The Prefect Gym

[DustyMillar]

So Iv'e had a dream for many years now of opening up a gym commercially. I took the first tentative steps about 18 months ago and started a x-fit box for my self and a couple of mates. As of to-day I'm the only one still training, I'm only glad I don't have a huge rent to cover.

This is increesingly on my mind of late and am seriously thinking of getting into bed with the bank ! There are a few minor hurdles to clear, DO I HAVE THE BALLS TO LEAVE MY JOB, RISK THE SECURITY AND THE FINACHAL FUTURE OF MY FAMILY ?

I know a couple of enginers so getting equipment and some things welded up wouldn't be a problem, I could save some money here I think but haven't properly looked into it.

The above problems not outstanding, money, equipment, premises, out fitting, staff ( Me ), insurance, all round general know how !

There is something you guys can help with, PLANNING !

WHAT IS IN YOUR DREAM GYM ?

Let me give you what I've been thinking,

GYM FLOOR
power cage X6
squat rack X3
flat bench press X4
incline bench press X2
"T" bar row X1
assisted chin and dip machine X2
preacher curl bench X1
standard bench X2
incline decline bench X2
adjustable incline sit up board X2
dumbell's 10kg - 50kg pairs in 2.5kg increments
chin up bar X6
dip bars X4
GHD device X2
Treadmill X4
rower X4
15' rope climb X4
6614lbs /3000kg weight's plus micro plates
1000lbs test olympic bars

REHAB ROOM
sauna
hot tub
ice bath
masseuse

There you have it guys would you train here ? What else would you like to see or use ?
This may just be a pipe dream but maybe just maybe ?
You never know what the future brings.

[LeonidasfromSparta]

So Iv'e had a dream for many years now of opening up a gym commercially. I took the first tentative steps about 18 months ago and started a x-fit box for my self and a couple of mates. As of to-day I'm the only one still training, I'm only glad I don't have a huge rent to cover.

This is increesingly on my mind of late and am seriously thinking of getting into bed with the bank ! There are a few minor hurdles to clear, DO I HAVE THE BALLS TO LEAVE MY JOB, RISK THE SECURITY AND THE FINACHAL FUTURE OF MY FAMILY ?

I know a couple of enginers so getting equipment and some things welded up wouldn't be a problem, I could save some money here I think but haven't properly looked into it.

The above problems not outstanding, money, equipment, premises, out fitting, staff ( Me ), insurance, all round general know how !

There is something you guys can help with, PLANNING !

WHAT IS IN YOUR DREAM GYM ?

Let me give you what I've been thinking,

GYM FLOOR
power cage X6
squat rack X3
flat bench press X4
incline bench press X2
"T" bar row X1
assisted chin and dip machine X2
preacher curl bench X1
standard bench X2
incline decline bench X2
adjustable incline sit up board X2
dumbell's 10kg - 50kg pairs in 2.5kg increments
chin up bar X6
dip bars X4
GHD device X2
Treadmill X4
rower X4
15' rope climb X4
6614lbs /3000kg weight's plus micro plates
1000lbs test olympic bars

REHAB ROOM
sauna
hot tub
ice bath
masseuse

There you have it guys would you train here ? What else would you like to see or use ?
This may just be a pipe dream but maybe just maybe ?
You never know what the future brings.
Are you kidding me? I would give my left nut to train in a gym like that. My previous gym had no squat/power rack, so i did Front Squats taking the bar from the bench press! I really like your idea. The only thing that I've never wanted or needed is the sauna (I think its useless). I would add some exercise bike, and cut a little bit on the chin-up and dip bars (from 6 to 3, and from 4 to 2) given the fact that you can do chin-ups on the power rack. Other from that I think you have covered it all. Hope it all works out!

[simonsky]

my advice:substitute the decline bench for some prowlers

[Kyle Aaron]

I thought this one (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-DDCjuJzhs) looked not bad.

[gzt]

A Prefect Gym would need a towel, a hitchhiking thumb, and a Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster

[Dastardly]

my advice:substitute the decline bench for some prowlers

+1

As per Rip's opinion, decline bench press is inferior to all those dip bar you have so why bother to have it?

