Thread: sketchy??

I had sort of a weird call last night. An agency I work with from time to time called me for a show this coming Saturday at 11:30 PM. I was all ready to take it, but then they told me it was for four people! Apparently the supervisor spoke with the people and said it was fine... They told me it's two older, foreign (not specified) couples who are going out to celebrate friendship and belated birthdays, then want a belly dance show when they return home from dinner to entertain them while they chat. Granted, I'll dance for even fewer than four people if a restaurant is really slow but pays me anyway - and even then, the show can feel very long and sort of awkward... I didn't tell them yes or no yet, only that it sounded strange and I had to check on my availability.

Opinions??

Serafina

It sounds legit, but I'd share your discomfort.

The idea of dancing for four people while they chat would seem very demoralizing to me on a really deep level.

Yeah... Right? Thanks, Lauren. Granted, there have been some sloooowww restaurant nights when the energy's been right and a crowd of 3 has felt like 25. But there have also been the "Why the hell aren't these people just killing the music and putting me out of my misery?" slow nights. When people are into it for the first few minutes and then it gets weird because they realize you have no choice but to keep interacting with them for 30 minutes, and they'd like to also enjoy rheir dinner. (Of course, the best is the adoring crowd of hundreds, but that's obviously not going to be the case with this job.). I just have no real way to feel it out before I commit either, since I was not contacted directly.

I think it is weird at their home........take some one with you

Yeah, doesn't it seem like the type of thing where they'd rather have the show going on in the restaurant during dinner? Or go to a restaurant that features a dancer and save the money? It is very weird.

Yeah, be cautious. Something just doesn't sound right. Why not have you come to the restaurant? And why "chat" during a special, private dance show?

Because it came through the agency, I would feel more comfortable taking the gig. I would also ask the agency to provide me with and escort due to the few number of guests and odd circumstances. But in all honesty, it could turn out to be great. You never know.

This reminds me of the most physically demanding gig I've ever had. In Turkey, the norm is that you have a couple of gypsy bands that you work with... they get you the gigs and you split the tips 50/50. So my band and I arrived at the fancy hotel we were supposed to work it but it turns out they wanted us to perform IN THE TURKISH BATH. It was two really rich German couples who decided they wanted the "full Turkish experience" of getting massages in a hamman while listening to live Turkish musicians and watching a belly dancer. The musicians obviously said no, cuz it would ruin there instruments. But the band leader decided to send in a percussionist, the singer and me. So I danced for as long as I could stand -- which was less than 5 minutes.
Sorry about the slightly non-sequitorial story but I say do the gig, but take somebody along. Maybe this is just those couples view of an "authentic" middle-eastern experience. Or... maybe they will be really rich oil-sheiks who will totally ignore you but occassionally lean over and stick a hundred dollar bill in your belt to prove how rich they are.

I say go but take someone with you just to be safe. If they look at you weird for having someone there just tell them that you always bring an "assistant" with you on gigs. Perhaps this will give you an more Diva appearance which can be a plus!

I've decided to take it as long as I am paid my regular rate and not a lower agency rate. I bring an escort with me only on VERY rare occasions (I did it more when I was newer to pro dancing... Oh wait, I just remembered that was because I didn't have a car! :), but my husband has agreed to come with me since I'm dancing in a concert with his band before that anyway. I wouldn't want rich oil-sheiks to miss out on the opportunity to shower me with money - let's just hope they aren't expecting me to dance in their sauna!

Thanks for the advice, ladies...

Can't wait to hear how this one turns out, we want a report after!

Definitely! Still waiting to find out if the higher price is accepted, but if it's not, then I'll know they're not the oil sheiks I'm hoping for anyway! Haha

Originally Posted by annwyn

I think it is weird at their home........take some one with you

I agree, take an escort, preferably a big, strong guy. You never know what you will walk into. How long do they want you to dance? With only 4 people in a private residence - I would stick to 15 minutes and split.

Here's my update... Which is really not much of an update at all. I didn't end up doing the show because my price was "way out of the agency's budget.". I was only charging my base price for a 20-minute show with no additional compensation for travel (and it would have taken me nearly an hour to get there, plus it was at 11:30 on a Saturday night). Needless to say, I wasn't going to do it for the agency price I *occasionally* agree to for a super convenient gig. Oh well, guess we'll never know who those four old friends were... But thanks for all the advice!