I am one of those people who gets really fired up when music I like is played at the gym. Yet, as a coach, I’m hyper-sensitive to trying not to play music that people could find really offensive due to profanity or subject matter. If I wouldn’t sing the lyrics out loud in front of my family, or a complete stranger, I’ll likely think twice about whether or not to play the song in class.
There are clearly exceptions to the rule here, and I think coaches just need to know their audience. If I ask a class what they want to hear and in unison everyone yells, “WU TANG CLAN!!!,” then I’ll probably “Return to the 36 Chambers” with the squad. But if I feel that anyone in the group might not be too excited about what the songs are going to talk about, I’ll audible and play something else.
Whether you’re a gym owner, a coach, or an athlete, I’d love to hear your thoughts on this subject.
If there’s enough interest, maybe I’ll do a follow up post soon where I can share some of the music I like, and some of the playlists I’ve created over the years.
Let me know what you think, friends!
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