I also think all the squat racks in addition to power racks is a little unnecessary. If you set up at least half of the power racks with a platform in front (like rip does) it gives people the option to squat either inside or outside the rack. Squat tend to be fiddly to rack the bar, and you usually have to use them facing a wall or mirror which is also off-putting.

This setup is also useful as I see you have not included any squat stands.

You should not have assisted dip/pull up machines. They are a wast of money and space, consider providing bands or staff to assist people if they need.

Im also wondering how many movable benches you are going to include, so people can bench inside the rack if they want to? If you supply enough it may also reduce the need to have separate incline bench press stations. Which are probably more expensive than a power rack and take up more space.

If you do not have much "benching inside the rack" provision I suggest you have more flat bench press stations. In my experience a lot more people go to gyms to bench than to squat. Try to make sure that some of your equipment is compatible with bands for people doing the whole "louie simmons" thing. Also have some chains.

You should definitely have a prowler and possibly some other conditioning/strongman stuff like Tyres/sloshpipe.

A couple heavy punch bags, some grappling mats and some gymnastic rings might be sweet.

A large scaffold frame for pull ups like they have in crossfit facilities would be good. But you should still have somewhere to do super-wide neutral grip versions because BB'ers love them.

You also need much heavier Dumb Bells, I know a 60kg kid that does shoulder press with 50kg dumb bells. Imagine the heavyweight powerlifter type guys, up it to 80kg.

[ColoWayno]

A Prefect Gym would need a towel, a hitchhiking thumb, and a Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster

hahahaha!

[knkavo]

... and a Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster

The perfect PWO drink

[LondonTiger]

There is a huge differene between reality and dream.

I have a home gym and have the most basic of things just to do SS.

If money wasn't a big object and I could go to any gym I wanted.. I would pay £150 per month and go to this "health club" http://www.thethirdspace.com/

It has all the little classes to attract cute skinny girls, and has a boxing ring, swimming pool, weightlifting stands to name a few.

The atmosphere is very luxurious, and has compelmentry towels, refreshments, etc..

However I'm sure you're aware this isn't really viable.

I guess if you've just got a xfit box right now, and have no paying members to your gym.. Then you'll have to borrow a shitload of money to get the gym..


Things like ice baths, masseuse, 1000lb test olympic bars etc are unencessry for a commrical gym.. and will be expensive.

Nobody has microplates because they are expensive as fuck for what they are, and they get nicked.

[TomF]

I'd keep all the cages, but lose the squat racks. And in their place substitute in a couple of dedicated OLY lifting platforms with a goodly supply of bumpers.

Realistically, most of the people in most gyms are still going to be doing bodybuilding movements, but the only way OLY lifts are going to be done widely is to have the space dedicated to them.

[gzt]

squat stands are nice to have around. small footprint. you compete off of a stand, too.

[gman]

A while back, someone asked rip's opinion on opening a gym. It may be worth your time to google the website to find his response.

[LondonTiger]

A while back, someone asked rip's opinion on opening a gym. It may be worth your time to google the website to find his response.

yep, very inciteful post..

http://www.startingstrength.com/resources/forum/showthread.php?t=16130&highlight=frustrated

[MAD9692]

squat stands are nice to have around. small footprint. you compete off of a stand, too.

+1. For someone looking to reduce costs and save space a few squat stands would be beneficial. Of course they can't take the place of a PC, but for a third of the price you can set a few of them up. I prefer doing OLY assistance stuff (push presses, jerks, etc) with a stand and bumpers.

[gzt]

yeah, and there's no point in tying up the power rack just to do presses, you know? or even just to do squats if they're light weights or you have spotters. like I said, small footprint. also portable.

[gzt]

Also, might as well have a monolift if you have space. While I'm philosophically opposed to them, I would want strong people at the gym, and some of them might compete where they use monolifts and need to get in some practice. This one isn't terribly important, though.

Also, strongman implements. At the least, stones, farmer's bars, thick bars, log.

Also one of those platforms you can attach bands to for deadlifts. Some people really like banded deadlifts.

And pan galactic gargle blasters. Spell your thread titles right.

[Santisua]

squat stands are nice to have around. small footprint. you compete off of a stand, too.

Hey, at my gym they have that Bench/Squat stand combo. Why not get 2 of those? You can take off the bench part and use the stands for squatting.

