267: Epic Poolside Shenanigans-Unleashing the Fun at Champions Run!
We hang out with Ben Lorenzen,
the Creative Director at Champions Run,
in our latest episode.
This episode was an absolute blast to record, becuase
we recorded live at Champions Run.
We soaked up all the energy and good vibes from
Ben and the amazing team at the club.
Get ready to hear the real deal on how to transform your club
into a destination that people can't resist.
We've got valuable insights, tons of laughs, and
stories that'll have you CRACKIN Up.
make sure to check out Ben on Linkedin,
he's always cooking up some entertaining content.
Don't forget to visit Champions Run online to
discover the mind-blowing programs and initiatives
they're rocking in the industry.
These guys are setting the bar high, and
you won't want to miss out on all the excitement.
So grab your floaties, tune in to this episode, and
let's make waves together!
It's time for some epic poolside shenanigans with
Ben Lorenzen and Champions Run!
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Hey everybody.Welcome to Private Club Radio.I'm your host,Denny Corby.Let's get it started.Welcome back to Private Club Radio.Thank you so much for joining everyone.I'm your host,Denny Corby Comedy Magician,the Club entertainer.If you're looking for fun entertainment for your club,a really fun experience.You call me,go to denny corby.com.You could check me out.Anyway,shameless plug,I am very excited about this episode because I got to go to Omaha,Nebraska.I was there going out for a corporate gig and Sean Lyle said,Hey,you have to talk to Ben Lorenzen over at Champions Run.And I reached out and the experience was absolutely amazing.So what you're gonna be hearing,and if you're watching on YouTube,you can,uh,watch it there if you'd like.But,uh,he,they set up their studio for me and we just had a great talk.So many good laughs and the experience there that I just had with Ben and Rachel.Just shows you and you'll hear how amazing their club is.They have something truly unbelievable going on at their club,the engagements and the families.It is such a cool ti I I I am borderline speechless because they are just absolutely killing it in my point of view.So,without further ado,I'm gonna get straight to the episode.This is me and Ben Lorenzen from Champions Run.I don't even know this.I was,I think I was just so surprised at how nice it was in the welcoming.Coming in,I was like,oh,
Ben Lorenzen:there were zero people here.Well,
Denny Corby:that,and then B,I've never had someone just be like,wear what you want.Yeah.
Ben Lorenzen:I was like,oh,we are very,very casual.I would say at Champions,it wasn't even
Denny Corby:so much,it was just,you turn the corner in yellow shorts.Just,
Ben Lorenzen:and that's,I mean,that's kind of the vibe we've always gone for is,I mean,we used to be that club that was like,oh,you have to wear like your,your golf tire.No hats in the restaurant.And like,we were like that.And then it was.I don't know.We had this like,I don't wanna call it a come to Jesus moment,but it was like,like,do,do we really want to be that?Like where you're having to go up to people and be like,Hey,uh,take your hat off in the restaurant.Even though like people wear hats,right?And so we just kind of like,I would say it was probably five years ago,we just changed that whole thing.We're just like,our dress codes become gonna become a more lax like people are coming from soccer games,they wanna be able to just like,come here.And the other like piece of it too is like you have these people who are like running these huge tech companies who like,they dress so casual at work and they're running these billion dollar companies.They expect their club to be the same way.We're like,what do you mean I have to wear a suit and jacket when I come for lunch?Like,no.And so we just kind of like,I don't know,we just changed the whole vibe of it now.
Denny Corby:Is this a member owned?Is this a,what
Ben Lorenzen:type of club is this?No,so it is a,it was a member owned,it's a developer owned club now.So I don't know,some people like,I guess don't give us as much like,you know,um,what I'm looking for.They don't take us as seriously cuz like,oh,well you're not a member owned club.So,you know,we're different in that sense that,you know,we have more rules and regulations and Yeah,that's true.But we also have,you know,we have a board of directors who,at the end of the day,you know,the developers.The,the owners are gonna have that final say,but our board of directors is very involved and,and they still have a say.And it's not like we don't have committees and things like that.So like we still are taking in our members'opinions and stuff,but ultimately,yeah,we're developer owned.No,
Denny Corby:that's still interesting.What was the member response like?Cuz you've been here for quite a while.Yeah.So what was the member response?Did you lose me?Like,what was,what was that time like?I,I think like,so I forgot,we're on camera now.I'm like,hey.
Ben Lorenzen:I think,I mean,like for us,like,it was kinda like,this is the direction we're gonna go.Do you want to be on the bus or do you not want to be on the bus?And like,there were people we lost,like,they were like,we need to be a traditional country club.And it's like,well,that's not what we're gonna be.Um,that's just not what we,who we are.And,and,uh,and so we did lose people,but now it's like you guys ain't got the people on the bus who want to be on the bus and.The other people just are gone.
