Thread: Networking/Marketing

My Mother in Law is very big into networking. She's run her own business for I don't know how many years now. She's having a networking/Girls Night Out this Monday and she wants me to give a demonstration/information segment. I tried to talk her into a paid performance but as no one was getting paid, I guess it's fair.
Anyway, my segment is only going to be 1 or 2 songs with a spiel at the end of it.
I have a couple of questions:

1) Are there any neat tid-bits I should include? I know I won't think of everything so I'm hoping you all can suggest something I've forgotten.

2) I am not a teacher. However, I know most of the teachers in this area. Should I only hand out info on my teacher? Or should I include a couple of teachers for them to choose from? (My teacher is across the bridge and I'm afraid of people not going simply because they have to cross the bridge.)

3) I am just now starting to perform. It's still pretty shaky and I would not consider myself exceptional at this time. However, I do want to get more into performing. I don't have cards (see above), I don't have a website (see above), and I don't have a price list (see above). The cards and the price list would be easy enough, but should I actually promote myself this early on? I kind of feel like I would be spitting in the faces of some of the better dancers in this area. (Or maybe I'm just too considerate for my own damn good.) So, to wrap up the third question, should I promote myself as a performer, performers in the area, none of the above, or all of the above?

Geez...I prolly have more questions but I'm drained just from these few,s::

Any help would be greatly appreciated...g.:

I guess my question to you would be what do you hope to get out of this? Are you just doing this to make your mother happy or do you hope this will generate some business? Since you're not a teacher and don't seem comfortable with your performing yet to go pro, it doesn't seem like there are many business opportunities the networking can open up for you.

What are your goals as a dancer? How can the people at this event help you achieve these goals?

Originally Posted by aazura

I guess my question to you would be what do you hope to get out of this?

I want to be able to reach people who may have never seen bellydancing before. And I also want to start networking cause if I'm gonna market myself, I gotta start/learn somewhere.

Originally Posted by aazura

Are you just doing this to make your mother happy or do you hope this will generate some business?

Kinda both. There aren't a lot of performance venues in this area. I would love to see more people ask for bellydance when hiring performers. And after I told her more about it and showed her some videos, she's now wanting to go to classes.

Originally Posted by aazura

Since you're not a teacher and don't seem comfortable with your performing yet to go pro, it doesn't seem like there are many business opportunities the networking can open up for you.

What are your goals as a dancer? How can the people at this event help you achieve these goals?

I've struggled with this question for 6 years. I kept trying the 40 hour a week job thing and it's just not working. I want this to be my life whether it's performing, teaching, or just marketing for other dancers. I"m hoping that at this event, I'll reach people who have never seen a bellydancer. And, hopefully, they'll decide to enrich their lives with it. I think everyone should do it!..g.:

I hope to start performing by the end of the year and eventually start teaching.

I probably should have explained better my aprehension at performing. Don't get me wrong, I'm not bad at it. I just hold a very high standard for performers. Also, you factor in stage fright .w.:and you have one very frightened little monkey when it comes to thinking about performing all the time. It's something else, besides technique, that I'm working on.

I like these questions though. The more questions I get, the more I question myself. And sometimes, that leads to some very suprising conclusions.

What if you do it as a more of a general introduction to the belly dance community in your town or region? Rather than just presenting yourself as a performer or teacher, since you are neither (yet!). Put together a small informational sheet about the dance, about local resources (instructors, venues, shops), and maybe what value a dancer at an event can bring.

I would also write something about yourself on there, and even if you just have a simple homemade card or small flier and a myspace page, I would include it. If you are going to do this, you can use it as a small push to get your own materials together, and to think about how you want to present yourself. I bet a lot of us got started with promo materials when we had no choice but to get them for something specific.

I think it is fine to say, essentially, 'this is my passion, and this is where I am after six years of study, here are local resources, and I am branching out and look forward to working with you all in the future.'

Originally Posted by Monica

What if you do it as a more of a general introduction to the belly dance community in your town or region? Rather than just presenting yourself as a performer or teacher, since you are neither (yet!). Put together a small informational sheet about the dance, about local resources (instructors, venues, shops), and maybe what value a dancer at an event can bring.

You might also see if a local teacher or performer might want to do a small performance or mini-lesson in exchange for the marketing opportunity.

Are you trying to sell bellydancing or are you trying to sell yourself as a performer of bellydance? If you want to use this opportunity to promote yourself then I'd suggest you hold fire until you're ready to go (price list done, website up, cards printed etc.). If you use this chance to sell bellydancing as an activity/entertainment, then who benefits? The other local teachers and performers, not you. If your mother-in-law is prepared to have you back when you are ready to launch your performing career then it may not matter so much what you do right now.

There is nothing wrong with being selfish ..g.: when I go to this kind of thing to talk about bellydancing the message I always give is "bellydancing is fantastic and here I am ready to teach you how to do it". If your local teachers want to promote their classes they should go themselves.

I am agreeing with Monica and Emma. If you feel you really just want to do it to help the overall community, that's fine. If you want to use this resource for yourself, that's fine too. Just be clear about your 'why'.