Thread: restaurant jobs that ask for more than a show

Folks,

Just wondering how normal this is (regardless of fair or right)...

A restaurant hires a corps of dancers. They are paid X per show. Apparently the night is not doing well so the dancers are informed of a new plan. In order to make it look like the night/business is thriving, said dancers are told they must be there on nights other than the nights they are performing. Not exactly clear but let's say it sounds like they either need to come and dance for free, or at minimum, be there in street clothes as atmosphere. To liven the place up. Note that the restaurant doesn't comp food or drinks and the pay rate is one of the lowest.

Beyond arriving on time and putting on a good show, and perhaps promoting the shows on the web, what are the other normal requirements of a restaurant dancer?

What? Are they kidding?

I've heard from teachers of mine that at certain clubs they had to stay for the whole night that the place was open, and when they weren't dancing, they had to schmooze with the customers, drink with them, or (in the "olden" days, so I've heard) sit on the bandstand in their street clothes.

... but this is not that situation, apparently, and this sounds like a bunch of BS.

no way !....

NOOOOOOOO! NO! NO!!!!!! nononononono!

Originally Posted by Nabila-Nazem

What? Are they kidding?

I've heard from teachers of mine that at certain clubs they had to stay for the whole night that the place was open, and when they weren't dancing, they had to schmooze with the customers, drink with them, or (in the "olden" days, so I've heard) sit on the bandstand in their street clothes.

... but this is not that situation, apparently, and this sounds like a bunch of BS.

I've heard of that and actually I think it sounds kinda romantic, sitting on stage with the band playing zills.

But I also heard that back then dancing gigs could be your full-time job, you made enough money on dancing alone, and could stay up to all hours at the clubs because you got to sleep in the next day - no day job besides practicing with the band and making your costumes.

I have to be up at 6am every day, vacation day or not (I have a baby), and I have a very demanding day job with an hour long commute. You seriously have to pay me if I'm going to beg my spouse (and use one of my few nights out to "work"), and then ask me to stay up late so I don't do as well at my job the next day. Especially if I'm paying 30+ to have dinner and drinks there, which is more than they pay the dancer by the way!

There should be a new standard that the dancer should be paid at least as much as a meal at said restaurant. Otherwise you might as well dance for falafel - it's probably a better deal that way.

Not normal in any place I ever worked. Helping out the band on a night you work? Maybe. Choosing to patronize the place on a night you are off to support them or the other dancers? Sure, if you want to. Coming in for free to work or be atmosphere on a night you don't work? Unless you also OWN or partially own the restaurant, just say no.

Originally Posted by Nepenthe

Folks,

Just wondering how normal this is (regardless of fair or right)...

A restaurant hires a corps of dancers. They are paid X per show. Apparently the night is not doing well so the dancers are informed of a new plan. In order to make it look like the night/business is thriving, said dancers are told they must be there on nights other than the nights they are performing. Not exactly clear but let's say it sounds like they either need to come and dance for free, or at minimum, be there in street clothes as atmosphere. To liven the place up. Note that the restaurant doesn't comp food or drinks and the pay rate is one of the lowest.

Beyond arriving on time and putting on a good show, and perhaps promoting the shows on the web, what are the other normal requirements of a restaurant dancer?

Oh give me a break.

This is called "slavery."

It is beneath us. Period.

The night isn't doing well is the key point here. A coterie of dancers in civvies is the perfect answer - the place looks busy, and the dancers will buy food and drink! Because what the hell else are they going to do all night? And they'll all be there to spontaneously bust a move and get the party going for the customers (assuming any can fit in amongst the tables of dancers).

Avoid. This tactic won't save the night, because it's a shoddy answer to what is at heart a business question. So you'll all waste your time and money in the long run, for nothing, because his next stage is to drop the dancing from his business altogether.

Sorry, just realised I didn't even answer the question. I'd say this was not normal at all - although I have seen it in some of the shadier establishments as part of their staving-off-the-inevitable tactics.

"Normal" (but still unacceptable IMO) is to request the evening's dancer to do extra shows on busy nights, perhaps to not dance (and not get paid,m::) on quiet nights, and to socialise/hostess somewhat with the customers. NOT for the roster dancers to come in on their nights off to be unpaid "atmosphere".

Thanks, folks. This is exactly how I felt as well! Its helpful to get an outside perspective that it's as wrong as it sounded to me.

To give the devil it's due, this tactic has worked in the past, HOWEVER at that time, the dancers were hanging out because they were having a good time.

The dancers were often the initiators of dancing, people would wander by and decide to stop in when they saw people dancing, have a few drinks, etc.

I haven't been in a couple of years, but when I stopped, those nights were jumping, with many regulars who would come by for the dancing, and stay for the socializing.

