Thread: Club work

This is uncharted territory for me, so I've got questions.

*What sort of club do you work at - dance club with a DJ, nightclub w/live band, or...? Is it a ME or American club?
* Do you use a contract?
* What do you charge or what is the rate in your area for club work (just to see what the average is) - is it generally more/higher rate than restaurant work?
* Do you put on an actual show where the crowd focuses on you, or are you more of a background/ambience dancer (like on a side stage/platform) while the crowd dances?
* What sort of costuming do you wear - what about costume changes?
* Do you use any props (which ones?)
* Music - what do you use? Yours or theirs? If yours then club mix ME pop?

Basically, tell me all about it ..l;, Thanks everyone

Wow.
I am the official thread killer. Of my own threads, no less.

Or maybe nobody who does club work is on Bhuz today?

True ..g.:

Well hopefully I can shed some light on the subject. Though I live in PDX now my answers apply to when I was living & dancing in New Orleans & Baltimore:

*What sort of club do you work at - dance club with a DJ, nightclub w/live band, or...? Is it a ME or American club?
All of the above.

* Do you use a contract?
Didn't have to at most places. The contract I used I originally got form Samira Shuruk & Shems and i have only had to use it for parties.

* What do you charge or what is the rate in your area for club work (just to see what the average is) - is it generally more/higher rate than restaurant work?
$75-$200 per show. A little higher than restaurants but not much. The rate varied between MD & LA; it depends upon how long I am there, how long the show is, how many dancers were performing & how good the tips were.

* Do you put on an actual show where the crowd focuses on you, or are you more of a background/ambience dancer (like on a side stage/platform) while the crowd dances?

Usually a show when the audience focuses on the dancer.

* What sort of costuming do you wear - what about costume changes?
A blingy pro costume, Sim or Eman. A differnet costume for each set/show.

* Do you use any props (which ones?)
Cane, Candle tray, goblets, fire tray, zills, veil/double veil

* Music - what do you use? Yours or theirs? If yours then club mix ME pop?
Whatever the owner promoter wants to use. Traditional is better.

I've only done a few contracts at a club. They were all Canadian style clubs. No ME influence at all

I didn't have to use a contract because I was friends with the managers of both places

Our restaurant rate here is 90$
Clubs are minimum 200$, - so thats a bit more than double. There is a lot more Sh*T to deal with dancing at a club. Broken class, huge crowds of people to walk through while they're spilling drinks. I would recommend making sure a bouncer is beside you while you dance. Drunk people may try to do ridiculous things like touch you. It hasn't happened to me, but I've heard stories. So all the worries have to amount to more pay

In my case, I was more of a background/ambient dancer. I danced on the floor at 10pm before the club got packed. Afterwards I had a platform to dance on.

I think the costuming depends on where you will be dancing. If you don't have a secure platform or clean area to dance, I would NOT bring an expensive costume.

I think its possible to use props. I used a veil early on in the evening before it got too packed. Considered using zills but realized no one would hear them :) The other props depend on how busy it gets. Both places I danced at fill up between 400 - 1000 ppl - there was no space for cane or anything like that. If you do any balancing trays make sure you have a secure place to dance. Drunk ppl fumble a lot, and so will you

If you use your own music, try to find something the people at the club can easily dance to while you're performing. That way if they don't care (some people don't...) they don't feel forced to watch or put a hold on their own fun. Be prepared to dance to their music if they see yours is not working for the crowd.

Thanks Gretchen & Angelica! ..g.:

I want to expand to club work - there are clubs here but no restaurants (chain places only) - but since I've not done it before I wasn't sure about it. I figured dealing with people drinking and smoking, which tied into the costume question - smoke in the costume & always the chance of a spilled beverage. I would plan on putting in a contract having a bouncer/staff person standing by and also to escort to & from the dance area as well as walk me to my car. Music-wise I've got some upbeat club mixes of songs that'd be fine for a dance crowd - stuff good for being a background/ambient dancer. I'm thinking anywhere here is just going to want a dancer on a platform/pedestal (which may be better anyway, stay up & away from the crowd?).

