Thread: Girls Night Gig

I am doing a girls night gig. The hostess requested a two hour gig for a house party of 20 girls. Any suggestions on how to keep it interesting that long? I planned on a show and lesson. Any other ideas? Thanks!

I generally don't do more than an hour for these parties, but once I did do a two hour package by request (and charged up the wazoo for it!). I did a full 25 minute set, took a 10 minute break to change into pants and allow the guests to mingle for a bit, did a one hour lesson and then for the last 20 minutes I put on upbeat pop music and we all had "open dance".

Wow - 2 hours is about an hour too long for me! I hope you are getting paid a lot for that one. Most movies aren't even 2 hours these days. ..g.:

WOW Two hours is a LOT. Did you ask the hostess what did SHE have in mind? Classes are one hour for people who are going to sweat- I doubt that the party people will be so desirous of a "work out". Good Luck and Have Fun

I know; I explained that it wouldn't take that long and they typically last 45 minutes. She said she wanted me to participate with the girls because they will all be "drunk and ready to dance."
Maybe I will try to discourage the length before we sign the contract. If she insists on the length, I will go with Laura2's ideas. I am definitely not going to stay in costume that long! Thanks!

Yeah that's way too long. And those drunk sweaty women are going to want to sit down quickly. I don't think she understands how long that truly is. I'd charge her triple my regular rate. Do they really want to watch a 25 minute show? If she insists. I agree with

Laura. Do a show, change, do a lesson, have them play games like having a belly dance battle, do a belly dance conga line, have each of them lead in a circle dance and then end with open dancing. That should stretch the time. Be sure to take plenty of breaks too.

that is a long time.i would feel they would have had to much to drink by the second hour!

Get your money up front. I have a feeling that she will cut it short and try to give you half or something.

thanks everyone; i did already ask for money up front. I have a feeling it will get cut short

thanks everyone; i did already ask for money up front. I have a feeling it will get cut short

Originally Posted by chyzanne

thanks everyone; i did already ask for money up front. I have a feeling it will get cut short

Good.

One hour of anything with drunken people in general is an eternity! Even a quick 15 minutes can seem like an hour.

(ask me how I know)

Deborah

Originally Posted by casbahdance

Good.

One hour of anything with drunken people in general is an eternity! Even a quick 15 minutes can seem like an hour.

(ask me how I know)

Deborah

ditto.

2hrs is an hour too long, but get the cash up front in advance and if they're drinking or drunk then watch your costume for them spilling drinks and/or puking once they start dancing (depending on how much they've had to drink). Booze & sweating to a lesson doesn't mix. I also forsee you getting cut short because how many people drinking really have the attention span for a serious lesson? Zero. Maybe try to get the hostess to have you there before any real drinking starts up.

If you change clothes, be on guard in case an inebriated person starts asking/begging/demanding to try on your costume. I had a tipsy woman beg to wear my hip scarf at a festival once. At a baby shower I had another woman w/drink in hand asking (politely, but still) if I'd let her 'try on' my costume belt. May not happen, but just sayin...

Agree with everyone else that one hour is enough. If the ladies are really tipsy and you have a break it can be hard to get their attention back. One thing I do is allow them a drinks break and say 'now come sit down here while I perform for you'. After that, it's easier to get them back up again, as they're all in one place. Otherwise it can be like herding cats.

If you do want to go for longer, you could teach some balancing tricks. Perform a sword or cane balancing dance, then get volunteers up to give it a go. You can get them to use canes for safety. Give each volunteer different moves to try, to keep it interesting.

This is good when everyone's too tired to keep dancing.

thnks, great advice!

Just one last thing about this subject:

Because the attention span of party-goers can vary tremendously, what I have done is state that the fee is for a minimum of 45 minutes up to a maximum of one hour, depending entirely upon the interest level of the guests.

Additionally, I also have a 30-minute option at a lower price, for those whose budgets aren't as rich or who just don't want to monopolize the party with BD for an hour.

The nice thing about having a shorter show option is that if the potential client balks at the fee for the long version, I can offer a shorter bit at a reduced price; this seems to work well.

Deborah

I'd do the lesson part first (before they've had too much to drink). Teach them a belly dance line dance to some peice of popular music - bearing in mind they may all be absolute novices to the movements, so it'll need to be not only easy, but fun.

Then give them a decent show - showing them the difference between "fun time" and professional dancing. This will be a great opener for introducing your classes if you teach...

Thanks, Chandra. Great advice. Would you recommend the mini lesson be done in costume or change into it later?

For a 2 hour gig, I'd wear "Sharif wear" like choly and flared from knee pants, or a L.Rose set... you know something chic, coordinated but easy to wear for the mini lesson, you have to look pro but girls have to see your moves. And you put your costume for performance only.

But in the other hand, on some regular gigs what I do is I dance and at the end, I get people joining me on the dance floor and start an unformal lesson, get in circle and you mimic me but that doesn't last more than 2 songs, I get people on the dance floor on the first song if I feel the party is started, I let the second song starting and in the middle of second song, I quietly leave de dancefloor, I started the party... it is to them to keep it going!! In that case, it was part of the show so no need to get changed...

great idea~!