Thread: What are your performance conditions?

...for a big outdoor festival....someone just asked me what mine are and I'm blanking!.w.:

you mean like technical requirements? or monies?

for outdoor festivals i've learned that the problem is not so much what you need (fairly little), but that what other artists needs (musicians often) clashes with your needs.

my needs as a dancer are: sound/visibility/square metres of empty space.

so

- the stage must be a minimum size. and you need to spell out to them that if they say 'oh its really huge', that that means a minimum size of that huge spacet must be musical instrument and CABLE FREE for you. problem is often that if there is music on stage before or after you, it might be littered with cables.

also huge speakers on the stage, right in front of you are a no no too

also some people dont seem to get they cant sound check the next band, while the dancer is ON. this happened to me NUMEROUS time, for real. they start going one two one two and tuning their instruments OVER the sound of my cd! i havent quite figured out HOW to put this in my contract

- safe dressing area with enough privacy. and how to get from dressing area to stage.

- sound system, with cd player and a dj, giving enough sound to the audience... and stage speakers so you hear you're own music too

- they need to make sure the stage is safe/clean/doesnt wobble.

Yes, those are perfect!!! Thank you!!!

ah, and that you need stairs to get ON and OF the stage and where you would like those. and that you cant just clamber or jump on and of when in full costume...

Also...if the stage is not covered properly...you do not perform in down pouring rain.

Dangerous. Good way to blow out your knees, hips, virtually any joint when you slip on the stage surface slick with water....not to mention it's terrible for your costume.

What Artemisia said. And if the stage is not covered, it can burn your feet in hot sun, so wear shoes!

You need some sort of dressing area, which they usually have available in a tent.

Definitely ask that your performance area be free of musical equipment, cables and speakers as much as possible. And say no to bands doing sound check during your set, that is so rude. I have experienced that, too, and it really makes me angry.

Organizers generally do not understand what a dancer requires, so spell everything out for them.

Do you need an MC to announce you, I have seen organizers leave that out, too.

yes, that's one mine too "the weather clause"

Originally Posted by aamel_MirahAmmal

Also...if the stage is not covered properly...you do not perform in down pouring rain.

Dangerous. Good way to blow out your knees, hips, virtually any joint when you slip on the stage surface slick with water....not to mention it's terrible for your costume.

what everyone else has said and "a strong sturdy stage".

I have performed on stages that actually move when you move. It can be very scary when dancing because you think the floor is gonna collapse.

Also - I would ask for a somewhat smooth surface. I danced on one outdoor stage that was made up of panels. Nothing wrong with that except the panels did not meet up so one panel was higher than another and one was lower that another. makes for dangerous dancing.

As you can see - I am not a huge fan of the outdoor stage performance - :-)

One place - I actually just danced on the ground in front of the stage. I felt much safer doing that!

Make sure it's a level stage with a smooth surface that is nail, staple, splinter free. Some stages are hobbled together from pieces that may not sit level depending on how level the ground is. Some are made with recycled wood that is dangerous to dance on with bare feet. These are things that are likely overlooked by people used to booking bands, not dancers.

And yes, don't get me started about cables!!

Originally Posted by aazura

Make sure it's a level stage with a smooth surface that is nail, staple, splinter free. Some stages are hobbled together from pieces that may not sit level depending on how level the ground is. Some are made with recycled wood that is dangerous to dance on with bare feet. These are things that are likely overlooked by people used to booking bands, not dancers.

And yes, don't get me started about cables!!

...or at the very least, be sure that you are warned about exactly what the surface will be so you can determine whether or not to wear shoes.

Generally, for any gig that is outdoor, even if it is on stage, I bring a pair of shoes (or two--sometimes one suede sole, one hard sole if I don't know the exact surface) and plan that it may well be in my best interest to wear shoes, even if I have planned/stippulated for a good surface. Simple fact is, even with a cover, some part of the stage *surface* will likely be black and end up in the sun some part of the day (and thus be hot...) or at a busy festival, something could end up getting on the stage (stones/sand falling out of the treads of a musician's boots, a sharp tiny shred of metal that falls of some piece of aparatus of the set up and goes unseen, slivers in the wood that were painted over/smooth initially but were disrupted during set up....

Yes, they need to understand you need to have a decent surface to dance on, but you also need to look out for yourself and be a little reasonable too if you're not the only performer. The old scouts' motto of "be prepared" applies, and bringing a pair of shoes is a fairly simple/reasonable accommodation you can make. You don't need to tell *them* you plan to do this, but it's a good plan.

As an aside--worst surface I ever danced on? Wasn't the parking lot asphalt (though that one was lovely...) nor the stage slick with water and kerosene from the fire act that preceded (also a great time...), it was the stage made of a series of wooden pallets raised on cinder blocks. That's right--wooden pallets. Complete with a 2-3" gap between each of the boards. Now *THAT* was a fun challenge. Talk about needing to know precisely where your footwork/weight is at all times....;-)

Originally Posted by ravenadesigns

I have performed on stages that actually move when you move. It can be very scary when dancing because you think the floor is gonna collapse.

I had one of those once - it was like a very poorly constructed deck, and it trembled like there was an earthquake if I even attempted a choo-choo shimmy. I did a 20 minute set and the whole time I was just expecting the whole thing to fall apart under me.

Originally Posted by laura 2

I had one of those once - it was like a very poorly constructed deck, and it trembled like there was an earthquake if I even attempted a choo-choo shimmy. I did a 20 minute set and the whole time I was just expecting the whole thing to fall apart under me.

I had one once that didn't wobble, but it wasn't level and it was as smooth as ice! Try doing spins on that!

The pallets on cinder blocks sounds really awful!

The was another "stage" that I refused to even step on when I got to the event. It was - I kid you not - 4 card tables with the legs lashed together by bungee cords. To this day I can believe they thought that would be safe or appropriate!

I agree with all...
Good size stage, strong/sturdy material
proper flooring for the stage
covered, secure dressing area
good sound system with a sound technician that knows how to play a CD
Stage manager, or person takes the line up
Proper costuming (harem pants, or straight skirt with not high slit, not see thru material)
Introduction by the stage manager
perhaps (depends on event) an area to place marketing materials

If your dressing area is to be a tent you need a "look out" This does not mean they need to provide one, but you should.
Strange how the male of the species knows to stand right next to the dressing room tent (keeping in mind that they are tied shut, sometimes you are able to see in from the corners, has happened, bring duct tape and a roll of paper towels works for any festival situation to stop up any holes and a 'look out to shoo away the, ahem, curious).

Originally Posted by laura 2

I had one of those once - it was like a very poorly constructed deck, and it trembled like there was an earthquake if I even attempted a choo-choo shimmy. I did a 20 minute set and the whole time I was just expecting the whole thing to fall apart under me.

Years back when I was singing at outdoor Christmas carols with my choir, we were on a stage that was mounted on wheels. Half-way through singing the whole stage dropped about a foot, with all of us on it (hey, some of those sopranos are heavy!). Somehow we managed to gasp in unison then keep on singing.

For all outdoor gigs - don't forget the insect repellent. Nothing like inhaling a mosquito or being attacked by moths under the bright lights!