[DustyMillar]

Spell your thread titles right.

look I have dyslexia and sometimes I make mistakes, sue me. (spell check doesn't work on titles )

A larger response than I expected. A few guys are talking about " prowlers " I don't think I've heard of them what are they?

( don't say people who sneak round your house in the middle of the night )

Also just to clear something up in the OP I mentioned
incline/decline bench with this I mean an fully adjustable bench not a pressing station.

Thanks for the link to the other post about opening a gym. Very helpful.

LIKE I SAID AT THE MIN THIS IS ALL ACADEMIC BUT SINCE IT WOULD BE LIFTERS COMING IN, WHO BETTER TO ASK !

[DustyMillar]

Just figured out a "prowler" is a SLED. D-Oh

[gzt]

No, a prowler is not a sled, it's like a sled on 'ROIDS. it's like twice as awesome.

[Santisua]

No, a prowler is not a sled, it's like a sled on 'ROIDS. it's like twice as awesome.

Quoted for truth

[IlPrincipeBrutto]

Hi Dusty,

there is something here that jars me.
You are asking the people on this board about what their dream gym would look like, and you are getting a lot of answers. But the people on this board represent only a minority of all the potential customers for a gym. If you look at a normal, commercial gym, you will find only a handful of people training with big, compound lifts.

So the replies here represent the perfect gym for a very tiny slice of the general population. A gym like the one described so far will attract a bunch of very dedicated individuals, but probably scare off the majority who are only interested in cardio stuff or pilates.

My point is that if you really want to take this exercise from the academic to the real world, make sure you know what your market his, and what sells. Alternatively, make sure that by catering only to a dedicated minority you will still have the income to make the operation viable.

Apologies if all this was already obvious. And good luck.

IPB

[gamedog]

The gym I go to is provided by the client, on-site here. I'm lucky, because there's a decent squat rack there, olympic bars, and TONS of black iron. That nobody uses.

I'm serious. I've been going there for four months solid now the only other time I saw somebody at the rack he wasn't lifting, he'd put the bar up there about waist height, and he was stretching his leg out like a ballerina. That's it.

I'm all alone. I'm the only one there who does compound lifts. And everybody looks at me like I'm fucking lunatic. but they leave me alone.

My dream gym would be a squat cage, olympic bars and plenty of iron, and a bench in my garage. Maybe a pair of rings. I could turn up Celtic Frost, Black Flag or Clutch to maximum volume on the stereo, instead of using my headphones and my iPod, and that would be it. The radio station they leave on in the gym at work always plays the same Rush and Guns N Roses songs, and REO Speedwagon all the fucking time. It sucks. Sometimes I can't turn my iPod up loud enough.

One day...

[DustyMillar]

@ IPB thanks for posting.
I know you are talking sense But if it ever happens it will be a relatively small affair. There is no way in hell I would ever compete with the local " Fitness First" or council run leisure centre. Not in my life time would I ever raise the £300,000 investment even if I wanted to copy their business model.

If it ever happens it would probably be for semi serious lifters only, perhaps a private BarBell club could be an option.

[Dastardly]

@ IPB thanks for posting.
I know you are talking sense But if it ever happens it will be a relatively small affair. There is no way in hell I would ever compete with the local " Fitness First" or council run leisure centre. Not in my life time would I ever raise the £300,000 investment even if I wanted to copy their business model.

If it ever happens it would probably be for semi serious lifters only, perhaps a private BarBell club could be an option.


Whereabouts are you?

If its not too far id be happy to help.

[NolanPower]

My ideal gym would be:
Squat Rack
Platform
Forza Bench
Self Retracting Mono Attachment for squat rack used to unrack bench presses
ghr
reverse hyper
inclinde bench
decline bench
dip/pullup station
Texas Power Bar
Eleiko Weightlifting Bar
190 kg bumpers 4x25 2x 20 2x 15 2x 10
18x 45 lb plates
2x 25 "
4x 10 "
2x 5 "
2x 2.5 "
2x 1.25 "
2.5kg collars for each bar
stereo system to blast loud rap music
located in my home in a place with central air and eat

I plan to one day have this in my home

[PVC]

I don't think it's fair for Prefects to get their own gym.

