Thread: Does a house dancer or scheduler typically take a percentage?

Question-in your community, does the house dancer or scheduler take a percentage of your pay even if they themselves are dancing somewhere else that night or not dancing at all? What do you think about this?

Originally Posted by JasmineRose

Question-in your community, does the house dancer or scheduler take a percentage of your pay even if they themselves are dancing somewhere else that night or not dancing at all? What do you think about this?

No! I am both a house dancer and a scheduler, and I would never ask for a percentage of someone else's pay. And I'd be angry if someone asked me for a percentage, aside from a band asking for a portion of tips!!

i've scheduled and never done so, nor would i think to do that......in one venue, i got paid SLIGHTLY extra for the scheduling work, at the other, i got nothing extra for scheduling........

getting a percentage of another dancer's pay doesn't sit well with me, but that's just my personal thing.........

the only time that should occur is if you're an agency and doing ALL the scheduling, booking, advertising......that's pretty typical, but not a scheduler for a restaurant

Originally Posted by ruta21030

i've scheduled and never done so, nor would i think to do that......in one venue, i got paid SLIGHTLY extra for the scheduling work, at the other, i got nothing extra for scheduling........

getting a percentage of another dancer's pay doesn't sit well with me, but that's just my personal thing.........

the only time that should occur is if you're an agency and doing ALL the scheduling, booking, advertising......that's pretty typical, but not a scheduler for a restaurant

Ok well I see you got paid EXTRA on the side from the venue, but it wasn't like oh I get $x out of your pay.

Also, Ruta, I assumed you worked out the scheduling fee with the owner up front and he knew he was paying that?

What if this happened: Scheduler tells the owner the price for a dancer is $200. But then, the scheduler tells the dancer, he'll give you $200 but I keep $15-30 of it because I gave you the privilege of dancing here and this is my job? But the owner is not informed of this? What do you say about that?

I don't get paid extra to schedule, and I don't ask for a percentage (it wouldn't work in my case anyway because it'd be next to impossible to collect from everyone).

I have known of a case in which a dancer did ask those she scheduled to give her $5 for scheduling them, but it was a case where she created the gig and therefore provided an opportunity where before there was none. I didn't agree with it, but I can understand that a bit more than a dancer coming into an established gig and then trying to get the other dancers to pay her to be on the schedule.

Originally Posted by JasmineRose

What if this happened: Scheduler tells the owner the price for a dancer is $200. But then, the scheduler tells the dancer, he'll give you $200 but I keep $15-30 of it because I gave you the privilege of dancing here and this is my job? But the owner is not informed of this? What do you say about that?

I don't know that you "say" anything, unless you're close enough to the owner to feel like you can without causing a major incident. You either choose to pay it and dance there or not, depending on if the gig is worthwhile enough to you otherwise.

Often times, I have found, instead of getting the grease, the squeaky wheel gets thrown off the cart.

Not in my experience. I see it as feasable if someone sets up a private gig for you and does the logistics, but not a regular restaurant job.

Originally Posted by tamrahennatx

I have known of a case in which a dancer did ask those she scheduled to give her $5 for scheduling them, but it was a case where she created the gig and therefore provided an opportunity where before there was none. I didn't agree with it, but I can understand that a bit more than a dancer coming into an established gig and then trying to get the other dancers to pay her to be on the schedule.

I'm a bit confused-just wanted to be clear that I wasn't referring to a dancer wanting to be paid to be on the schedule, but for a scheduler requesting pay out of a dancers pay.....Sorry I was confused by the last statement TamraHenna-could be that it is still early :)

Originally Posted by tamrahennatx

I don't know that you "say" anything, unless you're close enough to the owner to feel like you can without causing a major incident. You either choose to pay it and dance there or not, depending on if the gig is worthwhile enough to you otherwise.

Often times, I have found, instead of getting the grease, the squeaky wheel gets thrown off the cart.

This is true. I wouldn't think it would be enough to stir the pot over. Irritating nonetheless.

Originally Posted by mihnea

Not in my experience. I see it as feasable if someone sets up a private gig for you and does the logistics, but not a regular restaurant job.

