1 Lost Cheer Mom

[1lostcheermom]

Nice Explaination of some basic safety rules & basic terms

[1lostcheermom]

Fundraising

If you didn't know you will very quickly learn, All-Star cheerleading is not a cheap endeavor. Gym fees, uniforms, shoes, bows, make-up, competition fees, travel, hotels...it all adds up, quickly.  Our costs not including the costs associated with travel are around $2000/year/child.

One way we offset the cost is by fundraising.  The most popular way is by working a booth at various concerts and sporting events.  Several of the big catering companies (Sodexo, Aramark) have contracts with the various arenas around town and use us parents as slave labor.  We get paid anywhere from $25 - $100/event.  Average pay is $50.  Sometimes we are allowed to have a tip jar and if there are only 4 of us working a big event like Rock on The Range or a Kenny Chesney concert we can clear $50 in tips on top of the money paid to our accounts.  

I have to admit it's my least favorite way to raise money, it sometimes can involve long days and then add the stress of having to make sure you're not selling alcohol to underage people AND just dealing with people (usually drunk ones).  But in a weekend you can knock $50 - $200 off of your gym account, which makes it worth the occasional sacrifice.

[1lostcheermom]

In The Beginning God Created Cheer Moms

I know I am not alone out there.   I am a mom to All-Star Cheerleaders.  I am not nor have I ever been a cheerleader.  I actually used to stare in stunned amazement when I saw the cheerleaders at the convention center with their "covering too little" outfits and way too much over the top eye glitter.

But my youngest fell in love with a team at The Arnold Classic then convinced her sister to also join the team.  So I entered a world filled with glitter, bows and spanks.

I have managed to successful stumble my way through two cheer seasons without making my kids look like utter fools and wanted to share my experience and some things I have learned along the way with you!