Thread: Tips and advice for performance troubles

This was inspired by the 'Scary/Funny Audience Member Stories' in 'the rest- dance' forum.

Have you ever been stuck in a situation at a job where you have no idea how to react? If so post here with questions, advice, tips, ect.

(sorry if this type of thing has already been posted)

There are very few times where I am truely shocked at audience behavior but this one really threw me through a loop. I was working one of my regular jobs at a little arabic night club, I do a 40 minute show to a live band. Keep in mind, this place is small and the stage isnt raised, its just a wooden dance floor. There is a lot of open floor dancing but my show is stricktly a 'sit down and watch the dancer' sort of thing.

So I come out to do my show and I see this little hoochie morrocan girl dancing over near the bar. Shes wearing and extremely short skirt (which she has to pull down every few minutes so that her butt doesnt stick out) and a crop top that is about 2 sizes too small for her (she had a big bust). I think nothing of it for a little while.... until I see her stand up on a chair and start shaking it infront of some guys face. Im a little put off but I thought 'well, shes just having a good time'. A few minutes later I turn around and see her dancing a few feet away from me, pretty much on my stage, and it wasnt 'oh lets all dance, this is fun!' kind of dancing, it was 'this is MY show' kind of dancing. I had no idea what to do! I just ended up ignoring her. The club owners and musicians obviously didnt like her, they kept shooting her dirty glances but still didnt do anything.

When I was in Cairo, the same thing happened to Soraya. Except there were three women on the stage. And it was a stage, not just a dance floor! Soraya handled it beautifully, she just stepped back a bit and continued dancing off to the side, allowed the ladies to have their fun. The audience, after about 30 sec., started booing (or at least what sounded like boong) and eventually someone in their dinner party grabbed them and hauled them off the stage. The second time they tried to get up, Soraya went right over to them and they backed right off.

What is WITH that? I've never seen that happen anywhere other than a BD show. Frustrating.

Chances are, if you and the band are uncomfortable, so is the audience. I like the way Soraya handled it, but sometimes people just will NOT SIT DOWN....sheesh! It's happened to me, and I've had to ask the band to make a little announcement like, "thank you for dancing, and if you please have a seat there will be more dancing after the show!"

Other ideas: grab a passing waiter/staff and have them ask the dancer to have a seat, or, you can tell them yourself. Just keep it as polite as possible.

The owner should have sent someone to escort her off the dancefloor. At the nightclub where I work, there are bouncers, and they stand at the edge of the stage when we dance. If anyone gets out of hand during the performance, they are asked to leave the stage.

Also, when I've had girls come up to dance with me and then linger too long or decide to take over, I have no problem dancing with them for a minute (if they are only overenthusiastic and not being downright disrespectful), telling them "thank you," presenting them to the audience for applause, and directing them off the stage. It's been a pretty successful tactic, since, were they to refuse, they would look pretty stupid in front of all those people who's admiration they seem to crave.

Originally Posted by tamrahennatx

Also, when I've had girls come up to dance with me and then linger too long or decide to take over, I have no problem dancing with them for a minute (if they are only overenthusiastic and not being downright disrespectful), telling them "thank you," presenting them to the audience for applause, and directing them off the stage. It's been a pretty successful tactic, since, were they to refuse, they would look pretty stupid in front of all those people who's admiration they seem to crave.

I do something similar to TamraHenna, although, this girl from the first post may have been craving clients, not just attention.

When there is trouble, that's when I call over the management......
Some people will not go away, as daniella said.
Let the management handle it.
In the case of the
"trying to touch you with their pee pee dance" as I've had happen, I end my show and leave.....and come back when things have calmed down.

A guy did this at another club I dance at (with a big acctual stage). He left after a few minutes and then tried to come back!! The second time the boucers... had a word with him , lol.

I just ignored the girl, she sat down after realizing no one was watching her. She looked like she would have given me major sass if I said anything to her. And Samira was right, if she wasnt looking for a dance job she was surely looking for something else....

