Thread: Overexposure?

I'm wondering, once someone hits professional status, do you think that they can overexpose themselves? I'm not talking about costuming. I mean, can they do too many shows and events in a local area, where people can get tired of seeing them?

Do you feel as long as they are a good dancer, people should never tire of them?

Do periodic (rare) performances by pro dancers increase their perceived value?

yep, i do..............do a degree

it's typical oversaturation.........you want people to look forward to seeing you, so one doesn't want to spread themselves TOO thin.....working too many gigs or shows too close together.......someone may look at their schedule, make a plan, not feel like it and pass, cuz they'll see can madameX again at the moroccan lounge in another 2 days.......

it's more special, i think, when you RARELY see someone perform, like at a showcase or hafla..........people will flock, cuz they so rarely see that person, and know it'll be a long time before they do so again....

that's just my 2 cents, and VERY humble opinion

Hmmm...I've the opposite mindset. I never tire of watching a good dancer.
For shows and special events, I think it is nice to see a variety of performers, but again, I can watch the really good dancers over and over again. For someone with lots of regular gigs, well, it gives you a lot of options as far as where and when you can see them. And as far as the restaurant circuit goes, the dancers are mainly performing for the GP. Any friends or family that show up are a bonus! And if you dance full time, well, working lots of gigs pays the mortgage!

Originally Posted by AnnaTX

I'm wondering, once someone hits professional status, do you think that they can overexpose themselves? I'm not talking about costuming. I mean, can they do too many shows and events in a local area, where people can get tired of seeing them?

Do you feel as long as they are a good dancer, people should never tire of them?

Do periodic (rare) performances by pro dancers increase their perceived value?

I think it might partly depend upon whether the pro in question is a relatively well-known dancer in his/her area or is a Really Big Name.

Deborah

It isn't frequent performances that burn me out on a pro dancers, it's pro-dancers who do workshops and DON'T change the content of the workshops enough. Small changes and changes in workshop titles don't cut it if we're shelling out the big bucks.

As an audience member ..yes you can. However with real class somehow you love even a similar act. I might see BDSS one time too many at Raqs B this year, I saw Leyla Jouvana do a very similar routine for the third time and she just seems to get better...

I don't know what it is - perhaps it's just personal taste - but I am happier to watch someone do the same solo number more so than I am the same group number over and over. Perhaps it's because the solo doesn't always feel identical?

It can depend on the number though - there's a local troupe who I'd happily watch performing two or three of their signature pieces any time, whereas there are other performances where I just go "oh not that AGAIN". I think a lot has to do with whether or not I like the music.

If you're doing the same routine (or a similar one) over and over again, I think your value goes down considerably.

However, if you manage to keep it fresh, I think people will keep coming back, regardless of frequency. I imagine that coming up with new material will prevent you from appearing at a lot of places.

Originally Posted by AnnaTX

I'm wondering, once someone hits professional status, do you think that they can overexpose themselves? I'm not talking about costuming. I mean, can they do too many shows and events in a local area, where people can get tired of seeing them?

Do you feel as long as they are a good dancer, people should never tire of them?

Do periodic (rare) performances by pro dancers increase their perceived value?

Do you mean overexpose themselves to within the dance community, or do you mean overexposed in the sense of paid opportunities?

I think for people to get sick of a dancer, they would have to see the same dancer multiple times, and that is unlikely to occur except at dance-community events or at supperclubs with "regulars" or return clientele.

If you're talking about paid opportunities, I think the answer is "it depends". For example when I live in SoCal Jillina was at all the clubs all the time. I would have expected the audiences to get sick of her, because we always hear about variety being the spice of life. But it never seemed to be a big issue. She was at some clubs for *years*, every weekend too.

I do think that her professionalism probably had a lot to do with it. Her shows were very consistent, and I'm sure any employer appreciates that. With a lot of dancers, quality control is an issue (I have struggled with this myself): they have "on " nights and "off" nights, you can tell how their day went by watching the performance, etc. I never saw that occur in any of the dozens of times I attended club gigs and saw J & Sahlala.

Originally Posted by damiena

Hmmm...I've the opposite mindset. I never tire of watching a good dancer.
For shows and special events, I think it is nice to see a variety of performers, but again, I can watch the really good dancers over and over again. For someone with lots of regular gigs, well, it gives you a lot of options as far as where and when you can see them. And as far as the restaurant circuit goes, the dancers are mainly performing for the GP. Any friends or family that show up are a bonus! And if you dance full time, well, working lots of gigs pays the mortgage!

I agree whole heartily with Damiena,I never tire of a good dancer!

However;
I got tired of Kama Coffeetable-routines before they even begun.

If you are talking about events geared towards your local dance community, then I say absolutely YES. We have a few "big" shows in our area every year and the line-up from year to year is about 90% the same.
(This is not for lack of good solo dancers to fill a show, its more about nepotism and, to a lesser degree, booty kissing, but I digress)
Unless they are a top, top, master dancer, I'm talking Dina, Fifi, Sahra, Hadia, etc. then I'm gonna get tired of seeing someone at every show.
Troupes are a little different, I think good troupes can keep things varied and dynamic enough to be entertaining over the course of many performances, but maybe I just feel this way because I'm in a troupe that performs at most of the shows

There seems to be a general consensus that there is a difference between bd community events and paid gigs. I agree with this.
I also agree that I never tire of seeing a really great dancer, however.
So, for bd community events there are a few who I"d be happy to see again and again. But I think it's possible to experience over-exposure- you are dancing for the same audience time and time again. The bd community is a relatively small sub-culture. It might make a difference that it is a small sub-culture with many who want to be the ones performing. This might sometimes play into feelings about seeing the same ones all the time.
Professional gigs are another matter. The venue's "bottom line" is often the deciding factor. If a venue feels the dancer makes their clients happy - the venue will continue to want to pay her. Most venues major clientele is not the belly dance community.
You have restaurants (usually the American audience ones) that have a few regulars and lots of new or occasional clients. You won't over-expose yourself there as there is a constant stream of new people. There is of course a variety of scheduling situations in these places. Sometimes it's a little more "dance political" sometimes it's who the owner requests.
There are also the Arab places with the same clientele coming in week after week. They seem to be happy to see the same (good) dancers week after week (and very vocal when they're not happy). As long as the dancer is mixing it up with her songs, props, folklore styles and costumes she chooses it seems to suit these audiences just fine. They often go to the same place to see the same band- order the same flavor shisha, and the same food and drink. They'll get up and dance to the same songs week after week. :) If they like it- they like it.

If it's a good dancer, I don't get tired of her. If it's an okay dancer, I eventually will. If it's an okay dancer that thinks she's incredible, I'm tired of her after one performance. For me, it's really about how the gal dances and what she's giving to the audience and herself.