Thread: Do people do this to other performers?

Nevermind... just frustrated with clients thinking we are servants of some kind....

do share, that's what this is for! i've come home from gigs like that (where i have been treated not with the respect i think i or anyone deserves) and it's always very eh, relaxing, to share here...

Clients tend to treat performers in general like we are performing monkeys.
So, the answer is yes. I hear lots of stories from musicians too, they get they, "Can you play for food instead of pay" thing alot.

Also, I've posted stories on bhuz about the things my friend, who is a personal chef, the stuff she gets.

There was a funny story I posted about her a while ago, wherein her client wanted her to work for elk meat.

It was funny, and anyone who want to search for it, do so and resurrect it.
It helps sometimes to see that it's not only bd's.

In fact, I think I entitlted the thread, "It's not only bellydancers" or something like that.
It was pretty funny.

Originally Posted by *maria*

There was a funny story I posted about her a while ago, wherein her client wanted her to work for elk meat.

I remember the elk meat story -- it was pretty funny!!..l;,

The GP, unfortunately, doesn't have a true understanding of what entertainment costs. They'll spend hundred of dollars on food for their event (or give up elk meat for it!), but then tell me "I've already spent so much money on this party... can't you dance for less??" Um... no.

I'm sure this attitude runs across the board, not just for dancers. I often hear band members complain about how much they are paid by the restaurants they perform at. I'm sure it's tougher for them, since they have to split the pay between them.

I can't tell you how many times I'm called at the very last minute, stand firm, get my price, show up at the party, and there's 50 gazillion balloons, all kinds of decorations.....
They'll spend more on balloons and party decorations then they want to spend on the entertainment, which is what people will remember.

I think a big part of the problem is they see our job as all fun and games. They see a woman who gets to dress up in a beautiful costume and dance for 5 to 45 minutes. The 5 to 45 minutes is what registers and they think that's all there is to the job .... so what do you pay someone for only 5 - 45 minutes of fun-time work, maybe $5 to $20 or maybe some elk meat, right?

We all know there's a lot more work, not to mention monetary output, behind that showtime, but they don't see that.

The elk meat story did have a happy ending, for those who didn't read the thread.
The client ended up calling her back two weeks after she almost laughed in their faces, and paid her her fee, and loved her food so much, threw in some extra money, which, by the way, they lived in a mansion in the mountains west of Denver........
So, she stuck to her guns and things worked out.....
*maybe a lesson there?

LOL... I guess this is a hot button, huh?

My story was more connected to the pre-gig phone call. The kind where the clients asks you to find them all kinds of other entertainment for their party as well (henna artists, fortune tellers, etc.) before you even have a signed contract.

This woman last night who is supposed to be organizing her company christmas party said she was going to "put it in my hands" to find the rest of the entertainment, AFTER I told her I'd be happy to provide referrals once she had booked me and my group for the dancing. She puffed on about how of course they would book us, lalalala.... but the last time a woman asked this of me, she took my referrals and I never heard from her again. I am not a talent agency, especially not a free one!

She hung up reiterating that she was going to talk to the board about me and my prices, etc. to get it all "approved" if I could set about getting her these other referrals. No dice. No contract, no referrals. I'm done being taken advantage of.

Originally Posted by aazura

The GP, unfortunately, doesn't have a true understanding of what entertainment costs.

Quite true. In fact, neither does my own husband, and you'd think he'd know, being married as he is to an entertainer! We had a party a week and a half ago for my birthday. I asked him to hire some sort of entertainment, so he decided to hire a clown.

After making all the arrangements, my husband said to me, "This clown is pretty expensive - he's charging me $100 for 15 minutes!"

I laughed and replied, "I charge more than that to do a 15-minute gig at a birthday party - you're getting a bargain!"

Originally Posted by *Shira*

After making all the arrangements, my husband said to me, "This clown is pretty expensive - he's charging me $100 for 15 minutes!"

..l;,

i know someone who promotes a once a week band and singer performance. this performer gets to sing for the whole month/ four weeks. the show is about 2 hours. the band and singer have to split $200 a performance and they get free food and drinks. That's so ridiculous. For $200 if i were them i'd only do maybe 2 songs.

I think what it really comes down to is:

1) How much does society really value entertainers?
2) Are certain types of entertainment more valuable than other types?
3) How do entertainers get society to properly evaluate their contributions?

These are the inherent questions that are answered when one justifies a ballplayer's $25 million salary in the same breath he justifies offering a dancer $25 a set. After all, these are both professions that require a high level of competence that is only developed through a huge investment of time and money...

Hopefully that wasn't too philisophical... ,s:: ,r:;

Originally Posted by AishaSakinah

I think what it really comes down to is:

1) How much does society really value entertainers?
2) Are certain types of entertainment more valuable than other types?
3) How do entertainers get society to properly evaluate their contributions?

These are the inherent questions that are answered when one justifies a ballplayer's $25 million salary in the same breath he justifies offering a dancer $25 a set. After all, these are both professions that require a high level of competence that is only developed through a huge investment of time and money...

Hopefully that wasn't too philisophical... ,s:: ,r:;

What an outstanding post. Where's the 'gold star' icon? Oh, look there is one!


It sucks to be a performer in a type of entertainment that society doesn't value at all. But it's better to face that truth and try to figure out what to do about it than to pretend the issue doesn't exist and be continually surprised & disappointed when it rears its ugly head.

With the sports analogy, I think about it as butts in seats. The owner of that ball club will pay out the big contracts if he can recoup the investment and then some by filling stadium seats - and concession sales, etc. For the restaurant business, the question would be - are dancers delivering butts in seats to the restaurant owner via their presence - does business fall off if there are no dancers? If yes, then they have negotiating power, if not, it gets really tough.

Originally Posted by *maria*

The elk meat story did have a happy ending, for those who didn't read the thread.
The client ended up calling her back two weeks after she almost laughed in their faces, and paid her her fee, and loved her food so much, threw in some extra money, which, by the way, they lived in a mansion in the mountains west of Denver........
So, she stuck to her guns and things worked out.....
*maybe a lesson there?

Not like me then ..I was flattered when a local market gardener asked me to dance for a year's supply of potatoes,r:; ..g.:..l;,
I declined ..dancing in fornt of them country boys round our way scared the hell outa me...l;,

Originally Posted by lizajuk

Not like me then ..I was flattered when a local market gardener asked me to dance for a year's supply of potatoes,r:; ..g.:..l;,
I declined ..dancing in fornt of them country boys round our way scared the hell outa me...l;,

LOL. I tell you what... the price of spuds being what they are this might be more than the average pay.

Wow, potatoes are one of the few fruits and veggies that are cheap in the states, at least in colorado...
peaches, nectarines and the like? outrageous in price.....
I may start dancing for fruit!..l;, .w.: