Thread: Restaurant gigs

Hi,
I'm looking into performing in restaurants, and was wondering what people usually do, for example how many songs a night, how do you space them out, etc., and how many nights, I've known people to perform every night, but I'm not looking for that, I'm more interested in a weekly thing, and building my business if you will, to perform at birthdays, baby showers, weddings, etc. If anyone could offer any advice or experience that would be helpful!

You don't WANT to space out the songs, you want to do a show. You want to make an impact, not be wall paper. AND you want people and the venue to know your time is valuable. So, you package it neatly in one show- typically between 15-25 minutes- depending upon region and venue. Here in the DC area we're usually right around 20 minutes. Do you know what typical show formats are?
What region are you from? Do you know rates in your region? They will be "per show".
What style do you do? What kind of venue are you looking at? Some venues have dancing one night a week. Some weekend nights and a few every night (or call ins during the week).
Have you approached your teacher/mentor with these questions? Is there a local pro you can ask about local venues?

http://www.shira.net/styles2.htm#Structure

http://www.samirashuruk.com/Performi...sionalism.html
http://www.gildedserpent.com/art39/M...how2charge.htm
http://www.shira.net/dear4-tips.htm
http://www.samirashuruk.com/Rates_Article.html
http://www.serpentine.org/artemis/Top20.html

and the suggested threads at the bottom of this thread/ http://www.bhuz.com/search.php?do=process words like "tipping" "gigging" etc

for spacing the music, the minimum you want the audience to be able to take a breath between songs or it feels rushed. if you are finishing a drum solo or a balancing act give about 7 seconds, long enough to hold a pose and bow/thank them for their clapping. i do 3 sets a night, but find out what will work for the place you're at.

Originally Posted by SamiraShuruk

Do you know what typical show formats are?
What region are you from? Do you know rates in your region? They will be "per show".
What style do you do? What kind of venue are you looking at? Some venues have dancing one night a week. Some weekend nights and a few every night (or call ins during the week).
Have you approached your teacher/mentor with these questions? Is there a local pro you can ask about local venues?

Hi, I'm not sure what the typical show formats are, I guess it depends on the restaurant, some restaurants hire regulars who go every night, and seem more casual, other restaurants have several dancers and they space them out, some do a whole show that lasts all night long, with change of costumes, I find that the customers get bored when the sets are too long or too many costume changes etc. I'd rather keep it simple and do the 20 min. you mention. I'm in Florida, and I guess it depends on the venue, and yes, I can ask my teacher/mentor and some friends, I was just wondering what the typical route is in general so I can compare to here. I was curious as to what the typical experience was throughout. Thank you!

It's gonna cost a bit for the meals but do your homework by going to multiple restaurants with dancers to see what is done in your area.

Originally Posted by raqFariha

http://www.shira.net/styles2.htm#Structure

for spacing the music, the minimum you want the audience to be able to take a breath between songs or it feels rushed. if you are finishing a drum solo or a balancing act give about 7 seconds, long enough to hold a pose and bow/thank them for their clapping. i do 3 sets a night, but find out what will work for the place you're at.

Thank you! this is good info! yes, I find that anything that's more than 20 min. to a 30 min. show, with breaks in between songs, the audience gets bored, so I'd rather do a "show" than anything else. Just some people here seem to do all nighters, I don't see the point of this, unless they must be getting paid accordingly!

the "secrets of the stage" series from cheeky girls is really helpful. (actually, there's an add for it here as im typing ^_^) particularly vol2
having shorter songs with changes between them helps for attention with American audiences, prob part of why the am-rest style developed into the format it did. and also exaggerate the differences with your dancing, this helps the parts of your show seem distinct. but then your teacher should have covered that kind of stuff......

Originally Posted by minervabellydancer

Hi, I'm not sure what the typical show formats are...

I'm sorry. My question wasn't worded clearly. Do you know typical music sets/choices for different types of audiences? What type of songs and what order?
... and rarely does any venue pay enough for it to be worth a dancers while to stay there all night dancing on and off. I don't know any around this area.
I do multiple shows a night- but different venues (sometimes two at the same venue though).