[TrackJunkie]

Like they'd ever use it. I can't think of a single built looking wizard in the Harry Potter series.

What is it with culture and making a taboo out of muscle?

[PVC]

What is it with culture and making a taboo out of muscle?

I would like to know the answer to this question as well. It wasn't always this way.

[gamedog]

I would like to know the answer to this question as well. It wasn't always this way.

I believe it has everything to do with feminism.

Valerie Solanas wrote a book many years ago, shortly after the Women's Lib. movement kicked off, called SCUM Manifesto. It called for male gendercide.

Her view, and the view of many other feminists (and it ranges in grandiosity from minor to completely-fucking-extreme) is that men are, in essence, emotionally-crippled, brutish rapists. On the "minor" hand, feminists believe that men are opressive brutes and on the "completely-fucking-extreme" end, which Solinas occupied, men are murdering, raping brutes who destroy everything we touch.

Many years later, what do we have? Metrosexuals. Twilight. Hair product. Men who cry. The so-called "Sensitive New Age Guy." Completely non-threatening males one and all.

This is not an accident.

I think Tyler Durden said it best when he said "We're a nation of men raised by women..."

Just my opinion.

[travelgirl1978]

Many years later, what do we have? Metrosexuals. Twilight. Hair product. Men who cry. The so-called "Sensitive New Age Guy." Completely non-threatening males one and all.

Not all of us are happy about this.

[gzt]

Men who cry.
Hey! This only happens after squats. Maybe deadlifts.

[lanky]

Checkout Lee Gerney's garage gym.

http://www.elitefts.com/documents/lee_gerney.htm



http://www.elitefts.com/images/PICTURES/Lee-Gerney/LG-1.jpg

[gamedog]

Not all of us are happy about this.
I feel like such a chauvanist for saying this, but fuck it, I'm going to anyway because you raise a valid point.

My wife and I wake up on Saturday morning. We've planned to go to the all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet, with a tentative arrival of 11AM. This is how the morning happens:

8AM -- We both get out of bed, I take the dog out to do her business and then feed her her breakfast. My wife sits on the sofa watching television.

8:15 -- I am in the shower.

8:25 -- all washed and clean, I am now brushing my teeth

8:30 -- deodorant is on, I am dressed, and now I, and my dog, are sitting on the sofa watching television. My wife is now in the shower.

8:50 -- my wife is out of the shower and is walking around the living room in a towel complaining about her co-workers

9:15 -- my wife is now trying on different combinations of jeans and shirts, modeling them for me, asking me if she looks okay, etc.

10 -- my wife is brushing her teeth, doing her make-up and hair, etc.

10:45 -- my wife is changing out of the outfit she selected, into something else

11:15 -- we're on the road

11:45 -- we're at breakfast and my wife is asking me if I'm feeling okay today because I only had two plates of bacon, biscuits and sausage gravy (I don't eat "clean" on Saturdays at brunch, hence the biscuits)

She's a woman, as such, I expect that her personal grooming, preening, etc. is going to take an inordinately long time. I am a man and my wife is also a reasonable (and that is key here) woman, and as such, she expects that I will be done getting ready in no time at all, that I will have thrown on "whatever's clean" to wear and I will then be available to listen to her vent about whatever's pissing her off at that moment, and to critique her outfits with honest criticism when she thinks she looks fat in her jeans.

We never make it to brunch on time, but who the fuck cares, it's Saturday. That's the way we do things, and it's worked out pretty well so far.

If I took as long in the bathroom as she does, getting ready, doing my hair, preening, and then writing everything that bothers me down in a diary, and not throwing a plate or two across the kitchen because the fucking dish washer is broken again, she'd probably make me see a shrink.


Hey! This only happens after squats. Maybe deadlifts.
Or when you bury your dog... It happens LOL

[Monster]

can't tell if this idea is a fantasy or not

if not you need a biz plan more than an equipment list

for that see Nolan

why don't you ask Johnny Pain how much money he's making

I think he runs the kind of gym you want

[JStrong]

I gotta say, don't do it.

I work with a lot of business owners, every damn day, and you shouldn't open up a gym because you're thinking about it, only if you MUST do it, for some weird inner drive.

I have a saying I came up with after working with hundreds of small, local business owners:

"Half of the people who own their own businesses do it because they're unemployable."