It is really weird... I dont know why people do that, especially when you are up on a real stage.

That is weird and I witnessed it once myself. It was at a seminar show in a theater and a fairly well-known male dancer was performing (sorry, don't remember his name). Suddenly, from the wings, a woman in full costume appeared dancing towards him. I think at first the audience thought it might be part of the show and I believe he even danced with her for a few seconds, but then he quickly began putting distance between them. Finally, when she wouldn't budge he stopped dancing, held out his arm as if to present her and left the stage. Would you believe, she then faced the audience with a big grin and continued dancing as if she was the star? The audience reaction must have dawned on her, because her expression quickly changed and she ran off stage!

I think Tamrahennatx has the best solution in that kind of situation. I know I've done that a time or two myself. If that still doesn't work, leave the stage like that guy did and refuse to return until the management removes her.

sometimes, you really just have to leave the stage!
That's what management is for.....
to get rid of the obnoxious -

Tamrahennatx's solution usually works - I've used myself either when someone has jumped up spontaneously or when I've invited someone to dance with me and he/she stays on the floor too long. Aside from leaving the floor and/or notifying management to help (best thing to do if you feel threatened or the "guest" dancer is too resistant), the band (if there is one) can help too. At a couple of the places where I've performed, the bands working there would slow down to extremely slow taksim. Most "guest" dancers are looking for more excitement than a taksim would provide.

Originally Posted by *maria*

sometimes, you really just have to leave the stage!
That's what management is for.....
to get rid of the obnoxious -

Agreed! I have also seen another dancer pull out a nearby chair and sit down when she had an overzealous stage crasher. Once she did that, security was quick to clear the stage for her, lol!

Originally Posted by elljay

When I was in Cairo, the same thing happened to Soraya. Except there were three women on the stage. And it was a stage, not just a dance floor! Soraya handled it beautifully, she just stepped back a bit and continued dancing off to the side, allowed the ladies to have their fun. The audience, after about 30 sec., started booing (or at least what sounded like boong) and eventually someone in their dinner party grabbed them and hauled them off the stage. The second time they tried to get up, Soraya went right over to them and they backed right off.

What is WITH that? I've never seen that happen anywhere other than a BD show. Frustrating.

Holy cow! Were they arabs or "bd-tourists"? Who on earth wants to dance next to SORAYA anyway, you know you will look like a dustbunny next to her fabolous-ness ..l;,

Hi Dheisha, well part of the problem with people who do things like we are discussing is that often they are a bit drunk or have a very strange self image so that they really think they are good and that people want to see them.
Vasha, kudos to you for not losing your cool with this person.
You said she was Moroccan? Was she there alone? Its strange that a young Moroccan Hoochie would be out withot an escort. Maybe you should have targeted her group to go dance in front of. No, in all seriousness, Tamarahena had some very good advice on it.
And just a question, you say you are 17 now? I mean no disrespect when I ask how you can be dancing in a club at 17, just wondering of laws are different where you live in regards to minors.

Originally Posted by patrisha

Hi Dheisha, well part of the problem with people who do things like we are discussing is that often they are a bit drunk or have a very strange self image so that they really think they are good and that people want to see them.
Vasha, kudos to you for not losing your cool with this person.
You said she was Moroccan? Was she there alone? Its strange that a young Moroccan Hoochie would be out withot an escort. Maybe you should have targeted her group to go dance in front of. No, in all seriousness, Tamarahena had some very good advice on it.
And just a question, you say you are 17 now? I mean no disrespect when I ask how you can be dancing in a club at 17, just wondering of laws are different where you live in regards to minors.

I wondered that myself. We couldn't even hire a dancer under 18 in my establishment, because alcohol is served there.

No dancing here unless you are 21.

I don't know about dancers, but I do know about waitstaff and establishments that serve alcohol (I had many friends in food service and this was much discussed). They could only serve alcohol if they were 18, but they could work there at I think 15 or 16. I would think the same may be true for dancers...not like they serve the drinks.

