Thread: Thinking of retiring...

I know Norma has a similar thread going; I didn't want to hijack so I started my own.

This question keeps popping up for me--I'm thinking I need to change my dance focus or retire all-together. Since moving to the Bay Area a couple of years ago, I'm not gigging nearly as much. I've lost the patience, drive, and desire to deal with restaurant work--it's just too much pita for too little money (PITA for Pennies!). I gave up bellygrams a while back for the same reason.

On the other hand, I still take class, rehearse, compete... and I love every moment of it. I want to become the best dancer I can be... but I'm not sure what venues to work toward. I guess I'm just feeling a little lost these days.

Is there a place for a dancer who doesn't gig?

I got fed up recently with restaurant work as well. I don't love it as much and I miss my little girl, but the owner just called today (of the place I dance at) and wants me back. I love dancing - and really want to do more shows outside ABQ and teach. Restaurant work is so hard : (

lol. i hate restaurant work for the most part. i try find avenues to do corporate events and festivals and find sponsors/grants etc to be able to do arts events and perform on that level would be great. i dunno what it's like in the bay area, but perhaps that could work...?

It's okay to feel lost. It is an integral part of many artists' creative process. Re-evaluating your goals and what you want from dance are all part of the process. Allow yourself to go through it and you'll probably be pleasantly surprised with where your emerge.

But to answer your specific question: Yes, there is a place for the non-gigging dancer especially for those with knowledge, experience and a thousand shimmies under their belt! There are all sorts of opportunities to be had with stage work, showcases, salons, group work and of course passing on the tribal knowledge in the form of teaching. But I think you have to allow yourself to cycle through this phase before you can determine what your focus will be.

In the meantime, dance!

If you don't want to do gigs, there's no reason to do them. If you're not enjoying yourself when you're actually ON a gig, spend your time on other things...g.:

On the other hand, if you enjoy the occasional gig (but not the pressure to grow your business or take a restaurant job), why not just keep your web presence up, and take gigs only if they're convenient to you? You can keep your foot in, and leave most of the promotion hassles behind.

You can build your relationships with other pro dancers in the area by passing along gigs that aren't right for you. You could use your spare time and energy to organize an invitation-only showcase, focus on teaching, or just take time to explore another dance or art form.

Don't waste your time running after gigs if your heart's not in it. Follow your heart where it leads you.

Thank you, da Sage--very sound (and obvious) advice. I've taught for years, but stopped doing it a couple of moves ago--I love it when I don't have to do it EVERY week. I'm thinking that I just want to focus on theatrical work and the occasional gig. I'm also thinking of teaching workshops rather than regular classes.

I like to the showcase idea too.

I guess it's just hard to not gig since I've been doing it for so long. I don't know how to NOT do it! LOL!! Besides, gigging pays for classes, costumes, and all the fun stuff.

Originally Posted by aazura

Thank you, da Sage--very sound (and obvious) advice. I've taught for years, but stopped doing it a couple of moves ago--I love it when I don't have to do it EVERY week. I'm thinking that I just want to focus on theatrical work and the occasional gig. I'm also thinking of teaching workshops rather than regular classes.

I like to the showcase idea too.

I guess it's just hard to not gig since I've been doing it for so long. I don't know how to NOT do it! LOL!! Besides, gigging pays for classes, costumes, and all the fun stuff.

You have a right to spend money on your art, without worrying about making it back. Think about how much money some people spend following their favorite sports teams - tickets, parking, jerseys, food and beverages at the stadium or for viewings at home. Or the money people throw at scrapbooking or knitting. It's OK to be a little bit self-indulgent.

I bet you could put together a great show if you decided to go that route.

Originally Posted by da Sage

You have a right to spend money on your art, without worrying about making it back.

Thanks--that's something we should all remind ourselves about, I think. Still, my pocketbook would rather I make back the money I spend. ..c::

I like what daSage is saying. And yes it is nice to make money dancing, (or playing music in my case) but for me I figure it's also my mental and physical health! And my social life. And my creative expression. So it's so much more than just making money, although that is always a great validation of the hard work that goes into it.

Originally Posted by dunyah

I like what daSage is saying. And yes it is nice to make money dancing, (or playing music in my case) but for me I figure it's also my mental and physical health! And my social life. And my creative expression. So it's so much more than just making money, although that is always a great validation of the hard work that goes into it.

And, my own personal fav: Belly Dance Club!
Clubs, hobbies, interests - even if from part of your career, do not have to be income-generating. Life overlaps :-)

Having faced this recently I can only share my own experience....

I have been rapidly moving away from gigging in the last year and a half. It was a hard decision to give up the regular work, but I just couldn't do it anymore. I personnally felt like I had ended up doing more animating and entertaining than anything. For all my love for dance and all the time ( 15 years!!!) and money ( bazillions) I spend on it, I didn,t want to wait around to be hired for some party that ended up feeling more job-like than a satisfying dance experience. Sorry that may have sounded a little bitter... having done it for years I know gigging can be fun and really great when out works out that way, I'm not dissing it at all. I just felt like I had put aside being a 'dancer'.

So I had to seriously ask myself how I saw myself as a dancer and what I really wanted to be doing?

Once I felt I had a clear enough vision and enough guts to take the leap of faith it was more than time to try something new and explore paths I had been dreaming about for a long time, oriental and other.

So I end up organising things, started a dance troupe, and collaborating with different people on other projects. This has been stimulating, challenging, scary, and really rewarding. And actually have ended up dancing quite alot in a lot of new types of venues, events, and contexts, not necessarily 'gigs', more festivals, cultural events, my own shows.

I didn't give up on gigging, I still have my name out there but I get to choose when I say yes. I don't think it has to be in or out, but having other projects and goals really helped me. So didn't retire yet!

Maybe now is the time to meditate on what you really want to be doing and trying it out!