Thread: Why don't more dancers post video on their websites?

Originally Posted by Safiyah

Videos show that not only are we glamorous, but we have tremendous talent and skill to boot.

Of course, I'm not a member of the GP and I'm not really seeking professional gigs since it doesn't match my goals at this time so maybe I'm out of touch!

If you're not focused on public gigs, then it's not as big an issue. If, for example, your goal is to get workshop gigs, then you need to focus on getting good performance, and even teaching, work out, focusing more on quality of your work than on the quality of the videography. Point blank, dancers watching videos are looking for different things than the general public.

I recommend people Think Different for General Public presentation, to think like these potential clients, to consider what they're after. Many of them, perhaps most, wouldn't know the difference between a good and great dancer. Moreover, we live in an age where video itself doesn't impress. Everyone has a video camera in their pocket, and see so much via YouTube -- but also see dance via TV shows like So You Think You Can Dance, where the video is of very high quality, you can usually see a lot of the dance, etc. And it's really that lighting, the cinematography, that translates no matter the final result, just as putting an excellent band on a crappy cassette tape doesn't reduce that band's overall quality.

So, these days, "just having video" isn't going to always impress the average client, who doesn't oftentimes know how to eval a dancer! It can even depress interest, as they unconsciously compare it to other dance videos and in-person watching; this is something I've seen in my dance photography work, and that I've experienced with web site design. But yes, a good-quality video -- not Pro-level, but not the typical show video -- works because it meets the higher expectations of the General Public in these areas, these days, and helps to "sell" you.

You can work without it, and even succeed, so it's not a barrier, but a recommendation.

Originally Posted by Asim

I recommend people Think Different for General Public presentation, to think like these potential clients, to consider what they're after.

Amen! I couldn't think of a better mantra.

Originally Posted by zamora

.but i also prefer photos not staged in a studio.i have a problem with some who present themselves only through photoshop.....does every town have a photoshop queen?...(can you alter video..hmm.dont think so, come to think of it.thats why tape is used in court and film isnt)

I always think it's funny how some people knock photoshopping/touching up a pic. Discounting the fact that women wear makeup for the same thing (to cover flaws and enhance appearance) and the fact that some people overdue it. But it really should be done to some extent. If you are dancing in front of me and I'm enjoying the show; I'm not going to be seeing the same thing as an image frozen in time where I can examine every square inch of your body frozen as it is.

People see a lot more flaws, wrinkles and everything else on a frozen two dimensional image than they ever will in person. Photoshop is more of an equalizer than it is a big faker.

Originally Posted by JShane

I always think it's funny how some people knock photoshopping/touching up a pic. (...snip...) People see a lot more flaws, wrinkles and everything else on a frozen two dimensional image than they ever will in person. Photoshop is more of an equalizer than it is a big faker.

Dude, stop it. You sound like you could be my sockpuppet! ..l;,

Plus, my understanding is that digital photography picks up on a lot more crap (pores, rough spots, miniscule blemishes) than film does. PhotoShop was only a necessary invention as digital photography began to replace film.

Plus, virtually every stock photograph you see in a magazine is edited to eliminate "noise" and sharpen the color/contrast/lighting. Does that mean that a photoshopped MacIntosh apple in a Washington Apples ad is a big ol' phony? .w.:

Um, that sockpuppet's fibers look a little too smooth and overprocessed. Lay off on the Gaussian blur, will ya? ,r:;..l;,

Originally Posted by JShane

I always think it's funny how some people knock photoshopping/touching up a pic. .... Photoshop is more of an equalizer than it is a big faker.

I don't knock it for subtle, realistic fixes at all, or for other silly things (stray curl floating in the air, that little skin roll on the back even little dancers get in some moves, what have you).
The problem is when people OVER do it to the point people don't recognize them when they meet them in person. And that happens quite often. I'm also just not a fan of "barbie skin" as I call it- whatever that effect is that people use that just smooths out EVERYTHING and they look plastic.

Originally Posted by SamiraShuruk

I'm also just not a fan of "barbie skin" as I call it- whatever that effect is that people use that just smooths out EVERYTHING and they look plastic.