Denny Corby:I think,I think it's a little hard to like fight the battles,like we're a traditional,but it's like Burlington co-factor is like right there in like eye view.Yeah,
Ben Lorenzen:exactly.Come on Martha.We need all those trees to grow in.So you can't see all the,the street traffic.But no,it's,I mean,that's just who we are and um,that's kind of a always been our vibe of like,this is who we are,this is who we want to be and we want to be more fun,more casual.Now there's still gonna be like rooms that are like,you're gonna get that more formal experience.But for the most part,I would say like,80%of our club is pretty like cash.Hmm.Sometimes we get a little in trouble for it,but you know,other times it's,we just,you know,flirt the line a little bit.Has that
Denny Corby:helped?So I'm just,I'm trying to wrap my head around everything now.Did you have a,a wait list?Like how has things progressed in your favor since doing this whole change?This is like a big thing.Yeah.Like shorts and a clothes like this is,Here are some members spinning in their urns right now?Oh yeah.
Ben Lorenzen:Like they are,cannot believe it.I think like when,when we started like,or this is just my perception too,like country clubs are always had this like mantra like they were for old people and like,you know,it's,I always describe it as like,I always thought like,and I personally thought,thought this,and I know it offends some people,but like I thought like country clubs like were replaced,like my grandparents went and that's where like,People went to live out their final days before they passed away.It's like,well,you know,I'm retired now.I'm gonna join the club so I can just live out my last15,20years of my life.And then when I got into this industry,I was like,oh boy,okay.It's way more than that.So,um,I thought then it just became like,you see it as more family centric and more fun and everything,but um,as far as like the wait list and stuff,like go that goes.I think our style of just how we are as a club that's made people want to be here.Obviously Covid made golf in general,just super at a high demand.And so everyone was benefiting off,you know,COVID,unfortunately,like,I mean like the industry of golf was just huge,right?And we all grew,every club.If you weren't growing as a golf course or a country club in Covid,like you were probably doing something wrong,unfortunately.And so,um,but now it's kind of leveling off,I think.And you're seeing people,those wait lists start to go away.I think people are starting to fight for those members cuz things are coming back.And so,um,I think now is more important than ever as far as like creative and,and figuring out like your identity and your culture and making sure your members stay right because we all benefit,we all thought we were doing some great thing,like,oh we're,we're kicking butt,right?And it's like,no,actually there was just a pandemic and golf was the only thing deemed safe and.Um,I do,I do some stuff and talk,and I work with,uh,Steve Graves some creative golf marketing all the time.He's like,and he's always like,yep,we,our business is coming back,right?Clubs are needing members again.Um,because we were in this like time where it was just so weird where everyone was on wait list and stuff.Now it's not that,that way anymore,and he's got a great indication of like where it is and how like the industry is right now.So long-winded answer.
Denny Corby:No.Yeah.And,uh,your favorite color was what?
Ben Lorenzen:Orange all day.You can always know that.I'm always rocking orange,right,Rachel?Or is it?Yeah.Oh,they're orange shorts.They're not yellow.You know,it's,it's kind of one of those things like,are the sneakers blue or are they,what was that like little meme that was out?You know what I'm saying?Yeah.Uh,dress.Was it gray or blue?Yeah,gray or blue.And like it started a war amongst people.Like,no,it's blue.
Denny Corby:And that was pre pandemic too.That was,that would've happened during,there would've been a whole Netflix series on there.Oh my gosh.It would've been.So how long have you been at this club for?
Ben Lorenzen:10years.Oh,now?Yeah,a long time.
Denny Corby:Wow.Yeah,actually that's,that's,it's almost like five pre pandemic,five during ish.Yeah.
Ben Lorenzen:It really is.It's so crazy.I mean,you think like,we're almost three years past like March,2020,and it's wild to think about and where we've come and last three years and how things have changed.And for us,like going back to Covid,like Covid,Was an interesting time for us.It like really allowed us to be super creat.I don't think you get that any,like,you know,you'll never get an opportunity to be that creative ever again.
Denny Corby:Yeah.Uh,so I don't know if you know my background is in standup magic.Yeah.Comedy,all that stuff.So our thing is always limitations force creativity.Yeah.So everyone had to really.Step it up.Mm-hmm.Cause there were so many limitations.Now it's like,okay.Oh yeah.Exactly.
Ben Lorenzen:Everything's back open.You know,I heard So first time in Omaha.First
Denny Corby:time Omaha.I'm doing a show tomorrow for the University of Tennessee.Whoa.
Ben Lorenzen:That was loud.Listen,we
Denny Corby:know you like T Swizzle,but
Ben Lorenzen:University of Tennessee,but it's for
Denny Corby:a,uh oh.It's the University of Tennessee Healthy Schools'Initiative Program.That was a program put on,it was a five year program through the C D.C funded it.It was16th states.Wow.It was this whole thing,and this is like their wrap up.And that brings you to Nebraska.So they were like,Hey,listen,we are going to be throwing an event.And they told me all about it.So I was like,okay,so you're gonna bring me in for this government evening where because it's government related,there's gonna be no alcohol supplied served or nearby.It's gonna be a buffet and a top it off.It's gonna be black tie,and you're gonna add magic to the end of all these people.
Ben Lorenzen:At least you don't have to do comedy.I feel like the comedy would be harder to do with people not let and loose as much.
Denny Corby:Oh no,I I,to me like that,like the humor in just the event alone.Yeah.Is like who at the end was like,how can we make this a little bit more difficult?Let's do black tie.You know what?It's hard enough for people to put on a suit.Let's do black tie sober.Oh my gosh.No,it's gonna be a good time though.That's awesome.It's.No,it's a great town.Just flew in.Yeah,nice airport.It reminds me of my airport and nice and small.
Ben Lorenzen:You're in,you're out,you're,yeah.You don't have to worry about TSA lines or anything like that.You just fly right through,which is pretty epic.How many members do you guys have?So we have550golf member families and then four,or I'm sorry,I'm sorry.Start over.450golf families and then500.So all in like a couple thousand,4,000maybe
Denny Corby:bull.That's awesome.Yeah,it's pretty wild.
Ben Lorenzen:And are most of them local?Yeah,I'd say like90,95%are.Um,we have some non-resident i'd I'd say,but yeah,most of'em are local.So
Denny Corby:what's been some of the bigger accomplishments that you've been proud of here?
Ben Lorenzen:Um,ooh,that's a tough question.Um,I think how we handled Covid was just our team in general.How like we responded.It was,I mean,I don't wanna say we were the first,but I feel like we were the first to really go with like the to-go food,the ordering,all that stuff like March.Like it was like March,like21st.Like we already had a to-go menu with online ordering.Like we didn't rely on like our North Star application to do it for us.We're like,we have to build something,right?So like,We started really,really early,um,into Covid with a lot of our takeout and our virtual stuff.And the way our team responded to that was just amazing.Um,like hearing,like kegs moving,my headset saying,um,that I would say very like proud.And then,um,just like our,our aquatics operation,our team,our team here at Champions,we just have a good butt.Um,and then the idea Fair.So,have you been to the cma?I love the idea.Fair.I just like,it was like when I started in this industry like nine,10years ago,like,and I was first exposed to cma.I was like,I wanna win every category.And the CMA idea fair.Like,even though it's like,not like,I mean,it's cool,but like,I'm like,I just wanna win every category.And so we've knocked out a good chunk of the categories and I hope that,um,kind of wrap it full circle and get everything.It's a weird,weird goal of mine.But yeah,I really
Denny Corby:hope there's like one club listening or one like club professional.Yeah.Who's gonna go figure out which ones you have,which ones you don't have,and then fight you on the ones that you don't have.I know.Oh,you need two more?
Ben Lorenzen:We need buckle up.We need to look at the list and see like which ones we're still missing.Um,but yeah,and so it's,it's always a fun thing.It's always fun cuz you're like,I should have won that one.How do we win this one but not this one?And it's like,ah.But.No,it's,it's kind of like a fun thing that,you know,we look forward to every year.And I think that's one of my favorite things about like World Conference in general is just the idea fair.Because it's not just what we submit,but it's like all the clubs,like you're seeing the best club ideas,like in the industry and it's,it's fun to like see what people are doing and like,Hey,how can I steal that and make it better,or like,make it our way or
Denny Corby:our going back a little bit.Cause I like the model a little,you know,the,the casualness.Mm-hmm.What.Have been some of the No questions.A bad question.There's not dumb questions.It's only dumb people.It's,
Ben Lorenzen:I like that one.A teacher told
Denny Corby:me that once and I went home,but I was so happy.Yeah.Because in my head I was like,I have a dumb question.Like there's no dumb questions.It's just dumb people.And I was like,oh,thank goodness.And I went home and like told my mom.I was like,I'm,I'm off to a good start.I love that.But I was so oblivious,like I didn't even realize it was like a backhanded come,um,No,but like,you know,you,you've,sounds like there's a pattern of taking some changes here.Mm-hmm.Does that,how,how is your leadership like,because normally it boils down from there.Like it has to like trickle,like goes from the top.Yeah.Because even if the top,even if the top is,you know,amazing,but if their next level down isn't fully Yeah.In the,so.It must,you must have
Ben Lorenzen:great leadership here.Yeah,so Andy reets,our general manager and ceo,he,uh,I mean he started here probably six,seven years ago,so a little bit after I started.And I mean,his,our philosophy has always been like,if you want to hit the ball,like you have to swing the bat.So like a good baseball analogy.And so like,there's gonna be times where we grew up and we miss swinging a miss,you know,but there's other times where it's like,we're will,we're willing to risk failure,like for something good to happen.And so,There's been like plenty of screwups like we've had,and I've had personally where he is like,well,you know,you swung the bet and you,you missed,right?And so that's always kind been the philosophy that we've had.And it's paid off for
Denny Corby:how many times have you been hit by a pitch?
