Thread: Bellygram in an Office Setting

So I was just hired to do a roughly 10-minute "surprise the birthday boy" kinda gig in an office later this week. I have also done a lot of slick, formal corporate events in office settings, but I have never done a surprise bellygram in anybody's place of work ..c::

Anybody have any words of wisdom? Needless to say, my goal is to keep it classy. I'm thinking of keeping my set on the short-ish side (<10 mins.), wearing a more modest bedlah, and not expecting too much in the way of audience participation. What have been your experiences with office bellygrams?

Weird, weird vibe. BDB was mortified, office staff was askance, people who organized it were looking like...oh no what did we do? I personally felt like a circus freak. This was at a bank. Not gonna do that again! If they want to take him to lunch and do this in a more informal setting..ok, but no more banks.

I don't do short belly grams, but have danced in office settings for various occasions before. In my experience, yes most people are more self conscious at work and there most likely won't be much participation, if any. If it's a small office you may need to have them rearrange some furniture.
This would be the ideal setting to present the plastic sword and balloon gift or something else lighthearted.

Yeah, and it really doesn't help that the search function for "office bellygram" yields nothing but tales of dancers getting kicked out of these types of gigs ..c::

The one redeeming factor is that this gig will take place at a high-end builder's office, and my client briefed me that everybody there has a sense of humor. (This was true of my colleagues when I worked for a construction company). If this were for a bank or a lawyer's office, I'm pretty sure I would've graciously declined.

One way or another, I'm REALLY glad I use a contract.

I've done gigs at doctors offices, dentist offices and government offices of various kinds. LOL. What I told them to do was tell EVERYONE except for the guest of honor. This way everyone knew what to expect and felt "in on it." It was also done on lunch break for them.

not a bellygram nor was it at an office but we (troupies and i) once had a gig at a shriner's event, where both women and men were there. oddly enough the guest of honor knew about the 'surprise' as did the men, but the other guests, mainly the women, had NO idea. needless to say, after a 'stripper' comment shouted out at us (by a woman) after our group intro, we were cut short (we were all supposed to do solos each, so another 20 min. or so of performing).

yah, never again for gigs where ppl don't know

Originally Posted by SamiraShuruk

I've done gigs at doctors offices, dentist offices and government offices of various kinds. LOL. What I told them to do was tell EVERYONE except for the guest of honor. This way everyone knew what to expect and felt "in on it." It was also done on lunch break for them.

This might be a good idea. In fact, I'll shoot my client an e-mail about this so she can brief the rest of the staff tomorrow during lunch. She says a few people know, but not everyone. You're right, I think people might have more fun if they feel like they're in on the joke

I have done a lot of these. They are usually a blast, because I am a big ham and enjoy entertaining people. Make sure that your contact has informed everyone who needs to know & has "permission"!! Mine have mostly been fun and light-hearted, I treat it that I am doing a celebratory dance for the guest of honor. Ya, some will view me as a circus freak, (I feel your pain Anala!) but that can happen anywhere. Classy, elegant, sassy, tasteful - show em what a professional Bellydancer is made of!!
Probably no one will say or do anything disrespectful, but always be prepared - same as you would for any gig. If anyone yells "Take it off" for ex., stop for a moment and glare pointedly at the person, then continue. Make sure you pay attention to the women of course.
In an office setting, there is usually not much acting out, but, again, always be prepared!!

And, those who have never seen Bellydancing, or only a tacky facsimile of, are pleasantly shocked to see the fabulousness of me!! And I mean that not in a conceited or facetious way, but that you are doing good to spread the wonder and beauty of Bellydance!! If I didn't feel confident of this, I wouldn't be in an office at 11 am in full regalia!

are pleasantly shocked to see the fabulousness of me!!

My fabulousness requires a good sound system, good lighting and the room to actually dance - and something more than a drop jawed, bug eyed and uncomfortable response from the "audience" who is unsure that they can stop working and come out of their cubicles. Nope...learned my lesson, not gonna do it...wouldnt be prudent.

I was asked to do a surprise bellygram at a place of employment once....and that place of employment happened to be a Dunkin Donuts!! After asking a few questions, I learned that the organizers would be doing this behind their manager's back, because said manager would likely not approve, so I had to come when the manager's shift was up. Um, no thanks. I declined the gig.

So, moral of the story - make sure the "boss" has given permission for this, and you are not being booked by the copy guy who has no say in what goes on at the office. You don't want to show up and get told to go home.

Mine was for the Prez. I was hired by friend and wife. What was he gonna say?

