Thread: Student assistant on a gig?

I've only ever included a student on a gig when I could get some pay for them and invite them to dance with me.

But now that I'm a single woman (yay) I can't count on Hubby to come on gigs with me any more. Sure I can do it myself, but I like the security, the company in the car, having someone to start the music, etc.

If I ask a student to come along as a non-dancing 'assistant,' should I offer to pay them something out of my cut? Or is this sort of thing considered an 'internship' for students who want to learn the ropes? Or just a 'hang out' opportunity for students who are friends? Or a good work/study opportunity in trade for classtime?

Or should I just get used to going alone and not ask them?

I think it's good to have someone along with you, and a great learning experience for your student. Could you offer her a class discount or comp her for classes?

I know I would certainly go as a non-dancing assistant for my teacher, no pay needed. It is just good experience. I think it would work well also as a rotating volunteer position, several students to assist on different nights.

I hate walking to my car alone after college classes, so dancing by oneself seems scary idea.

OK, I promise not to mention the toy boy again. Wait, I just did! Can you get a rota of friends together to go with you instead? Or perhaps 'pay' the student in classes.

Boytoy, yummmm.

I have a toy boy, but I can't see how it could start a boombox.

if you have someone "of promise", it is a good way to show them the ropes, get them interested.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

Boytoy, yummmm.

I have a toy boy, but I can't see how it could start a boombox.

..l;,

I think offering a student a free class in exchange for coming with you is appropriate, if you have a student who may be interested in gigging. I think you should definitely have someone with you (especially if this is the gig where you don't have a contact person).

I've actually done it both ways (no pay for my assistant and pay for my assistant). Most of the time my student assistants are actually looking at it as "apprentice training". I believe I've only ever paid my assistants when they have driven me to the gig (was without a car for a gig once or twice and they were more than happy to drive me, but I deemed that not fair to them not to get paid for their "beyond the call" service). I'd say that if your assistant is in line (aka in training) to start doing these type of gigs at some point in the not too distant future, that this should be looked upon as part of their education. You don't pay your students to attend dance class after all.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

I've only ever included a student on a gig when I could get some pay for them and invite them to dance with me.

But now that I'm a single woman (yay) I can't count on Hubby to come on gigs with me any more. Sure I can do it myself, but I like the security, the company in the car, having someone to start the music, etc.

If I ask a student to come along as a non-dancing 'assistant,' should I offer to pay them something out of my cut? Or is this sort of thing considered an 'internship' for students who want to learn the ropes? Or just a 'hang out' opportunity for students who are friends? Or a good work/study opportunity in trade for classtime?

Or should I just get used to going alone and not ask them?

Thanks for the input. I think I'll put it out there and see if it sounds like fun to anyone first. If not, then I'll decide whether it's worth paying someone. I could always take a non-dance friend. Ummm, I think I still have some of those...

Even trading for classes is tricky now that I depend on that income to buy food for my family.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

Boytoy, yummmm.

I have a toy boy, but I can't see how it could start a boombox.

.w.:
I had to read this twice to get it, but now I can't get the image of one trying to start a boombox out of my head. Thanks, Lauren!
..g.:

Originally Posted by Lauren_

Boytoy, yummmm.

I have a toy boy, but I can't see how it could start a boombox.

LOL!!!!!
Now I'm trying desperately to get the image out of my head!

...some of the most valuable learning experiences came from going with Artemis Mourat to gigs. She didn't need any help- although I would of course.
It was purely generous on her part to help me learn the ropes of doing party gigs and learning to do them right - the professional/ethical aspects of dealing with things. I got so many little pointers from her years of experience.
I felt it was an important part of training before doing parties on my own- and I bet some of your students would have the same appreciation.

since i dont drive, i always have a student with me (or i take a cab)
havent read the other responses yet, but here is what i do

- i mail a group of students who has shown interest to do this and tell them the details, ask who is available. this is first come first served..
- they drive, help with the music, etc, i pay them a (generous, more than just gas) expense fee. depending on the distance, somwhere between 15 and 50€. they know beforehand how much they are getting. if i need more help (for hen nights, making tea etc, they might get a bit more).
- very very very occasionally,n if the gig is appropriate for this, i have a student dance one song with me at the end of the gig (the audience interaction hoempapa bit). they dont get paid extra for this, the client doesnt pay for this either. i usually call the client and say i have a dancer in training, that might dance along for three minutes of the set and would this be ok... per student this happens only ONCE, for their first time. after that i wont them to get paid ...
- i try to book two dancers as much as i can.

i've never been short of people who want to come along. they do it for the experience, because they want to start performing to and it's good to see it a few times, see how i handle things, because they are my friends, want to help me, because they find it fun, because they get to see me dance, etc etc etc... sometimes they wont accept the money ;-) i usually then end up buying them a present (a hipscarf, free tickets to an event etc).

Artemisia

Originally Posted by Lauren_

I've only ever included a student on a gig when I could get some pay for them and invite them to dance with me.

But now that I'm a single woman (yay) I can't count on Hubby to come on gigs with me any more. Sure I can do it myself, but I like the security, the company in the car, having someone to start the music, etc.

If I ask a student to come along as a non-dancing 'assistant,' should I offer to pay them something out of my cut? Or is this sort of thing considered an 'internship' for students who want to learn the ropes? Or just a 'hang out' opportunity for students who are friends? Or a good work/study opportunity in trade for classtime?

Or should I just get used to going alone and not ask them?