Ben Lorenzen:As in like,I screwed up bad
Denny Corby:actually,no.It,it can't be.If you walked into it,maybe that's,
Ben Lorenzen:no,I'm kidding.Yeah,no,I,I mean we've,I've,I've screwed up like multiple times,right?Like people see like the fun stuff that we promote,like,look at this good stuff.Like,and it's like,cool,cool,cool.But what they don't see is like all the failures that go with it too.No one ever like showcases their failures that much,like.We've had plenty of'em.And so,you know,I'll show you the splash park later on,but like,people ask like,what was like your biggest mistake?And um,for whatever reason,I had to pick the colors of our splash park and sign off on it.Like,it's like paint.Like I do not want to pick the pink.When my wife wants to paint something,I'm like,great,go choose it.Like we had to pick DExT stain last night.I'm like,I don't want to decide.Like,you just pick and I'll be happy with it.So I had to sign off on the splash park colors and basically everything that you see on our splash park,that's blue.Showed up gray,like,like basically like the,those chairs over there.Like gray as I'm like,or actually,no,that,that one's better.That one,like the little hutch thing right there.That's a better gray.And I was like,that is not the color I signed off.I like picked blue and they're like,no,you signed off on pigeon blue,which is really gray.And it was a$30,000mistake.Oh boy.That's a lot of paint.It is a lot of paint.They had to send every water slide back to remake the water slide.Like water slides in plural,like three of
Denny Corby:em.I,I wish,I wish you could have had video of the kids'faces as it was just
Ben Lorenzen:leaving.Yeah,I was.I mean,when they showed up,I'm like,that's not what I picked.And they're like,yes,you did.And we got in this big argument.I was like,And I'll have to show you the color swatch because it is a screwed up like color swatch.I'm like,that is not,no.And we agreed to disagree,but they gave us a little discount.Cause I think they admitted to some fault too.I was like,who in their right mind would pick that color?Like no one would pick that color.Who's mixing this?Who's mixing this color?Like,no.And like you'll see all of our pool chairs are blue as blue and I'm like,Wouldn't you think that the splash park would just matched the blue and,no,
Denny Corby:not first world country problems.Do you believe this?The
Ben Lorenzen:blues.The blues,yeah.But so,but that is an example of a swing and amiss really bad.
Denny Corby:Oh,no,I was just trying to see how,how,how you would responded to that question.Cause if you're a batter getting hit,no.Yeah.Uh,how,uh,
Ben Lorenzen:how many people work here?Uh,in season?I'd say we have about250.Yeah.Um,starting orientations today actually,and then summertimes are busy,busy month for,you know,like all the clubs,I'd say above like the United States equator line,like we're all,it's our season.And then,you know,all,I think all the south,like the Florida and the Arizona clubs all kind of go on there like,you know,slow,slow.So we're about to get in season,so about250employees.And then I'd say like outta season we're at like50to60.Yeah.So a good chunk.Still solid.Yeah,it's a good group of people.And I think the biggest thing with our team and our staff is like the,the years they've been here,they're tenure.Like,you know,a lot of people have been here20plus years and it shows,so
Denny Corby:they've also like watched the families grow up and it really creates a nice,
Ben Lorenzen:uh,that's literally probably,I would say like the best part about the club industry too,is that that exact concept is like being able to watch people,kids from.Born almost until like you're doing their graduation parties or doing their weddings.And so,and then unfortunately,no,like celebrations of life too,but um,you get to experience like the highs and the lows
Denny Corby:with Cool.Yeah.Must be fun watching someone grow up.Like,you turned out a lot better than I thought.You're
Ben Lorenzen:nothing like that.You do.Oh,I know.You do see some people you're like,ugh.And then they get better as they get older and you're like,all right,we're cool now.We're cool now.But I mean,you also kind of,I like to use it as like an opportunity to like,Sometimes teach life lessons to like the kids too.Like when they screw up,I mean,we make sure they know like,Hey,you know,it's good that you're screwing up at your country club because like if you screwed up like in the public,like you would be getting into a lot more trouble.Right.So,you know,being able to kind of teach lessons there too.
Denny Corby:What do you guys have for activities in the summer
Ben Lorenzen:for.Going on here,we pretty much do like any kind of camp you can imagine.So photography camp,like movie Camp Mermaid,camp,Navy Seals camp,like there is literally a camp for everything.Um,and we have our staff run'em.Um,it's really cool.And so like we don't focus just on golf,swim,and tennis.It's like,hey,what's all the auxiliary stuff that we do as well?And so,cause people are interested in things beyond those three,like what we would call country club sports.And so,Those are kind of the fun,the fun activities we do.Um,and then when you see our pool,like you'll see like it's,it's the place everyone wants
Denny Corby:to because the
Ben Lorenzen:colors are so much better than now.The colors are so much better now that they're not pigeon blue.
Denny Corby:I'm gonna paint something in my house now.Pigeon blue.Dude.It is literally
Ben Lorenzen:that gray right there,or,yeah.It's so bad.Oh no.You,at
Denny Corby:some point you will get a message from me in a picture,and it's gonna be something in my house.It's bad.Tainted pigeon blue.It's bad.
Ben Lorenzen:They shouldn't even have that as a color.
Denny Corby:I've never seen a pigeon that color before.For,for,for those of you listening,it is quite the color of
Ben Lorenzen:gray.It is bad.So I,I,I'll have to send you the picture of like the water slides showing up and being like,ah,good.
