IMO Paying to perform is not cool... I think it is due to supply an demand, we know a festival would be lame without dancers but if there are too many dancers then it is to the festivals profit to regulate it somehow, the worst part is that dancers are asking other dancers to pay to perform WTF???.
Unfortunately many dancers don't perform because of this and more power to them but it is not going to do anything unless all the dancers pull together and refuse to support this stupid idea. Unknowingly or not it was the first dancer that paid to dance that made this rule work. We know especially as beginning dancers the lust to perform can absolutely override Intel. But as seasoned dancers and new dancers with the right advice, if we all just stopped paying to perform and pulled together then something will be done to support what the festivals are there for, the last time I checked is was to support the dancers not cause them even more dancer debt ;).
This lame stunt is still in it's beginning stages and I believe there is time to stop it if we are aware of how much it hurts the community. Not only that if a festival is asking you as a performer to pay as a performer than chances are not many people are going to show up to the festival to see ya. They are likely squeezing money out of the dancers for a low attendance reason, and that's a clear sign not to perform.
Along with this There should be a limit to how many dancers can dance, professional and student time slots, and also a bit more pressure to sign up early to dance if you are interested not just depending on how much cash you drop or who you know.
Also a reward system to those dancers that do more for the dance community as a whole not just show up to dance 10 minutes before collect their reward and leave. Supporters of the community those who are there in charity to help the event, vender's, and workshop teachers should get first dibs on time, and day of performance slots and that would encourage more organization for the shows, I believe regulation is badly needed not making dancers pay.
In the meantime we should really do our best not to support the "pay to dance rule" that is all levels of fucked up to me, dancers should not ever have to pay to perform.
The other side of this coin. Dancers should always have to pay to see their fellow dancers perform and show support for the community in a way that keeps the dancers getting paid, especially since it is the dancers that come to see the dancers as a majority. We need to plan to drop at least 5.00 to support them and the event, if it is a free show then plan to tip 5.00!! everyone knows nothing is free, and if it is free for you then that means someone else is paying for you one way or another. When folks bitch about paying to see a fellow dancer and then drop a 20 at the bar they are doing no one any good, they should just go home and get their big head out - the - way of the supporter that dropped a 20 to see the show.
An ethical dancers Union should be formed by a collective that has interest in protecting the dancers from getting shafted, maybe now is a time for all of us to pull together and create this for eachother or at least create some boundaries for an art that is no small change to learn.
More support for the arts and the artists, not profit for the those that are feeding on the dancers. If the money is going to the right places to begin with the festivals WILL profit, lets fix this.
Unfortunately many dancers don't perform because of this and more power to them but it is not going to do anything unless all the dancers pull together and refuse to support this stupid idea. Unknowingly or not it was the first dancer that paid to dance that made this rule work. We know especially as beginning dancers the lust to perform can absolutely override Intel. But as seasoned dancers and new dancers with the right advice, if we all just stopped paying to perform and pulled together then something will be done to support what the festivals are there for, the last time I checked is was to support the dancers not cause them even more dancer debt ;).
This lame stunt is still in it's beginning stages and I believe there is time to stop it if we are aware of how much it hurts the community. Not only that if a festival is asking you as a performer to pay as a performer than chances are not many people are going to show up to the festival to see ya. They are likely squeezing money out of the dancers for a low attendance reason, and that's a clear sign not to perform.
Along with this There should be a limit to how many dancers can dance, professional and student time slots, and also a bit more pressure to sign up early to dance if you are interested not just depending on how much cash you drop or who you know.
Also a reward system to those dancers that do more for the dance community as a whole not just show up to dance 10 minutes before collect their reward and leave. Supporters of the community those who are there in charity to help the event, vender's, and workshop teachers should get first dibs on time, and day of performance slots and that would encourage more organization for the shows, I believe regulation is badly needed not making dancers pay.
In the meantime we should really do our best not to support the "pay to dance rule" that is all levels of fucked up to me, dancers should not ever have to pay to perform.
The other side of this coin. Dancers should always have to pay to see their fellow dancers perform and show support for the community in a way that keeps the dancers getting paid, especially since it is the dancers that come to see the dancers as a majority. We need to plan to drop at least 5.00 to support them and the event, if it is a free show then plan to tip 5.00!! everyone knows nothing is free, and if it is free for you then that means someone else is paying for you one way or another. When folks bitch about paying to see a fellow dancer and then drop a 20 at the bar they are doing no one any good, they should just go home and get their big head out - the - way of the supporter that dropped a 20 to see the show.
An ethical dancers Union should be formed by a collective that has interest in protecting the dancers from getting shafted, maybe now is a time for all of us to pull together and create this for eachother or at least create some boundaries for an art that is no small change to learn.
More support for the arts and the artists, not profit for the those that are feeding on the dancers. If the money is going to the right places to begin with the festivals WILL profit, lets fix this.
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San Diego
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Re: Performance. To pay or not to pay!? As usual I have a lot to say
Mon, May 19, 2008 - 1:45 PMI will continue to invest as much as I possibly can every day in dancers and the dance community!
I believe that every good dancer makes a huge investment of time, money, effort, sweat, study, practice, passion, and creative juices long before the expenses of travel, accommodations, costuming, makeup, props, preparation, and clearing enough time on a busy schedule for a performance start adding up.
In all of these ways, experienced dancers are already investing a great deal for every performance, an amount that is *very* rarely reflected in an appropriate financial compensation of cash, tips, press, exposure, and new opportunities.
Choosing to dance for free is a very personal decision that seems most appropriate for fund raising and other situations that are emotionally rewarding. Activism and volunteering are not luxuries, but fundamental elements in creating the kind of world we hope to live in.
Paying for the rental of practice space makes sense, as does paying for dance classes and workshops. But paying money to perform on top of everything else you've paid? This feels greasy and underhanded to me, a slimy perpetration against what it means to grow and unite the dance community with loving kindness. It is a clear message to the performers that they are not only unappreciated, but somehow not even respected.
I understand that it costs money to create an event of almost any size. But any competent organizer, with any sense of integrity, decency, intelligence or creativity, could find other resources to draw funds from besides the performers who are the heart of this community.
Who would do this? Ew. Just ew. -
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Re: Performance. To pay or not to pay!? As usual I have a lot to say
Mon, May 19, 2008 - 3:03 PMPaying to perform?? Thats pretty lame and I for one would never pay to perform. There is already so much money invested with costumes, classes, ect.. and then to pay YET AGAIN??!! Have promoters and organizers become that greedy??
Have Bellydancers sunk to the lowest of the low on the appreciation scale?? Do we need an organization that would ensure we are paid fairly for our efforts??
I have made the choice to perform for free on occasion, mostly for charity, and I have enjoyed contrubuting to the community in my unique way. As Bonnie pointed out, >Activism and volunteering are not luxuries, but fundamental elements in creating the kind of world we hope to live in. < I agree with all my heart... If Bellydance helps raise awareness for a cause, I am all for it... But...
DONT PAY TO PERFORM!!!! 'Nuf Said...
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