Advantages of Performing in Private Events

An Oriental Dancer (and a dancer from any other dance, I think) has as an important income source the animation of private events: weddings, anniversary parties, corporate parties, etc. Personally, it’s not the activity I like to do the most, I like to perform more on stage and to teach, but I was lucky enough to be hired for events that made me feel very well. Today, I will share with you the advantages participating in private events have and I will also give you some tips to improve the relationship between dancer and client.

Performing with LED Wings in a Corporate Event, at Hotel Intercontinental Lisbon in January 2019.

1. The biggest advantage in animating events is, obviously, the income. Dancing on a Saturday night can be tiring and boring but the value we add to our monthly salary is very attractive: a Bellydancer normally receives between 200€ and 500€ in an event (have you seen the costs we have on my post Expenses of An Oriental Dance Artist?), depending on the characteristics of the event, this is depending on its location, number of hours you should be in the location, number of performances, etc. In a way to ensure everything runs smoothy, I advise dancers to send a Pro Forma to the client with all the description of the animation that was agreed on, with the payment conditions. We should always ask a percentage of the value at the time of the adjudication of the service (generally I apply 50%) to the date booking and the event preparation.

Performing Saidi with Cane in a Corporate Event, at Hotel Intercontinental Lisbon in January 2019.

2. Another great advantage is the disclosure of the work of the dancer. Through her presence at en event, the dancer shows her work to a great number of people who didn’t know her before - and that fact can open doors to new works (animation types or not). Many of the private events I made came through people that knew me in other events and I had students joining my classes after events. I advise you to always take business cards to deliever – in some events it’s more complicated (as weddings, for example) but in anniversary parties it’s very easy and you can even ask the host to distribute them between their friends, or even let some in a central table.

3. Last but not least, it is a way of uplifting the the art of Oriental Dance. Unfortunatly, our dance is not the most respected and there is still a lot of prejudice. In these private events, we have the opportunity to show the “general audience” (unacquainted of the art) that Oriental Dance has its own value and that is an art to be respected. That’s why I always advise you to show professionalism, and to show the Dance in it’s pure form (not just “show”). Generally, I also dance a Fado song, which besided making the portuguese audience identify themselves in it, elevates the perspective they have of the dance.

I hope I have satisfied you with some curiosities and specially helped you with some tips! What did you think of it?