Denny Corby:So what's next for the club here?What's,uh,what's got you guys,
Ben Lorenzen:what's uh,so we just did our pro shop downstairs.Um,uh,we did our whole main level in2020.So,When Covid happened,we're like,well,let's just renovate the entire main level.Um,which was also scary cuz no one knew like what the outcome of Covid was gonna be.But it was like,all right,let's use it as an opportunity to do a renovation if no one's coming here anyways.So did that in2020.Um,uh,just finished the pro shop actually.I'd say it's like90%done.It's not all the way done.And then hopefully,hopefully don't hold me to this,but hopefully it'll be something with our like tennis complex.Hopefully there's so much
Denny Corby:leftover pigeon gray.
Ben Lorenzen:Yes,there's pigeon blue that they need to,we we're doing a,we're doing a little golf course,a little renovation too right now,so that's taking priority.And so hopefully after that,um,the tennis,a tennis courts are just old.They were built on asphalt,which if anyone's listening,like tennis courts that were built on asphalt like20years ago was done to save money.And after20years it all starts.Moving and making like a lava field.And they should have been built on con but they were saving,they were trying to save money from the day.
Denny Corby:Any like cool,like long-term projects.You guys are ex,I dunno why I pointed that one.
Ben Lorenzen:If we're gonna go expand and buy Burlington Coat Factory Home Goods?No.Uh,I don't know.Um,I would personally like,I don't know,but like,I would love,like an ICE program.I love like the Chevy Chase Club and.Some of the,the clubs up north that have like ice interlock and like big ice programs.Like I'm a,I play hockey and so like,that's a passion of mine and I would,uh,maybe have that available.Now we,we have a little ice rink that we fill up with water and just hope for the best.But,uh,like getting actual refrigerated ice would be sweet.What is the program like,like that run?Probably a lot of money.I mean,There's clubs like Carriage Club in Kansas City have like Zambonis,like two,I feel like two Zambonis or something.Yeah,same with like some of the clubs up north.And so I mean the cost of a Zambonis gotta be like30,40grand I would imagine maybe more.And then like the refrigeration piece of it.And so,I don't know,probably a lot of money.I want a Zamboni now just,it would be I,that would be a dream of mine would be just to be the Zamboni guy at Champions run just doing laps.Hey,it's Ben.
Denny Corby:We The Zamboni guy.The Zamboni guy.I don't know why,but I like this kind of elevated area right here.Cause I feel like if you get like a t-shirt gun,you can just
Ben Lorenzen:pick people off.Oh yeah.You'll,when you see the pool,like that's where,that's where we like the t-shirt cannon is.We have one,like it's epic.Oh,did you not know we had a T-shirt?No.Oh man.Well if you wanna fire it,we can shoot it later too.It's pretty fun.We'll go up on the roof and shoot some shorts.
Denny Corby:Do not even tent me.Do not even tempt me.Rachel,
Ben Lorenzen:it's in the lifeguard room,right?Why?Why is it out there?Okay.Someone We've never actually done it at the main,so we get on the roof of our fitness center,we get on the roof of our fitness center.We'll take our mascots up there.Sometimes we'll take some kids up there and like everyone,so we've,sounds bad.But yeah,it's super,she's super shady.Mascot kids,mascot kids.But,um,We've kind of trained,I would say we trained our members.So like it's all based on music.So when you hear a song,you know something's happening at Champion's Run.And so like there's key songs that we play for certain,what we call like rad promos.So radical,amped,and dangerous.We call the,that's our promo schedule.And so like,we'll play a song and so like the one that we do,our t-shirt,cannon Floor is Mr.Bright Side by the Killer.So when you hear that song,everyone starts like their eyes will shift up to the roof cuz they know that's where we're at.And then we just start firing off shirts and um,we attach like money to'em and like So people are like hotdog?Yeah,hotdog.We'll like load like three hotdog in the cannon and just blast.And it's funny cuz like the hotdogs will fly out the wrappers and people will still grab'em and like start smashing'em and stuff.Those are the best,we call it the kraken cannon.It's pretty good.So everyone loves it.Um,and it's got some like,It's got some fire power too.It's wild.So we'll let you shoot it when we get out
Denny Corby:there.I'm speechless right now.I am so excited.
Ben Lorenzen:Oh yeah.We probably need to do it out like in the courtyard for like a golf event or something.I guess.We've never really like,it's just that like small proximity.It always has the most people,so it's just like you're like aiming it this way and everyone cheers over there and then you aim it that way and everyone's,ah.You have like adults jumping over.Little kids like to get their shirt and it won't even be their size and they're like,darn it.
Denny Corby:I was just talking to a friend of mine about how excited people get for a free t-shirt.Oh yeah.Oh yeah.Do you,do you watch Parks and Rec?Oh yeah.I forget.I think it was Leslie's campaign or something.Uhhuh again.Ben and um,Aziz were talking about something and they're like,who wants a blue shirt?And everyone went like,berserk.But it's so true.You give away a shirt,people go absolutely
Ben Lorenzen:blank.We do this,uh,we call it the half court shot.And so like,kinda like you'd see at a basketball game where someone can like win free tuition,like,or something like that,or a car or whatever.We do it at the pool.And so we play,people know we do this when we play.Um,what is it,Rachel,pit Bull,fireball.Uh,fireball.And so when we play that song,we have one person shoot a half court shot,and they get the duration of a song.So they have like four minutes to basically make a basket.And if they make it,they win free like popsicles for every kid at the pool.And then they win free margaritas for all the adults at the pool.And so sometimes there's like,Two,300adults out there and they're all,you're taking
Denny Corby:bets on the kids.You're doing the first minute.