Well, it's hard to answer your question without knowing what type of venue you plan on working in. Your music choices should be appropriate for your venue. What would work in a ME nightclub but not work for American BD party.

Typically, shows run 15-30 minutes. American audiences seem to prefer shorter shows, say 15-20. It's can be difficult to put on a longer show and still be interesting unless you are a skilled and experience dancer.

But typically, at the minimum you would want to have at least 3-4 songs in your show. A fast dynamic opening, a slower piece for veil or taqsim, then another fast song for cane work or audience participation or a beledi taqsime progression then finish off with a bang with an exciting drum solo and finale.

Originally Posted by ozma

It's gonna cost a bit for the meals but do your homework by going to multiple restaurants with dancers to see what is done in your area.

Agreed! I have an entire show posted on youtube. This is the format that is typically performed in a ME restaurant (although breaks in between songs have been edited out).

Originally Posted by norma

...
But typically, at the minimum you would want to have at least 3-4 songs in your show. A fast dynamic opening, a slower piece for veil or taqsim, then another fast song for cane work or audience participation or a beledi taqsime progression then finish off with a bang with an exciting drum solo and finale.

Just as an add on. Artemis Mourat recommends that you have I think 9 different kinds of songs "under your belt" before you're ready to go pro. The list I teach with is 12. Not all kinds of songs are right for all audiences/venues/shows.
*Intro (oriental/majency)
*taqsim (different instrumentation)
*beladi
*karsilama (necessary for all to identify. Only necessary to do if you dance for Turkish)
*balancing prop (sword/tray)
*saidi with cane
*zills/sagat with music (usually audience participation/pop)
*classic (Oum Kolthoum/Abdel Halim etc)
*veil
*zeffa (not necessary for restaurants though)
*tabla solo
*finale

Thank you all, this is excellent information!!! I'm taking notes! LOL this is great I have a better idea now.

Sure thing.
This is information your teacher/mentor should be sharing with you as part of your preparation.

What a fun thread! (ps Samira, I'm eating up all your good advice, as well as your awesome clips Norma!!)

Just wanted to add my $0.02 as a dancer that dances every weekend ;) I may have missed it but have you been hired to dance at restaurants or are you in the process of looking for venues etc?-Either way, hopefully your mentor will steer you in the right direction as well as how to professionally speak with restaurant owners as well as make fellow professional dancer friends instead of enemies. As Samira noted, the kind of music and styling you may want to know before performing in a restaurant is important. You also said you wanted "to build your business" which is great! Here's what I highly suggest: In order to do that, you want to walk into your first interview (don't know how things are done in Florida but up here in Pennsylvania, I have always scheduled interviews with my future employers at their restaurants to discuss specifics) with a professional image.

Even to just start at one restaurant for example, you need business cards and a website (at the bare minimum). Some dancers disagree that they don't book private gigs from restaurants but my experience has been the opposite. I invest in well made business cards (www.moo.com- highly recommend) as well as photo shoots and of course a website. You want to impress your future boss with your professionalism and well spoken manner as well as your talent.

The dancing in general: the restaurant I generally dance at I do 15 minute sets. On average, I do 4 a night (give or take one or two if they have big parties). I enter with a flourish with finger cymbals, sometimes add in a prop, a nice drum solo or a sultry veil piece-just an example. I dance for a mix of American and Arab audience and either way I want to maintain their attention (that's why unless you've truly mastered the art, I wouldn't stray past 20 minutes to start). On the flip side, at another restaurant, I'll do 2 sets a night (however those sets are 25-30 minutes long). It all depends on the venue, clientele and even what the owner expects.

I could go on and on (and I apologize for rambling). I think I nailed the crucial things though (the rest will come with experience). Last important thought: I can't stress enough how important it is to be well spoken in this industry. You must remain professional at all times (my mentor told me that once you park the car, everything you do upon approaching the door needs to reflect professionalism: you never know who's watching you)-powerful...Establish payment amount, how long you're staying, correct tipping, what to do with something inappropriate happens BEFORE you step out to perform. I've heard some horror stories from my mentor and all I can say is (knock on wood), I've never had an incident be it private party or restaurants, demand respect, be the professional and you'll have a successful career.

Good luck!

