Thread: anyone losing gigs at restaurants or private parties due to economy?

part two of economy woes

?

I have noticed that some of the restaurants where I work are slower than they were at this time last year. I am still getting calls for parties, but again, not as many as last year and some are definitely price shopping.

In a word yes-my restaurants are not getting as many people booking in therefore I'm not getting as many bookings either and this should be the busy time of year.

Not as a dancer, but I do high end catering and I can tell you that every single Christmas party in December has been scratched off the calendar.

And those would be the sorts of parties that would house dance gigs.

:-(

Article in the newspaper today about how folks are cutting back on restaurant meals, especially the high-end ones. It's one of the first luxuries to go, I guess.

Yes. I don't do restaurant work, but I have noticed a signficant decrease in parties booked this time of year. Usually I am sooooo busy, now I am so-so. Also, I have had a lot more people call me to inquire, get to the contract stage and then realize they can't afford it (I guess when they actually need to shell out cash for a deposit they realize that they don't have the money). I've also had a few inquiries that went no where because they cancelled the entire party.

I've also noticed a lot more people paying their deposits by credit card instead of check.

Definitely. I am not wanting for work, but usually at this time of year I would be busier and have excess gigs to refer to other dancers. That's not happening this year. I also had one client who hires me for her holiday party every year end up canceling her party.

Yes. My restaurant cancelled dancing and I just lost a party for this weekend. The party hostess wasn't too excited about my price, though.

I just had another lead fall through - talked to the client today, going to book for Sunday, I am going to send her the contract tonight, and I just get a text saying they are cancelling the party. Ugh! That is the story of my life lately!

It's been just horrible for me. There's always been a dry spell for me from November - February, but things never picked up last Spring and my gigs have been extremely few and far between. I could usually count on one or two paid gigs per month, however it's been nowhere near that for all of 2008. Since May, I've literally had 3 paid gigs.

I have less inquiries, and those who inquire simply don't respond back to book after I give them information. I have gotten no response to over 60 postcards sent to nursing homes, restaurants, DJs, social groups, etc., and I even tried Danella's idea of a discount for repeat clients if they book me in November or December. Nothing.

The coffee shop here has just changed its format from having dancers once a week to once a month, which basically means bye-bye to the only place in town that had regular dancers.

has anyone been dropping their dance fees to compensate? (don't kill me for asking) ?

is your restaurant having fewer dancers on fewer nights? one of my buddies was just 'laid off' from a thurs night spot that's why i'm asking

I'm not lowering my rates across the board, but I did just offer a special discounted rate to previous clients only (there is a thread about it somewhere). There were restrictions on the discount, and the promotion is over now - it got me one gig that I otherwise would not have had because the client couldn't afford my regular rates, but that's it.

Over the last year or so a couple places have cut back. But there have also been new gigs started.
Restaurants have been a bit slower, or many have. It seems to me the slowest periods have been when the economy has been the absolute TOP story of the day. That's when my party calls have slowed down as well.
I'm still doing fine for work, but I have less overflow to refer to others than usual.

Originally Posted by jesennia

has anyone been dropping their dance fees to compensate? (don't kill me for asking) ?

I tried Daniela's "repeat customer" limited offer myself, but got no responses. Other than that, no, I'm quoting my regular rates. As depressed as I am about the lack of gigs, it would be even more depressing to put all of the work and energy into preparing for one and then come back with peanuts. If I'm going to just break even or lose money on a gig, I might as well stay home and work on my dancing or spend time with my family.

Let's face it, Belly Dancers are a luxury item, and those are the first things people jettison in a recession. ,f::

Certainly there's been a slow down. Through the summer I had some overflow and was referring gigs out to other dancers. I don't think I've had anything to refer out to anyone else since about September.

to compensate for possible income loss are you teaching more? doing more advertising or less? just going to ride it out?

Originally Posted by jesennia

to compensate for possible income loss are you teaching more? doing more advertising or less? just going to ride it out?

I'm already teaching as much as I can (5 days/week). I'm not interested in putting any more money into advertising right now because the last few attempts I've made have netted nothing in return. The only advertising I seem to get any gigs from is PartyPop and my own website.

I have to just ride it out, but I am lucky that my husband is able to provide the majority of income that our family requires. I am thinking about approaching my friend who has a specialty retail store and seeing if she'd be interested in having me work there one day a week.

Well this last week the government officially announced that we are in a recession. So I expect there will be a further tightening of the belts.