This tends to be more common in amateurish glamour photography and in Maxim magazine ,r:;..l;,

Occasionally, a "Barbie skin" look can be used as an artistic element. For instance, Jerry Bezdikian smooths every inch of the skin and pops the curves of the body so everything's dramatically highlighted and glowy - but this looks awesome because he does it for artistic effect. His stuff is supposed to look surreal, so I can see where he wouldn't choose a more photorealistic approach. Same goes for pinup art. You'd definitely go for a painted look if you're creating a pinup on PhotoShop. I didn't know any of this since I started dating a photographer. But now I can see the amount of wizardry that goes into some of the more artsy photos you see out there.

But this is all such a subjective thing. I prefer a lighter hand when it comes to PhotoShop, but I can also admire well-executed photo art.

Originally Posted by SamiraShuruk

I don't knock it for subtle, realistic fixes at all, or for other silly things (stray curl floating in the air, that little skin roll on the back even little dancers get in some moves, what have you).
The problem is when people OVER do it to the point people don't recognize them when they meet them in person. And that happens quite often. I'm also just not a fan of "barbie skin" as I call it- whatever that effect is that people use that just smooths out EVERYTHING and they look plastic.

gah, i always have to fix that lol

and I know what you mean, personally, I like the smooth skin look, but if it goes past a point, it starts to look more plasticy

Originally Posted by JShane

gah, i always have to fix that lol

I'm always harping on Stacy to fix that, but he likes it cause it looks "natural." He also tends to like an occasional hair across the face for the same reason. Go figure ,r:;

Much of my dancing lately has been restaurant dancing. It's hard to get good video because it's dark and dancing along a long, narrow aisle. when I do post video, I get pretty much no response. I would like feedback, even critical if it was posted tactfully. Have been studying for 4 years and would like to get feedback and grow.

Originally Posted by dreamkitaro

when I do post video, I get pretty much no response. I would like feedback, even critical if it was posted tactfully. Have been studying for 4 years and would like to get feedback and grow.

Do you mean on YouTube or Bhuz? I think students generally get a good response (tactful, helpful) when they upload videos here and ask for critiques. Sometimes the debate gets a little heated about whether students have a right to ask for free feedback from teachers who would normally charge a good deal of money for their advice, but that only applies to a handful of members at the top of the food chain, and they usually skip those threads anyway. Everybody else seems very interested in helping the student improve and conscientious about what they post in terms of criticism.

Here I don't see a catergory to post videos.

Originally Posted by dreamkitaro

Here I don't see a catergory to post videos.

Have you tried starting a thread with "Please critique my video..." or "Student looking for feedback on..." in an appropriate forum (Student Center or The Rest for a general question, Traditions & Styles for a specific stylization)? It's not the sort of thing you want to overuse, but once in a while, it isn't a problem. Not to single Lorena out, but here's her recent thread: http://www.bhuz.com/forum/rest-belly...ue-please.html Occasionally members will start group projects where participants can upload their interpretations of a particular song and share and discuss videos, so that's another avenue you might want to watch for. As long as you're not trying to turn Bhuz into a free source of private lessons, you should be able to get some feedback here.

I'd love to have professional quality videos to post on my website... unfortunately I don't have them

Oopsie ;-b

once again bhuz is hard to navigate outside of the forum...
tribe.net has a couple of video-related tribes, where you post your vid on youtube then share the link.
One is An Error Has Occurred - tribe.net
the other specifically for feedback is Bellydance Feedback - tribe.net

Do you dance at seminar shows where they videotape? You may get a good one from that, just be sure to ask them if you can post your number. They shouldn't mind esp. if you credit the show producer, videographer, etc.

Originally Posted by dreamkitaro

Much of my dancing lately has been restaurant dancing. It's hard to get good video because it's dark and dancing along a long, narrow aisle. when I do post video, I get pretty much no response. I would like feedback, even critical if it was posted tactfully. Have been studying for 4 years and would like to get feedback and grow.

trying this link again:
Belly Dance Video Clips - tribe.net
oh tribe, you're so funny!,r:;