Thread: SPIN-OFF: Marketing My Non-Exotic Look

I just read the Blonde and Brunette thread. And I am intrigued because I live in Houston where it is "claimed" that many restaurants here that have gigs, prefer "exotic" looking dancers. Unlucky for me, I am the exact opposite with auburn hair, bright green eyes, and milky white skin.

I've heard several of y'all mention that non-exotic looking dancers should market and play up this aspect and that it's all about marketing.

Could one of you ad savy ladies give me some practical advice on how i could word things on my website?
Anna - Middle Eastern Dance Artist - Professional Oriental Belly Dancer - houston bellydance,houston belly dance,Bellydance,Houston,Katy,Texas,TX,Belly dancing lessons, Belly Dancing class, bellydance lessons,bellydance class

Anna's flowing auburn hair is like the desert sunset. Her jadelike green eyes will mezmerize you...along with Anna's creamy milky white skin brings nostalgic memories of Cleopatra bathing in milk to keep her skin fair.... Anna's romantically eastern traits will draw you in to her dancing and make you dream yourself away to lands far far away....

Hows that?

here's another one:

Annas wild curly auburn hair flows about her as the Irish bagpipes were playing exotic melodies on the hilltops and her hair carried their tones in it. Like the green grapes of a fine expensive wine before being pressed - her eyes will intoxicate you and carry you away into the mountains of Lebanon - the home of the Chateau Ksar wines and wrap your mind in the softness of her silky white skin. She is like a poetic love affair with Bellydance. Anna's exotic looks will bring the final spice to your event to make it an unforgettable experience that will remain with your guests forever.

LOL David, those actually made me laugh. a slight touch of "too much" ^^
am wondering what you would say about a blond/blue eyes... :D

Originally Posted by Kathiya

LOL David, those actually made me laugh. a slight touch of "too much" ^^
am wondering what you would say about a blond/blue eyes... :D

OK, here goes....

blond hair - like the finest organza, like the foam on the waves of the ocean, like the seeds of sesame

blue eyes - like the the elixir of youth, like the Arabian nights, like a clear midsummer sky..

How's that for starters? lol

i would personally stay away from "milky white skin" it really leads the mind to harlequin type novel descriptions...

Originally Posted by david

OK, here goes....

blond hair - like the finest organza, like the foam on the waves of the ocean, like the seeds of sesame

blue eyes - like the the elixir of youth, like the Arabian nights, like a clear midsummer sky..

How's that for starters? lol

what, no comparing the hair to the desert sand? ^^ that would be the most obvious lol
i'm rather surprised at the 'ocean foam' comparison... isn't that more whitish-blue?
how about honey-colored? ^^


i'd love to see more answers to Anna's post. really would like to see what other ideas are out there on this topic :)

Originally Posted by anyadance

i would personally stay away from "milky white skin" it really leads the mind to harlequin type novel descriptions...

Well, dont just take the milky white skin away from us... ..cr.:..c::give us an alternative ..g.:

Velvety skin?
Silky skin?

Oh I know.... smooth as icing on a cake skin...I must be hungry ..l;,

Originally Posted by Kathiya

what, no comparing the hair to the desert sand? ^^ that would be the most obvious lol

Yeah, but sand is rough.... you dont want people to think you have split ends... lol

WOW David..you make me want to hire myself...LOL

I appreciate it and I understand clearly what you are trying to demonstrate through your examples.

I'll definitely have to spice up my website copy...mine is very sterile...compared to yours.

Originally Posted by david

Well, dont just take the milky white skin away from us... ..cr.:..c::give us an alternative ..g.:

Velvety skin?
Silky skin?

Oh I know.... smooth as icing on a cake skin...I must be hungry ..l;,

lol! ^^

snow?
that's terribly cliché...

clouds?

what else is white? sheep? rice? lol! ooh, orchids!

cotton too, but being in TX not sure you feel like comparing yourself to cotton fields ..l;,

Originally Posted by AnnaTX

WOW David..you make me want to hire myself...LOL

I appreciate it and I understand clearly what you are trying to demonstrate through your examples.

I'll definitely have to spice up my website copy...mine is very sterile...compared to yours.

Weeeeell, you dont really have to go as spicy as I did - but it's always good to give people an illusion and association and imaginary picture of WHAT you are bringing to the table as a performer.

My bio is pretty dry (on my webbie DaVid of Scandinavia - choreographer, instructor, performer.) - but I dont really perform outside the dance scene anymore so I cater to a slightly different clientele.

Yeah, I mainly teach and perform for other dancers, but I would like to get one restaurant gig, to help me pay for some workshops I'd like to take.

What would you suggest for marketing to other dancers or students?

Redheads are the rarest people in the world. Nothing "non exotic" about that IMO

Originally Posted by Kathiya

lol! ^^

snow?
that's terribly cliché...

When I moved from Europe to the US I had to pump up my bio and be much more "flowery" in the wording... US marketing is very different than European marketing.... Where in Europe you pretty much can get work off of stating how long you've been dancing, where you've danced and having some video clips... in the US you are going to have to speak about the exceptional quality of your dancing as well... So, bios and marketing is even harder to do in the US because you have to be willing to embellish your positive traits (and I for one am GREAT at finding the negative ones - but have to work at finding the good ones in my dancing/myself).

