Thread: Help: Restaurant/Nightclub dancing

I know there are excellent threads on restaurant dancing, but I am more concerned with tips and knowledge involving restaurants that are also nightclubs...dancing. The restaurant hasn't gotten in full swing yet and the dancing hasn't really started. It's owned by a family with 3 young men that run the joint for the most part. Their goal is to eventually make the venue a pseudo-nightclub when it gets late, with dancing, live music, singers, etc.

Those who have experience with nightclub work, can you chime in? What's it like? What kind of music do people expect, costumes, etc? I would imagine modern and sleek looking costumes would be preferred, but like I said, I'd like some tips from you lot! I have time so there is no rush, but I would just like to be prepared as best I can.

Originally Posted by eden_eyes

I know there are excellent threads on restaurant dancing, but I am more concerned with tips and knowledge involving restaurants that are also nightclubs...dancing. The restaurant hasn't gotten in full swing yet and the dancing hasn't really started. It's owned by a family with 3 young men that run the joint for the most part. Their goal is to eventually make the venue a pseudo-nightclub when it gets late, with dancing, live music, singers, etc.

Those who have experience with nightclub work, can you chime in? What's it like? What kind of music do people expect, costumes, etc? I would imagine modern and sleek looking costumes would be preferred, but like I said, I'd like some tips from you lot! I have time so there is no rush, but I would just like to be prepared as best I can.

It's the best experience possible if done right. Unfortunately, a lot of owners attempt to open up a nightclub without any real idea of what it takes and with no knowledge of entertainment. Usually owners end up hiring whoever is the cheapest and not the best. There is a reason why there aren't many true ME nightclubs left. It takes a lot of time and money to do it right if you want to offer quality entertainment. And that should be the focus of a nightclub, quality entertainment. People should be coming to the club BECAUSE of the singers, dancers and musicians. The entertainment shouldn't be an afterthought. The best nightclubs I worked at brought in top singers from overseas on a regular basis, yet still utilized local entertainers.

A lot will depend on the type of clientele the club will cater too. Is it an older crowd who want to be reminded of their homeland? Or a younger crowd who just want to get up and dance and party?

I think it will be mostly young people...it's located near two universities and a military base. But I'm not sure yet! I know the best tell will be when it is all actually coming together and I can see it with my own eyes, but that's my assumption thus far. The owners and managers seem to have a lot of really neat and creative ideas, it's just a matter of reigning it all in and actually making it happen!!

Is there a liquor license? Will they be serving food or is it a hookah bar byob kinda club? Is the crowd is mostly american college students? Or is it a mix? Did they say how long of a set they want you to do (or how many)?

If its a young mostly american Hookah bar kinda crowd w/ just one 20 minute-ish set -you could do nice oriental to open, then hit 'em with a quick prop song, pop/shaabi/techno-dance with the crowd song or 2 (again music depends on your crowd and length of your set), Drum solo and a short exit piece

be careful of nice veils & chiffon skirts if the quarters are really close - dont want you pretty stuff burned by the coals...

Hope this helps

Originally Posted by eden_eyes

I think it will be mostly young people...it's located near two universities and a military base. But I'm not sure yet! I know the best tell will be when it is all actually coming together and I can see it with my own eyes, but that's my assumption thus far. The owners and managers seem to have a lot of really neat and creative ideas, it's just a matter of reigning it all in and actually making it happen!!

I had a friend who recently worked at a couple of hookah bars in a college town. The first one was a fabulous experience because the place is upscale, has a dress code, and the clientele is mostly older and ME. She was able to do several type of shows, an early oriental style show to more folkloric toward the end of the evening.

She told me she never wanted to go back to the second place again as it was mostly young kids who wanted to get up and dance and could have cared less about her dancing and new nothing about ME music. Just not her type of gig.

Also, what nationality are the owners? If they are Lebanese for example, hopefully their Lebanese family and friends will come, so you would want to throw in some debke music such as when you do cane. If Saudi's come, you'd want to throw in some khaleegi.

Young college kids? Fast paced and energetic music like pop and techno.

The music totally depends on your audience.

Some basic things owners don't think about:
1. Dressing room
2. Stage lights
3. A stage with room for dancing!

As far as costumes, it think you could wear different styles such as the modern sleek ones or eve the more traditional cabaret style/fringe monsters. But they should be professional and glitzy.

And if you are doing several shows a night, you would need to have several costumes so you dont appear in the same thing all the time.

