Tips for Budding Entrepreneurs: Bridget Bailey of the Bridget Bailey Dance Company
By: Jasmine Spells
Tags: Business Owner, Diversity And Inclusion, Founder Stories, Entrepreneur

We recently sat down with Bridget Bailey, owner and creative director of the Bridget Bailey Dance Company, (BBDC) located in Atlanta GA. With dance being such an amazing outlet for children, teens, and adults, Bridget's studio allows all ages to learn and express their individuality through the different styles she offers. Being in business for years has provided Bridget with tools and skills that can be passed down to future business owners. She provides future business owners with some helpful tips and advice that can help get you started.

Founder & Creative Director of the Bridget Bailey Dance Company, (BBDC), Bridget is a native of New Orleans, LA. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts — Dance from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (ULL) in 2012. In 2014, she received her Master’s Degree in Public Administration for Non-Profits from Kennesaw State University (KSU).

Bridget has over 15 years of teaching experience in both Louisiana and Atlanta, GA. BBDC has been in operations for 5 years. She teaches Ballet, Hip Hop, Jazz, Modern, Fitness, and Cheer from ages 5 to adults. BBDC also has a performance company (The Krewe of BBDC) that dances for music videos in the industry, live events, and parties.

Why did you decide to start your own business?

“I decided to open my dance studio to give adults an opportunity to learn professional dance classes but at a slower pace than most studios in the Atlanta area. Most studios in general are geared towards children. The studios that are for adults are for professionals in the industry that are much more advanced. I wanted to give the average adult a laid-back space to learn where there is no pressure or intimidation, all while having fun!”

What are some things you wish you’d known before starting your business?

“I wish I knew more about social media algorithms. A lot of business comes from marketing on social media. The more you know the system, the greater you can benefit from it. Essentially it is free marketing that you should take advantage of.”

Bridget is not alone in experiencing this challenge. The majority of Black-owned businesses in the US are sole-proprietorships. This is often a result of a lack of access to funding, something that is also a common barrier for underrepresented founders. As a result, Black entrepreneurs often find themselves lacking the time or funds to focus on marketing, or to hire someone to do the job.

We asked Bridget about her experiences with accessing finance as well:

How did you go about funding your business?

“When I first started my company, I was 100% self-funded with no external resources. I always knew I wanted to open a dance studio, so I started a savings account early on. I was also a grant recipient of the Beyonce NAACP awards as well as receiving a Lowes grant during the pandemic.”

Bridget has received two grants over the past year but is for the most part still entirely self-funded 5 years into her business, a common trend amongst Black founders. Being self-funded limits the extent to which a business can grow, as well as the range of its operations.

What are some challenges that you faced in your own business journey?

“The main challenge I have faced in my business is burnout. As a business owner, you wear many different hats. But it is important to find that balance to hire help when needed so you aren’t the person doing everything. I have not mastered this task yet because it’s hard to let go of control when you’ve worked so hard in the beginning stages.”

It’s no surprise that burnout is a common experience, given the stress of running a business solo, and without the needed financial resources.

From your experience, what are some reasons that we see Black-owned businesses struggling?