This is funny, but it is not a joke. If you're not unemployable, or fanatically driven, punch the clock at your shitty job.

Not very motivational, I know.

[Gwynn]

I believe it has everything to do with feminism.

Valerie Solanas wrote a book many years ago, shortly after the Women's Lib. movement kicked off, called SCUM Manifesto.

Ok this thread is about the Prefect Gym, not about feminism. BUT - reading the SCUM Manifesto and deciding what feminism looks like in 2010 is like reading Yvonne Rainer's NO Manifesto and deciding what modern dance looks like in 2010. By the way, Rainer eventually left dance entirely and went and made films instead. The SCUM Manifesto is only important if you are studying history - in which case you won't start there, you'd probably start in 1792 with Wollstonecraft.


I feel like such a chauvanist for saying this...
...She's a woman, as such, I expect that her personal grooming, preening, etc. is going to take an inordinately long time. I am a man and my wife is also a reasonable (and that is key here) woman, and as such, she expects that I will be done getting ready in no time at all...

There is nothing chauvinistic about what you are saying here. What would be chauvinistic would be 1) devaluing your wife for her differences and 2) assuming all women act the same way and devaluing all women based upon your assumption.

[TomC]

Hey! This only happens after squats. Maybe deadlifts.

Ha!

[Scott_Robison]

That dude's got a lat pull-down machine in there! Also, wtf with the matching black and red paint job? Studies have shown that a) black & red is the most aggressive color combination and b) it is THE favorite combo of serial killers. Just sayin'.

[gordonrumble]

OP, the gym you have in mind would be fun to own but would probably not be profitable. Most people like spinning classes, treadmills, aerobics classes and machines. They equate shiny equipment with value. I'm not sure that your more demanding hardcore black iron gym would have many customers.

Maybe you could write a book like Rip to make up the difference.

[Marotta]

Many years later, what do we have? Metrosexuals. Twilight. Hair product. Men who cry. The so-called "Sensitive New Age Guy." Completely non-threatening males one and all.

My high school is having Prom this week, There are guys getting manicure/pedicures and going to tanning booths, it disgusts me. I'm tempted to show up after training with out showering in a shirt and shorts, sweaty with chalked up hands to balance the Testosterone:Estrogen ratio

[Alex Willess]

Good call on the chalk, you don't want your hands to be too calloused for your dates sake. Maybe a 70's Big t-shirt would be make a good dress shirt as well. And most importantly, don't forget your lifting shoes. The Kanama is a damn good looking shoe, but for the extra testosterone I would go with a Rip Boot. Belt is a must.

[DustyMillar]

Whereabouts are you?

If its not too far id be happy to help.

Thanks for the offer Dastardly I'm about 30-45 min away.
Unfortunately this is by plane, I'm in Northern Ireland.

[LeonidasfromSparta]

My high school is having Prom this week, There are guys getting manicure/pedicures and going to tanning booths, it disgusts me. I'm tempted to show up after training with out showering in a shirt and shorts, sweaty with chalked up hands to balance the Testosterone:Estrogen ratio
Are you serious? Guys getting manicure/pedicures and going to tanning booths? The world is falling apart, and when the zombie breakout happens they'll be the first to be eaten. And then we eat the zombies. We need a lot of protein right?

[Marotta]

Are you serious? Guys getting manicure/pedicures and going to tanning booths? The world is falling apart, and when the zombie breakout happens they'll be the first to be eaten. And then we eat the zombies. We need a lot of protein right?

I wish it was a joke...

But your positive outlook on things is a much better was of looking at it

[jameson]

@ IPB thanks for posting.
I know you are talking sense But if it ever happens it will be a relatively small affair. There is no way in hell I would ever compete with the local " Fitness First" or council run leisure centre. Not in my life time would I ever raise the £300,000 investment even if I wanted to copy their business model.

If it ever happens it would probably be for semi serious lifters only, perhaps a private BarBell club could be an option.

One of the last things they drove home in business school is that you a.) build around an already strong business model and hide until you have the assets to compete (think K-Mart vs Wal-Mart) or b.) create an entirely new business model targeting other model's weaknesses. I think Johnny Pain is on to something... He's kinda done both.