There has even been a slow down in my field which took me by surprise. Health care institutions, Rehab centers, nursing homes and private care are making changes and cutting down on staffing and services. I'm going to have to register myself in another state as a CNA inorder for me to keep my current work load. Luckily for me I live in a border town and will be able to work in both states...

Originally Posted by AngelaDiCaprio

Well this last week the government officially announced that we are in a recession. So I expect there will be a further tightening of the belts.

There has even been a slow down in my field which took me by surprise. Health care institutions, Rehab centers, nursing homes and private care are making changes and cutting down on staffing and services. I'm going to have to register myself in another state as a CNA inorder for me to keep my current work load. Luckily for me I live in a border town and will be able to work in both states...

cutting BACK? on staffing? oh my lord. there were barely enough nurses on the floor back in my day..how could it possibly get worse? seriously don't anyone put loved ones in a nursing home.

i can't believe they are cutting nursing. boggles the mind really. sorry everyone no more meds or clean beds for your aging parents. good god . (sensitive subject with me)

smack me for asking but is anyone dumping a lot of their costumes and/or going for more affordable pieces instead of lavish ones?

Well, I've stopped buying more costumes unless I sell the ones I have, and I'm thinking about selling costumes that haven't seen the light of day in a while, even though I'm not in the market to buy any new ones just yet (I have two new ones I haven't even altered and worn yet!)

In my first post I was referring to parties only. I am definitely sticking to my rates. I am working enough, just not as many parties as I would normally have this time of year.
I would say that, for the most part, I've not really seen a difference restaurants/clubs in NYC. They are steadily busy and given the car and pedestrian traffic in major shopping, dining and nightlife areas it certainly looks like people are out and spending money.
However, I have definitely seen a difference at some places that I dance in more suburban areas. One restaurant last year was so packed I could barely move in there all through the fall and winter. They were also hiring me for an extra show nearly every week due to a large reservation or party. So far this year its been hit or miss with the crowd every weekend and no extra shows.
I'm still too busy right now to teach anymore than I am. But I've definitely been considering doing and extra class in a 4-6 week session during Jan/Feb since that is is typically a slower gig time for me.

It's slowed down ALOT for me and to make things worse I just found out I'm getting laid off from my day job in a week. I also a Realtor and we all know how Real Estate is doing lately.

Originally Posted by danielabellydance

Well, I've stopped buying more costumes unless I sell the ones I have

Ditto.

Originally Posted by jesennia

smack me for asking but is anyone dumping a lot of their costumes and/or going for more affordable pieces instead of lavish ones?

I've sold off several of my two piece modern Egyptian costumes, and instead I'm sewing skirts to go with my bra/belt sets. Even though I prefer the look and convenience of a slick lycra costume (I hate going through the rigmarole of pinning my belt to my skirt; I just want to slip it all on and be done), there's more versatility with bra/belt sets.

I have a friend who seemed really excited about having me dance at her office Christmas party, but after I told her how much it costs, that was all she wrote! So sad. :(

Originally Posted by danielabellydance

Well, I've stopped buying more costumes unless I sell the ones I have, and I'm thinking about selling costumes that haven't seen the light of day in a while, even though I'm not in the market to buy any new ones just yet (I have two new ones I haven't even altered and worn yet!)

same here. want more, but can't do it. getting no parties, nothing, just restaurant gig, and who knows, I guess that will stick around... hope so anyway.

I'm not a professional bellydancer, but I hope business picks up for everyone. I just got laid off from my job for I don't know how long, nor do I even know if I have a job anymore...meaning I might have to give up my bellydance classes
=( So I'm sure some bellydance teachers are losing people due to people losing their jobs.

Originally Posted by jesennia

smack me for asking but is anyone dumping a lot of their costumes and/or going for more affordable pieces instead of lavish ones?

i'm in canada and things are a bit slower here but they're still relatively good compared to the us...i have sold quite a few of my costumes, especially when our dollar was $.70 to yours, that extra profit allowed me to buy 2 new ones when dahlal had a sale...but other than that I can't afford the exchange rate right now.

I'm looking at my closet and thinking about revamping some of my older ones to make them newer again...

I probably shouldn't jinx myself by posting this .w.:, but I have gotten calls about potential gigs nearly every day for the past week. Shockingly, about half of them have actually booked! Since before this past summer, even random inquiries about gigs had slowed down to a mere trickle.

I don't know WTH is going on, but suddenly is seems like belly dancing is in big demand in my area. Only one had anything to do with my postcard mailing campaign, so I don't think that's it. The weirdest thing is that even before the economy went into the crapper, January/February were traditionally very slow months.

I just hope it keeps up!