Thread: Restaurant performance

Hello Bhuzzers. :)

I have an upcoming gig at a local Indian restaurant. The owner is having one sitting that night and would like a performance during the meal followed by an after party which will be initiated by me doing a short performance and then getting people from the crowd up to dance.

my performance background
I have done many stage shows (my highest comfort) including music festivals and full scale events, a handful of private parties and have done restaurant dancing a couple of times (never as a soloist though).

I am super excited about this gig!

I am looking for tips and advice from all of you...

Thanks!

Putting my two cents in. I love dancing at restaurants. I use basically the same format you mention on here. I dance for about 15 minutes, I use props, then the other 15 minutes I try to make the crowd participate (if they want). As I do this I also try to gather my tips (I don't push it, but if they offer the money, then I approach them).

try to use songs that would appeal to a large variety of audience members. the section when you are trying to get people to dance should not feature oum khoulthoum on vocals for twenty minutes. you would be surprised how many times i have seen this from novice belly dancers.

also....do not, please, do not enter to a trance beat drum solo. i've seen this and cringed. very case specific, i know, but just something just in case.

altogether, the more relaxed you are, the more relaxed your audience is going to be. if you screw up, chances are that you are the only one who is going to notice unless you make a face or a fumble. be confident and most of all have fun.

good luck!!!

thanks for the tips. :)

I always, almost always always follow this format (restaurants, parties):
1. upbeat fast song
2. slower song (great for veil, other prop, or just dancing)
3. upbeat fast song (can also be drumsolo, or an upbeat prop, like cane, if the 2nd song was not a prop)
4. and 5. pop songs, great for audience participation
this usually totals 20 - 27 minutes

it has always worked :)

I would never use pop songs for the 1st 3 songs, that is the "show" part of my performance, so I use belly dance music. For the last 2 songs, I usually use pop songs, but the general rule is that by that time the audience is into getting up and dance, or it's great time for me to go for tips. Either way it should be easy to dance to, even if it's not a pop song per se.

the most important prop: your smile!!! have fun!