Thread: what would you do?

over the last two years i've been bumping into this guy. he's from the ME but i have no idea what country. second generation migrant. quite high profile within the local migrant community, into politics, into lots of city/subsidized organisations; knows several ME bands etc. been handing out my business card to him too, several times over the last three years. i think he saw me as very young, never took me serious, never saw me dance

two weeks ago me and my students performed at a festival, some of his friends saw me dance, i gave them my card and they said, oh we have this and this event coming up, and we would want to hire you. we discussed money and they would pay something in between my "party rate" and my restaurant rate. they introduce me again to said guy, who seems to be their boss, and that they want to ask me for these upcoming events. so i start talking to him.

we also just had elections, and he was running for this pol. party i sympathise with and sometimes voted for, and through other friends i had already said i'd be happy to donate a gig for a fundraiser , etc. he was all like, oh, this is a city event, i dont want to talk politics now, but, i appreciate your support etc etc, and i'll give you a ring if anythign comes up, so we exchange cards.

just got a call, if i want to come down to this post-election party they are having this sunday afternoon in a bar, with some drinks, he's buying drinks for everyone that helped in the elections, to thank all the volunteers, and if i could dance for them. they have NO budget.

i told him to call me back tomorrow, that i wasnt sure if i was free, but that i'd consider it

cons: i dont like dancing for free. will i come across as cheap?
pros; i now have NO contact with that whole community. and i know there is gigs at wedding, parties, etc to be had, and this is the first time i'd get some kind of "in". they need to see me dance before they will ever hire me. it feels like an audition

artemisia

hey
had to shorten my text twice, is there a limit now?

wanted to add, they usually hire a moroccan or a lebanese dancer, and in previous conversation me not being "from the ME" seemed problematic. i'm not sure what changed. but accepting a white blond dancer i think is a new thing, so i do want them to see me dance.. he insist i will improvise with the band they are having. it's scary but if i pull this off, it might be a good thing

Tough one...my initial thought is not to do it. I definitely see the benefits of making an appearance, but there is also the image of jumping at a chance to dance, and particularly to dance for free. I am trying not to put too much of my own situation(s) into my response, but I have been dealing with related issues, and learned that more often than not biding my time has had way more of a payoff in the end than being the available go-to-girl has.

If you do it I would keep it really short, do a song with the band and then be a guest.

If you don't do it you could still attend for a short time, schmooze, network, and make it clear you look forward to the chance to dance at an event in the future.

Tough choice, since you did SAY you'd donate a performance, so in a sense he's just taking you up on your offer. But this isn't exactly a fundraiser.

If I really thought it could lead to other opportunities, though, and since you already said you'd make a donation, I might do it & consider my 'obligation' fulfilled. I'd also present him with an invoice showing the value of the performance and the fact that it was donated, just so he's aware of the value. In the U.S., you can't deduct political contributions, but the candidates have to track their contributions, soooo....

On a slightly-related side note, one of the free gigs I did as a 'favor' this month has already led to a restaurant appearance, so YES free gigs can lead to paid ones sometimes. So, if I did it, I'd go all out & look to blow their minds.