Thread: What do you think of this?

I ran across this while looking for part time jobs. I've seen it before, too.
There's another one just like it that says 'no experience necessary' (see second link) and this one used to say the same thing too. Just a head's up.

Experienced Salsa, Bollywood, Belly Dancing &amp Hula Hooping Dance Instructors Required Glasgow Glasgow part time jobs evening weekend

Dance Instructors 15ph Saturdays Central glasgow Glasgow part time jobs evening weekend

Hmmm.

It makes me a little suspicious, to be totally honest, because there are easily contactable Glasgow bellydance teachers, and if they can't take on a gig they tend to mail it around to other local teachers. It's possible that this has happened and no-one wants the gig, I suppose.

There's no harm in contacting them and finding out some more info - probably the email would tell you more about the person and the gig and whether it was legit or not. Just two things: watch out for the conditions of your Visa, and remember that the Glasgow teaching environment can be... tense. ..c:: But I know you can handle a bit of hostility!

Good luck with it!

I'm guessing it's legit.

When I opened my studio, I ran a similar ad on Craigslist. I was looking for people to teach ANY world dance forms -- flamenco, Bollywood, African, etc.

I didn't bother to research possibilities in each area, so I wouldn't have tapped into, say, the local Flamenco community. I just ran an ad. So that doesn't make it not legit.

I'm not seeing on the second ad where it says 'no experience necessary' maybe they changed it? But it also says you're to teach 'set routines' so maybe you wouldn't need any experience in the various forms as long as you're a trained dancer of some kind who can pick up choreo and new dance moves quickly. Much as we'd love for every bellydance class to be a full-on artistic and cultural tour with an experienced guide, some people just want to have a fun hour or so moving their body in a new way once in a while.

I'm of two minds on it myself. Personally I want to try to go the tried-and-true way of being part of the community before I start teaching, but I suppose if the opportunity is there... PM'd you wiggle.

...to Lauren, only one of the ads says it, it was removed from the first one, but they are from the same people.

Yeah, I think if I were new to a community I'd want to get a feel for things before I started teaching.

The exception being if I were depending on teaching for my livelihood. Then I'd treat it finding a job as a business decision only and worry about social repercussions later.

:soapbox: /climbing up/

Okay, folks, I'm gonna just come out and say it, like I've said it before on Bhuz:

There is no reason why anybody, ever, should believe that he/she is required to somehow be part of a "community" to hang out his/her teaching shingle! Which "community?" How does one find it? Are some "communities" better than others? Is there a "right community" and a "wrong community?" How would one know?

It doesn't matter the motivation; when one goes for a job, is one asked "do you need the money to eat or is this just play money for you?" Nope. All I ask of new teachers to the area is they know what they heck they're doing!

Deborah

:soapbox: /skipping off/

Originally Posted by casbahdance

:soapbox: /climbing up/

Okay, folks, I'm gonna just come out and say it, like I've said it before on Bhuz:

There is no reason why anybody, ever, should believe that he/she is required to somehow be part of a "community" to hang out his/her teaching shingle! Which "community?" How does one find it? Are some "communities" better than others? Is there a "right community" and a "wrong community?" How would one know?

It doesn't matter the motivation; when one goes for a job, is one asked "do you need the money to eat or is this just play money for you?" Nope. All I ask of new teachers to the area is they know what they heck they're doing!

Deborah

:soapbox: /skipping off/

LOL.

I agree, actually. When I said I'd want to get a feel for things, I didn't mean that you needed anyone's permission or whatever.

I was just thinking that each community seems to have certain characters present. The Psycho Teacher from Hell. The Goddessy Flake. The Undercutter Who Fills Restaurants With 6 Week Wonders. The Belly Police Purist. The Mothership of WTF Fusion. Etc.

I'd feel disoriented looking for a job in a new community and not having a basic feel for the lay of the land.

I'd want to know, as I would with ANY business, how much competition I have, where my competitors are based, and what niche is currently not being filled. Are there tons of Egyptian instructors but no one teaching sword, veil, etc? Lots of Tribal Fusion but no folklore or Egyptian? etc.

That's just market research, and I don't care what business you're in, you should do it before you hang out your shingle. Since we're coopetitors who often *need* to work together to make things like big workshops viable, we try to think of it as a community and do our best to share the sandbox nicely.

It would be different if we really were just 'looking for a job,' but typically what we're doing is 'starting a business.' Market research is critical.

Does that sound better to your businesswoman ears? ..g.:

Okay, several things have struck me on this:

1 - this could be a new studio who is looking to expand their teaching offerings and, if they aren't a world dance facility, they may well not know who in the community to contact.

2 - this may be an established studio who is trying to expand their teaching offerings (see above.)

3 - I understand your personal reluctance about "breaking into" a community. You have had negative experiences before. Having said that, the question I have is where are you at this point with building your community?

That's what comes to mind at the moment.

