Thread: You have to GIVE to get!

I would love to hear your thoughts also what has worked at what has not.
I my self this year am working on networking and marketing and giving.
I belive i have to do this in a non selfish mannor because just beacuse i want something does not mean i need it. and things we do not get are blessings as well.
Any how i decided to wright this because there are always a couple big groups in a town teachers with many students and they there big shows every once in while; that is fine belive me i would love to have my studnets perform in a big show one day. the only thing that bothers me is

1. being asked to fork out money to see them when i see then around town and they ignore me. or they have seen me perform and ignore me.
2. never come to see a show i am in
3. never ask me to be in there show
4. want me to tell my students to go see them
5. go to a show i am in and turn there back to me, or talk about me to puff them selves up.

If a person is a good dancer and is in the public and well know do you not think they should think of everyone and be nice because they are an ambasater of the dance and many of use talk about that so called sister hood. yet we know there is segrigation.(to bad)
cause it works to be genually nice and supportive to all.
and i am sorry i love to go watch dancers but when they would not spend there money to come see me i have a hard time spending mine or permoting there big show.
My dad always told me do me wrong once shame on you do me wrong twice shame on me. i am more forgiving then my dad but that does not mean i forget and i am not a idiot. I hate when people smile at me to get me to go there thing but the rest of the time ignore me and never go to any of my things.
which brings me back to you have to give to get.

Props to you for putting this post out there! It's a topic we all know too well. I'm not one to jump online setup my soap box. However, it is time for the belly dance community to expect civil professional behavior from each other. Absolutely you have to give to get. When that is repeatedly ignored, then no reason to go beyond professional courtesy. Redirect your focus to the people or groups that do support you and give something back to you. Pass it forward!

Nadirah,
I feel your pain and understand you very well...not beacuse we live in the same town but since I have been into this career I have had good/bad and not so good experiences with local and out of town dancers.
I completely believe in give and get karma...I have been involved with many restaurants and events the more I give the more I receive. Being nice to others (not fake of course) and respect to each other makes the person feel better about themselves. At the begining yes I was despearate about getting dance jobs but later on I realize there is so much opportunity to share.

thank you Dilek,
you are right i feel when people hold on nothing come and sometimes we are affaid but when we let go and give we do get back and differnt thing always open up. It is that time of the month so i get more emotional and say thing or write thing i usually would not but i really want our community and all dance community's to support all big shows little shows" the only person we are compeating agenst is our selves". i got that from David and my swim teacher in high school.
I feel people ego and jelousy get in the way of sharing they are affraid things will get taken away. those are good emotions to regongize because you can do good or bad with those emotion you could become selfish and bitter or you could recognize how talented that person is and work harder your self. i always write in the you for but of course i need to work harder my self as well!

I sometimes feel like a freak because I try to be supportive of *most* of dancers in my area. Some aren't worth my time because they've made it quite clear that they're above a belly dance community. They support nothing. And when they do show up to an event (if they aren't scheduled to dance), it's to size up the competition or to try and snake the gig.

So when I offered my support to those who deserve it, I got some suspicious looks. (And no wonder considering the history of other dancers.) But I'm still one of the only dancers here who will show up to a dance performance not because I'm dancing, but because I truly enjoy Middle Eastern music, dancing, and culture.

It's slow going, but I'm really hoping to re-build the community. I understand that we are still in competition with each other, but from my perspective, if I help in getting other dancers or bands in the door, that will lead to new opportunities. *shrug* Or maybe I'm just being naive ,f::