Also make up several sets of music with different type of shows so you can have set that will fit the particular audience at the time.

I'm assuming you are an oriental style dancer and that they aren't looking for tribal? Some hookah bars like tribal.

Are there any other clubs you can visit and watch some shows? The easiest way to learn what works and what doesn't is to witness it first hand.

It all depends on the owners - they'll definitely want a dancer who can entertain, over the "serious artist" so to speak. But each place is different and has a different feel. Expect a lot of disorganization while they try things out. The young guys'll probably want a lot of modern pop music in your set; and if they have a DJ & dancing, you may luck out with sets that start & stop on time, since they want to get the dancer over with and start the audience dancing. Older crowds enjoy watching the dancing tho and having it go on a long time...

So it all depends... good luck but don't be surprised if they close within a year or two

Originally Posted by eden_eyes

I know there are excellent threads on restaurant dancing, but I am more concerned with tips and knowledge involving restaurants that are also nightclubs...dancing. The restaurant hasn't gotten in full swing yet and the dancing hasn't really started. It's owned by a family with 3 young men that run the joint for the most part. Their goal is to eventually make the venue a pseudo-nightclub when it gets late, with dancing, live music, singers, etc.

Those who have experience with nightclub work, can you chime in? What's it like? What kind of music do people expect, costumes, etc? I would imagine modern and sleek looking costumes would be preferred, but like I said, I'd like some tips from you lot! I have time so there is no rush, but I would just like to be prepared as best I can.

Originally Posted by shems

Are there any other clubs you can visit and watch some shows? The easiest way to learn what works and what doesn't is to witness it first hand.

Not speaking for Eden but being familiar with her area, I think that there are probably few places like that within a few hours driving distance. Maybe if anyone knows of some good examples on youtube, that could help.

I have a few full shows on my youtube channel, www.youtube/normadancer2 but I worked in a Lebanese nightclub with a strictly ME clientele.

I also have a full length show on my channel of a dancer in my area named Aziza Salem. That show was just done recently and is probably most representative of the type of music they are playing in the clubs at least in my area, with a live band.

Want to echo the advise to prepare a few different types of sets and ALWAYS come prepared with costume options - depending on the crowd throughout one evening, you may need to switch between more traditional to more modern to more conservative.

Please get a contract going on this - especially when places are just picking up, the pay may be iffy. Get it in writing!! If for some unforeseen reason they have a slow pick-up to business, you don't want to end up paying for it! Get as much in writing as to their expectations (and yours too!) as possible - with an understanding that as far as set times/details go, there may need to be some flexibility, especially until the business is established.

Not that you asked for this, but my first piece of advise to dancers looking to enter the restaurant business is to not get too attached to the gig. Do not equate even the slightest amount of your self-worth to this. Don't be surprised if they love you but seldom tip, or if they close without telling you.
Be confident in who you are. If they want something different, accommodate them if you comfortably can. But it could be that they want someone blonder, or curvier, or cheaper. Restaurant jobs are great because they keep you on your toes. Other than that, they pretty much stink and aren't worth any heartache.

As someone who works in Los Angeles at several different restaurants per week, over the course of 7 years, i would recommend the following in addition to what has already been said:

1) you're advertising a product: yourself. Restaurants are great for advertising your talent and booking private parties. That being said, the pay is usually lower, in addition to the fact that you will hopefully be there on a weekly basis, but it can definitely be worth it. So working in a restaurant is a great opportunity to get more work. Therefore, you need to keep this in mind, understanding that people really want to see "a show." Yes, it's just a restaurant, but I always treat it like I'm performing in Vegas on some big stage. So I agree with the idea of bringing a couple different costume options, and having different play lists. I take it to the next level and will even bring my laptop to burn the cd at the venue, based on what type of people are in the audience (for example, some times there will be more armenian people at the restaurant due to the singer, so I will incorporate an armenian song, which they go crazy about and I get tipped more as a result, plus it looks like I know my stuff). I would have never known this just walking in there and not taking a look. Again, depends on the venue.

