Thread: Student night at a NON-Middle Eastern restaurant?

Long boring story short, the not-really-Middle Eastern restaurant where I've danced before and where we've been planning a student night -- well, the owner has just ticked me off for the last time. I really don't want to cancel this student night, but I want to move it to a restaurant that will be more cooperative.

Would it be completely weird if we did this at like a Mexican restaurant? I know Suhaila has her student nights at Monterro's -- for margaritas. I think this is a super idea and have found a restaurant that seems to be falling all over themselves to help. Would the 3am zill brigade make a visit if we went to a very non-traditional venue?

I really impress upon my students the importance of dancing to Middle Eastern music, so to me this seems like being wishy-washy (although a lot of students have told me they would prefer Mexican food over the stuff the other place offers.) What do you all think?

I think you should hold your event in any venue, regardless of cuisine, that gives you and your students a warm reception.

Back in the San Jose area, I attended dance shows in a Chinese restaurant, a Japanese restaurant, an Indian restaurant, and a variety of pizza joints. Some of those were showcases of professionals, some haflas, some student nights.

A nice thing about a Mexican restaurant is that the food will seem more familiar, less intimidating to the friends and families of your students.

I agree with Shira. Bring your cds and you have the ME music, lol! Friendly and interested management is important to making things go well.

I agree that any welcoming venue is fine. I participate regularly in the Montero's nights (not just margaritas -- lots of people have dinner while watching the show), and it works out great. It's helpful that they have a little stage in the room we use.

The troupe that I belonged to long ago put on events in whatever location was most available, no matter how unlikely, including an Irish pub. Sometimes you get an excitement factor in which the regular patrons of a place are thrilled to see something new and unexpected there.

Where I live, there are no Middle Eastern restaurants - so it comes down to finding a place that has a good stage area, sound system, friendly menu/pricing, and of course, wants us there ;) And really, a friendly and nice environment for your students to dance in, that is what's most important.

Originally Posted by *Shira*

I think you should hold your event in any venue, regardless of cuisine, that gives you and your students a warm reception.

Back in the San Jose area, I attended dance shows in a Chinese restaurant, a Japanese restaurant, an Indian restaurant, and a variety of pizza joints. Some of those were showcases of professionals, some haflas, some student nights.

A nice thing about a Mexican restaurant is that the food will seem more familiar, less intimidating to the friends and families of your students.

What she said! (except the part attending events in in San Jose, 'cause I've never been there).

hey, east indian resturants w/buffett LOVE student night here!

Originally Posted by *Shira*

I think you should hold your event in any venue, regardless of cuisine, that gives you and your students a warm reception.

Back in the San Jose area, I attended dance shows in a Chinese restaurant, a Japanese restaurant, an Indian restaurant, and a variety of pizza joints. Some of those were showcases of professionals, some haflas, some student nights.

A nice thing about a Mexican restaurant is that the food will seem more familiar, less intimidating to the friends and families of your students.

DITTO!

Azeeza

I'm having a student night at an Italian restaurant/pizzaria tonight!

Hey, why not!? Sounds like great fun, and the student night is all about the students getting a chance to strut their stuff and have some fun. If the venue operators are excited to have you there, then that will definitely help make it a positive experience for everyone, including yourself!

And the Raqs-and-Margarita combo sounds like crazy fun!

Lol! Margarita on the raqs.... sorry, had to :Abiggrin:

I've always thought a karaoke restaurant would be a good venue ... usually has a great sound system and a dance floor

Wait a sec . . .

I thought there was a general consensus that teachers don't place students in public venues at all, with the possible exception of high intermediates/advanced . . .

Unless this level of student is what we're talking about . . .

Or did I get that wrong?

Somebody help me! ..c::

Deborah

Originally Posted by casbahdance

Wait a sec . . .

I thought there was a general consensus that teachers don't place students in public venues at all, with the possible exception of high intermediates/advanced . . .

Unless this level of student is what we're talking about . . .

Or did I get that wrong?

Somebody help me! ..c::

Deborah

Generally, what I think of as a student showcase is one where the audience is made up of mostly the dance community, family and friends. It may be in a public place technically, but it's not students dancing for whatever random GP happen to wander in.

For example, Sumaya used to hold haflas open to all levels at a sports bar called Tommy's Place. They didn't exactly close the doors to their other customers, but basically the place was 90-95% populated with dancers and their supporters. It was certainly an atmosphere I'd have felt comfortable having my students perform in. This is a much different situation than trying to get a bar or restaurant to have dancing as an attraction, and then throwing students to the wolves.

At least, that's my take on it.

Originally Posted by casbahdance

Wait a sec . . .

I thought there was a general consensus that teachers don't place students in public venues at all, with the possible exception of high intermediates/advanced . . .

Unless this level of student is what we're talking about . . .

Or did I get that wrong?