I agree. Especially if this scheduler gets a fee EVERYTIME there are dancers at the restaurant-I'm talking every Friday and Saturday at multiple places.

Ok well here is my next question-if you are supposedly dealing with the massive headache of scheduling, and having to be the one to answer for all the problems, then why would you do it for free? Friends with the owner? Loving your job? You have control over when YOU dance?

2 different scenarios, just trying to get some feedback and opinions. Thank you all!

Originally Posted by JasmineRose

I'm a bit confused-just wanted to be clear that I wasn't referring to a dancer wanting to be paid to be on the schedule, but for a scheduler requesting pay out of a dancers pay.....Sorry I was confused by the last statement TamraHenna-could be that it is still early :)

I think we're talking about the same thing - the scheduler asking for a percentage from the dancers she schedules. Right?

Of course, I want to be paid to be on the schedule somewhere, and I don't want to have to pay another dancer for the privilege.

On a related note, I know of teachers who have relationships with venues, schedule their students, and take a percentage (sometimes half to ALL) of the compensation. I've heard of teachers "paying" their students in studio credit. This is heinous to me.

Originally Posted by tamrahennatx

I think we're talking about the same thing - the scheduler asking for a percentage from the dancers she schedules. Right?

Of course, I want to be paid to be on the schedule somewhere, and I don't want to have to pay another dancer for the privilege.

On a related note, I know of teachers who have relationships with venues, schedule their students, and take a percentage (sometimes half to ALL) of the compensation. I've heard of teachers "paying" their students in studio credit. This is heinous to me.

Yeah yeah I see what you are saying now. Early......

Yes-I agree with your bottom statement. Also, I disagree with paying certain people less than others, maybe because they are new to the venue or haven't been dancing AS long as some of the other dancers, i.e. Dancer A has 3 years experience and Dancer B has 1.5, both excellent dancers, but B gets paid less than A because she's "newer."

Originally Posted by JasmineRose

Yeah yeah I see what you are saying now. Early......

Yes-I agree with your bottom statement. Also, I disagree with paying certain people less than others, maybe because they are new to the venue or haven't been dancing AS long as some of the other dancers, i.e. Dancer A has 3 years experience and Dancer B has 1.5, both excellent dancers, but B gets paid less than A because she's "newer."

I don't disagree with paying new hires a bit less than the tenured dancers, simply because that's the way that all workplaces operate. I do, however, think that new dancers should be hired at at least the minimum going local rate, and raises should go up from there.

Originally Posted by tamrahennatx

I don't disagree with paying new hires a bit less than the tenured dancers, simply because that's the way that all workplaces operate. I do, however, think that new dancers should be hired at at least the minimum going local rate, and raises should go up from there.

Ok....yeah I meant hiring them at way below the minimun rate.

Originally Posted by tamrahennatx

I don't disagree with paying new hires a bit less than the tenured dancers, simply because that's the way that all workplaces operate. I do, however, think that new dancers should be hired at at least the minimum going local rate, and raises should go up from there.

I agree.

I have never taken a percentage from any of the dancers at the restaurant where I do the schedule - that just seems so wrong.

Originally Posted by tamrahennatx

I don't disagree with paying new hires a bit less than the tenured dancers, simply because that's the way that all workplaces operate. I do, however, think that new dancers should be hired at at least the minimum going local rate, and raises should go up from there.

Agreed wholeheartedly.
As long as new hires come in at or above the local "minimum" it's OK to have variance at a venue.
I've never taken a cut when I've scheduled a venue. At one or two I've been paid more though.

Originally Posted by JasmineRose

Also, Ruta, I assumed you worked out the scheduling fee with the owner up front and he knew he was paying that?

at the one venue that paid extra, yes, as did the scheduler before me, the other venue, i didn't get anything extra............from other scheduler/house dancers, it's been, some get extra, others don't.......but never percentages of other dancer's rates

Originally Posted by JasmineRose

Yeah yeah I see what you are saying now. Early......