2) If the owners are middle eastern, they can be very challenging to deal with. My experience has been to be flexible, but to a degree. I have a company, so I have more flexibility then soloists in that i can be more flexible in varying the times of the show. Again, there will be times when you need them to be flexible (such as if you get a private party at the same time you are supposed to be dancing at their venue).
I think the idea of a contract is good, if you can get one. As far as tipping, I no longer let the owner take any portion of my tips. I think this is ridiculous and unethical. This used to happen a lot in los angeles. Make sure to get payment BEFORE you leave the venue. I've had owners say: "I'll pay you next week" then say they already paid me, or write a check and it bounces, or try to get out of paying because I made "so many" tips, etc. I would make sure to negotiate payment prior to starting to dancing there, and get something in writing if possible.

Continuation...lol

3) Variety. There needs to be lots of variety, especially if you're dancing there every week. Variety in costumes, variety in music (songs, style, tempo), variety in your "look" (makeup, hair, etc), variety in prop use, and ability to dance to different music styles (whether it be arabic, persian, armenian, turkish, etc). Change up your show on a regular basis. I would also get an idea of what type of people will be going there. This should definitely affect your music selection. For example, you would almost NEVER play a turkish song where there are armenian people (which they get extremely upset about). These things are important to know, because it will demonstrate your knowledge of their culture, and the dance.
Remember that people are there to have fun and party! I've made the mistake of trying to do a classical oriental piece at a restaurant, spending weeks on the choreogaphy and music selection, only to see their not into it! It's not about what you think is good, it's about what they like and want...
Most importantly, have fun and engage the audience

Hope this helps...

Talk to the owners. They'll let you know what to expect, or even if they don't know. If they're just starting, they're just starting. Like was said earlier, be a bit flexible.

Where I started dancing I've now noticed clientele. Some of these people don't close their own business until late, and so I keep my sets later, but I will start my first set earlier if the place looks busy. I'll even dance longer, if the mood seems right.

The owners (Iraqi) like curvier girls, and actually prefer the music to be up-beat BUT, seem to appreciate belly dance for what it is: art. I actually overheard the owner talking to a customer last week about belly dance when she asked, and he informed her (I love this):


Belly dance is beautiful. The dancer is in control of every muscle in her body, individually and together all at once. It will flow or be sharp depending on how she feels the music. It makes you forget where you are. It is an amazing art form that is meant to be sensual and sexy, but not the way you Americans think of those words. I cannot explain.

He had no idea I heard him.

Originally Posted by harmoney76

The owners (Iraqi) like curvier girls, and actually prefer the music to be up-beat BUT, seem to appreciate belly dance for what it is: art. I actually overheard the owner talking to a customer last week about belly dance when she asked, and he informed her (I love this):

Belly dance is beautiful. The dancer is in control of every muscle in her body, individually and together all at once. It will flow or be sharp depending on how she feels the music. It makes you forget where you are. It is an amazing art form that is meant to be sensual and sexy, but not the way you Americans think of those words. I cannot explain.

He had no idea I heard him.

Awwww!

Another thing(my friend overheard an iraqi woman say to her swedish friend) "put down your knife&fork now...the oriental dancer will start soon,she´ll show the music to us with her body,you will SEE the music and hear it at the same time.This is art where I come from,stop eating!"

it's funny (trying not to stray off-thread here) how I've heard so much about "middle eastern men" in general....and from this Iraqi group, from what I've seen so far, none of it is proving to be true. I've not been taken advantage of in any way shape or form, always get paid (well) and keep all my tips. I've not encountered any of the horrors yet. Lucky me

ok. I have to update everyone. Because I had so much fun I have to tell someone!!!!

The owners of the hookah lounge where I dance hired a singer to come in, on a regular basis every 3-4 weeks. Or more, it's still in the "let's see how it goes" phase.

When he told me he'd hired a singer, I asked if I was dancing to the singer, he said "we'll see". I think he was a bit nervous and now sure how it would be received. The people coming were from Detroit, as was the singer, and I think he was a bit nervous for me. I was a bit nervous for me, I'd danced to live music, just not as a paid professional, and NOT Iraqi music.

Well, the singer decided to let me have a go. HOLY CRAP. I was offered table upon table to dance on, asked to dance again and again. I've never been so proud of myself ever. He was *smart* and sang songs more Egyptian for me to dance to.

When it was over? Let the Iraqi music begin. And I was sucked onto the dance floor over and over until I finally stood behind the counter with the owner (yes, I was hiding, they were getting a bit rowdy). However, they were all MORE than happy to show me how to dance "their way", and even the owner was impressed that I picked it up quickly.

Anyway, I just wanted to share, that it was a fantastic experience. btw there was no stage, but a large dance floor for me to use for taxim, and then I danced to tables. Or on them