Angelica, as a background/ambient dancer how long or how many sets did you dance for that price? Thanks for the pricing, btw, gives me an idea of how to price. I'm guessing if you'd been asked to do a choreo number with props like a floorshow, then you'd charge more, correct?

Any advice on how to get in? Phone or email the venue & pitch yourself? Mail or drop off some promotional info with a business card? I know face to face is best for restaurants & cafes, but is it the same for a club?

Originally Posted by Lauren_

Or maybe nobody who does club work is on Bhuz today?

The day is young - they are all sleeping because they work so late! Hang in there - you are not a thread killer!!
..g.:

[QUOTE=DancingRuya;393630]

Angelica, as a background/ambient dancer how long or how many sets did you dance for that price? Thanks for the pricing, btw, gives me an idea of how to price. I'm guessing if you'd been asked to do a choreo number with props like a floorshow, then you'd charge more, correct? QUOTE]

Well, it was for a 4 year anniversary party since the opening of the club. We were 2 belly dancers, there were jugglers, mimes, contortionists, samba dancers, etc. All the performers did 2x 10 minute sets.

Since nobody has asked you for the contract, I would be careful with selling yourself too high. You're proposing an idea that might get turned down quickly. They have to try it out and you want to make it worth their while. I would propose between 200$ & 250$ for a real 15 min set including props. And 200$ for ambient & improv to their music, since there is less planning involved for that one.

Well, I have a club is in mind, but haven't approached them yet (that's why no contract talk). I'm trying to pick everyone's brain first, so if/when I do I know what I'm doing & how to price instead of floundering.

It's one of these 4 separate clubs under one roof type places. Country Western, Irish piano, dance club, and a Vegas-style lounge with bottle service where you have to reserve a table in advance to get in that particular area. It's fairly new, looks very nice, and I've not heard anything negative about the place so far and they seem to be really trying to be nicer than the other places around here, which is great. That's why I've got them in mind & think they may be willing to have dancers.

I'm thinking pitch an ambient dancer for the Vegas lounge with more low-key music as an added draw to that area. They also have a separate dance club with what looks to be space on either side of the DJ for a potential ambient dancer (or two). They have had a couple of birthday parties there before (I've seen the pictures on their website) and also had the thought of if the customer also wants a dancer then work out a rate for that as well, paying the house a small portion/booking fee of sorts for it.

These are just my thoughts & I'm very open to suggestion, like I said, this is new ground for me. I'm also wondering the best way to approach them (phone, email, in person) & pitch it (mail some promo material/flyer, cover it in an email, etc.).

Where's Tamra Henna TX? I believe she is dancing in a Lebanese club?

I don't think this article will shed any help on your question but you might enjoy reading it .. The Gilded Serpent presents The Stars of North Beach, San Francisco

Thanks Jesennia, I've read those & they are very interesting ..g.:

oooh... a Vegas lounge sounds like a great place for a full-out show OR ambient dancers, you might pitch them a choice...

*When I do dance at clubs its almost always a ME nightclub. There have been a few western nightclubs but these are mostly an exception and not the rule.

* Contract? Only for western style nightclubs. The ME places around here all know the rules of the game and are for the most part pretty good about dotting their i's and crossing their t's. Ive found its the top 40 and hip hop places you have to watch out for.

*The going rate here in MI is somewhere between $100-125 for a set. There are some more popular dancers Ive heard that charge more, but the accepted minimum rate is $100. Nobody goes below that.

* When at the ME places YOU are the show. The band plays just for you, you have the floor to yourself, you are the focus of attention (next to the card game going on at the table or the waitress with cleavage that is bringing the pita) But mostly the audience is focused on you. There are some restaurants here where the dancer is mostly ignored by the patrons... but this is an exception.

*Costumes? I only have two in my arsenal as of yet... so I just wear the ones I have. A navy pharonics and a orange and black hannan. The audiences here like to see things that look expensive... so if it glitters... then your set. Ive never done a costume change at a restaurant.

* At a restaurant/club Ive done veil and zills... thinking about doing cane the next time I go... but Ive gotta get my forward swing down... dont want my cane ending up in somebodies hummus.

* At the ME nightclubs you dance to live music. ALWAYS. Think: a guy on a casio and a tabla player (although in a sad turn of affairs the tabla player seems to be an ever rarer sight, skilled drummers are being replaced with cheesy sounding drum machines and sometimes not even that... just the beat pre-settings on the 1st guys cassio.... we are all hoping this trend doesn't last.) For the western places Ive danced I have to bring a CD :(

Thanks Amber ..g.: No ME clubs at all here, it's a military town so it's all Western dance clubs (hip hop & top 40). One in particular I'm focusing on seems to be the nicest/newest/has the most going for it.

I'm trying to form the best plan of attack. Ideally I'd like to drop off or mail some info with a business card, because I want to present myself as professionally as possible to be taken seriously. However, I need cards & pictures done first for that.

*What sort of club do you work at - dance club with a DJ, nightclub w/live band, or...? Is it a ME or American club?
arabic & greek
* Do you use a contract?
had 3 month contracts in l.a. have looser arrangements in san diego
* What do you charge or what is the rate in your area for club work (just to see what the average is) - is it generally more/higher rate than restaurant work?
varies regionally. clubs are supposed to be more than restaurants, but all bets are off in this economy :( you must do your own negotiation many times
* Do you put on an actual show where the crowd focuses on you, or are you more of a background/ambience dancer (like on a side stage/platform) while the crowd dances?
featured stage show of course ;)
* What sort of costuming do you wear - what about costume changes?
depends on the venue and customers. arab clubs with mostly arab clientele get modern, creative costuming, dresses, etc. a mostly american audience wants a bedlah with a big skirt. greek clubs usually like bedlah with big skirt or scandalously hawt turkish bra/skirt combo
* Do you use any props (which ones?)
everything but candle tray. my head is the wrong shape for that act. i'd stay away from flaming props unless you make sure its ok with the venue, and of course use common sense re: enough space for safety
* Music - what do you use? Yours or theirs? If yours then club mix ME pop?
live music is first choice of course. otherwise make cds with an outro but with a few songs on the back end in case the tips are flowing
also: you didn't ask, but the golden rule for working in arabic clubs is:
go in, do your show, get paid, leave. if you hang around, it will automatically put a question mark on your reputation.
feel free to pm me if you have other questions

*What sort of club do you work at - dance club with a DJ, nightclub w/live band, or...? Is it a ME or American club?
I work at one club right now- ME owned and 99% Arab audience. Have worked at a few over time though. Work at a few restaurants as well- those are primarily Arab owned, American audience.
* Do you use a contract?
No. BUT I only work with people who treat me well.
* What do you charge or what is the rate in your area for club work (just to see what the average is) - is it generally more/higher rate than restaurant work?
The club where I work it's agreed upon at $100. Sometimes he'll pay me more. ..g.: Another club in the area still pays $75. That's too low for around here.
* Do you put on an actual show where the crowd focuses on you, or are you more of a background/ambience dancer (like on a side stage/platform) while the crowd dances?
I do a show; it's an Arab audience. I also don't think "ambiance" dancing presents the best image of the dance, so someone would have to pay me REALLY well to do that.
* What sort of costuming do you wear - what about costume changes?
I do costume changes when I do more than one show. For the Arab audience places I usually wear a lycra skirt costume, with an occasional full skirt classic look thrown in.
* Do you use any props (which ones?)
For Arabs, cane and sagat (yes, I know they're an instrument, but I USE them in my shows so they have to be mentioned somewhere). I do an oriental entrance usually with "swish, swish, toss" veil. Very occasionally (like once or twice a year) I'll do sword or double veil for Arabs.
* Music - what do you use? Yours or theirs? If yours then club mix ME pop?
Mine. Proper show- always starting with intro and ending with tabla solo/finale. In between saidi, pop, sha'abi, folklore, beledi, classic...depends upon my mood and who is there.
...
I've had a contract with a military base. Remember that many of them have BEEN to the Middle East and totally appreciate the traditional aspects of this dance.