It shouldn't be mandatory, though.

I think it's fine and even great to go and support the other dancers performing in your restaurant on your night off.

But for it to be mandatory, and part of the actual gig? Oh, not just no, but HELL NO! That is wrong in so many ways!

Originally Posted by Nepenthe

I've heard of that and actually I think it sounds kinda romantic, sitting on stage with the band playing zills.

But I also heard that back then dancing gigs could be your full-time job, you made enough money on dancing alone, and could stay up to all hours at the clubs because you got to sleep in the next day - no day job besides practicing with the band and making your costumes.

I have to be up at 6am every day, vacation day or not (I have a baby), and I have a very demanding day job with an hour long commute. You seriously have to pay me if I'm going to beg my spouse (and use one of my few nights out to "work"), and then ask me to stay up late so I don't do as well at my job the next day. Especially if I'm paying 30+ to have dinner and drinks there, which is more than they pay the dancer by the way!

There should be a new standard that the dancer should be paid at least as much as a meal at said restaurant. Otherwise you might as well dance for falafel - it's probably a better deal that way.

100% agreement with Nepenthe!

I recently had a similar discussion with a friend who works in a completely different industry, but often includes night work and shifts of more than 8 hours. I'll tell you what I told her:

You can make this kind of demand IF you are paying the worker a salary that can completely support a single person, rather than $$/per show. The kind of job that requires unpaid overtime* should also pay at least $30,000/year. What do restaurant managers make these days?

If an employer isn't paying you enough to live on, they can't be allowed to dominate your life.


*I'm not talking to all of you self-employed people doing overtime on your own projects. With creative self-direction comes much responsibility, late nights, and the money is never guaranteed.

Originally Posted by Monica

Not normal in any place I ever worked. Helping out the band on a night you work? Maybe. Choosing to patronize the place on a night you are off to support them or the other dancers? Sure, if you want to. Coming in for free to work or be atmosphere on a night you don't work? Unless you also OWN or partially own the restaurant, just say no.

Originally Posted by laura 2

I think it's fine and even great to go and support the other dancers performing in your restaurant on your night off.

But for it to be mandatory, and part of the actual gig? Oh, not just no, but HELL NO! That is wrong in so many ways!

and may i add ,m::

_I've_ certainly never heard of this before. Even if someone _is_ paying you a living wage there's a limit on the demands they can place on your "free" time. They expect you to turn down other potential bookings to show up, but they aren't paying you similar compensation? Sounds like they don't have much respect for dancers...

2 words: No Way!!!!

Originally Posted by Nabila-Nazem

What? Are they kidding?
I've heard from teachers of mine that at certain clubs they had to stay for the whole night that the place was open, and when they weren't dancing, they had to schmooze with the customers, drink with them, or (in the "olden" days, so I've heard) sit on the bandstand in their street clothes.

Originally Posted by Nepenthe

I've heard of that and actually I think it sounds kinda romantic, sitting on stage with the band playing zills.
But I also heard that back then dancing gigs could be your full-time job, you made enough money on dancing alone, and could stay up to all hours at the clubs because you got to sleep in the next day - no day job besides practicing with the band and making your costumes.

Yes.
To put it in perspective. These "house dancers" were usually paid $60 or so a night or so (plus tips and comped food)... and worked 5 or 6 nights a week at the same place.
BUT that $60 a night went SO much farther! Rent in the early 1970s was under $200 a month. 3 nights work (BEFORE tips) paid your rent!
I WISH I could work at the same place where I received education (all ethnic musicians etc), guaranteed work 5/6 nights a week AND in three of those nights have it pay my share of our mortgage. Seriously!

I never heard of that. When I worked as a house dancer in Greektown, the clubs there hired the best dancers and the dancers were the highest paid dancers in town. We however where paid for the night not per show. So yes, we had to stay the night. Typically, we did 2 shows but if it was a slow night we might not dance the second show but we still got paid for it. And yes, we would typically get the line dancing going if people were shy about being the first ones up on the stage. I even occassionally would play the tambourine with the band, but not too often, as I usually preferred to be line dancing.

Back then the Greek clubs were open 6-7 days a week so other dancers and other musicians from other clubs typically patronized the clubs on their day off. I would often go on my night off, not because I had to, but because I wanted too. I wanted to see other dancers and hang out with my friends. Regular patrons became friends because you saw them week after week. I never had to pay for drink or food either.

It was definitely a party atmosphere and I greatly miss those days.

But asking you to come in and either dance for free or spend money on your night off so the place can get business is a huge warning sign that the place won't be around for long. I've seen so many places that try to have belly dancing shows to attract business and it just doesn't work. You need to have good food, good prices, and good management and good advertising and a good business.

Once you achieve that, you can start on the good entertainment.