Is it wrong to turn down a person that is a member of the same gym, just have a gym membership. But they seek service from you.
I am wondering if you meant that gym members are approaching you for free advice. It is not wrong for you to turn down requests for free advice. I would often answer one simple question from a gym member when I was working for a gym. But if there was a second question, I would say “we should set up a time for you and I to have a training session so I can give you my full attention and you can ask all the questions you want”. This would either result in a new client or they would admit to just wanting free advice in some way. If a gym member tells you “I just want a couple of questins answered”, it really means they want your knowledge for free. You will have to decide where to draw the line.
I would also say not a good idea. I work at a gym in retention and i know alot of other gym owners and i feel like it could hurt you in the long run also because if they find out you are training someone not as a trainer hired there you never know if someone you would potentional want to work for may find out and it could look bad. I would say maybe tell them you would love to train them but for respect of the facility it would be at your place of work and if they want to be trained at that gym direct them to their trainers.
Hi Delmar. You sound like a person wanting to ‘do the right thing.’ In this instance, the ‘right thing’ is not to try to train under the table. While some might get away with it, if something should happen, you could find yourself in a world if legal trouble, not to mention the damage to your reputation as a fitness professional. I always say, do things the right way, which in this instance would be to ask the management of the gym if training there would be possible. You can make it a win-win by doing a fee-share with the gym. That way, those clients who want to train, get to train with you, you get a fee, the gym keeps satisfied clients and makes a small revenue to boot. Everyone is happy!
I hope that this helps.
LaRue, CSCS
www.lecfitness.com
Hi Delmar,
Karin is correct. Also, keep in mind that if something goes wrong and you injure who ever you train there, you will be liable for a lawsuit and the gym as well. I know there are trainers who like to do this kind of business, but there is a reason why gyms don’t allow other trainers to train their members and it’s not only because they are losing revenue, but from a legal point as well.
Best,
Harris