Right now I don't have any students who aspire to go pro, so I haven't been able to offer this sort of "internship" opportunity. When I was at the aspirational stage, I actually offered to do this sort of thing for my first teacher whenever she wanted, because I really did want to learn the ropes by observing. She never took me up on it though, and I found out later that the last time she brought a student to boombox wrangle, the girl showed up in costume and actually started dancing with my teacher midway through her set - completely uninvited! Apparently that was the end of her bringing student helpers along to gigs.

Originally Posted by nasila

I think offering a student a free class in exchange for coming with you is appropriate, if you have a student who may be interested in gigging. I think you should definitely have someone with you (especially if this is the gig where you don't have a contact person).

I know you need the income to feed the family, but offering a student a free class in exchange might be a great idea if you have a student who is under financial strain (Unemployed, deep in debt, divorcing). You will not be going to gigs alone and the student can continue to dance!!!

Originally Posted by Lauren_

Boytoy, yummmm.

I have a toy boy, but I can't see how it could start a boombox.

I seriously had to think about that for about a minute.

Originally Posted by laura 2

Right now I don't have any students who aspire to go pro, so I haven't been able to offer this sort of "internship" opportunity. When I was at the aspirational stage, I actually offered to do this sort of thing for my first teacher whenever she wanted, because I really did want to learn the ropes by observing. She never took me up on it though, and I found out later that the last time she brought a student to boombox wrangle, the girl showed up in costume and actually started dancing with my teacher midway through her set - completely uninvited! Apparently that was the end of her bringing student helpers along to gigs.

It was this sort of issue that made me suggest a non dance friend. At least until you are feeling 100% back to full power Lauren.

I put it out there at practice this morning, turns out several of my students are eager to go on these things. Yay! I don't think I'll set up a specific pay/reward/discount system for now, but I'll find ways to give a little 'thank you' to the ones who do this for me.

I'm so glad someone's going to be with me on this strange gig tonight. I think I'll throw a T-shirt & jeans in my car so we can stop for a tasty beverage on the way home if we want. (ummm, I'll still have big fake hair & eyelashes on, though...)

That's a nice idea, Lauren. One of my students come with me to a photo shoot, to be my fringe untangler/skirt arranger/dorky facial expression alarm, and I thanked her by treating her to lunch on the way home. And don't worry about the big hair & makeup - I can't tell you how many odd looks I've gotten eating McDonalds at 11:00pm at the rest stops between Milwaukee and Chicago. It actually gets to be kind of amusing after a while, freaking out the straights.

So how did it go?

Oh I wish I live closer.... I would do for free just to gain the knowledge and see how its done....

The assistant part went really well! We had great conversations in the car and went out for dinner afterward. She handled my props & such very nicely (turned out there was a DJ so she didn't have to do the boombox).

The gig itself was...strange. First, I got pulled over & got a ticket on the way there (worst possible sort of speed trap, where the highway speed unexpectedly reduced to 45 and there's a cop in the median in the dark...I was doing 58.) The gig was at a country club in a very rural sort of small town, they didn't know what to make of me. The DJ came out to get my music and asked hopefully "Are you doing to do a strip tease?" Two Old Guys nearly stuck their heads in my cleavage and said "nice cans."

Once I was actually dancing, though, it was better. The party was HUGE, crowded room. everyone was respectful & appreciative. I couldn't really hear my music over the noise, but everyone had fun.

I had given my assistant some cards & told her if there was a convenient place to set a little stack of them, that would be great. She told me later she's set them all around the cake & the gifts! LOL! Good girl. I'll take her again.

I think she really enjoyed seeing what it was all about, too.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

The DJ came out to get my music and asked hopefully "Are you doing to do a strip tease?" Two Old Guys nearly stuck their heads in my cleavage and said "nice cans."

Once I was actually dancing, though, it was better. The party was HUGE, crowded room. everyone was respectful & appreciative. I couldn't really hear my music over the noise, but everyone had fun.

.

Now aren't you glad you didn't have to yell "SURPRISE!" ??? (Why did I have a hunch about this gig?) ..l;,

Sounds like your student did a great job! Next time you can give her a cane and she can whack the dirty old men away with it. I'm not surprised that everything went well once you started dancing. It's the misconceptions about BD that cause these comments most of the time, and once again by providing a tasteful yet still fun performance, I'm sure you managed to turn a few of those on their ear.

I'm so sorry about the ticket, though. Apparently the thrill of pulling over a real live Belly Dancer wasn't enough to get him to let you off, huh? Did you get his badge number? We could always send over the

I can't believe I got a ticket. I was in full getup. It just doesn't seem possible. Guess I'm truly old now.

It's a Belly Dancer rite of passage, habibi! OWN IT!!!!!

I'm actually planning on hiring an assistant myself. I will be paying the person out my pocket and the pay will suck but the fringe benefits are nice. Free T-Shirt and a free pass into all my workshops. I have a few applicants who have expressed interest in traveling with me on my out of area gigs so I'm hoping that it will work out nicely. The only people that I would offer the position to are people whom I feel would really benefit from such an up close mentoring relationship. I remember that I did the same thing in High School hen I wanted to be a surgeon. I worked for a Cosmetic Surgeon for a couple months and learned a lot about how the business/non-medical end is done. It was a really valuable education. I think a personal assistant would also have to be really reliable too, I wouldn't ask anybody to do it for free regardless of how many perks I threw at them.

~*Gen*~