Thread: Question: Is there more undercutting?

I was wondering...

I have seen a lot of discussions about undercutting and have heard more and more people are doing it.

My question is:

Do you think more people are undercutting due to the poor economy?

Jobs are less
Money is tight
Does this environment bring them out?

Discuss...

it is possible. but i think it may also be a factor of communication. now that there are more dancers and more communication- online and otherwise, i think the undercutters are being discovered a lot more than previously. for instance, if i didn't go online and participate in discussions and forums, i would never know what the rates are in dc, pa or even canada!

what are those commericals....
the more you know..

true! It just seems to be a big topic of discussion lately. I guess it always will be.

I think it goes in waves- both the undercutting and the communication about it.
There was a big thread on tribe in which people were using the economy as rationalization to undercut.
But honestly, people who can't get and keep gigs at the regional going rates will *always* find a way or excuse to undercut if they want to dance out that badly.
I know myself and numerous other dancers who charge MORE this year than last year. The money is out there (speaking for our region anyway). "The economy" is just another excuse.

I saw a "Peter Perfect" show the other day. He made over a salon and after wards the salon raised their prices by 30% and increased their customers by 50% (I could have the numbers reversed). That's the way to go.
To me, in a time when our costs are going up, it doesn't make economic sense to slash our prices when dancer's profits are already rather low.
To me it makes more sense to try to make ones business more marketable. "Business competition" to me doesn't equal "lowering prices", it equals "more education, more marketability" etc.
BUT, there are certainly people who see it differently.