my experiences at other gyms and golds and being a trainer

by Jason
(los angeles, ca)

I do not know any gym that does not expect a trainer not to push sales. In fact world gym fires trainer's if the trainer is not making a quota per month for a minimum client amount, or new members lie and say they did not like the trainer just to avoid the pressure when signing up.

Everything is about money now days. Quality suffers and so does integrity.
I am too much of an honest person to con some one who tells me they are broke and working two jobs barely able to feed thier kids but want to loose weight. Most gyms force you to charge them an arm and a leg and the gym takes most of the money . You work for free bothering new members at thier home like a damn telemarketer literally, and you get people who do not show up .

See the gym's policy. A lot require them to pay first and cancelations or no shows they pay anyway.
Find a gym that pays the highest per hour not by client.

I also have worked for powerhouse gym and after two weeks of working for free I quit. The gym loved me, I was a good trainer but no one could afford thier outrageous prices. Make sure the gym is in a location where people have money also it helps.

Once you get your feet wet you go independant, then gold's gyms charge 350 a month for you to train anyone you please. Then you need insurance .

Point is you have to be a car salesman.
This industry is no longer about doing good service for people.
I see such lousy trainers out there who are only book smart...
I failed, nasm, ace, and this course the first take yet have been working out and training sinse I was a little boy, playing competative sports and doing martial arts and took up bodybuilding in the last few years.

I know more about certain exercises and what not to do than the instructors at these seminars.
BUT they are text book smart....they know the sales and percetages and statistical information and how to be a salesman and design programs.
Each course has its own method. There are a million names for this and that.... but once you learn all technical stuff you can have a certification and get your feet wet.

Anyway to wrap this up. Gold's gym wants money.
They do not care!!! who joins! as long as they get a person in there. The gym won't care if it looks like a busy aiport in there or people sit around on the machines talking . They do not care if you are there to train and others are not. In fact I have seen bodybuilders asked to leave gyms for making people who do not take a gym seriously uncomfortable.... sad but true.
When I think of gold's I picture venice beach and pumping iron. Those days are over and gold's got super commercial and plays crap on their radio and advertisements.

To work here you need to be a top gun hot shot. Gold's is the big name and the big leagues. they are still the place that arnold trained at and meathead friendy. Trainer's are expected to look super fit and be very cocky but friendly and know thier stuff.
A random member will walk up to you and ask a question. If you have an attitude then you will not last long as a trainer. People complain. You must be able to be a walking encyclopedia and look like a confident fitness freak or bodybuilder.
If thats for you great. If you do not like a dog eat dog atmosphere then this place is not for you at the same time.
I guess gold's is more of a weight training place than machines and being fit. You go to gold's to pump iron, train hard , get huge, and throw around heavy weight. So keep that in mind.


Good luck all of you and keep posting feedback.