Thread: Marketing to customers who don't know they need a belly dancer

I had a thought during my morning coffee. We always talk about how to market to people who want to have a belly dancer, but do we market to people who don't know want a belly dancer?

Around here there are few gigs because there are a lot of people who just don't know about belly dancing or that a belly dancer would be a good idea to have at whatever event they are planning.

So how do we sow the seeds in people's minds?

Here are some ideas. Please expand and post experiences!
1) Students obviously. I made a flyer for my students that advertises my shimmy parties.
2) International festivals. In addition to performing, setting up a booth with flyers and such. I believe Galatea just did something similar at a women's fair or something.

OK, clearly I haven't finished my coffee this morning cause I can't think. Please help my groggy mind!

P.R., P.R., P.R.!

Get yourself on TV, the newspaper or local magazines, the radio. This is a great way to capture consumers when they're at leisure and not even thinking about belly dance. Paid advertising and websites are awesome and all, but the buzz becomes even more powerful when somebody else is doing it rather than yourself.

And even if you don't get any inquiries from a media appearance, it sure can look awesome on a resume, if you use one. And this, alone, is one of many ways you can make yourself appear desirable in your target's eyes. Like the "as seen on TV" label you see on a Snuggie or a Shamwow - OK, bad example. Need more coffee!

But I'd highly encourage you to explore some type of media coverage.

Originally Posted by andalee-oriental

I had a thought during my morning coffee. We always talk about how to market to people who want to have a belly dancer, but do we market to people who don't know want a belly dancer?

I like that you used the word "need" in the subject line. I imagined it like, "People. Listen. You NEED a belly dancer!!!" ..g.:

I think the first step is to decide who "people" are, and what these people need a belly dancer to do. Are the people restaurant owners who need to know that a dancer can increase their profits? Are you talking to older or younger people who need to know that this dance is great for all ages? Etc.

Great question... looking forward to more responses.

Originally Posted by andalee-oriental

1) Students obviously. I made a flyer for my students that advertises my shimmy parties.

When advertising toward students, it might make sense to break down the price on a per-head basis if you can. I don't know your rates offhand, but I charge $350 for that sort of thing. To a broke college student (we've all been there!) that may seem like a huge chunk of change. But if you break it down to $35/head for 10 friends, they're more inclined to say, "Hey, that's less than going out clubbing like we do every weekend - and more fun!" ..g.:

Also, ramp it up late in the semester, late fall and late spring, when students start getting dippy from finals. Thinking back to the not-so-distant past, I actually took a belly dance class to get out of my head, because term papers were making me loopy - it worked on me!

She's a thread killer...thread killer...LOL. :-P

Don't know if any of it will pay off, but I am putting together flyers & info packages for local wedding organizers, bridal shops, tour operators, & event consultants. I don't really know what I'm doing, but I'm trying to do *something!*

I've been wondering if there is a way to network with some of the home party companies (pampered chef, pearl parties, etc)

I also wonder if just putting specific packages on my website would work- bridal shower, baby shower, girls night, etc- I already have listed "wedding" and "dance party" but maybe specific headings might be more helpful?

I have seen results from timing advertising- mid January to catch the fitness resolutions, Feb/march to cure cabin fever, right after school starts to catch moms needing to escape, etc. I have found offering 6 week instead of full semester classes is better for catching more folks in what would have been mid-semester.

know your community!

As far as performances go, this has been my challenge for a very long time. I've tried newspaper ads, postcard mailings to all kinds of party/event companies, signing up with a talent agency, and probably a couple of other things I've forgotten about. Unfortunately, none of them have really panned out with any results.

I have a feeling participating in a wedding fair might yield some results, but the big ones around here start at about $3000 for a the smallest booth.

Originally Posted by Lara L

I've been wondering if there is a way to network with some of the home party companies (pampered chef, pearl parties, etc)

Having a few friends and acquaintances of friends who are in party plans, I can pretty much guarantee that they would expect the quid pro quo of you agreeing to host a party yourself before they'd even consider working with you.

Originally Posted by Lara L

Don't know if any of it will pay off, but I am putting together flyers & info packages for local wedding organizers, bridal shops, tour operators, & event consultants. I don't really know what I'm doing, but I'm trying to do *something!*

I did this. It got me exactly ZERO results.

BUT - I'm a bit harder to market 'cause I'm a guy! .w.:

Originally Posted by dancingstar

I think the first step is to decide who "people" are, and what these people need a belly dancer to do.

This is brilliant, actually.

I don't think we'll get anywhere just randomly advertising 'bellydancer' to people.

But if you can figure out a group of people who might need a bellydancer, and why, and how to reach them, then you're golden.

Brides -- not so much for weddings, unless there's a large Arab population in your area, but to sell them a 'shimmy party' for the shower or bachelorette party (learn some new moves before you hit the dance floor). Bridal fairs are expensive, but most newspapers and some regional/local magazines do an annual 'wedding guide issue' in the spring.

Ladies groups and luncheons -- I live in a military area, and officer's wives form a lot of groups. The ladies take turns hosting the meetings and try to outdo each other with the entertainment. However, I still think an interactive party is an easier sell than a performance for them. Sell them on the one-up-manship factor (Host the meeting everyone will be talking about for months) but figuring out how to reach them is harder.

Birthday/Anniversary parties -- Where are they looking for entertainment now? In my area, there was basically one guy (a singing telegram agency) who handled everything from strippers to Elvis impersonators. That one guy did a lot of repeat business with families who like to celebrate everything with a big party. I worked with him for a while, had to give him a good-sized cut, but he was giving me his customer base and saving me a fortune in advertising costs. Yay!

Nursing homes/retirement communities -- their budgets are low (usually $40-80 per show in my area) but they're happy to have you come in on a Tuesday afternoon, they don't need your Friday or Saturday night. And if you have performing students they're usually welcome to come and work on their skills in front of a live audience. You can also get some nice pics or video clips, if you don't show the residents' faces in them. A mailing to the activities director, followed up with a phone call, is best.

Who else might need a dancer? Why would they want one? How can we reach them?

You would be surprised at the amount of private parties and events I book through restaurant work.

People come for dinner, see me dance and decide it would be great if I did a party for them.

It's especially useful if you are restaurant dancing in an area where there aren't many restaurants that have dancing. I did a gig this weekend out of state and recieved 3 calls for private parties in the next month!

Originally Posted by _Tanya_

You would be surprised at the amount of private parties and events I book through restaurant work.

People come for dinner, see me dance and decide it would be great if I did a party for them.

It's especially useful if you are restaurant dancing in an area where there aren't many restaurants that have dancing. I did a gig this weekend out of state and recieved 3 calls for private parties in the next month!

Just curious- how do you put out your contact info at restaurant gigs? would they let you put postcards on the tables or at the front desk? are business cards (fit in your wallet) better than post cards (nice souvenir, more likely to be picked up, but also more costly & sooner lost)

I have post cards and business cards. I leave post cards by the front or in lounge areas and business cards by the bar. I also leave some cards with managers/owners to distribute at their discretion.

I only do this in places where I work regularly or have a long relationship with the establishment. If I am covering for another dancer or am part of a large rotation I don't leave my info behind.