Ben Lorenzen:Yeah.And so like,it's like everyone wins,right?And so like,it's crazy,the pandemonium it causes,so when someone makes the half court shot,I've seen people who,like,these people make like2million a year.Like they are CEOs of like high level companies.They jump out of the pool and like run to the bar to get their free,like margarita,their nine ounce margarita.And it's so funny to watch.But people,it goes back to what you said,like people love free stuff and so,We always try to do promos like that,just like that,where everyone's engaged,everyone wins,and like everyone has their phones.Like,let's,
Denny Corby:let's go.It's gotta be so good for the club here.For promotion.Yeah.Just,that's what's such a good idea.The,the songs.That's great.That's so good.Wow.It,
Ben Lorenzen:it's,it's like we've always had the belief,like Rachel and I were,it's like people come to your pool to be entertained opposed to like,They don't just come to like,go like lounge in the water or they just like,you know,get great food and beverage service.Like yeah,those are just givens,right?Like we're all supposed to have like just standard amenities,but it's like the people and the staff that make it what it is.And for us,like it's our promos.It's like the stuff we do like to keep people entertained.It keeps'em there longer,it keeps'em spending money and it keeps'em coming back more,like more,more and more.And so anything like we do,it's like,Hey,is this gonna.Keep people at our club longer.So we have a whole laundry list of like promos that we do.And some have flopped,some have,some have been bad,but some are just like,I can't believe how awesome this is right now.At least you tried.Yeah.
Denny Corby:Yeah.Fear of failure is ridiculous sometimes.Stronger than the fear of,uh,
Ben Lorenzen:success.Yeah.We try to do this one where like we played the Lion King song.Was that,that one was a flop like,Want people,you were dropping babies.Well,yeah,we thought more people would hold their babies up and we're like free beers for anyone who holds their baby up.And like one person did it.I'm like,uh,that was a bust,
Denny Corby:but not really.Cuz that one person had a fantastic time.Yeah,they got
Ben Lorenzen:and they're like,ah,sweet.My kid got me a drink,you know?But it's one that we baby what?Oh yeah.So somebody else like,gimme that baby.
Denny Corby:I have to see how big the pool is.Cause I wonder if you can get like a remote controlled boat and like boat drinks out to people.That is a good idea.What did I see?Uh,that is
Ben Lorenzen:really good.What did,uh,you know what I'm talking about?That's a good idea right there.We Okay,go ahead.Genius and it's,it's cool because like that's,that goes back to that entertainment value,right?Whether they do it consistently,it's more of,Hey,look how fun,how much fun our club's having.And I think that's such a huge like,understated thing in this industry.It's like,you know,whether you do the drone drops once or twice or three times,or maybe you do'em every week.Like it just shows that entertainment value to your members.Like,look at the cool stuff my club's doing,so.You know,we have members who've never experienced a single thing we've done out at the pool.Like they've never even been to the pool and they don't even know the stuff we're doing exists.And when they do come out there,they're like,like,what is going on out here?This is,this is a circus.And it's,uh,it's kind of one of those things like entertain always,you know,it's a line from the Savannah bananas,like always entertain.Right?And that's kind of like what we're trying to do with our members too.Keep'em
Denny Corby:happy.I think a really funny,funny commercial you have like the family show up and they have like the,the suntan lotion on the nose.They're like floaties and they walk up and you guys are just like having a blast out there and they're like,what is going
Ben Lorenzen:on?What is happening?We want to do one,um,with our general manager where he's a secret shopper,so we're gonna like dress him up and then mic him up and like put a wig on him and he is just gonna go like,walk around and like,just make obnoxious requests from our food and beverage team early on in the season.This is when we gotta do go pretty soon because.They might not even know who he is,some of the new food and beverage servers.So we're gonna doctor him up,you know,with the,the no,the,the sunscreen nose,and have him just like,make some funny requests and get like a big,uh,telescope lens and just,uh,record the whole thing.It's gonna be awesome.
Denny Corby:If you want some help,let me know.
Ben Lorenzen:Yeah.You gotta move up to Omaha.
Denny Corby:So,so I do like the,the Magic and Comedy show.Mm-hmm.It's my pretty much like private clubs.The other half.Of like the bite business is like corporate events.That's what I'm down here doing.Yep.With some of my corporate events,like clients,they don't hire me to be Denny Corby magician.Sometimes I'm just Phil from marketing or whatever.So I've also just gone in like covert and did like undercover videos,like one that was for a,a furniture store at a couple locations.I had to be like a really bad customer.Oh yeah,yeah,yeah.So I was just the most annoying and I was trying to be like very uncomfortable.
Ben Lorenzen:Um,and then,and then were they recording the whole thing too?Oh yeah.Oh yeah.I had
Denny Corby:glasses on.Oh,that's awesome.Nice guys friends in the store.And then went to another place where I was a,a fake hire.Oh,nice.So it was,yeah,it was,we
Ben Lorenzen:should do that one too,Rachel.A fake hire.
