Thread: Dancing for free

Our troupe has done some "free" gigs that we've actually turned into paying gigs. We have a "magic bucket" that we collect tips in! Both times we've collected over $100. Thats well below our going rate, but I figure if we've already agreed to do it for free, and tips are bonus.

Sadly, I've found out the hard way that it can be costly to donate. Its not just giving away your dancing for free. Several times it has actually cost me quite a bit of money! One time it was in the $100s. Unbelievable. I couldn't drop it at that point, because I felt committed and was... but I had to purchase items that were necessary for our presence at the event, and that was totally unexpected. There's also transportation expense, babysitting (necessary for me to go anywhere), and lots of time spent preparing for some of these events. So, now I'm much more careful.
Jillanna

i got asked to dance at an "assisted living" facility, and they asked what my rate was. i quoted my normal rate, and got an email back saying they can't afford that and i'm dancing for seniors and could i give a discount. i told her to make an offer. still haven't heard back. i almost felt she was insulted by me quoting my normal rate. i know places have a budget, and so i didn't offer a discount straight up. what would you do in that situation?

I would go with my gut. Your gut said "this lady felt insulted that I as a bellydancer have a rate of X" - you already stuck out an olive branch, it wasn't accepted. Why waste your time ?

OK, here's my update, it's kinda ironic.

The first free gig netted me an invitation to dance at a restaurant.

The second free gig I backed out of, due to my broken toe issue. Apparently most of the other pros scheduled to dance also backed out, made me feel really bad. Those who showed up to dance were all approached by a new restaurant owner and will all be dancing at the new venue. ,f:: Shoulda just danced on that broken toe one more time.

The third free gig, which was much more local to me and should have been great exposure for attracting new students has netted me nothing, as far as I can tell, except an invitation to dance for free again next year. I did hand out a couple of brochures, but can't tell for sure if I got a single registration. However, that one allowed my students & I to put together an hourlong show, perform some group choreos and solos, and other fun stuff, so it wasn't a Bad Thing at all.

So, overall, I'd report that dancing for free isn't bad, if you're selective about what you'll accept and know why you're doing it. The first two were both for 'taste of' festivals, which means great exposure to restaurant folk!

Originally Posted by ssipes

Here is an idea: When you donate a performance, you still draw up a contract the same as a paying gig. You indicate the price of the performance, then write in "donation". Seeing the contract and the value of the performance will really impress upon people the value of what we do. Instead of being just the dancers they asked to show up for free, suddenly a real entertainer is donating a $500 performance to them.

Sedonia

I just did that recently!

I work at a community center that provides low-cost daily lunches to seniors. They have an entertainment budget, but it's not much for the lunches.

When they asked me to do a full show, I offered a 15-minute package and gave them an itemized invoice showing the usual fee less the "charitable donation" of 40%. In that way, they know the "true cost" of hiring a professional belly dancer.

Happily, I am able to report that they would like me back for one of their monthly Twight Dinners, which have bigger budgets!

Deborah

did anyone performed at the concerts/festivals organized by community college? did you get paid?..

Originally Posted by maria_s

did anyone performed at the concerts/festivals organized by community college? did you get paid?..

I've been hired by a couple of colleges (state schools, not community colleges though), and it's always been a paid gig.

I was included in a group gig to dance at an international festival at a college (state school) and we were all paid regular rates.

Originally Posted by Souzan

For those of us who are hobbyists, free community shows may be the only opportunities we have to perform outside of haflas (which are few and far between).

And because haflas are not available in all parts of the country, community and charity performances may be the only way that students can get performance experience.

I know this flies in the face of the notion of maintaining the worth of our art, but for older gals like me who don't aren't gonna have anyone willing to pay, you can either not dance or take make whatever opportunities for yourself you can.

Souan

Don't under sell yourself.
I've been paid...pop video, rest home and papmer night. I've even been offered restaurant gigs even this year(at 60!) and declined . Of course it won't keep me in Emans but you are worth your effort. Retirement homes and charities have entertainment budgets over here and I am sure they do elsewhere. If I support a charity I would always dance for nothing for them if all the other entertainers were.
I do demos for the Girl Guides working for their culture badge and they always give me a gift if not money..after all it's good manners even if they just make sure you have some refreshment. But don't assume you aren't entertainment..of course you are and those 80 years old guys in the rest home will think you're a real little cracker!..g.:

Ou troupe does freebies but only for certain circumstances - as many others have said.

One thing we have started tho - if it's for a registered charitable organization, we ask for a donation receipt in leiu of payment as we're giving our time. it's the same thing they would give to someone who donated items as door prizes.

My troupe and I try to dance at one of the American Cancer Society Relay for Life events every year, since two of us are cancer survivors. This year we're going to do a show plus mini-lessons to try to recruit some more students for me. For other events, though, we ask for a fee. We work hard to put our troupe numbers together and keep them current....

Latifa