David

houston prefers dark, and even the dancers here prefer subs that are dark...so what is a white girl to do, but find or create her own opportunity...

David, that is one thing that has been interesting in my growth as a pro dancer and a person. Having to toot my own horn has really been a challenge, but it is a necessary one FOR SURE.

Originally Posted by AnnaTX

houston prefers dark, and even the dancers here prefer subs that are dark...so what is a white girl to do, but find or create her own opportunity...

((*wave from another Houston gal!* ..g.: ))


thanks for that info, David. didn't know that!
would be interesting to discuss the different marketing strategies around the world...

I'd like to experiment with the concept of creating my own market here. I don't want to dis who and whats out there, but I want to offer myself as a quality alternative to what is available.

I'm just not sure how to go about doing that...

Originally Posted by AnnaTX

Yeah, I mainly teach and perform for other dancers, but I would like to get one restaurant gig, to help me pay for some workshops I'd like to take.

What would you suggest for marketing to other dancers or students?

Well, look at it this way... you are selling an illusion of movement, beauty, exoticism and so on... your wording can be a bit more flowery than a resume... if you know what I mean.

Marketing to other dancers should mention:
- what are they getting
- why should they come to you
- whats different about you and what bonus features do you bring that will make their experience special

Marketing for gigs:
- describe your dancing - be poetic..."My shimmies are coming along" and "I'm great at dancing choreographies" is not going to charm someone into hiring you.
- describe what "bonus features" you bring that will make their experience special "wonderful flow", "exceptional zills", "emotional connection with the music", etc. type things.

General:
- dont be cut and dry - but dont overkill either
- make yourself sound like a finished product ready to be sold. Pick your words with care - use a thesaurus if needed
- dont be afraid to SELL your product.
- you're not selling yourself - you are selling a product. Remember that.
- make yourself sound like the customer cant live without you (watch HSN or QVC if you need to learn how to sell even crap well - for ideas).
- enhance your already existing qualities as a dancer both visually and dance wise.
- be personable and genuine in your communication - people are more likely to hire someone who's personality they connect with rather than someone that just sounds full of themselves.

Get business cards, go eat at the places you want to dance, network with dancers that "work the curcuit". Be personable. Make posters - give them to your friends and fans and students. Get pens to hand out.... get stickers with your picture on them and stick them on any kid you dance with as a reward. Give a couple of stickers to your students too.

It's about being visible - then the rest is up to your devine power to reach people...

I would use the term "Alabaster skin" because it conveys the color, while also subtly referencing the alabaster jars that were so prized in ancient Egypt.

Id also, say something like: "Dont let Anna's Midwestern origins fool you. With just one flash of her piercing green eyes, she will whisk you away on a journey of mystery, intrigue and fun..." blah blah blah maybe not those exact words but something similar. I would play it up to be theatrical... but not over the top. You are an entertainer, people want to be entertained not roll their eyes at hyperbole.

I would use wording that conveys a feeling to the reader about the particular feature you are describing. "sparkling/flashing/piercing eyes, fluid/soft/liquid hands, wild/playful/frothy/bouncy/bubbly hair, etc etc"

Also, do NOT be afraid to label yourself as "an exotic blend of charming Irish good looks and mysterious finesse" or something equal.

Its all about wording. Use some adjectives... but avoid using ALL the adjectives or you will be over the top.

Originally Posted by AnnaTX

David, that is one thing that has been interesting in my growth as a pro dancer and a person. Having to toot my own horn has really been a challenge, but it is a necessary one FOR SURE.

Ok, first of all - stop thinking of it as tooting your own horn. You are merely informing the public about a service you provide and what features come with it. Imagine that you were a sweater and you had to market the sweater - you talk about the cut, you talk about the fit, you talk about the fabric, you talk about the shine, you talk about combinations that it would fit into well etc.

Second of all - think of it like this... A performance is merely a reflection of what point and level you are at in your practice. It's not perfection - there is no such thing as perfection in dance. So, your marketing should reflect the qualities you have obtained, the direction you have taken and what you aim to provide to the audience. (doesnt REALLY have to be 100% detailed and such - just give them a glimpse of what they can expect - get their blood warm in their veins - so to speak).

Originally Posted by AnnaTX

I'd like to experiment with the concept of creating my own market here. I don't want to dis who and whats out there, but I want to offer myself as a quality alternative to what is available.

I'm just not sure how to go about doing that...

You dont have to do a comparative study to feature your qualities. Thus, you dont have to badmouth others to make yourself sound good. Just talk about what your qualities are... and dont be afraid of asking for advice - there are GREAT writers out there. Great editors too.... get help. I've re-written my bio probably 10-20 times, and the final one was spontaneously edited, condensed and provided to me by a dancer colleague that was sponsoring me for an event. I liked it - so I used it.

Dont think of creating your own market - create a market at all - the "exclusiveness" of your services will filter your clientele by itself.

