Thread: Buisness is slow

Ok Im so frustrated My resturant gig isnt going that great. I had a bad night last time and he hasnt asked me back since. It wasnt a terrible night but i didnt dance 100% I hand out cards like crazy, I have a web site, posted flyers etc.... Now i live on a military base on Okinawa japan. I have advertised to both military, and the locals. Am I doing something wrong? I havent gotten any other gigs I have a few students, and the bad resturant gig. HELP Is it just this island?I want to dance on a regualar basis. I teach 2 times a week but i want a gig at least 1 time every 2 weeks. Is that too much to ask? Any suggestions im frustrated.

There are times that I get no requests for performances for weks, then suddenly everyone wants a dancer in the same weekend. I try to focus less on wether I have gigs or not, but practice every week on something that I can use in a performance. Letting go is hard for me, because I'm a control freak and I want to perform on a regular base too!

Somehow I didn't have any gigs in january and februari (slow months) but things are getting in motion now. Especially wedding parties and such. maybe you could hand out cards to bridal stores and wedding planners?

Yes, these things seem to come in threes... nothing for a month, then everything on one day... I have one day this month during which I'm scheduled to perform three times, at three different places. At least I'll be in costume and warmed up, so its just fine.
Oh, and the babysitter likes it better when I hire her for a few hours in a row, instead of just one or two hours. So it works.
But I do relate to the nervousness about having a month or two go by without gigs. I try to tell myself not to let my self-esteem rely too much on getting hired for performances. It feels great to dance, no matter if anyone is watching. Of course getting paid is always a boost...
Jillanna

Sorry to hear you're having a hard time ... I do think the business of restaurant dancing ebbs and flows in most cities.

I remember once in Melbourne at one of the major Turkish restaurants on *the* middle eastern strip (Sydney Road) there was a serious food poisoning incident. A few people ended up in hospital and there were write ups about it in the papers. Needless to say it seriously affected the whole Middle Eastern restaurant industry for a number of weeks, if not months.

I remember during that time I tried to really work on all the things I'd been making excuses that I was too busy to work on prior ... It's a good feeling to know that when the phone does start ringing like crazy you're *prepared*. Make the down times work for you and stay positive ..g.:

If you do not speak Japanese or/and there is not an established belly dance scene already in place that you can tap into...you may be expecting to much. Without either, you may need to start planning small events if you want them to happen.

The "locals" may have an an aversion to things connected to the military in general, and that may double when they have to speak English to communicate in their own country.

In my travels, Okinawa was one of the least English-Speaking-Tourist accomedating areas of Japan, and only ONE ...ONE English language guide book even exists for it. It wasn't a problem for me and my mother, because I speak the language. But when I spoke the language I saw additudes drastically change because I was a Japanese-speaking non-millitary person.

Okinawa probably doesn't know what to do with a bellydancer. You need to show them. You need to set conditions.

Wedding parties, except those of Japanese bellydancers, do not involve bellydancers here. It's a little tooooo foriegn. Bellydancers in Tokyo are more connected to the restaurant and (very important) younger and more eccentric world music and art scenes. Finding out who the world-music djs are, and where world music events are going on and contacting them is more likely to get you some gigs than just handing out cards. If you want to teach locals you'll need some Japanese skills to figure out if there are community centers you can get involved with.

YEAH!!!! I dance on the 24th WHOOP!!! After talking to the resturant owner, I dont think it is me, I just think his buisness is slow and he is a little unsure of himself and the BD Night.......

Ozma,
I wonder if you were down in Naha when you were here. There are about a dozen english publications here. I am mid Island right about where the big military bases are (there about 10 bases on Island) I have a add comming out in the Okinawa Outdoors at th end of this month, I hope I see some results from that!!!

Originally Posted by annwyn

YEAH!!!! I dance on the 24th WHOOP!!! After talking to the resturant owner, I dont think it is me, I just think his buisness is slow and he is a little unsure of himself and the BD Night.......

Ozma,
I wonder if you were down in Naha when you were here. There are about a dozen english publications here. I am mid Island right about where the big military bases are (there about 10 bases on Island) I have a add comming out in the Okinawa Outdoors at th end of this month, I hope I see some results from that!!!

Good luck with that!
I'm only saying that there are historical/current issues with the base and the locals and you may have to deal with that. Some restaurants may assume that because you live on the base that you don't need to be paid a fair price for your art.

And you really should be looking at the world music scene while you are there.

And I would also hit up Indian, Thai, etc. restaurants not just ME ones. I know of a few bellydancers here who dance in Indian restaurants or other 'exotic' restaurants. I've danced in an Ethiopian restaurant.

And along the lines of what Ozma said, I would also talk to Artsy bars, seasonal beach bars etc. Or see if there are any world music DJs or other world dancers who want to collab. etc. Look into cultural festivals too. There are a LOT of hula dance schools here...

A lot of girls will want to see you before they study with you. Especially because you're a foreigner.

Forgot to say, how is your Japanese?

Mine is horrible. But I can say simple things like 'Is today your first class?' 'Bend your legs.' 'Let's dance!' 'Please have some water.'

My Japanese is horrible, but im working on it. I actually live out in town (my hubby just is military) so i have japanese neighbors (who always laugh at me) but they are nice and i try to practice greetings on them and the gate guards. I also have 2 students that have lived here their entire lives but went to english schools so i am picking things up from them. I really hope that this ad makes a difference.....

I like to volunteer when I have down time, teaching a class for the rape crisis center.
And seasonal Enrichment courses for Schools too.

Originally Posted by shahravar

I like to volunteer when I have down time, teaching a class for the rape crisis center.
And seasonal Enrichment courses for Schools too.

These are very good suggestions (as are so many in this thread) but I fear that many just don't apply to the poster. Annwyn is a foriegner living in Japan, is new to the country, does not speak the language, and is not tightly integrated into the society.

Maybe she could check on if there are local "international schools" who would like to bring in a guest dancer to do a show and tell. Check bi-lingual charity and support groups? And, because Hula is increasingly popular in Japan, check local hula studios and ask if they are thinking about branching out in styles?

Annwyn, have you looked into taking lessons in Okinawan dance/ sword/ Japanese festival dances/ hula? It seems to me that if you are having a hard time bringing the dance that you love to Japan that part of the answer is to get yourself into the dances available and leave Japan with a richer background. Getting somewhat involved with other types of dance might give you a better idea of how local teachers do events, what events are open, how teachers and dancers promote themselves. You'll find that other dancers in different styles will probably be very excited about your style and will be able to open doors you can't even find by yourself.

Originally Posted by ozma

Annwyn, have you looked into taking lessons in Okinawan dance/ sword/ Japanese festival dances/ hula? It seems to me that if you are having a hard time bringing the dance that you love to Japan that part of the answer is to get yourself into the dances available and leave Japan with a richer background. Getting somewhat involved with other types of dance might give you a better idea of how local teachers do events, what events are open, how teachers and dancers promote themselves. You'll find that other dancers in different styles will probably be very excited about your style and will be able to open doors you can't even find by yourself.

This would also be a great chance to increase your anatomy vocabulary. I learned everything I know from going to the gym.

Things are going GREAT this week (god I hope it lasts) I have 2 private lessons, in addition to my 2 regular classes. My ad comes out next week, I have a preformance comming up on the 24th. AND I just got in to this student exchange thing. I pick up highschool students and take then back to my house 1 day a week. I teach them to cook, and other cultural things (american culture) SOOO this is great I will be learning japaneese while teaching these students about my everyday life. SOOO COOL expecially since I can do it with my son. This JUST might be the thing I was looking for!!!!

Good luck!xo