Denny Corby:It was so much fun.Like,cuz I,I showed up like,like an hour late.Like,I had this whole thing I the most Mitch mismatched disgusting,like suit with like pant thing.And then I kept like going to the bathroom.I was like,oh,I gotta go.I just go to the bathroom for like20
Ben Lorenzen:minutes.Go to the bath.We should,we should literally do that with,uh,with somebody.I don't know if it should be food and beverage or lifeguard or fitness,but man,that could be really
Denny Corby:funny.Oh,it is.So much fun.And then I complained about like my stomach hurting.I ordered like a giant like Pizza Hut pizza and like wings.And they're like,who's like,it showed up.They're like,who's this,this?I came outta the bathroom.My god,it's mine.
Ben Lorenzen:Yeah,we should definitely do something like that.But,and that's,that's the one of those things I love about the,like I said,is just like you see someone who do so does something,it's like,Hey,how can I put that in and implement it at my club and make it.Sweet.Right.So,well,I think to
Denny Corby:me it's even like,I think it all goes down to like your culture and stuff too,but to me mm-hmm.You know,my brain always goes like really crazy ideas.Like why not do it to like the members?Yeah.Meaning like put like a camera or two like,and members,you know,who can like kind of take it a little bit.That's the biggest thing,but just have like,just hire someone to be like a really clumsy waiter once or just like,I don't know,it just out.Yeah.Or have like funny stuff happen that.Like,just to like capture that,like,yeah.Impractical Jokery.
Ben Lorenzen:We did a,we did a funny one once,um,like it was a promo to like show our pool was opening.We brought one of our lifeguard towers,like in the restaurant and like Spike,who he's around here somewhere.Like,he was in a full like lifeguard outfit.He was just like blowing his like whistle at the members,like no drinking.It was,it was pretty,it was pretty good.That was,was that last year Rachel,or was that two years ago?Last year.Yeah.That was a funny one.But yeah.
Denny Corby:What's one thing you guys did that you thought was gonna be the bees knees?It was gonna be the best,but it was just the biggest,like no one showed.Yeah.It was just one of those,it just did not go over well because I'm sure we,we all have those we're mm-hmm.You know,we're pumped.You get everyone hyped and it's just like,why didn't
Ben Lorenzen:Um,I don't know.Honestly,I'm trying to think of like,I can remember,remember one from a few years ago,this was before Covid,it was called Bulls,brews and Barbecue.And it was like supposed to be like this western theme,like we had a really sweet country band.We got the mechanical bowl and like great food and like,just like literally like I think we had20people sign up and it was a great experience for those20people,but like,It was,I don't think it was like,our members weren't excited about it.There was a lot of like school like activities that night.We have a big school that's like right down the street and so like we put a lot of money into it and it just flopped.Um,what Glow in the dark pickleball.That was a cool event,but I feel like that's dangerous
Denny Corby:in general.Let's just make it
Ben Lorenzen:darker.And then so that,yeah,that was,that was okay.Um,we want more people to come to that one.And then the third one was our kids Easter last year.We're like,we're doing it rain or shine,like we've been fortunate.We're like the last like five years,it's been beautiful outside,and then like kids Easter rolls around,it's like25degrees.It's snowing.We have the entire clubhouse set for Easter brunch the following day,and we're like,we're still gonna do it outside,and we're trying to make pancakes when it's25degrees out.And it was miserable,just like absolutely miserable.
Denny Corby:So,you know,it's one of those.There's a so much business out there.Mm-hmm.And b clubs are so specific that I feel like people shouldn't see that as competition.Cause it's like,you,you,it's like,it's,it's a,it's a vibe.You're attracting almost.Correct.So you don't want everybody Exactly.And if someone doesn't want to be here,it's like,
Ben Lorenzen:all right.Like we,we,people know,like we are a fun club and we're very like,transparent when someone's joining.Like if they don't have kids,like,and they're looking for like a pool where they can go and just.There's not music,it's just quiet.And you know,there's50open chairs like that's not here.Like this is a zoo and it's crazy.And you know,we are very transparent when we're doing membership tours like this.This might not be the place for you,like come out here on a a June and like a June5th day and just see like how insane this place is.It's crazy.I
Denny Corby:can't imagine.Yeah.And then,so I would assume it's crazy because you have the camps going on,so maybe like,uh,the parents might hang out here too.And
Ben Lorenzen:there's just a lot of,it's,it's close,you know,most people live within a three mile radius of the club.We have a big school pretty close to us,and ultimately it's just like a place you can spend like your entire day at.And so,you know,kids can get dropped off and have stuff going on all day.Parents,and now we,we really structure it where they can do like swim,then tennis,then golf,and like they can do all the sports where it's like they don't really like,Conflict with each other.It's just That's good.Yeah.So good vibe.Yeah.
