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Aziyade · 07-21-2008, 07:31 PM

The website listing rates is great -- EXCEPT:

It's unrealistic in REALITY.

I know for a fact what dancers in Louisville ADVERTISE as their rate is MUCH higher than what they actually ACCEPT. What they actually charge is a completely different story.

I personally know a dancer who advertised $150 for a show, but then accepted $35 (!!!!) when she found out another dancer's website advertised a similar show for $75.

Undercutting in the cornfields is rabid. There is no way you can get anyone to pay more than $50 for a bellygram here in Evanspatch because there are independent dancers (apart from the main troupes) who undercut JUST to have the performance opportunity. And Jo Public doesn't know any better, which continues the descending spiral of what the public thinks is bellydance.

There is a chain entertainment company (like Gigmasters) who will actually ASK the client how much they've been quoted, and then say they can send a dancer for HALF that. This happened to me once, when I turned down a birthday party that a neighbor's cousin or something wanted me to dance at. They ended up getting a no-talent, who nobody had EVER seen in a bellydance class in town at all. (Maybe one of those fitness pros who took a weekend workshop? Or a stripper who happened to have a genie outfit?)

I often wonder about dancers who say they get $150 a set for dancing at the falafal hut (or an equivalent). I have a hard time believing some of those little holes-in-the wall MAKE $150 a night in food sales, especially the ones that don't have a liquor license. Again, I knew a Louisville dancer who TOLD everybody she got $150 a set for dancing in one hole-in-the-wall, but admitted later she got $40 for the NIGHT and a free meal plus free house wine (which is technically illegal in Indiana (and KY, I think), but it happens all the time.)

Side note:

I'm not talking about charity gigs. I'm talking about regular paying gigs.

Now, everybody does their own charity gigs, and I personally will perform for free at any Humane Society or local shelter benefit, after informing the shelter that my rate is $125, but I am happy to waive the fee as a "donation" to their shelter. That's my thing. I feel it's the right thing to do. And I teach breast cancer patients basic dance classes at no charge to them, but I'm given a stipend from the Komen foundation. Again, my choice. But when the American Cancer Society wants performers, or a church wants entertainment for their social, they write a check same as anybody else.

07-21-2008, 07:31 PM	#42 (permalink)
Aziyade V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Cornfields of Evansville Indiana. Posts: 1,050	The website listing rates is great -- EXCEPT: It's unrealistic in REALITY. I know for a fact what dancers in Louisville ADVERTISE as their rate is MUCH higher than what they actually ACCEPT. What they actually charge is a completely different story. I personally know a dancer who advertised $150 for a show, but then accepted $35 (!!!!) when she found out another dancer's website advertised a similar show for $75. Undercutting in the cornfields is rabid. There is no way you can get anyone to pay more than $50 for a bellygram here in Evanspatch because there are independent dancers (apart from the main troupes) who undercut JUST to have the performance opportunity. And Jo Public doesn't know any better, which continues the descending spiral of what the public thinks is bellydance. There is a chain entertainment company (like Gigmasters) who will actually ASK the client how much they've been quoted, and then say they can send a dancer for HALF that. This happened to me once, when I turned down a birthday party that a neighbor's cousin or something wanted me to dance at. They ended up getting a no-talent, who nobody had EVER seen in a bellydance class in town at all. (Maybe one of those fitness pros who took a weekend workshop? Or a stripper who happened to have a genie outfit?) I often wonder about dancers who say they get $150 a set for dancing at the falafal hut (or an equivalent). I have a hard time believing some of those little holes-in-the wall MAKE $150 a night in food sales, especially the ones that don't have a liquor license. Again, I knew a Louisville dancer who TOLD everybody she got $150 a set for dancing in one hole-in-the-wall, but admitted later she got $40 for the NIGHT and a free meal plus free house wine (which is technically illegal in Indiana (and KY, I think), but it happens all the time.) Side note: I'm not talking about charity gigs. I'm talking about regular paying gigs. Now, everybody does their own charity gigs, and I personally will perform for free at any Humane Society or local shelter benefit, after informing the shelter that my rate is $125, but I am happy to waive the fee as a "donation" to their shelter. That's my thing. I feel it's the right thing to do. And I teach breast cancer patients basic dance classes at no charge to them, but I'm given a stipend from the Komen foundation. Again, my choice. But when the American Cancer Society wants performers, or a church wants entertainment for their social, they write a check same as anybody else.