Thread: Week vs. Weekend Pay

Do you receive a different pay if you dance at a restaurant during the week vs. the weekend? Same work, same set, but less clients....
If so, what is the difference?

We don't differentiate based on day of week.

Same here- no difference depending on the day of the week.

Thanks ladies! Anyone else?

Adding another question:
Do you think its wrong to get paid less during the week because there are less clients, even if you're doing (more or less) the same set?

I do! Would you tolerate it?

You can charge your base pay for the week nights, and then add a "weekend surcharge" because you are busier, and it's more likely you could book a more lucrative private gig on a weekend.

But no, you should not lower your base price just because it's a week night. If the venue doesn't have enough money to pay a dancer because they don't have enough clients, then they shouldn't have a dancer.

My restaurant boss asked me once "how about taking less money today because it's not busy"

I said "No problem, if you're going to give me a bonus when it's full!"

He said "Ugh, let's just stick with the rate we're at all the time."

Originally Posted by AngelicaDances

Do you receive a different pay if you dance at a restaurant during the week vs. the weekend? Same work, same set, but less clients....
If so, what is the difference?

The difference is that many pro dancers are also teachers who won't work weeknights because it interferes with their classes. So the pay for a weeknight should be at least as much as for a week-end, because you are giving up a teaching time slot to dance in their restaurant!..g.:

here the dancers are paid less for weekdays. I never understood why you would be paid less for the same amount of work...

It's the same. watch out though, unfortuantely some bosses will try and 'get ya' w/ these kinda tricks..

What if the restaurant pays you above the going restaurant rate during the weekend, and then decreases it to the going rate during the week.....?

Originally Posted by AngelicaDances

What if the restaurant pays you above the going restaurant rate during the weekend, and then decreases it to the going rate during the week.....?

Mmmm...the thing is that his rate is slowly and hopefully will soon become the standard... well, we are trying anyways!
I do understand his point of view but it take you the same amount of time and work to get ready for a saturday night with 200 clients or a tuesday night with 20 clients.

And note that A LOT of very good dancers have stopped dancing in restaurants, its really hard to find a good dancer just to sub when you cant make it one night. I know it can be hard with him but it kinda looks like you have the upper hand, PLUS! X-mas is coming right around the cormer...its going to be totally full all week long, so why waste the same amount of energy for less money?

Anyhow, my experience has always been: same rate any day of the week at any restaurant I've ever danced at, even his...

That's what I'm thinking!!! I appreciate that he pays more than most restaurants. But I do think I should make the same amount during the week regardless. And during the week he pays 1 dancer rather than 3 so its cheaper for him anyway...

I'm gonna have a chat with him this week about it. Merci pour ta reponse! xox

Devil's advocate: Saturday night gigs are worth more to me because the opportunity cost of doing any gig is higher. That is, if I do a gig for you, then it has to pay as well as the other gigs I can't do because I'm not free. Sat is the night of highest demand, so highest pay. For a weeknight, I'm less likely to be offered more than one gig, so the opportunity cost is lower. So in theory I could dance for less without losing out.

However, I think the key is to negotiate an acceptable 'low' weekday rate and a premium Saturday rate. As opposed to a barely passable Saturday rate and a craptacular weekday rate. And therein lies the tricky part...

Originally Posted by AngelicaDances

That's what I'm thinking!!! I appreciate that he pays more than most restaurants. But I do think I should make the same amount during the week regardless. And during the week he pays 1 dancer rather than 3 so its cheaper for him anyway...

I'm gonna have a chat with him this week about it. Merci pour ta reponse! xox

i used to work at a resturant/bar that raised drink prices during each show to make up any differance...i wonder if the patrons knew that....hmmm.

I have danced at the same venue for many years. I will occasionally be asked to run over and do a quick, single set on a weekday. I will give the restaurant a $5 discount for this if I'm in and out in about half an hour. I make up for it on the weekends. However, even a hint of waiting around or two sets means I get paid more because it's more of a pain on a weekday. They seem to think that's fair!

Hi Mychelle :)


One of the places I dance has belly dancing 7 nights a week and each night is treated the same and paid the same.

Usually they ask for one more set on Saturdays and we are paid extra for it.