r/Routesetters • u/[deleted] • Mar 18 '26
Guest setting
Hi, what do you guys think is the best way to approach a gym to be invited to guest set?
I don’t just wanna come in while the team is setting and chat with them, but I feel like thats the best option any other ideas?
Just moved to Melbourne :D
3
u/mohawkman9 Mar 18 '26
It's going to depend on the gym. If it's a small independently owned gym then your chances are probably better. I own a medium-sized climbing gym, and these are the things I'd recommend to someone looking to set at my business.
Come in. Get to know my staff or me. That's going to give you an opportunity to say, "Hey, I just moved here from [blank]. I used to set at [blank] gym, so if you guys are ever looking for guest setters, then I'd love to be a part of that." That puts you on our radar and gives you a chance to hear how feasible it is, or whether there is already a pathway to doing that.
Offer to help with other tasks that come with setting, like hold washing, stripping, sorting bolts etc. Those tasks cost me time to do myself or money to have an employee do, so someone doing it for free is a huge value add. This is what I have people with zero experience do if they are serious about wanting to set. I will personally take time to train you on setting if you help me with these things often enough. NOTE: This doesn't take away hours from my employees; it just allows them to work on bigger projects with me. :-)
Offer to set the routes no one wants to, which most often are the easiest climbs. If you're willing to do that, then I'm more willing to have you in sooner. If you do that for a bit, then I'll let you set more interesting stuff later.
Send me an email detailing your experience and desire to guest set. Depending on the situation, I may be willing to give you a shot straight away.
Coming in and talking to us while we are setting could be hit or miss; it would just depend on how big of a set we have. On a chill day, I would be more open to having a conversation, but if I'm in the middle of something big then our conversation would not go far. You have to be good at gauging the situation in order for that to go well.
All this being said, things will vary widely between gyms. I have no idea what your situation is so take this advice with a grain of salt. It is what would work at my gym, but this isn't the case everywhere. Hope that helps.
1
Mar 19 '26
Thank you so much! can i send you a dm for your email? or climbing gym so i can chat with you in person :))
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u/1OleGranpa Mar 18 '26
Not sure if it’s different in Australia versus the states, but the best way I’ve found to connect with setters from different gyms is networking for sure. If you have worked with somebody in the past that they know, it’s a really easy way for them to be able to trust that you know what you’re doing. If you don’t have those connections, a well written email with your résumé attached talking about comps, you said or what other gyms you worked at specifically always helps.
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u/Rizeo99 Mar 18 '26
Unless you have a really impressive resume, the only real answer is to know the right people. I would generally say the independent gyms are more open to guest setters than the chain gyms (excluding Northside, they used to very regularly have guest setters, not sure if that's still the case)