Thread: Why a changing room?

I am new at performance, and have seen many posts on Bhuz complaining of inadequate changing facilities at venues.

So I'm curious: why can't you arrive already dressed, wearing a cover-up? It seems like it would save a lot of trouble, but then maybe there is some great Belly Dance Secret that I don't know about!

sometimes - you have to do more than one costume. If you are performing at a restaurant and have 2 sets - some owners "require" a second costume.

Also - I will often wear all my goodies except my belt. Sitting on it would be uncomfortable.

Finally - sometimes, you just need a place where you can breathe.

Just my thoughts ;-)

If you wear your costume in your car, you are probably going to snag, rip or have beads fall off. Also, if you are doing more than one set, you probably want to change costumes in the middle.
Maybe someone else has other reasons, but that's why I wouldn't arrive already in costume.

I agree with the reasons posted above...I'd have to wear a costume for up to 5 hours in some cases if I wore them to gigs. In general, I think it's more comfortable to wear professional looking "street clothes" in between sets to change out of poky, sweaty costumes. We have to do costume changes between sets in our city so I have a carryon size suitcase on wheels for my sparklies

Several reasons I need a restaurant changing room.
1) Costume change for a second set (my current restaurant doesn't require one, but my previous restaurant did. We were also expected to come out in regular clothes between sets to get the patrons up & dancing between sets. It was more of a nightclub atmosphere than restuarant in that way).

2) I try to arrive early to allow for traffic delays, I don't want to sit around the restaurant bar in costume.

3) Safe place to stash my purse and clothing while I dance

4) My meal is part of my pay, and sometimes I like to stay and eat after I dance and visit with the restaurant staff. Other times several of my students/friends are coming to see me dance and I want to sit with them in the dining room before & after I perform

5) I often greet guests of mine (*ahem* I mean 'my adoring public') in the dining room before/after I perform, even if I'm not joining them

6) I may have other plans before/after I dance and don't want to go home to change

7) I won't drive in a beaded belt or skirt, or sit around in one before/after my set.

8) The TOP reason: After I dance I'm sweaty and hot and can't WAIT to get out of that hot, itchy thing. I don't want to have it on while I wait to be paid, wait for my food to be cooked, and drive 30 minutes home!

When you figure that costumes can cost from $200-$800 and wearing them outdoors in rain, snow, and/or mud can damage the hemline of skirts, some costumes you can't sit down in, some belts you can't wear while driving, etc. the wear and tear on a costume is expensive! I will often put on as much as possible in advance, like make up, hair, bra and jewelry and wear a cover-up.

Besides changing, dancers need a safe place to stow their gear while they are performing.

In addition to all the reasons above- AFTER the show- it's best to get your sweaty body out of your unwashable costume asap (assuming you have time between gigs).
ALSO- quick makeup checks before going "on", make up check afterward to see what "melted", quick visual "everything's in place, pinned and fluff the girls" check. Safe place to keep your stuff while you're dancing.

This may apply more to those like me who live out in the boonies, but I typically drive 1-3 hours to places I'm going to dance and need to make stops for gas, coffee, rest room, etc and I need to look reasonably normal out in the world. I usually do most of my make-up before I go but even that can be a bit awkward when I have to face a clerk in a convenience store with my stage face on (they're probably thinking: oh, an old prostitute, how gross). The possibility of getting stopped by the police for any reason is another consideration; I would not want to be wearing any peculiar get-up that could invite some sort of hassle.

Also with the fancier costumes, a lot of car sitting is sure to damage the beadwork, sequins, fringe etc. There was one rhinestone-slathered costume I used to have that I literally couldn't sit down in at all (but wow did I look good standing up).
Rosette

Have you ever tried to drive a car wearing harem pants and a 6 yard circle skirt? Nuff said.

And for those of us who rely on public transit to get to our gigs, traveling on the Metro in full costume even with a cover up, probably not the best idea on the planet.

Also, I don't know what kind of gigs you are currently doing or thinking about don't but even at a local hafla, standing around in full costume for 3 hours is just a pain!

{{{HUGS}}}

Most of this might be covered above, but these were the biggest reasons I wanted a dressing room when I was working in restaurants and clubs:

1) A safe and secure spot to keep my stuff.

2) I usually did more than one set, so needed a place to change costumes.

3) I often arrived a bit early, and hanging out in the bar area in costume was not comfortable or good for my beaded costumes.

4) I really enjoy a private spot to both chill out and to do last minute primping immediately prior to and immediately after performing.

5) I mostly use buses and trains (and the occasional cab) to get to and from gigs. Not conducive to full on expensive costumes (though admittedly in my town it takes a lot to get noticed).

All that said, I was taught by my teachers that as a pro dancer I was always to arrive in full make-up and sharp clothes (definitions of this may vary widely, but usually it does not mean sweats and a wife-pleaser!). Believe me, even when I walked into a place in regular clothes people knew the belly dancer was in the building! ;)

The above is for regular club/restaurant gigs. For private parties I almost always show up in at least partial costume and a nice caftan. But I still expect a secure and private place to get ready.

Winter.

Also, wearing your costume in the car can cause things to shift around and they may not be where you want them. Dancers need a moment to check themselves before going out to perform. Preferably a private space with a full-length mirror.

Also, it is difficult to answer the call of nature when you are pinned into a costume, lol.

And of course we dancers deserve, but rarely get, nice dressing rooms with a star on the door!

Originally Posted by tigerb

Winter.

Amen...

