Thread: Approaching Entertainment/Wedding Planners...How would you do it?

So I have decided to contact some event and wedding planners, I have already contacted a couple of people and I haven't received a response. I am wondering if I am approaching them properly.

I have just been shooting emails to planners in my area and letting then know that I am a belly dancer and I am interested in working with event planners I don't got into too much detail, but I do offer my youtube and website addresses for them to review.

I am just wondering if any of you have done this, and how you have approached it.

Doing this exact same thing! Have sent out a few emails and no response. I think face to face is much better. Curious to see what others chime in with. I do know that I need to go to a few wedding expos to meet and greet. I'm working on a little "promo package" that I can give them-a dvd, brochure, something of the sort.

A great deal of my bellydance work is through agencies, event and wedding planners. This can be a great "bread & butter" income for dancers. There is nothing more annoying to them than an email, which can be deleted or disregarded. I work in the industry and the best way to catch their eye is to:

A. Prepare a slick and high quality marketing package complete with CV, promo pictures, and a DVD in an eye catching folder or press kit. Keep it simple, yet eye catching. Make it look expensive and tangible.
B. Attend the events where they will be seen at, such as bridal fairs and open houses for wedding events. Approach them with your promo kit and strike up a conversation.
C. Seek out your local film and entertainment commision, such as Central Casting in your area. Agencies will be listed on these sites.
D. Send the marketing package to their address. But be creative with it! One of my marketing packages was sent as a treasure chest that I filled with gold coins, jewels and gems. Also inside was information, photos, and a narrated DVD regarding my talents as a bellydancer. It worked and I was signed immediately!

Good luck!

Thanks for THAT info Lotus! I love the treasure chest!
One question, what's a CV?

Originally Posted by jamielynn

what's a CV?

CV means Curriculum Vitae, I believe. Basically a short & sweet resume.

Fab ideas, Lotus! :)

Originally Posted by nasila

CV means Curriculum Vitae, I believe. Basically a short & sweet resume.

Fab ideas, Lotus! :)

I thought a CV was the long version of the resume?

Originally Posted by andalee-oriental

I thought a CV was the long version of the resume?

It is, but usually includes papers, publications, research experience, academic acheivements and such, which even if Naima has them to list, are of little interest to a wedding planner considering hiring a bellydancer. ;P For this purpose, I think she basically needs to include a short n' sweet resume.

Originally Posted by andalee-oriental

I thought a CV was the long version of the resume?

There is a lot of helpful info online about writing both CVs and resumes, in general but the general principles still apply to dancers.

A CV is more of a list than a resume, though both should be kept as short as possible (give enough info to show your skills, but don't make the whole thing long -- no one wants to read 3+ pages).

A resume often starts off with a "mission statement", full contact info, and educational experience. From that point content starts to overlap with what is in your CV. The bulk of the CV is a list of experience; performances split by category is a great idea (restaurants vs theatrical productions vs TV time vs educational demos....).

I like the mission statement part of a resume, and for an event coordinator I would want to send that in, I think. Someone correct me? It just seems that if I were choosing someone for an important event, I want to know their thoughts/goals for their performance. If they take the time/care to state their goals/approach and I can see it lines up with my needs, I'm more likely to call.


Side note: Remember all the stuff you're not supposed to do for graded papers, like decreasing your margins to make content fit onto a page? Now is your chance. You need to really spend a lot of time on formatting your CV and resume -- it shows. Different formatting works for different content, and there is a range of professional looking standards.

Originally Posted by Teophania

I like the mission statement part of a resume, and for an event coordinator I would want to send that in, I think.

I agree. Your packet info (and even any emails you shoot off to event coordinators) should be a little less about you and a little more about what you can do for clients. You'd also want to highlight all the styles and props you have to offer and talk about customizing your show for the bride and groom. Naima, if you have any photos of you working a crowd or dancing for smily happy people, it would be great to include those. :)

Originally Posted by andalee-oriental

I thought a CV was the long version of the resume?

Yes! This. I always teach my professional students this or in class. Always have a short version or an executive summary of your most relevant dance experience handy, then knock them dead with an impressive "dancer CV". Be sure to "highlight" your most prominent experience on the top or to the side of the CV. Don't be afraid to make it highly visual. My resume and CV has mini photos of me in various forms of dance poses to the side and as a water mark. Although there are CV protocols, as an artist, you can be creative.

My own dance resume that went with the treasure chest was printed on parchment-like paper, sides burned and torn, and rolled to make it look like a treasure map! Show that you are creative and you will get the job.

Originally Posted by nasila

CV means Curriculum Vitae, I believe. Basically a short & sweet resume.

Fab ideas, Lotus! :)

Thanks Nasila,
It was trial and error, but I figured if other entertainers (musicians, magicians, singers, actors, etc) can be creative and get hired, so can us belly dancers!

Wow! This is great info! Thanks for the fabulous ideas Lotus! My next question was going to be about approaching agencies.

I have *got* to get some new pictures and video of myself. It's just kinda hard to justify getting new photos when you aren't actually getting any work...But it takes money to make money, right?!?!?

Off to make a belly dance treasure chest :)

move to Hawaii. we are crawling with weddings..I'm willing to bet a dancer could make a great living once she/he networks with our local planners and photographers.

If you live in a touristy area you might also contact the person in charge of events at the big hotels. Or cruise ships anything of that nature.

Jeez if only I had the time lol.

Network with the planners/photogs ..maybe collaborate on an article submitted to a local newspaper ( Honolulu Weekly just ran an article about akai for our locals and tourists and I was flooded with emails)

I think partypop is where I used to advertise when I was dancing in San Francisco. The day I paid for their ad I was booked for a party full of IP lawyers and made twice what I paid for the ad in one night. Partypop used to do some kind of wedding event online or something too.. a designated day where you could list your info. Not sure if they do that anymore?