Yes-I agree with your bottom statement. Also, I disagree with paying certain people less than others, maybe because they are new to the venue or haven't been dancing AS long as some of the other dancers, i.e. Dancer A has 3 years experience and Dancer B has 1.5, both excellent dancers, but B gets paid less than A because she's "newer."

actually, i agree with paying more experienced dancers more money......their skill level is greater, as is their dance investment, in money, time, etc..........that's expected in any job, or there's no incentive to improve............experienced, skilled dancers should be paid more....with time, and practice, newer dancers can get paid more commensurate to their greater skill..........

Originally Posted by ruta21030

actually, i agree with paying more experienced dancers more money......their skill level is greater, as is their dance investment, in money, time, etc..........that's expected in any job, or there's no incentive to improve............experienced, skilled dancers should be paid more....with time, and practice, newer dancers can get paid more commensurate to their greater skill..........

Good point-I meant though paying them at a much lower rate (below minimum) on the sly.

Originally Posted by damiena

I agree.

I have never taken a percentage from any of the dancers at the restaurant where I do the schedule - that just seems so wrong.

How would you respond to the arguement-this is my only job and you work a day job so I deserve to get a cut because I gave you the privilege of dancing here? I understand it IS a privilege to dance somewhere, but it still seems wrong to take money out of a dancers pay as a scheduling fee, not as something extra paid by the owner.

Originally Posted by JasmineRose

How would you respond to the arguement-this is my only job and you work a day job so I deserve to get a cut because I gave you the privilege of dancing here? I understand it IS a privilege to dance somewhere, but it still seems wrong to take money out of a dancers pay as a scheduling fee, not as something extra paid by the owner.

Dance is my only job and I still don't take a cut. It is wrong. It is almost like if you are willing to give her a cut, then you can dance there. That is really unethical and similar to the "if you be my friend, then you can dance here" mindset.

If she feels she should be making extra to do the schedule, she should ask the owner for a pay raise, not take it out of the other dancers' pay.

Originally Posted by damiena

Dance is my only job and I still don't take a cut. It is wrong. It is almost like if you are willing to give her a cut, then you can dance there. That is really unethical and similar to the "if you be my friend, then you can dance here" mindset.

If she feels she should be making extra to do the schedule, she should ask the owner for a pay raise, not take it out of the other dancers' pay.

Yes I agree. Except in this hypothetical case the notion that the fee would be taken from the dancer was not made known to the owner. The owner thinks he is paying $x to the DANCER, but the scheduler is in reality taking a cut.

Originally Posted by JasmineRose

How would you respond to the arguement-this is my only job and you work a day job so I deserve to get a cut because I gave you the privilege of dancing here? I understand it IS a privilege to dance somewhere, but it still seems wrong to take money out of a dancers pay as a scheduling fee, not as something extra paid by the owner.

Another full time performer here.
Uh....I didn't GIVE anyone an opportunity. Even if I arranged the audition, they EARNED the audition/opportunity by being good, reliable etc. - and they earn their pay (all of it) as well. :)

Originally Posted by JasmineRose

Yes I agree. Except in this hypothetical case the notion that the fee would be taken from the dancer was not made known to the owner. The owner thinks he is paying to the DANCER, but the scheduler is in reality taking a cut.

That case seems to me to be very unethical.

Originally Posted by SamiraShuruk

That case seems to me to be very unethical.

I thought so, just wanted to see what you all thought about it.

Originally Posted by SamiraShuruk

Another full time performer here.
Uh....I didn't GIVE anyone an opportunity. Even if I arranged the audition, they EARNED the audition/opportunity by being good, reliable etc. - and they earn their pay (all of it) as well. :)

Again, I agree wholeheartedly.

Originally Posted by SamiraShuruk

Another full time performer here.
Uh....I didn't GIVE anyone an opportunity. Even if I arranged the audition, they EARNED the audition/opportunity by being good, reliable etc. - and they earn their pay (all of it) as well. :)

Affirmative!

I can't even imagine the amount of self-entitlement it would take to demand a percentage of a dancer's pay!!!