| Restaurant dancing is such an art not just | | | | had seen belly dancing throughout his travels. He |
| because we dance in close proximity to | | | | was very educated on our dance form and I |
| customers but because we have to understand | | | | really appreciated him letting the church group |
| people psychology. There have been evenings | | | | know that he considered it an art form. |
| when I performed that I was on cloud nine. And | | | | There may be some of you wondering about the |
| there were evenings where I wondered what | | | | pay scale for restaurant performing. This topic is |
| rock people crawled out from under. | | | | consistently a heated discussion amongst dancers. |
| (It seemed like they all crawled out from under | | | | There's reason for it because one or two things |
| the same rock!) | | | | happen to dancers that perform in restaurants. |
| But this is restaurant dancing where we are | | | | The first is being undercut by other dancers and |
| secondary to the food and service. | | | | the second is a restaurant not willing to pay the |
| Throughout the years of dancing I have been | | | | going rate. |
| very blessed to dance at some amazing | | | | In my 15 years of restaurant dancing I have |
| restaurants and some not so amazing restaurants. | | | | found only a few restaurants that have paid me |
| There were a few restaurants that I danced at | | | | what I felt I was worth. I can count them on one |
| that were open only a few months. Those gigs | | | | hand. So my philosophy is a little different here |
| are my most memorable because I learned "what | | | | only because I had to either understand the |
| not to do" while dancing in a restaurant. First of all | | | | reality of this business or get out. My first reality |
| when the restaurant owner requires you to bring | | | | shocker came when I was dancing in Dallas at a |
| in family members, friends, co-workers and | | | | restaurant and the restaurant owner hired two |
| strangers off the street, you know you're in | | | | new dancers to perform on the weekends with |
| trouble. Imagine being asked to help out with | | | | me. I was looking forward to dancing with them |
| washing the dishes. (Yes, this did happen to me.) | | | | but what I didn't know was that he paid them |
| At least I had sense enough to say "no" and | | | | more than me. When I found out I was furious |
| suffice to say this particular gig lasted only a few | | | | and like any good dancer and business woman, I |
| weeks and the restaurant stayed open for 6 | | | | confronted the owner. |
| months and than closed. | | | | My pay went up but what bothered me was the |
| My first restaurant audition was pretty hilarious | | | | other dancers knew I was getting less. Was it |
| because my belt fell off in the beginning of my | | | | their fault, I say no. It was my fault for not |
| performance. I kept on dancing because luckily | | | | communicating better with the restaurant owner |
| my skirt was not attached and the audience | | | | but I still would have liked the dancers to have |
| wasn't sure if I intended to loose it or not. Hooks | | | | been more forth coming since we were working |
| and eyes took on a whole new meaning for me | | | | together. |
| after that! | | | | The restaurants that didn't pay me what I was |
| The restaurant owner reprimanded me because | | | | worth were places for me to train and practice |
| he was running a "family" oriented restaurant but | | | | my people skills. And that is how I looked at |
| he decided to keep me and give me another | | | | them. I was able to perform regularly and work |
| chance. It didn't work out because my | | | | on my dancing in an environment that required |
| inexperience with his customers was obvious and | | | | me to do my best. So I feel you have to make |
| he wanted someone with more "people" skills. This | | | | the best out of every situation and look on the |
| was an eye opener for me because I learned | | | | positive side. Plus usually no one is forcing us to |
| that making the customers comfortable was a | | | | perform at restaurants. If I'm dancing at a |
| huge part of my performance. | | | | restaurant I've made the decision and choice to |
| Understanding people is so important and it is so | | | | be there. Remember you have free will to stay |
| necessary to read people and their moods as | | | | or leave. |
| soon as they walk in the front door. I have | | | | I have just recently retired from restaurant |
| danced for people who didn't care if I could turn | | | | performing and looking back I have to laugh at |
| my head completely around and spit out fire. | | | | some of the experiences I had especially at the |
| They are not there for the dancing but for | | | | last restaurant I performed at. |
| relaxation and food. I learned not to take this | | | | I can remember one evening I was dancing and |
| personally and to go to tables that were more | | | | just happened to see my reflection in the window. |
| appreciative. | | | | At that very moment I realized I forgot to shave |
| Then there is the "beautiful" couple who for some | | | | my armpits. My arms went down immediately |
| odd reason are very insecure. The woman won't | | | | and I kept them down for the rest of my |
| look at you and the man dare not even think | | | | performance. |
| about it. I had a lady tell a waiter that I should not | | | | (After that I always carried a razor in my |
| come to her table because her husband would not | | | | makeup case) |
| appreciate it. So the waiter told me and I stayed | | | | And believe it or not I forgot my underwear a |
| away as requested but what the waiter didn't tell | | | | few times. So a put an extra pare in my bag for |
| her was that there would be tables all around her | | | | emergencies. |
| and that I would be dancing for them. I was | | | | One time I forgot my bra to my second costume |
| trying not to laugh because as I was dancing for | | | | only to find it on my bed when I got home. I |
| a table near her, her husband was standing up | | | | could have sworn I put it in my bag. So I danced |
| clapping and dancing along with me. | | | | in the same costume twice and as you can |
| Not only is it our job to educate the customers | | | | imagine it was sweaty! |
| regarding our dance form but it is also just as | | | | The advice I would give to any dancer starting |
| important to be lenient on their ignorance as well. | | | | out performing in restaurants is to understand |
| It is not unusual for people to walk in the front | | | | that the venue itself will help her become a better |
| door of a restaurant and not know the first thing | | | | dancer. I feel restaurant dancing made a big |
| about belly dancing. For instance I had a huge | | | | difference in my stage performing because it |
| table of people that requested that I not dance | | | | made me a more personable dancer. The dancing |
| for them because they had invited a priest to join | | | | itself will not only stand on its own but the |
| them. They were a church group that was | | | | confidence in which a dancer performs is priceless. |
| concerned about the priests' reaction to my | | | | Plus one day you will look back at your restaurant |
| dancing. To their surprise and mine the priest was | | | | performing like me and have a lot of funny |
| upset because I did not dance for them and | | | | stories to share with friends and students alike. |
| requested that I come to the table so he could | | | | And that is truly "priceless". |
| talk to me. He had been to the Middle East and | | | | |