Thread: Dancing outside in the heat - need your opinion

I need your opinion/expertise in this matter. Please share with me.

O.k. So I have been dancing at a hookah cafe near where I live every other weekend for the last two months now. I live in South East Texas and for those of you who live in this area know how oppressive the Texas heat can be. For those of you who do not live in this area... think, when you open the door to the oven at 375 degrees, but add humidity to it. O.k. so now that you guys get the picture, let me tell you the situation.

Being that the city I live in has a smoking ban inside restaurants, the hookah place has to have the hookahs and their patrons outside, that is where I come in for entertainment ,f:: Back in April begining of May, I could dance outside for a 1/2 hour show at night, no problem, the weather was decent, a bit humid but do-able. End of May and begining of June, the heat and humidity is unbearable when you have to dance outside. I have arranged the show to where I dance for 15 minutes, 15 minutes break and then do another 15 minute show. By the time I am done with in each show, I am literally melting. My make up is melting, my hair sticking to my back, my face red like a beet and my costume is very sweatty. I have 15 minute break to compose my cool, redo make up, refresh and change costume . Not to mention that they have two areas where they want me dancing, so they want me to dance a few steps here and there and the literally walk (to the beat of the music) to dance at the other place. ANother thing is, they want me to arrive at the place at 8:30 p.m.. but they tell me to wait for performance until 10:00 p.m. to wait for people to get it.

I have talked to the owners to see if we can do a change of area, to where I am in the AC, but due to city ordenances, he can't. What should I do? Should I ask if I could do the shows in the fall/winter when it's cooler? Should I bear with it, melt and have people enjoy themselves while I sweat like a pig? They pay me o.k., but it is worth it? Should I charge more?What's you opinion/story/suggestions?

Sorry for the long message and thanks for stopping by.

Some of the girls in my troupe like to put ice cubes in their bra prior to dancing, to keep them cool. It doesn't make the bra any wetter than the sweat will, and it's cooler. Doesn't solve your problem, but it might help if you decide to keep dancing.

It doesn't sound like the place has an arbor with ceiling fans gently turning to help with air flow. Would he be willing to let you dance in a central location with an electric fan blowing for your show? I'm having a hard time imagining what kind of clientele will enjoy watching you flinging sweat around as you dance in August, but I'm afraid if you offer to suspend the show for the summer, he'll be happy to indulge you and hire someone else. What does he do when it rains? Does the show ever move indoors?

You didn't say what you wear while working. I'm assuming you've already minimized your costume, ditched extra layers of harem pants and vests, packed the velvet costumes away, and so on. That leaves the dancing itself. This dance originated in a hot climate, and when natives do it, they are often much more sedate than Westerners--no crazy, hyper-layered, exhausting shimmies, and much more economy of movement. An energetic double veil routine with a lot of wrapping and unwrapping and big, twirling moves is going to work up a sweat much faster than a zill routine with easy traveling steps. How much can you adapt your dancing to the heat?

Per the ice cube idea, could you bling up one of those cooling headbands like runners use?

Boy, I'd watch out for dehydration and keep the electrolytes coming. I'm in Central Arizona and I feel for you. How many nights in a row are you doing this? Can you find another gig indoors that pays the same?

I've had performances broiling in the sun at outdoor gigs when it's 90 degrees and humid, and I hear you, it's no fun. I do the State Fair every year, which is the first and second weeks of August, and most of the time it's ungodly hot and humid.

I do try to pace myself as Torbeau mentioned. My dancing in these environments is quite a bit less energetic, and I try to choose songs that have taqsims or at least changes in tempo so I'm not boogying down the entire time. And I wear my lightest, most comfortable costumes.

As far as you getting there at 8:30pm and making you wait hours to perform, that's a different story. I'd never dance at a place that required me to do that. I personally charge extra for delays of more than 30 minutes.

As far as the costumes, well I either dance with an Egyptian costume, bra and skirt or if I have to, I do a 3 piece bra-belt skirt) I do a light skirt. For the one part of a gazebo, there is one ceiling fan for the other part where I dance, it's open, no fans, no roof just outside. Oh did I mention that I dance on part cement and part small area rug? At times it gets a bit difficult to dance and I end up brusing the ball of my feet.
As far as rain goes... well since I started dancing, we have not had a night that rained, luckily. Now keep in mind that this show is every other weekend on a Saturday night at 10:00 p.m. or so. Even that late at night, it still very hot and humid, not to mention mosquitos. Don't get me wrong, I love dancing and entertaining people, but my husband is getting to the point that he does not want to see me like this anymore and is asking me to quit if the owner does not provide easier conditions, not only for me, but for patrons. Thanks for your opinions.

