Rhythm Time Franchises for Women Vicky Taramasco

Ideal second income franchise business.

Rhythm Time As a Career Change

I started training as a Registered General Nurse in 1988 and moved to work at Birmingham Children’s Hospital in 1993. Over the next 5 years I trained as a paediatric oncology nurse. By the time I left in 2002 I was a sister running the high dependency unit of the oncology/ haematology ward.

Why leave a job that is reasonably well paid/ secure and a large amount of job satisfaction?

I had come to the point in my career where I had reached all my goals. Somebody said to me that this was now my lot for life; unless I moved into management I could not go higher. I was not prepared to stay in a job for the rest of my working life where you gave 100% and didn’t get the financial rewards for it.

There were also other issues. I had burn out from working with sick and dying children, my family needed me at home more and I had always wanted to be my own boss. When my eldest son started school, the NHS could not meet my needs regarding working hours to allow me to pick up him up from school, and be around more in the holidays - so I started looking for a change.

Why a music franchise?

It was suggested to me by a friend, as I had a love and skill for working with children and I was a “people” person. I had also been involved in music for all of my school life, and at the time sang in one of the Birmingham Choirs. As soon as the idea was put to me, I knew it was the way forward.

Why Rhythm Time?

I spent some time researching all the music franchises around but as soon as I came across Rhythm Time I knew it was the one. Rhythm Time provides an excellent, well thought-out programme for the children, with all the right training and support. The most important thing is the material that is used in classes, and Rhythm Time out-shone the others ten fold. There are three different age-appropriate courses. All the training is given to enable you to teach the courses.

Rhythm Time was also the only franchise that offered a computer programme to help you run your business, which has proven to be excellent.

How did I get started?

For my first term with Rhythm Time I ran 5 classes and continued to nurse. I was in a position that I needed to have a certain income and I wanted to test the water to see if this was going to work. After one very successful term of 5 full classes I handed in my notice (just in time for Christmas – I had never had a Christmas off through the whole of my working life!), increased the classes to 15, and I was off. From this point I made enough money to replace my part – time nursing wage. I now have 53 classes and over 600 children booked into classes. I have 5 teachers working for me and 4 assistants. It has taken me three years to get to this point, although most of that growth was in the first two years.

How has running Rhythm time fitted in around a family?

Rhythm Time is a great job to have with a young family. You can be around during the day time and do paperwork in the evenings when they are in bed. I only teach on one day of the week at the moment and spend the rest of my time doing paperwork/ demonstrations or with my family.

Rhythm Time also has the benefits that it is term-time only, so during the school holidays you are free to spend time with the family.

I have even managed to have a baby and keep the business going. I am fortunate in having a very good team of staff and a very supportive husband.

Vicky Taramasco – September 2005