Restaurant gigs

mickeyxena · 01-06-2010, 07:05 PM

Hi fellow dancers

i need some advice on restauarant gigs...
i am thinking of dancing in a restaurant
and i have no idea how much i should charge...and how long i should perform.

Some say 60 per hour?

Do you guys dance non stop for an hour or do you do sets of 15 mins.

I am aware i am from a different area (singapore), but would be great to know how you guys charge per your area...and tips that i should follow.

Thank you!

JUST TO ADD ON-
Do you guys do the same routine of songs for each week at the restaurant...e.g if you dance to a certain drum solo....do you repeat the same the next week...or do you teach yourself a new choreo...

Kharis · 01-07-2010, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mickeyxena

Hi fellow dancers

i need some advice on restauarant gigs...
i am thinking of dancing in a restaurant
and i have no idea how much i should charge...and how long i should perform.

Some say 60 per hour?

Do you guys dance non stop for an hour or do you do sets of 15 mins.

I am aware i am from a different area (singapore), but would be great to know how you guys charge per your area...and tips that i should follow.

Thank you!

JUST TO ADD ON-
Do you guys do the same routine of songs for each week at the restaurant...e.g if you dance to a certain drum solo....do you repeat the same the next week...or do you teach yourself a new choreo...

Firstly, you don't dance for an HOUR! Audience attention will only generally see you through 20 mins max. Any more than that, and they'll get bored and switch off, no matter how good you are. Golden Rule of Performing #1 Always leave them wanting more.

As for fee, don't charge less that 60/70 per 20 mins. You need to be able to improvise. Your music must be upbeat. Costuming as professional and classy as you can make it. Do not linger afterwards in a 'hostess' capacity. You are paid to dance, that's all. Do your piece and go. Good luck.

maria_harlequin · 01-08-2010, 03:15 PM

For my past restaurant gigs, I usually limit myself to doing two or three sets with a total of two or three songs per set - that's around 10 - 15 minutes per set. And that's usually over the course of several hours.

As for choreography and music, if you plan to dance in a restaurant setting, you have to improvise - even if it's not for the entire song unless there's a stage set up for you and whoever hired you specifically tells you to only dance in that one area. You'll be walking around, avoiding waiters, avoiding patrons, avoiding running children...restaurants do not favor choreographies.

And whatever you charge, do not undercut the going rate!! I know Singapore has a pretty adequately sized belly dance community so find out how much the other dancers are charging. Undercutting is pure EVIL. I would go with charging AT LEAST $75 per set which should be around two - three songs.

01-06-2010, 07:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
mickeyxena Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 13	Restaurant gigs Hi fellow dancers i need some advice on restauarant gigs... i am thinking of dancing in a restaurant and i have no idea how much i should charge...and how long i should perform. Some say 60 per hour? Do you guys dance non stop for an hour or do you do sets of 15 mins. I am aware i am from a different area (singapore), but would be great to know how you guys charge per your area...and tips that i should follow. Thank you! JUST TO ADD ON- Do you guys do the same routine of songs for each week at the restaurant...e.g if you dance to a certain drum solo....do you repeat the same the next week...or do you teach yourself a new choreo... Last edited by mickeyxena; 01-06-2010 at 08:08 PM..

01-08-2010, 03:15 PM	#3 (permalink)
maria_harlequin Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Somewhere! Posts: 994	For my past restaurant gigs, I usually limit myself to doing two or three sets with a total of two or three songs per set - that's around 10 - 15 minutes per set. And that's usually over the course of several hours. As for choreography and music, if you plan to dance in a restaurant setting, you have to improvise - even if it's not for the entire song unless there's a stage set up for you and whoever hired you specifically tells you to only dance in that one area. You'll be walking around, avoiding waiters, avoiding patrons, avoiding running children...restaurants do not favor choreographies. And whatever you charge, do not undercut the going rate!! I know Singapore has a pretty adequately sized belly dance community so find out how much the other dancers are charging. Undercutting is pure EVIL. I would go with charging AT LEAST $75 per set which should be around two - three songs.