Denny Corby:No,this has been good.I think we should probably like,like an hour
Ben Lorenzen:get the tour.Yeah.How long do you usually make these things go?I just
Denny Corby:talk until it goes and,cause you can just edit,you can do whatever.Yeah.Like it's,it's one of those like,it's my show,like,
Ben Lorenzen:it's like you can do whatever you want.Do whatever I want.I appreciate
Denny Corby:your time and come down.No,this is awesome.Yeah.Thanks for allowing me.I would've been sitting in my hotel room.Oh,is this?
Ben Lorenzen:Now you've probably seen champions through like pictures and videos and stuff.So actually getting to kind of look at it and,you know,I wish you could come on like a summer day,like in June or July when it's just pandemonium,but you'll have to come back.
Denny Corby:Probably not.I think
Ben Lorenzen:I got that thing.Yeah,I got that thing.I can't,uh,I can't make it.Yeah,you,we,we put you on the roof in a costume and you fire off the cannon.I've done a lot more for a lot less.Yeah.So,and people look at you like when that happens,like people look at you like you're the hero,like you are like Batman.When you're firing that t-shirt again,you're like,
Denny Corby:I think it's one of those,when you hold it,it,it has to be hard not to go like,ha,you have to like shoot up.
Ben Lorenzen:You do.Because like,I mean,it's got some force,like it could probably knock someone unconscious.
Denny Corby:There.There was,there was a magic trick I was trying to work on that used like t-shirt guns,but it never,never went anywhere.But I have a folder of like,you
Ben Lorenzen:could shoot out vegetables of,
Denny Corby:of T-shirt gun,like research.They sell T-shirt,gun turrets.No.So imagine I actually have seen it's,yeah.Yeah.They just go like,it's like a Tommy
Ben Lorenzen:guy.That's the dream right there.Unfortunately,you'd be going through so much product and shirts,like we go through so many shirts like.We start packing up like shirts we just find in the,like,goodwill,like,or in the Lost and found,uh,rubber band them up and let's shoot'em out.It's like
Denny Corby:shirt or
Ben Lorenzen:like a1994like Super Bowl.Like,where'd this come from,
Denny Corby:Phil,that looks like yours.We could have find it.
Ben Lorenzen:I,I grabbed a pullover the other day from our Lost and found,and I got like five comments that day.They're like,that's a really nice pullover.I was like,Man,I just found this cardigan.Thanks for asking.Yeah,thank you.But I was like,thinking to myself,I'm like,I hope,like I didn't take this from somebody who would like recognize me.Like that's a very specific golf club.Uh,how'd you find that poll over.And I was like,oh boy,I don't even know where this is.Do you
Denny Corby:watch Bob's Burgers?Uhuh.Oh,okay.Do you watch Bob's Burgers?Remember the one where Bob took the suit from the dead guy from Morton next door?So a guy,a guy got cre Bob's Burgers is,is a,uh,adult cartoon.Oh,okay.And next door to the burger place is a,is a crematory or whatever,a funeral.A mor Yeah.Morgue.Yeah.And the guy got cremated,but his suit was there,so he gave it to Bob.And Bob was like wearing it all day.And he's like,he gets out of like a ticket,like everything's going well for him.And just as like the episode's ending,he's like,next to this cop.He's like,that's a nice suit.It looks just like my,my dad's.He's like,oh no,it's mine.He is like,no,I think it's my dad's.Oh no.When he opens it up,he's like,look,it's his name.We just buried him like it was just So it cuts to him just on like the pier.Just an underwear.That's pretty good.That's good.But speaking of t-shirt,guns.Yeah,they make attachments where you can shoot like,uh uh,like uh uh uh,ball pit balls.Oh,should get like custom ball pit balls.Yeah.So for sporting and stuff,events,they use those.They're not always
Ben Lorenzen:t-shirts,they're,that would be fun.I wonder if we could do like tennis balls and like write,probably not.No,that's,they could kill balls,tennis balls.Oh my.
Denny Corby:Yo Champ.Yeah.Champions running outta here.That's what you gotta be to.
Ben Lorenzen:I used not get hit when I first started champions.Like there were signs posted everywhere that said No tennis balls at the pool.And I'm just like,geez,Louise.Like,and then like sure enough,like week one,like kids were just hooking them in the pool just.Hitting old ladies in the face.I'm like,all right,no tennis balls allowed.Every,every sign,I guess,has a purpose.So that was one.Pretty good,pretty good.Well,this is probably my most fun podcast I've done yet,Rachel.We've had some good ones too,but this has been pretty fun.No,
Denny Corby:this is,this is,I think I might come back next week.
Ben Lorenzen:We'll,we'll do another repeating on.
Denny Corby:Hope you all enjoyed that.Loved,loved,loved chatting and hanging out with Ben and everybody at Champions Run.I got to shoot t-shirt cannon.That's absolutely amazing.Uh,I'll put a picture online as well.You can see how much fun we had he put on the,the,the mascot costume.We were out in front of the,uh,newly painted repainted,um,waterpark,but.It,uh,it is so,so amazing and love seeing clubs doing things like this and,uh,killing it in their,in their communities and making their,um,making the experiences for their families.Absolutely wonderful.So that was it.I'll put all the links to Champions Run as well as Ben's LinkedIn and things below.Until next time,catch you on the flippity Flip.