{{{HUGS}}}

Okay, a couple things.

When I saw this, I wasn't actually interested in the position, just curious about the ad. I was looking for regular jobs and it was on the list, so I posted it here as a curiosity, not as something I was particularly interested in pursuing. I plan on going to a few different haflas and other events prior to teaching (which I have already made some contacts on, but won't be doing anything until I feel like I have something of the lay of the land).

On some level, I do agree with Deborah. Who exactly tells me when it's OK to start teaching? Does someone come out and tap me with their Bellypolice wand? Teaching is something, particularly when living in a new place, that I do depend on for my livelihood, and losing money out of a possibly unappreciated attempt at politeness chafes me. However, I understand the need to do this in a particular way in order to have a good experience within the community - especially since, as Tahira says, I had such a terrible time in my last one.

All that said, I did write them to find out what the deal was, and this is it:

Pink Kiss - The UK's leading Pole Dancing, Burlesque and Cheerleading School.

I leave you to ponder it. ..l;,
According to the email I received, they provide 'free' training, as long as you work with them for one year, but if not, you are liable for the cost, which is 975 pounds.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

LOL.

I agree, actually. When I said I'd want to get a feel for things, I didn't mean that you needed anyone's permission or whatever.

I was just thinking that each community seems to have certain characters present. The Psycho Teacher from Hell. The Goddessy Flake. The Undercutter Who Fills Restaurants With 6 Week Wonders. The Belly Police Purist. The Mothership of WTF Fusion. Etc.

I'd feel disoriented looking for a job in a new community and not having a basic feel for the lay of the land.

I'd want to know, as I would with ANY business, how much competition I have, where my competitors are based, and what niche is currently not being filled. Are there tons of Egyptian instructors but no one teaching sword, veil, etc? Lots of Tribal Fusion but no folklore or Egyptian? etc.

That's just market research, and I don't care what business you're in, you should do it before you hang out your shingle. Since we're coopetitors who often *need* to work together to make things like big workshops viable, we try to think of it as a community and do our best to share the sandbox nicely.

It would be different if we really were just 'looking for a job,' but typically what we're doing is 'starting a business.' Market research is critical.

Does that sound better to your businesswoman ears? ..g.:

..l;,..l;,

You're too good, Lauren!

I probably overreacted to the line of questioning 'cause I'm one of those "you can't tell me what to do -- you're not the boss of me!" kind of folks. I probably should grow up.

I guess I assume that when we decide to hang out our shingles that we've already researched the local dance scene as best we can.

Dance style is pretty easy to figure out at local events, which is why it is a good idea to check out the local scene, as you mention in your "competition" paragraph above. Finding out about specific teachers and their teaching *personalities* (love all those examples: The Psycho Teacher from Hell. The Goddessy Flake. The Undercutter Who Fills Restaurants With 6 Week Wonders. The Belly Police Purist. The Mothership of WTF Fusion) is something I'm not sure how to do.

So, I'll clarify myself: I do think it's a good idea (make that, "it's required") to get the lay of the land, which includes research and such, but nobody -- ever -- should feel he/she needs to somehow get anointed with a BellyPolice wand.

Deborah

Lauren & Deborah...I like the summary, and I agree with you both. As much as I love creating and supporting community stuff, I also wish there were more business minded folks out there. I don't think business & community are immediately in opposition, nor do I think they they are synonymous.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

coopetitors

Great coinage!

I agree with both Deborah and Lauren myself.

I'm surprised, however, that there has been no comment on the place that put the advertisement out?

..g.:

Originally Posted by Ainsley

Great coinage!

I learned it here, don't know the origin.

Kimahri gets credit for 'Mothership of WTF bellydance' btw

As for the company, I get the feeling as I said before, they are trying to open a new studio and get more traffic in the door by expanding their offerings. I personally, might try getting more info. Heck, I have three classmates from my MA program who have gone through the training for the S Factor. I have been thinking it might be fun to try! Why not?

{{{HUGS}}}

[QUOTE=casbahdance;515430I probably overreacted to the line of questioning 'cause I'm one of those "you can't tell me what to do -- you're not the boss of me!" kind of folks. I probably should grow up.[/QUOTE]

I still get in trouble for being a rebellious teenager ..l;,

I think I would have to be very thorough about this, especially depending on where you live.

Here's something I've been wondering:

How does one integrate into a community that was hostile to begin with? I have had my fair share of experiences with many different types of dance communities and some have been heartbreaking. What does someone do in that situation?

Originally Posted by BreaMorgiane

Here's something I've been wondering:

How does one integrate into a community that was hostile to begin with? I have had my fair share of experiences with many different types of dance communities and some have been heartbreaking. What does someone do in that situation?

That is the $75K question, isn't it? My off the cuff answer is see if you can find a more receptive community. Depending in where you are and your ability to get around, this may or may not be difficult.

{{{HUGS}}}