Thread: Crazy/Weird Wedding Request

I just got this email tonight:

Hello,

My name is Candice and I have friend who is getting married February 12, 2011 in Orange County. She is loves belly dance and would like me to choreograph two routines for a group dance. My friend was very specific in her request, "I need six beautiful and talented belly dancers!" I have e-mailed you because I have either danced with you in the past, seen you perform, or have found you on Pink Gypsy.

I'm sure you have some questions regarding..

1. Compensation-Hiba would like for you to make her an offer. So it is open. You can e-mail a estimation.
2. Where is it at exactly? She is looking into a location in Huntington Beach, but is most likely going to stay in OC.
3. Where will be meet for practice? Most likely Fountain Valley/Huntington Beach

I have a couple of questions for you...

1. Hiba would like hold an audition to select the final 6 dancers. Would you be willing to audition?
2. Do you have multiple costumes?
3. Do you have a cain and veil?
4. How many years have you been in a dance company/troupe?

Hiba and I would like to begin our timeline and get coordinated with the routines. Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.

Thank you so much,

Candice

I know how much to charge for my own solo/duet, but I haven't been asked how much I charge for a group show. I have to consider location, time, etc. Any ideas?? Or is there another thread I can look at for rates for a group show?

Besides that, I actually have a few questions of my own for this woman. I have my own group of girls but it sounds like she's trying to get get dancers from ALL over the area. If that's the case, our rates are going to be so different, as well as our own schedules to consider. I don't think she's dealt with entertainers for a while...

hmm.. never mind. I think I know what to say to this woman. now where's the delete thread button....?

.w.:
OK, seriously, this sounds like a horrible job. I can't imagine the trouble would be worth any reasonable amount of money. Who the heck has tryouts and original numbers made up for their wedding's entertainment?

Originally Posted by ElissaDancer

hmm.. never mind. I think I know what to say to this woman. now where's the delete thread button....?

No, don't delete it! Seriously, this is hilarious!..g.:

I mean, grammar and spelling alone...

Hmmm--I'd say I'm all yours for $3000.00, auditions, reviews, ...then sit back and love every moment of the trip.

Hey, I wonder if she'll ask you to pay the photographer and send you a generous bonus cheque!!!!

My thought...who wants to work with a dance choreographer who doesn't have enough currency in the community to recruit her own dancers for a paid project? I mean, with something other than a form letter and a request for an audition.,r:;

2nd thought - maybe the choreographer has dancers who would do the job...but they aren't BEAUTIFUL or TALENTED enough for the bride...l;,

Wow, that's strange. If I were to respond, I'd let her know about your group and their rate for a wedding performance. If it's legit, I think that girl will be ready to pull her hair out sooner or later.

haha, Okay, I won't delete it.
But really, the more and more I thought about it, the more and more ridiculous it seems. Wasn't there a recent thread about the Bellydance Evolution dancers and how they weren't paid for rehearsals? I'm actually on the side of being able to study with Jillina for 'free' instead of dishing out hundreds of dollars, but seriously, for a gig that would pay around $200 AND rehearsals? You gotta shell out a few bucks for that.

And even if I did have that many girls who would put in their own time for free for rehearsals and then have to go through an audition? Absolutely not. You're either booked with the gig or you're not.

Of course, my reply will be a lot nicer than that.

I re-read that twice and to be honest, it set off my scam alarms big time. It sounds like perhaps a new take on the same old scam of evenutally there will be the offer of a check for more than what you would charge and oh would you be so nice as to send the extra back to them.

Originally Posted by Viv

I re-read that twice and to be honest, it set off my scam alarms big time. It sounds like perhaps a new take on the same old scam of evenutally there will be the offer of a check for more than what you would charge and oh would you be so nice as to send the extra back to them.

Right? The more I think about it the more sketchy it gets.

Okay, so I looked up this woman on facebook and apparently we have several mutual friends but she doesn't have many. She's definitely in my area and she belongs to fan pages of several local dancers. I sent back an email stating all my concerns - auditions, rehearsals, pay, etc.