Originally Posted by tamrahennatx

I wondered that myself. We couldn't even hire a dancer under 18 in my establishment, because alcohol is served there.

Originally Posted by resullivan

I don't know about dancers, but I do know about waitstaff and establishments that serve alcohol (I had many friends in food service and this was much discussed). They could only serve alcohol if they were 18, but they could work there at I think 15 or 16. I would think the same may be true for dancers...not like they serve the drinks.

I was gigging in clubs when I was under 21, but was not allowed to be near any alcohol. I was always very scrupulous about observing the rule, because it would have been a pretty lame thing to get my bosses in trouble over a glass of liquid!

I think the rule was similar to what was just posted. For the waitstaff, they had to be 18 in order to serve. Honestly most venues that have dancers are "under-the-table" deals anyway, so I think there's always a rather large gray area.

Originally Posted by resullivan

I don't know about dancers, but I do know about waitstaff and establishments that serve alcohol (I had many friends in food service and this was much discussed). They could only serve alcohol if they were 18, but they could work there at I think 15 or 16. I would think the same may be true for dancers...not like they serve the drinks.

I think it depends on the laws in your area. It may also depend on whether an establishment is a restaurant that serves alcohol, or a nightclub that sells food. I think a nightclub environment may have to be more strict on who they hire - I know that I am offered drinks by patrons occasionally, and there is a strict rule about no customers under 18 in the downstairs bar area.

But honestly, I don't know the legalities of it, and they laws vary state-to-state, and even city-to-city. It just seemed odd for a 17-year-old to be working in a nightclub. However, it may be perfectly legal in her state.

Originally Posted by patrisha

You said she was Moroccan? Was she there alone? Its strange that a young Moroccan Hoochie would be out withot an escort.

When I worked in southern Spain, there were many Moroccan hoochies, and escorts would most definitely have cramped their style. Like someone said earlier, she was probably trying to drum up some business.

Originally Posted by resullivan

I don't know about dancers, but I do know about waitstaff and establishments that serve alcohol (I had many friends in food service and this was much discussed). They could only serve alcohol if they were 18, but they could work there at I think 15 or 16. I would think the same may be true for dancers...not like they serve the drinks.

Shes right. Just as long as im not anywhere near the alcohol its fine. I think there is also a law that says I cant work late on school nights but I home school so that doesn't really apply.

Other than that I am ALWAYS escorted to my jobs be it by my parents, one of my sisters, or one of my of age guy friends who can protect me in case something bad might happen.

Originally Posted by lotus

Honestly most venues that have dancers are "under-the-table" deals anyway, so I think there's always a rather large gray area.

Ok, also very true. All of the owners of the clubs I work at really don't care how old I am. They all love my dancing and thats what really matters to them.

I also don't think anyone would ever be suspicious of me being underage. Im tall, I look older, and I don't act my age at all (not to sound cocky or anything).

Leyla Lanty made an excellent point; if there is a band, they can easily just go into "ending" music and when there's no music, they 99% of the time will leave. As the dancer, you can only control so much and yes, sometimes it is better to just leave the stage.
And, this probelm of "overenthusiastic" audience members isn't confined to the bellydance genre - it happens all the time in any show whether rock concert, or afternoon fundraiser with an Irish band - it is just amazing how out of control audience members can get. Even on a TV game show I was appalled when one of the contestents (mind you, they SCREEN these people) stepped up close to the host who was introducing him and declared he was going to "give him some love" (ewww!) and the host had to quickly side step away with one arm oustreched to stop him and told him, "No you are not you are going to sit down at the panel now". It wasn't really very funny, it was oddly creepyish.
I think audience members, even if not drunk, sometimes are so out of their usual framework that what starts out as enthusiasm, winds up being an appalling situation that they don't know how to stop so they just keep going on and on. Yup, that's why there are managers, bouncers, etc. to make sure these situations are "handled" and fast!

I've danced with them for a bit and then thanked them.

I've sat down and clapped for the 'dancer' until they leave. They usually don't want to dance without me.

If they do want to dance without me, I leave. And that usually stops it.