Thread: first proper private party

I have my first proper private party tomorrow night i.e. I have not been hired by a friend of a friend, or someone via a family member or student - which is why I am thinking of it as 'first proper private party'. This is a complete stranger, of arab extraction, who saw me dance in a restaurant. I am very exited, and a little nervous. I am bringing my b/f as a chaperone (the client knows to expect two people), and *joy of joys* he has requested classical music (and maybe a little pop) and asked if it is OK that a few young children are there (aged around 4).

Please share my exitement ! Also, any hints or tips ?

That sounds like a great gig! Congrats!! :D

WOOHOO!

Have a great time!!

sounds like a great gig.

you probably already know this, but just in case:
1. make sure they have a good sound system

2. bring 2 copies of your music [not the original cd, ripped copies]

3. smile at the ladies and children first and if there is audience dancing, dance with the ladies and children first. then no one will think you are after their men and it helps to keep a family type atmosphere.

4. bring at least $50 - $100 in $1 /$5 / $10 bills [depending on the size of the party] so you can make change with the host and the party guests can tip you, if you accept tips. that way there is no excuse that they didn't have change :)

5. if you are dancing at their home and they seem conservative / religious, and they give you a bedroom to change in, don't let your boyfriend go in with you while you change b/c it sometimes makes people think things you don't want them to. he should stand outside the door to "guard your propriety"
[this is something you will have to feel out, but i have found it helps create a more professional interaction with the clients]

6. if they offer you food or drink after the show, don't hang around more than 10 min or it looks like your time is too available.

7. give a small stack of business cards to the party host so when people ask about you for their event, they can easily get your info from someone who can highly recommend you.

8. bring a second show cd [+ backup] and costume in case they love you so much they offer to pay for a second set. [assuming your schedule allows]

9. if you are using props, make sure to check the ceiling height of the performance room before you get dressed. [a simple one i have forgotten in the excitement of show time]

sorry if this is all terribly obvious, but maybe this will be useful to someone just starting who reads this thread

hope it goes great.

These are not all obvious to those of us that haven't done it before, Sabrina - great tips! :) Do you negotiate a second set on the spot if they ask, or let them know in advance that it's an option and how much?

About bringing two copies of the music, are you talking about the original and the ripped versions incase one doesn't play, or are you taking about bringing another ripped copy for some reason ?

Also, thanks your points are all really helpful - some I planned to do, others I hadn't thought of.

Originally Posted by nasila

These are not all obvious to those of us that haven't done it before, Sabrina - great tips! :) Do you negotiate a second set on the spot if they ask, or let them know in advance that it's an option and how much?

Yes, great tips!

Re: negotiating second set on the spot: I've only done that a few times; I didn't require more than what I would have charged for a pre-arranged 2-set show. In other words, for a two-set show, I charge about 170% of the single-set show, assuming the second set is within about one hour of the first set. ETA: I have a blurb on my gig contract that states additional sets may be available, but I don't indicate the price.

Everybody's policies are different . . . it'll be fun to see how other folks respond!

Deborah

Have a great time, Caroline!

Deborah

Get them up dancing! Bring hipscarves and pass them out at the end...people love it! Even the men get up and dance! People love imitation-best kind of comedy and flattery!

Only thing I can think to add is to bring a backup boombox - juuuuuuuust in case their sound system has a problem with burned CDs.

"Do you negotiate a second set on the spot if they ask, or let them know in advance that it's an option and how much?"
of course i always try to get full price! and then negotiate if necessary.

if there is nothing scheduled for after their event, i might let them know about the second show option depending on how they have acted thus far in business dealings and scheduling for the rest of their event. sometimes it is better to wait and see how the first set goes.

there are no hard and fast rules here. i just try to feel out the situation. if you are unsure, better to be prepared with a second show just in case.

"About bringing two copies of the music, are you talking about the original and the ripped versions incase one doesn't play, or are you taking about bringing another ripped copy for some reason ?"

imo: never bring your originals. they should stay safely at home. someone's kid could use your cd as a frisbee between the time you give it to them and when your show starts. you just never know. they could drop it and scratch it... anything is possible.

i recommend bringing at least 2 ripped copies of each show. sometimes they want your music and you can sell them the cd! wait...that would be illegal, you could give them the cd for educational purposes and they could give you an extra tip for such fabulous dancing.

and yes, a back up boom box if you have. excellent point laura 2

I always have my originals with me in the car. You never know when your home burned CD's aren't going to play in their player. There is that risk they will get lost though :-(

Congrats and have fun!

Originally Posted by sabrinabellydancer

4. bring at least $50 - $100 in $1 /$5 / $10 bills [depending on the size of the party] so you can make change with the host and the party guests can tip you, if you accept tips. that way there is no excuse that they didn't have change :)

I would expect that you've actually negotiated your fee with the client beforehand? the most professional way to be paid is in an envelope before your performance, so that you don't have to a) seek out the client and ask for payment and b) have to stand there and swap change like a market seller. My fee is always set. I don't do 'change". If people tip you, great. But you don't stand there and offer them change, like your selling melons! Things are definitely done differently here in the UK.


All other points mentioned, very valid.

Caroline - Congratulations on your private party - sounds like fun too!
Sabrina, good tips - I am filing away for future reference.

I would say always bring your original Cd's with you, in case the burnt ones don't play. I hadn't thought about issues with kids using them as frisbees. Have to keep my eye out for that one!

So it went really well, I'd negotiated my fee in advance (and got a wee tip), so no problems there, the music worked fine. My b/f came in the room with me when I changed in the end, as there was no lock on the bedroom door and (horror of horrors), it was made from frosted patterned glass, so I got him to stand in front of it to protect my modesty. There were also small children running around, and trying the door handle of the room when I was nekkid. I do not know what I would have done without my b/f there holding the door handle !

The only problem (and it is a learning point for me) is that I hadn't specified 'number of sets' during the 2 hour duration, and the guy wanted me to more or less dance non-stop the whole time I was there. I think some of the guests were bored by this, and would rather have had a chat among themselves. This gig spurred me on to sort out specifics and pricing though in my head and possibly on my website, so it has been a learning point.

I'm so happy for you!!!! yeah!