Here is a small excerpt from Secrets of the Stage 2

The full DVD interviews several dancers - it is nice because you get to hear all of their different philosophies about performing at their personal gigs. And you get to see them at those gigs too.
Hope that helps!

Originally Posted by SamiraShuruk

Sure thing.
This is information your teacher/mentor should be sharing with you as part of your preparation.

Yes, I agree, I could ask her, I guess I just get overwhelmed with all of the things I want to do, and I'm still learning and growing, and I get confused. Thank you so much!

Originally Posted by la_soraya

have you been hired to dance at restaurants or are you in the process of looking for venues etc?

Hi la_soraya
I have not been hired yet, I'm just doing my research and learning before I venture out and wanted to know what most professional bellydancers do in this situation. I'm in the process of looking for venues. I suppose I could ask my teacher/mentor to see what she says. Thank you!

Originally Posted by michellejoyce

Here is a small excerpt from Secrets of the Stage 2

The full DVD interviews several dancers - it is nice because you get to hear all of their different philosophies about performing at their personal gigs. And you get to see them at those gigs too.
Hope that helps!

Thank you Michelle! I will definitely look into purchasing this DVD, this is excellent! thanks so much!

Thank you ladies, thank you Norma for sharing your videos, thank you SamiraShuruk, raqFariha, Michelle! thank you all! Sorry to reply to this so late, but I dont get the messages in my email advising me that i have a response to my question! I'll have to check my settings. Anyway, this is great info, I am going to keep all of this in mind and continue with my research! I"ll keep you posted when I get a restaurant gig! LOL

Originally Posted by minervabellydancer

Hi la_soraya
I have not been hired yet, I'm just doing my research and learning before I venture out and wanted to know what most professional bellydancers do in this situation. I'm in the process of looking for venues. I suppose I could ask my teacher/mentor to see what she says. Thank you!

You really should be talking to your teacher/mentor before looking into venues. There's many a mistake that can be avoided by getting guidance. I don't want to scare you, but taking/looking into gigs without having put in time preparing properly (beyond asking us... we don't know your/ your dancing/ your scene )can come with unwarranted emotional, physical, financial, and professional risks that a good mentor can help you try to avoid.

A good mentor will know your scene, will know you as a dancer, will know what things to avoid in regards to undercutting or presenting yourself in a less that professional manner, and can prepare you for some of the emotional challenges that come from performing. They may have knowledge about the relative safety/personality issues in your area that they wouldn't share with a student unasked but would share will someone who is open about looking to perform.

I agree with Ozma. While my mentor was helpful, I've mostly had to establish my dance career myself (if you can avoid this, I highly recommend it)- partially this was due to her demanding schedule as a teacher and artist. But at the same time, my mentor did know the scene (as Ozma pointed out) and did get me my first audition that led to my first job (I'll always be grateful to her for that). I don't know, maybe thats all thats expected from a mentor but I had no real support after landing my first job so I hope you have a mentor thats able to still be an active participant in your dance career after you've landed your first job.

Besides what else has already been said, I'll lend this piece of advice: if you want to dance at restaurants and be a professional dancer, you need to be or become a "go-getter". Find out whats available in your area: competitions, restaurants, hookah bars, night clubs, etc. Talk to other professionals: networking is crucial! Work on your sets, drill your technique, get yourself out there!-exposure is important.

I do agree though with Ozma: "unwarranted emotional, physical, financial, and professional risks that a good mentor can help you try to avoid"-my mentor spent quality time with me warning of risks, shady situations, how to remain professional and polite yet also safe. That is the best advice you can get from a mentor so I hope you have a real sit-down with yours to discuss the issue of safety. Remember that unless you plan on dancing with a partner 100% of the time, you're going to be a soloist and without proper preparation can feel pretty vulnerable (especially when you're waiting to perform).

Hoping your search for gigs is going well!

This is a great thread and I'd like to keep it going. We often have aspiring pros ask questions here on Bhuz, so perhaps we can keep adding to this to keep it visible.

I recently wrote an article for my blog for those who want to go pro or recently have (but realize they still have a lot to learn.)

Becoming a Professional Belly Dancer - from Kiyaana.com