Thread: Monthly Showcase

ok, here goes my new project

i'm gearing up to start belgium's first monthly showcase.

why

- i like new projects

- i have loads of upper intermediate and advanced students in need of solo/duo performance opportunities, i have tons of group performance ops for them, but not enough for solo

- there are many just starting pro's in the area who i think would be interested to.

- myself and some other more established pro's in the area feel that since there is no restaurant/club scene here, with many performance ops, it would be good for ourselves too, to get our but into gear a bit more often.

- it would be open to everyone (also advanced dancers from other teachers, and any visiting foreigners)

so, i've attended such showcases in several countries, i organise regular hafla's, but still

i'd like to hear how you run YOURS
- what kind of venue? anyone doing this in a studio? or do you need a party venue. restaurants with stages do NOT exist here, and party halls are WAY to expensive for this.
- monthly?
- what do you charge?
- do you pay the performers?
- or do the performers pay to dance?
- what about catering? drinks?
- do you "police" who gets to dance. i mean, for a hafla or show i PICK who i want to dance, i was thinking i wouldnt be quite so strict with this, and it would be "first come" base, who gets to perform

i'm actually, because of the limited availability of venues around here, thinking of having this on a sunday AFTERNOON, i'll have more venue options, and cheaper onces. and maybe add short taster workshops to start the event with?

anyway, any advice/stories/dos and donts are very very welcome

Artemisia

I have hosted several of these for many years. You can feel free to PM me with specific questions however....
Having this in an art space - not a restaurant venue is always best. Charge a cover at the door and after you pay back all your costs split the tips and remaining $ with the dancers. The dancers pay for nothing. Make sure you feed them at least. You have to make it an open to all show if you are not paying the dancers. If you start to discriminate it will get around and people won't like you which has happened several times in my neck of the woods.

hey, regarding pay
for the hafla's now

- the dancers dont pay - i dont pay them.
- i feed and water them
- they get to advertise if they want
- but i still do the inviting (i ask the people i want if they want to be part of the event)


i'm just wondering if i make it a smaller /everyone who wants gets to perform/ show case, where i dont do the inviting, but anyone can ask to be on the list, (with a max for every time) what else would change. and i'm not sure it'll be affordable if all the performers dont pay/get free food and drinks. the music license fees are horrendous here (several 100E) and i dont want the doorprice getting too high.

does anyone make a difference between
- invited dancers (i ask them if they WANT to perform)
- people who put themselves forward (students...).

does anyone does this in afternoons? does that work out?

No one does it in the afternoons. It is billed very much as a nightime club style event. I have never had to deal with music licensing fees or just haven't so I can't help you there. You should invite those you wish to perform but if you are successful be ready for your email to be full of people requesting a spot. If a student asks then have them ask their teacher to recommend them and talk to the teacher.
The problem here is that if you bill it as a pro event then you have to pay professionals to perform. If you are billing it as a showcase and not able to pay the dancers then you have to be really gracious towards everyone who wants to be involved. Several dancers in LA did not learn that lesson and actually told some amateur and pro dancers that they weren't good enough to perform in her show and it got around and made many people upset.
When doing a showcase just remember who butters the bread - the students and their friends. Those are the people you want to cater to.

yes, i agree with all that. the reason to do it exactly would be to have an open performance platform, open to everyone, cause i think there is a need for that, and i realise my hafla's are NOT that, they are a higher level show. but i would want to create a more open, relaxed environment for also first time performers, and offer my students (and possible other teachers' students) a nice environment and practice goal.


the paying/not paying/music license thing is just to mention our overhead is very very high for the hafla's, and i doubt the showcase is going to be much different (hence the afternoon idea). aint going to be much butter on the bread...

i dont mind if the hafla's dont even break even as they are usually part of a bigger event (guest instructor) that does. but these showcases WOULD need to break even. paying people just isnt an option.

Originally Posted by eshtabellydance

No one does it in the afternoons. It is billed very much as a nightime club style event. I have never had to deal with music licensing fees or just haven't so I can't help you there. You should invite those you wish to perform but if you are successful be ready for your email to be full of people requesting a spot. If a student asks then have them ask their teacher to recommend them and talk to the teacher.
The problem here is that if you bill it as a pro event then you have to pay professionals to perform. If you are billing it as a showcase and not able to pay the dancers then you have to be really gracious towards everyone who wants to be involved. Several dancers in LA did not learn that lesson and actually told some amateur and pro dancers that they weren't good enough to perform in her show and it got around and made many people upset.
When doing a showcase just remember who butters the bread - the students and their friends. Those are the people you want to cater to.