[QUOTE=dunyah;317681]Also, it is difficult to answer the call of nature when you are pinned into a costume, lol.[QUOTE]

I always have to pee anywhere from 2 - 5 times before I perform (nervous bladder) and my skirt/belt are the last things I put on, preferably not more than 15 minutes before I dance.

Also, as others have mentioned, weather conditions aren't always conducive to wearing expensive costumes. For instance, at one performance, a cancer fundraiser, the lot where we were permitted to park was across a field of long grass from the building, and it was POURING rain. No way would I have wanted to be slogging across that field in a costume.

As others have also mentioned, I never sit in a beaded skirt, dress, or belt.

Also, I can't drive with my "dance hair" (i.e. clip-on pony fall) on.

Originally Posted by Shalimah

Also, I can't drive with my "dance hair" (i.e. clip-on pony fall) on.

yes to everything said above and also, yes the hair / costume issue.
i recently did a '70s inspired number and my wig was too tall to drive in. it litterally would have hit the roof of the car, so i had to put it on in the dressing room.

another thing that hasn't been mentioned: in case of emergency while driving.
its best not to be tangled in a 10 yard skirt or immobilized by a tight dress with a strangling halter should you need to exit the car in a hurry. i assume most of us do our driving to gigs during evening peak hours when there are the most crazy drivers, etc.

for example, i once was hit on the freeway driving to a gig. i was very thankful i didn't have to stand on the side of a major l.a. freeway at 9:30 on sat night in a hot pink beaded egyptian 2 piece. it kind of hurts your credibility with the cops ..g.:

Not getting on the subway after walking to the station in -12C weather with nothing but a lycra skirt b/t me and the muddy snow.

Changing once I arrive at the venue also helps me mentally prepare.

Originally Posted by Sasheen

I am new at performance, and have seen many posts on Bhuz complaining of inadequate changing facilities at venues.

So I'm curious: why can't you arrive already dressed, wearing a cover-up? It seems like it would save a lot of trouble, but then maybe there is some great Belly Dance Secret that I don't know about!

The train ride and my desire to sometimes do something in Tokyo after I have performed? I ride 50 minutes on the train to get to my gig...even if riding in costumes were a good idea, which it isn't...and if it were not raining...which it sometimes does...the idea that I'd have to go straight home after I performed to get out of my now sweaty and sometimes smokey costume? Eeeehhh. NO thanks.

When I started doing restaurant gigs I didn't have a car.
I had a motor bike though...
For about 5 years I went to my performances by bike (or train if they were very far away).
I think that answers the question

A few years ago I did some gigs in a small restaurant that is just 5 minutes from where I live. This is the only time I went in costume.
It was literally arrive-dance-leave!
But even then I needed a place to leave my overcoat, handbag and shoes.

Oh, and there were the times when our ATS group performed at the Zurich theater festival. That's basically big tents in which various plays are performed and a lot of restaurant tents and street artists inbetween.
We changed in my home and then drove close to there and walked the rest.
No changing room available.
On the way home....:

..l;,

MEISSOUN

Originally Posted by sabrinabellydancer

another thing that hasn't been mentioned: in case of emergency while driving.
its best not to be tangled in a 10 yard skirt or immobilized by a tight dress with a strangling halter should you need to exit the car in a hurry. i assume most of us do our driving to gigs during evening peak hours when there are the most crazy drivers, etc.

for example, i once was hit on the freeway driving to a gig. i was very thankful i didn't have to stand on the side of a major l.a. freeway at 9:30 on sat night in a hot pink beaded egyptian 2 piece. it kind of hurts your credibility with the cops ..g.:

Ugh...earlier this year I had a gig very close to home and I knew changing there would be be difficult so I decided to very carefully wear my costume. I hit a pothole and blew out 2 tires on the way and had to get out on the highway in full battle rattle in broad daylight

~~Kimahri

Meissoun, what's wrong with that picture, looks normal to me!....l;,

As an aside - For outdoor events I bought a pop-up changing room and it has turned out to be awesome. It pop-up and open and everything can be stored in it until we leave and we can use it to change in :)

If I could only use it everywhere I need to dance! :)

Originally Posted by mahsati

As an aside - For outdoor events I bought a pop-up changing room and it has turned out to be awesome. It pop-up and open and everything can be stored in it until we leave and we can use it to change in :)

If I could only use it everywhere I need to dance! :)

I have a pop up changing room for our troupe. Best money ever spent on something besides a costume!!!

Originally Posted by mahsati

As an aside - For outdoor events I bought a pop-up changing room and it has turned out to be awesome. It pop-up and open and everything can be stored in it until we leave and we can use it to change in :)

If I could only use it everywhere I need to dance! :)

Where do you buy such a thing??

I found mine in a sporting goods store. Pop-up showers are a common term that works in search engines. You can view a few options here:
Amazon.com: Guide Gear® Pop - up Shelter with Solar Shower: Sports & Outdoors

It takes a bit of practice to quickly fold and store the unit in the tiny pouch. Since we're not camping I use a pillowcase to transport it around.

Originally Posted by Sasheen

Where do you buy such a thing??

I bought mine on ebay from these folks: eBay Store - Calif Palms: Other Products, Canopy Replacement Tops, Cash Drawers

:)

Sporting Goods Store is where I found mine too.

WINTER in BUFFALO NEW YORK! Have ya heard about our snow?

"Have you ever tried to drive a car wearing harem pants and a 6 yard circle skirt? " Driving in a 25 yard gypsy skirt with harem pants is fun also. You have to pile the skirt up in your lap and your foot keeps getting caught in your harem pants.

I had a hard enough time in 6 yards - I can't imagine trying it with a 25 yd skirt.