automate repetitive work inside a cheer gym Why gym owners should avoid chasing every new AI tool The difference between AI assistants and AI agents How automation can improve productivity and communication Why learning AI today will create a competitive advantage tomorrow If you are a cheer gym owner, coach, or entrepreneur, this episode will change the way you think about AI and show you how to start using it to save time, improve systems, and grow your business.

Too many cheer gym owners make pricing, staffing, marketing, and growth decisions based on gut feelings instead of real business data. In this episode of the Cheer Biz Podcast, Dan Cotton breaks down the essential numbers every cheer gym owner should track to make smarter, more profitable decisions. He explains why knowing your total revenue is only the beginning—and why you also need to understand where that revenue comes from, which payments are overdue, what your business is spending, and how much each athlete is actually worth to your gym. Dan walks through key cheer gym metrics including revenue by program, outstanding accounts receivable, monthly expenses, enrollment by category, average revenue per member, customer acquisition cost, and average length of engagement. He also explains how these numbers help owners decide whether to invest in advertising, add staff, expand programs, or adjust pricing. If you own a cheer gym, tumbling program, or youth sports facility, this episode will help you stop guessing, understand your financial reports, and use real data to build a healthier and more profitable business.

In this episode of the Cheer Biz Podcast, Dan Cotton breaks down what cheer coaches and gym owners often get wrong when studying the routines that win major end-of-season events. Too many coaches watch a winning routine and immediately focus on the hardest stunt, the biggest tumbling pass, or the most creative transition. Dan explains why copying isolated skills is rarely the answer—and why difficulty alone is not what separates the best routines from everyone else. This episode explores how execution, pacing, routine construction, score sheet strategy, and overall performance quality work together to create a winning package. Dan also explains why coaches need to study the full routine instead of one viral section, why different score sheets reward different choices, and why a video can never fully capture the energy a team creates in the arena. If you are a cheer gym owner, all star coach, choreographer, or program director, this episode will help you analyze winning cheer routines more effectively, make smarter choreography decisions, and build routines that score—not just routines that look difficult online.

In this episode of the Cheer Biz Podcast, Dan Cotton tackles one of the biggest challenges facing the cheer industry today: gym owner burnout. After presenting on burnout at the Next Gen Coaches & Owners Conference, Dan shares why more cheer gym owners are feeling overwhelmed than ever before—and why the real cause often isn't long hours. It's the way they're leading their businesses. Dan explains how trying to do everything yourself, refusing to delegate, chasing perfection, and carrying every responsibility alone can quietly lead to exhaustion, frustration, and eventually burnout. He also shares practical strategies to help gym owners build better systems, trust their team, and create a business that doesn't depend on them every minute of the day. In this episode, Dan discusses: Why burnout is becoming more common among gym owners The connection between delegation and long-term success How perfectionism creates unnecessary stress Simple tasks owners should stop doing themselves Why investing time in training others pays off later How better systems create healthier businesses and healthier leaders If you're a cheer gym owner, entrepreneur, or business leader, this episode will help you recognize the warning signs of burnout and build a business that's sustainable for years to come.

In this episode of the Cheer Biz Podcast, Dan Cotton challenges one of the most celebrated phrases in all star cheer: hit zero. While hitting zero can be exciting, Dan explains why the industry’s obsession with no-deduction routines may be creating unhealthy pressure for athletes, confusing parents, and shifting the focus away from overall performance, execution, difficulty, and growth. He shares why teams can hit zero and still lose, why teams can have deductions and still win, and why coaches need to educate athletes and families on what the score sheet actually rewards. Dan also dives into the emotional impact of hit-zero culture, including how one mistake can make athletes feel like they ruined the entire routine, even when the rest of the performance was excellent. He explores how the pressure for perfection may contribute to anxiety, fear, and mental blocks in cheer athletes. If you are a cheer gym owner, coach, or program director, this episode will challenge how you talk about success, performance, deductions, and athlete confidence inside your gym.