Thread: Bellydance business must have

Hi dear bellydancers
Some of my friends are going professional meaning people are calling them to perform. But we want to know what are the must haves in business?
E.g namecards - what should a namecard include?
reciept -where do we obtain one?
What other stuff do we need?
website?

How do we present ourselves in front of clients? To whom can we give our namecards to?

We are operating as a home business for now cos we dont have alot of offers yet.

Please help. Thank you. God bless you

The first thing you need is professional photos, for promotional purposes.

Business Cards- should (ideally) have- pro photo of the dancer, name of the dancer, tel no (mobile/cell phone number is probably best from the pov of personal safety- you can get a pay-as-you-go, just for business purposes), email address, website URL

Receipt- you can buy plain receipt books from any stationery shop. Or you can create a personalised version (with photo/logo? using your "corporate image" style) on your home pc, and print out as needed.

Email address, again from the personal security pov, ideally not your home/personal email address. You can set up a hotmail or googlemail one, that is in your professional dance name, or something that's not going to identify you, or where you live, say.

Website- is a good idea so that you can point enquiries to your site. Should include a Gallery of good pictures, as well as maybe action shots, and if you have good YouTube footage, video clips. Should include a Bio and How To Book (fees, deposit, cancellation policy, family friendly venues only, blablabla).

Some other things that might help you to have behind the scenes:

- Service and price list. It might take you a while to sound this out and get it right, but having a list of what you offer, how much, plus your surcharges is really helpful when you answer enquiries. Instead of having to think on the spot about how much (and subsequently quoting too little), you can just look at your chart. I find this mentally helps me stick to my guns and not be persuaded to work for less.
- A notebook in which you record what you quoted, for what type of gig and whom. So when they ring you back you can remember!
- A blank contract form that you'll be able to use when securing gigs. You can actually use this to record your gig quotes, also (just make sure you can tell which is a quote, which is confirmed!)
- A few pre-burnt 'set' CDs, so that if you get a last-minute gig you don't have to think too much about it. Make up 10, 15, 20-min sets, perhaps slightly different to suit different occasions. Start working out routines for them all in advance.

Hmm, I'm sure there's more!

I've got a bunch of links on my site
Samira Shuruk Belly Dance and Bollywood
If you go "Dancer Resources" the first sections will take you to a whole BUNCH of helpful links.
A lot of the links of course go to Shira's great site:
Belly Dancing -- Art Of Middle Eastern Dance -- Bellydancing in Iowa City
go to her belly dancing advice link.
..g.:

you guys are so kind! God bless you all