We recently connected with Cris Rivers and have shared our conversation below.

Cris, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?

I am hoping my legacy will be of someone that people remember. I would like to have made a difference in the HIV community and Pole Fitness Industry using my software engineering skills creating apps, programs, and more that serve my niche and help others. I want to be remembered as someone who helped others and entertained others .

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I got into Pole Dancing and fitness when I became a male stripper to pay for college. I fell in love with working out on a dance pole and continued at home for a few years before learning I could get certified and teach Pole Fitness.

While perfecting my Pole practice I started a blog on living with HIV called Poz Lifestyle. I started making a little money with Amazon Affiliate links and build an email list with a Free E-Book on living healthier with HIV. I eventually turned Poz Lifestyle into a Podcast and Youtube channel where I still create content and make some side money with HIV Awareness Apparel and Affiliate links.

During the Pandemic I decided I wanted to create something as well and started building my pole dance portfolio while finishing my software engineer portfolio. I got certified to teach and started teaching at The Pole in the Wall and some Online Classes from home. I also started creating small websites for new business owners for extra money on the side.

Eventually myself and Maendy Mac decided to create Pole on the Call Podcast so we can build a platform for others to share their Pole Dance stories and for others to learn more about this form of fitness. We have created E-Products and Posters, and Deck of Cards and much more. We have been able to educate so many people, interview and learn from Industry leaders and more. Our podcast is now being listened to internationally and we are about to host our third Free Virtual Showcase. We wanted to find away for Pole dancers to network, share their stories and learn at an affordable cost from home. Now people are coming to us to be interviewed rather than us asking them. It has been a blessing. We also provide tips for Studio owners and new entrepreneurs in the Pole niche.

Currently I am working on continuing to build Poz Lifestyle and Pole on the Call while working on Side projects and apps and websites for personal clients. I also take some time to teach AP computer science to High School students.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

Funding a business is hard. I did not want to take out more loans and add those to my Student Loan debt so I worked a regular 9-5 job for a while. This helped me pay for Canva, Website Domain, sample products, and so much more . Then I was able to shift into more remote working and teahing Pole and Yoga classes more.

Even at times now, a part time job helps everything go smoothly. While building a business, the first year or 2 is hard making a consistent income. Finding ways to help pay your bills, pay for business expenses and more is part of it.

Or you can take out a loan…

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Creating an Email List!

Make that connection by getting their email and being ab le to reach them even better then Social Media.
Give a Freebie or 2 away to collect these emails. Then build a relationship with them in order to build that trust you need to upsell them.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.poleonthecall.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/cris_riverspolefit
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@crisriverspolefit
• Other: Tiktok: www.tiktok.com.cris_rivers www.instagram.com/poleonthecall https://linktr.ee/crisrivers