Hi there, I'm in Central Texas now but lived in San Antonio for many years so I know what kind of heat you're talking about. Down your way there's definitely that oppressive humidity, too.

I'd suggest a few things. 1) don't let the venue make you wait around for 2hrs before the show starts. that's a control move on their part. Your time is valuable, if you aren't being paid for being there, then you shouldn't be there. If you decide you want to keep dancing there then: 2) Have a serious talk with the owner/manager about the heat. The heat in South Texas is no joke, in the summer it's easily still 80-85F at 10pm. Ask them about bringing in portable electric fans for yours (and customers') comfort. 3) Dance in shoes. You've got to protect your feet. I've had to dance on concrete before and it hurt! I wear Hermes sandals with a thin rubber sole for outdoor gigs and it's great. Still blends with costume, too.

Good Luck!

Thank you TexasRuya for your words of wisdom. I do want to continue dancing at this gig and I will talk to them about the fans, that is a great idea. I do have a pair of Hermes sandals and I will use them. Also I will have a talk with the owner this weekend to see what can we do to make the gig easier on me.

Thank you all for the pearls of wisdom, I trully appreciate your ideas. :-)

Is there a way to wear your hair up instead of resting on your back? I pull my own above my shoulder hair back in a small pony tail then clip a fake tail on to that. The fake tail stick out far enough in the back to stay off of my back and shoulders for the most part. It helps me a lot to have my hair off my neck.

Beware the Belly Cover! I doubt this applies to you, but for anyone else dancing outdoors when it's even remotely warm - if you are used to wearing a belly cover, beware that sweaty areas will turn dark and look hideous (for example, if you have even a slight belly, there may be noticeably dark line where even a slight crease where your belly meets your waist). I wore a full-body cover outdoors one time (quite willing to endure heat to hold myself in), and only learned afterwards that the underarm area had become at least 4 shades darker than elsewhere, boy was I mortified, 'cause I'd lifted up my arms for some moves and I was in close proximity to the audience. I'm even embarrassed saying it here, but I would not want anyone else to experience it!

-Devora

Shaharazad, I am curious how that talk w/the owner worked out. I have danced private gigs out doors in July in KS and trust me, it's no picnic here, either. At that gig, I paused 5 minutes in between songs to "wipe down" and danced 4 songs. They were fine with that. And I agree w/the previous statements about the "getting you there early" part - that is a power play, have none of it. I wish you luck and hope it works out! And I don't blame your hubby for being protective of you - good for him! He's a keeper!

ita with laura2 re: not waiting around for hours. if your show is scheduled at 10pm the earliest you would need to arrive is 9:30pm imo. otherwise, they are using you for ambient entertainment (decor) and not paying for your services. my contracts also state a waiting charge for time overages.

re: heat
a good trick is to keep a hand fan or electric fan in your gig bag to cool down quickly between sets. drinking something cold can bring your core temp down fast. perhaps sip ice water between sets if it doesn't bother you? the ice trick is genius.

another trick i learned from puppeteers is to build tiny re-freezable ice packs into the costumes in pockets lined to prevent moisture from showing on the outside. if you wear bra/belt type costumes maybe you could build a thin pocket layer between you and the lining, filling it with a cooling pack?

can they put a fan on the patio? you could just cruise by it once in a while ;)

The refreezeable ice packs really work.

Either that, or have them hire a guy with a giant feather fan.,r:;

I like the feather fan idea and as a matter of fact I, mentioned that to them and they looked at me funny and walked away. I guess no sense of humor

I have not talked to the owner yet, the gig is this saturday. So I guess I'll keep you all posted on that. .w.: Who knows, I might no have this gig after this weekend. But, do you all think that I am being a little bratt? Am I asking for too much?

No reasonable employer wants his employees fainting from the heat. If he makes a fuss... he's not very reasonable!

Well, I talked with the owner and they will hold the show inside since it's 45 minutes, since it's twice per month. Once the weather cools off a bit, then they will move it outside.

Yay! And you were NOT being a brat. Southwest heat is nothing to f**k around with. It's a serious health issue and can be dangerous. Good for the owner. If he did anything less, I'd have walked if it was me.

Thanks for letting us know what happened! That's great news!

Thank you all for your support and your pearls of wisdom. I honestly did not wanted to quit this gig. I enjoy dancing there and I have several regulars who come to see the show every time, so I did not wanted to dissapoint them.