Originally Posted by danielabellydance

I was asked to do a surprise bellygram at a place of employment once....and that place of employment happened to be a Dunkin Donuts!! After asking a few questions, I learned that the organizers would be doing this behind their manager's back, because said manager would likely not approve, so I had to come when the manager's shift was up. Um, no thanks. I declined the gig.

So, moral of the story - make sure the "boss" has given permission for this, and you are not being booked by the copy guy who has no say in what goes on at the office. You don't want to show up and get told to go home.

Exactly! Always fine to say NO to a bum gig!!

Originally Posted by anala

"cut"
My fabulousness requires a good sound system, good lighting and the room to actually dance -"cut".

..l;,..l;,..l;,Well that too; they only get to see a portion of it!

Always make sure the person that is hiring you has permission (if they are not the boss) to have you come in. 10 minutes is WAY too long, consider 5-6 minutes as you will generally be perfoming for just a few people and probably wont have much room plus as mentioned above, people DO seem to be more self concious at work and you dont want to put them on the spot longer than they can be a good sport about things. If possible, see if there is a breakroom and maybe the Bellygram ee' can be taken back to the breakroom for cake or something. You really dont want to interupt the day too much, but you want to be a special part of it and not overstay your welcome.
Hit it, get it and get out.

Originally Posted by patrisha

10 minutes is WAY too long, consider 5-6 minutes as you will generally be perfoming for just a few people and probably wont have much room plus as mentioned above, people DO seem to be more self concious at work and you dont want to put themon the spot longer than they can be a good spot about things.

100% agree. I did a surprise bellygram at an office once and was supposed to do a 10 minute set. The guest of honor was so shy and embarressed - he was sweating, blushing, you name it! Not the kinda guy that likes being in the spot light and I imagine its even more uncomfortable in front of your co-workers. I would suggest having the 10 minute set ready, but be prepared to cut it short if you need to ..g.:

Said Prez couldn't fire his wife and BFF, but I don't think there is an employee left there that was an eye witness to his discomfort ... ;-)

Jumped out of a closet once at a dental office, was fun, but yes GP just doesn't get it and guy was embarrassed at first. Either way everyone had a good laugh and now can check jumping out of a closet at a dental office off my bucket list!

I've done it and it was great experience. You have to have a good contact/client person who figures out all the details for you. Everyone was in a conference room waiting for cake and they put me in the empty office next to it. The set was 10 min and the birthday boy enjoyed it in an embarrassing sort of way. I even got a big tip! It was a great experience. (And yes, I did dress more conservatively. Belly cover and veil wrap).

I think your plans for a short set (definitely no more than 10 minutes), a more modest bedlah (leave the sexy night-clubby ones at home), and an anticipation that audience interaction may not be what it is at most parties are excellent!

I have found that these sorts of gigs are best when it is during a scheduled break/lunch . . . if you just show up at what is a random time for folks, you begin to lose your audience due to incoming phone calls, customer needs, etc. The same reasoning hold true for trying to get into a break, conference or other room away from office activities, if possible.

Have a great time!

Deborah

I have a great one about dancing in a butcher shop . . .

Well, I guess I've had my little "learning experience" about surprise office gigs - I woke up to an e-mail from my client saying that their in-house attorney nixed the idea. I'm both upset and relieved. Kinda bummed because the birthday boy's colleagues really meant well and somebody may or may not have misinterpreted their nice gesture. (My contact person was really nice, and I hope she didn't get in trouble.)

I am also hugely relieved because I was sweating bullets over this gig. Better that I get the boot now than when I have my costume on and I'm ready to dance ..c::

Note to self and everybody else: ALWAYS ask if the boss has OK'd it!

Whew. I can totally feel the mixed feelings, but I'm glad you didn't end up in some awkward situation. Thanks for updating us.

Who knew your shimmy was a serious liability!? ..l;,

Originally Posted by Roeska

Who knew your shimmy was a serious liability!? ..l;,

..l;,..l;,..l;,..l;,.w.:..l;,

Seriously, though. Like Samira said, I'm very glad that I didn't have to walk into some serious awkwardness. (And that morning, my faith was restored when I booked not one, but TWO weddings).

Actually, the biggest bummer about this gig was that I had to blow off my friends for a trip to the Indian buffet that Sunday because I was too busy trying to plan my set for that show ,r:;

I did one in a bank yesterday - a retirement 'gram. The people in line for the tellers were astonished to say the least! I wore a sheer veil tucked into my bedlah to be more covered up (another veil to dance with) and at 7 min. it seemed pushing it for time.

Luckily the victim had taken some belly dance before so I got her to dance and the bank employees were super entertained.

Awkward though - yep, especially at 10:30 am.

:-D