2009 PMA Conference Canceled
Tuesday May 19, 2009
The board of directors for the Pilates Method Alliance (PMA) has just announced that the 9th International PMA Educational Conference has been canceled for 2009. The conference was to have been held in Dallas, TX in November of this year. The PMA reported that conference sales were down 70%, making it impossible to carry on without operating at a loss. People who have already registered for the 2009 conference are being offered a refund or the choice to apply the credit to the 2010 conference or other PMA merchandise.
The loss of a conference like this is big deal for the Pilates community. There were to be classes with luminaries like Pilates elders, Ron Fletcher and Lolita San Miguel; workshops with presenters like Wendy LeBlanc Arbuckle, Amy Taylor Alpers, and Rachel Taylor Segel; mat classes with a host of great teachers; and of course, the big exhibition - not to mention the networking opportunities.
I guess I was like a lot of people, waiting till the last minute to make sure I could afford to go. Now I feel disappointing and a little bit guilty. How about you? Were you planning to go to PMA this year? How do you feel about the conference being canceled? If you weren't planning to go, why not? Let's talk about it. Please comment below.
The loss of a conference like this is big deal for the Pilates community. There were to be classes with luminaries like Pilates elders, Ron Fletcher and Lolita San Miguel; workshops with presenters like Wendy LeBlanc Arbuckle, Amy Taylor Alpers, and Rachel Taylor Segel; mat classes with a host of great teachers; and of course, the big exhibition - not to mention the networking opportunities.
I guess I was like a lot of people, waiting till the last minute to make sure I could afford to go. Now I feel disappointing and a little bit guilty. How about you? Were you planning to go to PMA this year? How do you feel about the conference being canceled? If you weren't planning to go, why not? Let's talk about it. Please comment below.
Comments
I’m bummed. I wanted to go. It just shows what this economy is doing.
I was all set to go…almost bought my plane ticket this weekend…I am sad but will go to a different conference in Boston. The PMA’s conferences are the best value – you see so many 1st generation and amazingly creative presenters and meet some of the nicest Pilates people ever. 2010 will be in CA …I hope everyone considers this conference .It’s a staple for my Continuing Ed.
It is unfortunate that Pilates on Tour is scheduled for October in Chicago. I had to choose and the Chicago event meant no airfare for me.
Sorry to hear about the cancellation. I wasn’t planning on going. I will ba attending either ECA, or SCW to get cec’s for my group x cert. Economy is bad, maybe the price needs to be lower. Maybe Pilates needs to become more frugal, lowering prices on everything from classes to certifications. It may be the only way to survive. Maybe the “weekend crash courses” could be ramped up. More bang for your buck. That is the mantra for the group x world. I read that some gyms/studios may lose up to 40% of members. We need to take a look at the economy.
Wow. 70%!
I closed my studio. There is a high unemployment and homes foreclosed. Many clients moved to the midwest.
I teach mat classes part time and returned to work fulltime as an RN.
I will not be able to fly to california next year. My priority is just to pay the rent, put food on the table for my family, and pay the bills. Most clients can’t afford to pay privates or group reformer classes now in my area.
I hope 2010 economy turns around
I was planning to go, mainly because it was a little closer. I live near Pittsburgh, Pa (were so far no PMA Conventions have been near)it would be nice to have one on the east coast!
I do agree with the previous suggestion on price,it needs to come down. By the time you pay for hotel,air fair and the convention (not to mention food,Taxis,etc it’s well over $2,000.
7/10/09 PMA has just sent me a press release saying that the conference is definitely on for Nov. 2010. Plan ahead