Thread: FAQ from people looking for performers

I'm sharpening up my website and I thought it would be a good idea to compile a nice FAQ for people looking to hire a belly dancer. If you don't mind sharing, what are common questions you get asked when people hire you for their event?

- How much? Can you give me a better rate???
- What do you look like...are you *ahem*... overweight?
- Could you please not take your top off cos it's a family function?

Seriously:
- How much? Can I pay you on the night?
- What do you do? (Explain how you can show off different types of melodies/styles, prop work, etc)
- Can you get the bride/groom/birthday boy/guests up to dance? (Or 'can you not try and get them up to dance?)
- Can you dance for 1/2 an hour to an hour? (It's really handy to have a convincing answer to why this is not a good idea!)
- Do you bring your own music? (Plus outline stereo requirements)
- How soon do I need to book?
- I would also outline logistics - needing a change area, giving them the CD, starting off-stage, when, how to sneak you in for a surprise, etc.

It seems so silly to me, but the most common question I get is whether or not I'm bringing my own music.

Yeah, I've had the music question several times.

And the people wanting me to dance for an hour.

One really has to know that most people have NO clue, and many have never hired an entertainer. They just have vague ideas.
So never assume that anything is "logical" or "clear".

MEISSOUN

Shems, your website is gorgeous!

And I love your "behind the rates" blurb on your website! Do you mind if I borrow some general concepts from it? (rewriting in my own words of course).

Originally Posted by ssipes

Shems, your website is gorgeous!

And I love your "behind the rates" blurb on your website! Do you mind if I borrow some general concepts from it? (rewriting in my own words of course).

Sedonia, you can take whatever you want from it. If you make good improvements let me know and I can change it on my site too and credit you as editor.
..g.:

Me too, Shems. Do you mind if I copy this information (behind the rates) and credit you accordingly? It's great!

Originally Posted by Adishakti

Me too, Shems. Do you mind if I copy this information (behind the rates) and credit you accordingly? It's great!

yeah, no problem.

Originally Posted by shems

yeah, no problem.

Thanks so much!

I have an FAQ page on my site. I may update it. Take a look

Tahira Belly Dancer - Performance FAQsÂ*

{{{HUGS}}}

Oh... another thing! I have a "Girl's Night In" lesson and performance option and people always ask if I can bring costumes for them to wear.

eek!

I really like all your information on your website; it is worded in such an "friendly" way. I mostly got asked if I was bringing music (or my own band!) and how long the set would be. SOme people are want to know what costume I would be wearing. (???)

Shems, I love that article, I think it is very well worded, and basically covers everything. I will link to that page from my Bookings page, if it's alright with you.

Originally Posted by tahiradancer

I have an FAQ page on my site. I may update it. Take a look

Tahira Belly Dancer - Performance FAQsÂ

{{{HUGS}}}

oh, there are some good ones on there!

Originally Posted by Marianna

Shems, I love that article, I think it is very well worded, and basically covers everything. I will link to that page from my Bookings page, if it's alright with you.

absolutely, that's fine.

One thing that might be good is to mention that, if the person hiring you will not be in attendance at the event/party, you will need a contact person at the event both to assist (put in your CD, show you where to enter from, etc.) and also to call in case of an emergency (i.e. flat tire on the way to the gig). There's nothing worse that showing up at a gig and no one there has any idea that you were coming, or wants to take time out from partying to show you where the bathroom is.

Originally Posted by laura 2

One thing that might be good is to mention that, if the person hiring you will not be in attendance at the event/party, you will need a contact person at the event both to assist (put in your CD, show you where to enter from, etc.) and also to call in case of an emergency (i.e. flat tire on the way to the gig). There's nothing worse that showing up at a gig and no one there has any idea that you were coming, or wants to take time out from partying to show you where the bathroom is.

Good idea!

This is funny - someone just hired me for a party through email, and although my site gives most of the information, and we already exchanged emails, she still asked me if I was bringing my own music. For us it's obvious: I am a belly dancer, I dance to music, therefore I should have my own music. But for people I guess it's not so obvious.

Originally Posted by Marianna

This is funny - someone just hired me for a party through email, and although my site gives most of the information, and we already exchanged emails, she still asked me if I was bringing my own music. For us it's obvious: I am a belly dancer, I dance to music, therefore I should have my own music. But for people I guess it's not so obvious.

It's the ones who ask if you have your own costumes which I worry about!

{{{HUGS}}}