http://bellydancebiz.tribe.net/thread/6eb873d0-4ccb-460f-9ba5-26ec302998c6?format=rss Tribe.net. Local Connections http://bellydancebiz.tribe.net/thread/6eb873d0-4ccb-460f-9ba5-26ec302998c6#759ecdf5-871e-4ea4-8f25-3598a41afecb You are off to a great start by asking. I do agree that it is really important to try and get a local dancer to give you the rates....they do vary across the country. We have had some come here from places not too far away but the rates are higher here. You never know if restaurant owners talk (here they do). We had a case where a dancer came from the city not too far from here and charged less (bc she states she did not know they were higher) --- then a few of us were questioned at other restaurants as to why this one place was able to get a dancer for less. Of course hoping we would drop the rate.....we had to state that she did not know the local rates and had to talk with her to change hers. It would not have been so chaotic if she had just asked......also some places did start asking for lower rates. As for asking permission to dance by the community -- I do not think you need to ask permission at all. I would hope they would greet a dancer asking for rates (which shows professionalism and concern) and possibly offerring a new gig with open arms! Good luck Mon, 15 Jun 2009 06:50:54 GMT http://bellydancebiz.tribe.net/thread/6eb873d0-4ccb-460f-9ba5-26ec302998c6#759ecdf5-871e-4ea4-8f25-3598a41afecb Phoenix 2009-06-15T06:50:54Z http://bellydancebiz.tribe.net/thread/6eb873d0-4ccb-460f-9ba5-26ec302998c6#09660d19-a760-436f-9a24-4bc9bf3f81b9 If no one is dancing there, it cannot possibly be anyone's turf. A problem arises when the owner of a venue that ALREADY has dancers decides to offer you a job and the dancer already at the venue doesn't want to talk to you about it... but you'll cross that bridge when you get to it. Do get used to a million BD dropping off their business cards as soon as you open a new venue... just don't take it personally. Thu, 11 Jun 2009 21:03:21 GMT http://bellydancebiz.tribe.net/thread/6eb873d0-4ccb-460f-9ba5-26ec302998c6#09660d19-a760-436f-9a24-4bc9bf3f81b9 Maura 2009-06-11T21:03:21Z http://bellydancebiz.tribe.net/thread/6eb873d0-4ccb-460f-9ba5-26ec302998c6#c206fce2-f07a-4a38-8f2c-8f406e1f116e Sadly she doesn't which is why I reached out to someone who works in the state (but not the area.) I have never started my own gig before (mostly working established places as a sub or part of a rotation.) And I want to make sure I do it in the most respectful (and self respectful way.) Thu, 11 Jun 2009 19:02:54 GMT http://bellydancebiz.tribe.net/thread/6eb873d0-4ccb-460f-9ba5-26ec302998c6#c206fce2-f07a-4a38-8f2c-8f406e1f116e Tanya 2009-06-11T19:02:54Z http://bellydancebiz.tribe.net/thread/6eb873d0-4ccb-460f-9ba5-26ec302998c6#e4ce6c95-b780-4534-9491-12d8df78fea6 I don't think you're obligated to get the permission of other dancers in the area to perform at a place that currently doesn't have dancing. It would be different if you were trying to take someone else's job away from her, but that's not what you're doing. I think it's great to find out the local rate structure. It's good to do it for your own self-respect, and it's good to ensure that you don't drag the local rate structure down for everyone else. If you don't receive responses from the local dancers, try Samira Shuruk's web site to see if she has rates for that area on her site. Thu, 11 Jun 2009 18:47:33 GMT http://bellydancebiz.tribe.net/thread/6eb873d0-4ccb-460f-9ba5-26ec302998c6#e4ce6c95-b780-4534-9491-12d8df78fea6 Shira 2009-06-11T18:47:33Z http://bellydancebiz.tribe.net/thread/6eb873d0-4ccb-460f-9ba5-26ec302998c6#fc727c16-809d-4230-bcbd-ec3202d17976 If someone offered you a job in, oh say, technology, would feel the need to assess the temperature of other technologists in the area? It was very thoughtful of you to double check the area rate and not undercut those who may decide to follow in your footsteps. It is a job offer (at a fair rate I presume) if you want it, take it. If they have never had dancers before and want to start, then you are really doing the dancers in the area a favor by getting the ball rolling...if they had never had dancers and didn't even consider it, then what you have done is open their eyes to be possibility...I say good for you for taking the initiative to go do it and good for them (other dancers) that you have opened the door in their community. Furthermore, good for you that you have, at least attempted, to do this in an ethical, considerate way... Now go enjoy all your hard work and the dividends :) Thu, 11 Jun 2009 18:19:16 GMT http://bellydancebiz.tribe.net/thread/6eb873d0-4ccb-460f-9ba5-26ec302998c6#fc727c16-809d-4230-bcbd-ec3202d17976 $item.owner.firstName 2009-06-11T18:19:16Z http://bellydancebiz.tribe.net/thread/6eb873d0-4ccb-460f-9ba5-26ec302998c6#4e807a78-bb3d-4ca0-b8f8-81f0ecee49db Hi ladies I'd love some advice on a situation I'm finding myself in. My family has a house in another state that is driving distance from my home. Once a month I go up to stay with my parents and see my grandparents. I have been looking for places up in the area to see dancers or maybe even drop in on a class, but I have found nothing. I emailed a few local establishements to see if they had dancers and one emailed me back asking if I would be interested in dancing there. This would be a great use of the many hours of free time I have while stuck in the boonies, and I'm not averse to it, but I wonder if it's okay as far as community and territory goes. I've emailed a dancer I know from the state to ask what the price range is for the area before I meet with the owner, but I don't want people to think I'm moving in on their turf. I should include the caveat that the place in question has never had dancers before so it would be a new venue and I'm completely open to kicking the gig over to a local dancer if they start asking for more then the once monthly performance I can do. Any suggesionts, hints, advice? Thu, 11 Jun 2009 17:12:29 GMT http://bellydancebiz.tribe.net/thread/6eb873d0-4ccb-460f-9ba5-26ec302998c6#4e807a78-bb3d-4ca0-b8f8-81f0ecee49db Tanya 2009-06-11T17:12:29Z