Thread: The Ever-Annoying "Audition"

I just want to know what it's like in other areas of the country. I've been on the horn all day with venue owners, and I just have to scream about this stuff: WTF is wrong with people?!? Here's the cliffs notes version of a conversation I had earlier today, that I have with alarming regularity:


Owner: Sure, we're looking for new dancers. How about you come in on Friday night?

Me: Wouldn't you like to discuss this when you're not busy?

Owner: I want you to come in and audition.

Me: If you'd like me to come in to audition, how about when you're not busy, say, during the day on Tuesday?

Owner: Why would we do that?

Me: (trying not to sound extremely annoyed) Most professional dancers will not agree to an unpaid audition, especially on a busy night.

Owner: We want to see how the customers respond to you.

Me: I can come by to discuss this with you, but I'm not dancing for free.



Grrr! Is this just extremely prevalent in the DC area or is this an all-over kind of thing??

If you haven't had the pleasure of reading Artemis's funny-but-deadly article on understanding venue owners, try Top 20 Club Cliches Cliche number:9) Boss: "We have all of our girls audition during the evening hours so we can see if the audience responds well to them." What this means is that the boss will get a free show (and often tell the regular girl not to come that night--see #1). He will know a good show when he sees one. Offer to give them a video, invite them to see your show at another club or agree to audition when they are closed. As a last resort, agree to audition during the evening and chalk it up to a business expense. At least get him to give you a free dinner and keep all our tips.

no, it's a free set for them.....this is everywhere......not just our market, it's come up in previous threads, and i'm glad you didn't agree to it....

Originally Posted by _Nani_

Grrr! Is this just extremely prevalent in the DC area or is this an all-over kind of thing??

It's extremely prevalent amongst owners who want to save money where ever possible and figure it can't hurt to ask. To them the worst that can happen is that the dancer will say no and the best that can happen is that she doesn't know the business and REALLY REALLY REALLY WANTS to dance! ... we don't do free auditions in this area- not as long as I can remember.
Good for you for knowing better. ..g.:

Yay Nani! Stick to your guns!

this is very prevalent all over the world :( and its one of the oldest tricks in the book.

I wouldn't even do it on a Tuesday.

If they can't tell enough from a video, you'd think they wouldn't want to risk embarrassing themselves by giving their patrons a bad show for your "audition".

If they can tell from the video that you wouldn't be an embarrassment, then you'd clearly be providing a service of value, and they should expect to pay for that.

Do they give their customers their first meal for free?

Yes, it's very prevalent here too. When I got my break in the biz, I had to audition during the daytime during the band's regular rehearsal time. After that I got jobs through word of mouth.

Unfortunately that's not a viable option for many dancers today.

Same thing in Montreal, Quebec, Canada... A few restaurant owners are very well known for using this little scheme...,m:oliceblinker:

Qamar

Originally Posted by jmdruadh

...

Do they give their customers their first meal for free?

Exactly, and if the guy needs a new chef, will he ask the applicants: "Well come on and spend next Friday night in my kitchen to cook (for free!), I want to know if the customers like you food!" ..c::

Qamar

Originally Posted by jmdruadh

I wouldn't even do it on a Tuesday.

BINGO.

And ditto what pretty much everyone said.

What a load of bull! Stick to your guns, Nani!

Originally Posted by jmdruadh

Do they give their customers their first meal for free?

Nice! I think I'll use this one. Maybe I'll come off as a huge "ass ferret" (couldn't help myself, Ghazallah...), but it's better than giving a free show. Makes me wonder if every dancer who works there did that.

Yes, try this with any other form of labor. They would be reported to the Department of Labor so fast their heads would be spinning.

actually, there are a couple of venues where their a dancer's first night is a paid audition. a place i negotiated a couple years ago was like that...they danced a full set, got paid as normal.....if they liked her, she was added to the schedule,if they didn't, she didn't come back, but they got their show, she got paid, win-win..........thank goodness thats becoming more prevalent.....

Originally Posted by ruta21030

actually, there are a couple of venues where their a dancer's first night is a paid audition. a place i negotiated a couple years ago was like that...they danced a full set, got paid as normal.....if they liked her, she was added to the schedule,if they didn't, she didn't come back, but they got their show, she got paid, win-win..........thank goodness thats becoming more prevalent.....

That's how it oughtta be!

Deborah