But I just can't wrap my head around it. I've never danced with her before and I don't think she's seen me (otherwise she would have said so), she must have found me on pink gypsy. She might be a baby beginner? or what?! I don't know! LOL

Originally Posted by ElissaDancer

My friend was very specific in her request, "I need six beautiful and talented belly dancers!"

At a minimum, this is in the eye of the beholder.

1. Compensation-Hiba would like for you to make her an offer. So it is open. You can e-mail a estimation.

Pick a big number. The sum of each dancer's private gig rate plus extra rehearsal time.

3. Where will be meet for practice? Most likely Fountain Valley/Huntington Beach

The wedding rehearsal? Your new "troupe's" practice? Is the whole wedding party involved in your group numbers? What sort of Reese-Witherspoon-in-"Vanity-Fair"-party is she imagining here?

1. Hiba would like hold an audition to select the final 6 dancers. Would you be willing to audition?

I believe wedding bands and DJs just send demo CDs.

Hiba and I would like to begin our timeline and get coordinated with the routines. Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.

This is where I get confused. What "routines" are you coordinating with them?

Any ideas??

What luck! There's a professional troupe of beautiful and talented dancers not too far away!

Booking in the USA:
Miles Copeland
1830 N Sierra Bonita Av.
Los Angeles, CA 90046
Tel: 323-512-4080
Fax: 323-512-4089

I don't think she's dealt with entertainers for a while...

Her opening line about contacting you "...because I have either danced with you in the past, seen you perform, or have found you on Pink Gypsy" indicates she's dealing with enough of them now to make it a form letter.

Give her a quote for the troupe you already work with now, and let her reject it if it doesn't meet Hiba's standards.

Originally Posted by ElissaDancer

And even if I did have that many girls who would put in their own time for free for rehearsals and then have to go through an audition? Absolutely not. You're either booked with the gig or you're not.

Of course, my reply will be a lot nicer than that.

Oh, I meant give her a rate for a show that your group would put together and perform. Not for partaking in her production. Because I wouldn't be surprised if she eventually decides that she needs a plan B.

Yikes this has nightmare written all over it. I'm sure at some point you would be asked to carry the bride in on a giant clam shell.... Lots of effort = lots of payment!

I had a bride ask me to choreograph her into one of my routines. I was fine with sending her a youtube of some really basic moves to do for 30 seconds with me. But then she asked if she could borrow a costume, do two dances with me, and have me choreograph one for herself.... I quoted her my private lesson rates and the number of lessons she would need for this and never heard back from her....thankfully!

Originally Posted by crystalllized

I had a bride ask me to choreograph her into one of my routines. I was fine with sending her a youtube of some really basic moves to do for 30 seconds with me. But then she asked if she could borrow a costume, do two dances with me, and have me choreograph one for herself.... I quoted her my private lesson rates and the number of lessons she would need for this and never heard back from her....thankfully!

Yeah, I had a lady request that I choreograph an entire routine for her daughter at a bat mitzvah. She wanted me to loan out one of my costumes, the whole nine yards. I suggested a series of private lessons, since her daughter had no belly dance experience. The customer balked at the idea that her daughter would actually need lessons, became increasingly micromanaging, and ultimately canned me because I didn't look "authentic" enough - but by that point, it was a relief to never hear back from her. Though, I did feel sorry for whoever got that gig.

If a strange gig comes along and you get the feeling that you'd spend all of your profits at the shrink's office, that's when it's time to say, "You know what? I think I'm double-booked that day..."

After sending an email with my concerns and my rates here's her response:

Hello Elise,

Thank you for taking the time to explain thoroughly what future concerns and probability I may face in the future. It is truly insightful. However, I was hoping you would be part of the two routines and not hiring out troupes. On the other hand, you only perform your solos or duos with your partner. Am I getting this right?

Do you have any footage of you or of you and your partner?

Much appreciation,

Candice

I'm really tempted to send a message to our mutual friend on facebook, who knows me pretty well and is a pretty well known dancer, to see if she's gotten an email from her. There is absolutely no way I would try and get together with 5 other PROFESSIONAL solo artists in the area and perform a dance choreographed by someone we don't know.

This really does have nightmare written all over it. I might be sick that day with the flu.