Thread: Bellygram rates, Texas & beyond

I'm getting ready to publish prices on my site, and between Samira's rate poll from 2007 & from talking with different Austin & DFW dancers (closest cities to where I am), I was ready to settle on $150 for 'grams, as that seems to be the recurring rate I hear - there are some higher, some lower, which I took into consideration, but overall $150 seemed about average. In talking rates/pricing with other dancers here, one indicated she thought that was a bit high. I thought it was about right & reasonable - am I way off here?

So thought I'd just do an informal poll & ask: For those of you who do bellygrams, What do you charge? I'm especially interested in hearing other Texas dancers' rates, and what you see the rate are in your area.

I'm holding off publishing anything for right now - I didn't want to undercharge/undercut, however I don't want to overprice myself, either.

$150 is the lowest I'd take, even in Austin and the surrounding areas. In Dallas, $175 is the minimum, with $200 as the minimum becoming more and more common - I quote $250 for a 20-30 minute private show - more for multiple sets, weddings, and show/lesson combos.

Taking your local economy into account, you might feel that $150 is a good place to start, but I would go no lower, and I'd recommend that you start out with $175 to give yourself some wiggle room. I know there's money in the Hill Country - there's no need to sell yourself short.