Somebody help me! ..c::

Deborah

I think it's like a hafla - instead of renting a hall and hiring catering, the teacher makes arrangements/reservations with a restaurant, and the students/guests order food of their choice.

Makes a lot more sense than renting studio space at $50 - $100/hour, if you can find a suitable restaurant.

yes I assumed we were talking about booking out the venue or having your own private room in the venue

we are so not talking about chucking students for free into pro venues !!

I think anyplace will do! :) It doesn't have to be Middle Eastern for a student night for family and friends. Any venue that fits the rowdy bunch! LOL :-P

Yes - it's more of a hafla, but instead of having a carry-in potluck, we go to a proper restaurant with food and ... alcohol. LOL.

We usually have either the party room, or a special section of the restaurant. Yes, the GP could see it, if they tried, but it's not advertised as entertainment. One thing I insist on is having control of the sound system, so we can play generic Arab pop and get everybody up to "boogie" rather than perform. The husbands even seem to enjoy this part. I'll teach a couple of steps, and then it degenerates into everybody dancing for themselves. Actually, sometimes that's the most entertaining part!

I appreciate the advice -- and there's an Irish place here that has fantastic food and an empty room on Tuesdays, so I might even give them a call. Thanks!

Originally Posted by aziyade

Yes - it's more of a hafla, but instead of having a carry-in potluck, we go to a proper restaurant with food and ... alcohol. LOL.

We usually have either the party room, or a special section of the restaurant. Yes, the GP could see it, if they tried, but it's not advertised as entertainment. One thing I insist on is having control of the sound system, so we can play generic Arab pop and get everybody up to "boogie" rather than perform. The husbands even seem to enjoy this part. I'll teach a couple of steps, and then it degenerates into everybody dancing for themselves. Actually, sometimes that's the most entertaining part!

I kinda figured it was probably something like this . . . although the place might technically be open to the GP, as you posted, it's more like a hafla, except that you're taking over part of a restaurant rather than spending all that money renting a place. Excellent!

Party on!

Deborah

I go to a pizza place almost every week to watch dancers. There is a cover for the band and it is technically open to the GP but it isn't all that well advertised and the majority of people there are dancers and their friends/family. My instructor only has a very small hand full of students in our classes so instead of a student night for the whole class, she likes to sign students up there to dance. It is an interesting mix of pro's and newbies. She is itching to get me on list but I don't know if I am ready or not.

As a side note, I think it is fun to have one somewhere unexpected. It may even open up the idea of belly dancing to a crowd that never would have thought to learn!

Originally Posted by casbahdance

I kinda figured it was probably something like this . . . although the place might technically be open to the GP, as you posted, it's more like a hafla, except that you're taking over part of a restaurant rather than spending all that money renting a place. Excellent!

Party on!

Deborah

Thanks for asking the question I was too chicken to ask, Deborah!

heh.
Sounds like fun!

Originally Posted by Adishakti

Thanks for asking the question I was too chicken to ask, Deborah!

The older I get, the more brazen I become. Watch out, world, I'm gettin' old!

Buwaahhaaaaahaaaaaaa

Deborah

Originally Posted by casbahdance

The older I get, the more brazen I become. Watch out, world, I'm gettin' old!

Buwaahhaaaaahaaaaaaa

Deborah

..l;,..l;,..l;,..l;, Ain't it the truth!!!!

I don't know about this, Aziyade. If you hold a student night, at a non-ME restaurant, it could be bad.

Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers and seas boiling! Forty years of darkness! Earthquakes, volcanoes... The dead rising from the grave! Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria!

OTOH, it might be just fine.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers and seas boiling! Forty years of darkness! Earthquakes, volcanoes... The dead rising from the grave! Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria!

Is someone, perhaps, a Ghost Busters fan???????

Deborah

Originally Posted by casbahdance

Is someone, perhaps, a Ghost Busters fan???????

Deborah

I knew I liked you!

..l;, Yeah, I went looking for the 'crossing the streams is bad' quote, but I found the 'dogs and cats living together' one instead and it made me giggle.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers and seas boiling! Forty years of darkness! Earthquakes, volcanoes... The dead rising from the grave! Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria!

..l;,

Originally Posted by Lauren_

I knew I liked you!

..l;, Yeah, I went looking for the 'crossing the streams is bad' quote, but I found the 'dogs and cats living together' one instead and it made me giggle.

u r 2 fny. I miss u :)


LOL.

Originally Posted by aziyade

u r 2 fny. I miss u :)


LOL.

I miss u 2. Every time I see you post I think of your big shiny smile and I wish I could hang out with you.

Let me know when Diana has Nourhan again (she's there about 6 times a year isn't she? hehe.) What do you all have going for the rest of summer and fall? PM me -- I wanna come to St. Louis and hubby wants to go to Bass Pro.