F*ck the sell-out dancers
March 20th 2007 06:18
Alright, that's it. I've had enough of people ruining it for the local hip hop dancers and bboys/bgirls by polluting people's minds and making them think that we're only worth 50 bucks or less each for a standard 3-5 minute dance performance.
Don't get me wrong, I'm talking about real choreographed performances, not just a battle or a showcase battle. I tell organisers the rate and they basically say to me, "You've got to me kidding me". I couldn't give a fuck if we miss out on that gig - fuck the mentality of "well $50 is better than nothing because I love dancing so much, I'll do it for free". I will slap you with a 21inch dildo if you ever say shit like that to me or a promoter/organiser/pimp. We're worth more than that and a bag of Kettle chips (Herb & Spice to be exact), so stop selling yourself short, because in doing so, you're selling everyone else (i.e. the povo dancers) out too.
I used to be a sell-out like that. Well maybe not, because my level of dancing and of those who I was dancing with, weren't of a $100 per person standard, so fine. Charge what you think you are in value. The industry standard is just over $200 per person for a standard performance plus hourly rate for rehearsals.
So $100 is really good value. The problem is, people won't pay performers this much if they know others are charging $50 or even nothing to perform. And I'm talking about really good quality groups too.
I don't care if they have to spend a lot of money on the venue and other shit, which leaves a budget of $200-$300 for the dancers. They don't understand the time and effort put into a performance, which inludes choreography, rehearsal time, making the music and costumes. After all that, $50 isn't shit.
I'm not even gonna get into the whole "show-pony" thing, where the people who do get the gigs only do so because they can headspin or have an agent. That's a whole 'nother frustration which is the commercial side of things and because I work in that business, I know what the corporates are like, and what they want.
I blame the dancers, or those who represent them, as the main culprit for holding dancers back in the scene. Overworked and underpaid, kiss some ass or get laid, that's the hip hop dancer's way.
Don't get me wrong, I'm talking about real choreographed performances, not just a battle or a showcase battle. I tell organisers the rate and they basically say to me, "You've got to me kidding me". I couldn't give a fuck if we miss out on that gig - fuck the mentality of "well $50 is better than nothing because I love dancing so much, I'll do it for free". I will slap you with a 21inch dildo if you ever say shit like that to me or a promoter/organiser/pimp. We're worth more than that and a bag of Kettle chips (Herb & Spice to be exact), so stop selling yourself short, because in doing so, you're selling everyone else (i.e. the povo dancers) out too.
I used to be a sell-out like that. Well maybe not, because my level of dancing and of those who I was dancing with, weren't of a $100 per person standard, so fine. Charge what you think you are in value. The industry standard is just over $200 per person for a standard performance plus hourly rate for rehearsals.
So $100 is really good value. The problem is, people won't pay performers this much if they know others are charging $50 or even nothing to perform. And I'm talking about really good quality groups too.
I don't care if they have to spend a lot of money on the venue and other shit, which leaves a budget of $200-$300 for the dancers. They don't understand the time and effort put into a performance, which inludes choreography, rehearsal time, making the music and costumes. After all that, $50 isn't shit.
I'm not even gonna get into the whole "show-pony" thing, where the people who do get the gigs only do so because they can headspin or have an agent. That's a whole 'nother frustration which is the commercial side of things and because I work in that business, I know what the corporates are like, and what they want.
I blame the dancers, or those who represent them, as the main culprit for holding dancers back in the scene. Overworked and underpaid, kiss some ass or get laid, that's the hip hop dancer's way.
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Comment by Herb & Spice
Sacrilege!!
Comment by Trina
Hiphop
Confessions of a Serial Dancer
Competitions
Clubbing
Comment by Herb & Spice
If you're that good, you're better off moving overseas like US or the UK. That's where the money is for serious dancers.
Blame it on the country we're living in - where football and cricket are treated like religion and artistic stuff like dancing and singing are chucked in the category of gay ass sports (unless it's pub singing).
Like it or not, Australia is way behind and it'll stay that way if people here don't change their attitudes.
You wanna know why people will either dance for free or for a measly fee of $50? I'll tell you why. All forms of dance in this country (except dance, trance and techno) are still considered as underground cultures. Name one uppity club in Sydney that plays to hip hop music and will pay REAL dancers $1000 to dance in one night? NONE!!! These pretentious clubs will play to doosh doosh music and will probably pay less than a quarter of that fee to a couple of blonde bimbos who can't dance or booty pop for shit.
Comment by Trina
Hiphop
Confessions of a Serial Dancer
Competitions
Clubbing
Wow $1000 a night, sounds like a fantasy - not even corporate gigs pay that much. I hear ya! Toilet cleaners aye... I'm gonna look that up and bomb dance forums with this information. Thanks for the heads up. Do you dance?
Comment by Herb & Spice
Herb & Spice
Comment by Trina
Hiphop
Confessions of a Serial Dancer
Competitions
Clubbing
Comment by Herb & Spice
Comment by Trina
Hiphop
Confessions of a Serial Dancer
Competitions
Clubbing
Comment by Anonymous
My only advice is get some Bass and blow the street away - was a little too polite. reminded me of NYC in grand central where a crew comanded prescence by the volume of their set, 2 platforms away i could still hear it and everybody around was smiling. So don't be afraid turn up the volume and let us know your about.
from a bystander... good luck.!
Comment by Trina
Hiphop
Confessions of a Serial Dancer
Competitions
Clubbing