Thread: advice needed: asked to be regular at a restaurant

I've been replacing a great dancer in a Turkish restaurant (A) a few times over the last couple of months. Now the owner has another restaurant (B) which doesn't have live music nor bellydance entertainment, but he wants to start with that asap and asked me to be the regular dancer in restaurant B. I believe he wants me to dance from Thursday to Sunday. 1 time on Thu, Fri and Sun and 2 times on Sat.

Now restaurant A is big, has a nice big dance floor for the dancer to perform, has live music (although the dancer doesn't perform with them, but that's another story) and both 'Western' as Turkish visitors. Restaurant B is much smaller, doesn't have a dance floor and I guess mostly Western visitors (so no or less tipping).

Now I've never danced regularly in a restaurant and don't know what to ask for or negotiate about regarding payment (how much and when to be paid), cancellation procedure (what do I do if I get booked for another gig, or how about if they cancel me last minute), starting time (what if they want you to arrive at 7 but won't let you dance untill 9:30) etc.

All ideas/advice/experience is very much appreciated!

B

They're probably going to want to do whatever is done at the other restaurant, but if you're looking to improve things I'd suggest asking for a decent pay *per set* and setting one or two shows per night (rather than waiting around all night to dance at the owner's convenience). If they don't need you last minute, or if there are no customers to dance for, you are still supposed to get paid. The pay frequency can be worked out with the owner, either every night or on a weekly basis. If you can't dance last minute (or even with advanced notice), it will probably be your responsibility to find a decent sub.

Restaurant rate over here would be 80 euro's for two sets, so I'd say 50 for one set if you don't have to travel too far to get there. Make it clear to the owner that you will have to perform in a certain timeslot (if they want you to be there at 19.00, you'll perorm within an hour) If you haven't performed within this timeslot, you still spend you evening waiting around in the restaurant, so you should get paid.

Restaurants can be fun, dealing with the owner, waiting around and having to ask to get paid time and time again can be a pain in the ass. And ask yourself how much your evenings are worth to you, it appears that he wants you to perform four times a week, which is quite a lot. It means that you can't do other things during those nights, unless you can find a replacement dancer to take over. Cancelling without offering a replacment dancer because you have a better paying gig sounds like a very unprofessional option, however keeping those nights off then being cancelled by the restaurant also sucks.

Thank you ladies for your comments/tips!

mekyria: I'm somewhat shocked about the prices you mentioned. Restaurant A pays €75 for one set and €125 for two sets and I think this is very normal. Also restaurant B is not in Amsterdam so I want to ask for traveling expanses.

nasila & mekyria: the regular dancer in restaurant A is not in charge of replacements, I was booked by the owner to replace her so I guess this will be the same in restaurant B. But normally I would agree you have to find your own substitute.

Any more thoughts?

B

first off, congratulations

what they said :D

find out where you'll be stowing your stuff/changing, make sure it's good and moderately clean/comfy

keep the rate as close to site A as possible per set(and yes, add expenses and maybe even put it as part of the rate if you're the sole dancer), ditto on time frame, find out if they want 'new faces', best to forage now so you'll have a line-up ready when he comes to you with 'we want variety', which of course would make you look like the pro you are in HIS eyes........

as for tipping, discuss the 'problem' with the owner.....there's an owner here that printed little table cards with 'how to applaude, show enjoyment, it's ok to dance if asked, how to tip which-is-ok", which kept the awkward 'stare at my plate,why is she just standing there, is it ok to look/clap/sing" to a bare minimum...maybe that might work there?