Originally Posted by Amber_moon

I would use the term "Alabaster skin" because it conveys the color, while also subtly referencing the alabaster jars that were so prized in ancient Egypt.

Id also, say something like: "Dont let Anna's Midwestern origins fool you. With just one flash of her piercing green eyes, she will whisk you away on a journey of mystery, intrigue and fun..." blah blah blah maybe not those exact words but something similar. I would play it up to be theatrical... but not over the top. You are an entertainer, people want to be entertained not roll their eyes at hyperbole.

I would use wording that conveys a feeling to the reader about the particular feature you are describing. "sparkling/flashing/piercing eyes, fluid/soft/liquid hands, wild/playful/frothy/bouncy/bubbly hair, etc etc"

Also, do NOT be afraid to label yourself as "an exotic blend of charming Irish good looks and mysterious finesse" or something equal.

Its all about wording. Use some adjectives... but avoid using ALL the adjectives or you will be over the top.

you said it better than I did.... I guess it's the over-dramatic and over-poetic Indian in me that ran wild up there. lol

I have a friend who describes her skin as "moonlight pale" which I think is lovely and evocative of mystery. "Alabaster" is good BUT I'm just going to warn you that when I was a voracious reading child/adolescent, I read a description of a person having an "alabaster brow" and came to the conclusion that the character must have some sort of false forehead made from stone.

If you don't feel comfortable talking up your own looks, have you considered talking up everything else and just letting your photos speak for themselves?

ETA: Oooh! There are a few old Orientalist paintings with red-haired pale women in them. Perhaps if you find one that's in the public domain and pop it on your site, it will reinforce in viewers' minds the idea of a fair woman in an exotic/ME/fantasy setting?

Alabaster and moonlight pale are beautiful descriptions of milk-white skin. Around here we call ourselves "Northwest fish-belly white," LOL.

Good luck with your marketing efforts, if you were in Egypt or North Africa they would think you were the cat's meow of exotic beauty! Maybe you could go for that as an angle - your type of beauty is prized in the Middle East or something.

You all have given me some great ideas and inspiration...I can't wait to start rewriting my website again.

Thanks for the slight perspective shift David.

Originally Posted by AnnaTX

You all have given me some great ideas and inspiration...I can't wait to start rewriting my website again.

Thanks for the slight perspective shift David.

Yay for you! I look forward to see what you come up with :)

Haven't read your copy yet, but I'm not sure how I feel about mentioning physical appearance in ad copy. In an ideal world, I don't think it's entirely necessary, if you have good promotional pics. I also think it could be counter-intuitive to verbally describe your image as a means of circumventing challenges related to image....you know? By making something a non-issue, you ultimately turn it back into an issue....if you catch my drift.

I think a more appropriate focus would be to let your stunning pics speak for themselves - and to create your own irresistible brand through words that describe your overall aura, chi and presence. Are you a seductress? Are you an Old Hollywood starlet? Are you the quintessential beledi girl? How do you interact with crowds? Would people want to bottle up your energy and wear it around their necks? Step Two: Make sure your copywriting style, your web design and your promotional pics match your brand.

I ran into a similar conundrum earlier in my career. I had the whole fresh-faced, granola girl thing going on. I've also gotten a good deal of crap for being smaller, thinner and more athletic than most BDers. Kept wondering why I was losing gigs to other dancers until a few customers were rude and a few friends were brutally honest. When I started glamming up my makeup and positioning myself as the high-fashion, chichi re-definition of classic raqs sharqi, everybody left me alone. And I haven't lost a gig to anyone else, since.

I did this all through re-tooling my ad copy, getting the right promotional pics, and morphing my public persona on MySpace, Facebook, et al. No need to mention my non-exotic looks, whether eulogizing upon them or apologizing for them. I just left audiences wanting more of that extra something special that sets me apart from my competitors.

Originally Posted by david

Ok, first of all - stop thinking of it as tooting your own horn. You are merely informing the public about a service you provide and what features come with it.

Your advice in this thread is amazing, David. And I couldn't agree with this any more.

To one-up this statement, I'd say that marketing is not about shameless self-promotion, but about giving yourself the tools you need to create your own destiny. Embrace it!

And P.S. - if your personal brand is the "rock star," then so be it. Don't let anybody tell you that you're weird or cocky because you take full ownership over your personal business/art identity.

I am also writing an article on this very topic, as we speak. This thread is quite timely.

Originally Posted by SatinWorship19

Your advice in this thread is amazing, David. And I couldn't agree with this any more.

To one-up this statement, I'd say that marketing is not about shameless self-promotion, but about giving yourself the tools you need to create your own destiny. Embrace it!

And P.S. - if your personal brand is the "rock star," then so be it. Don't let anybody tell you that you're weird or cocky because you take full ownership over your personal business/art identity.

I am also writing an article on this very topic, as we speak. This thread is quite timely.

Hehe, thank you SatinWorship... I studied graphic design and marketing and work with several dancers in developing their brands (its a part of how I coach professional dancers). Glad it makes sense on here too!