![\"Terry](\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art55\/graphics55\/TerryPetra.jpg\")
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I think we can be assured that Randa<\/span>, Dina<\/a><\/span> and Asmahan<\/span> do not\u00a0 have a dialogue about what to charge (after they pay their teams of musicians, dressers, managers etc).\u00a0 Nor did Nagwa<\/a><\/span>, Mona<\/a><\/span>, or Fifi<\/a> <\/span>share tea over the subject. They charged what they wanted, what their fans would pay. If they didn’t get what they wanted, I doubt seriously that any of those fanan<\/em>, current or past, would fall below their own established rates.<\/p>\n I grew up in a time where we didn’t discuss our fees; it was a time when you didn’t talk politics with people you didn’t know or even ask them about it. It was also a time before one could look on line and find out incomes and pensions of county workers.\u00a0 It was long before you could look online at a menu of prices on a dancer\u2019s website. In theory, I concur with others who have written about this before:\u00a0 yes, we should agree on a starting price.\u00a0 Undercutting happens, and it is wrong! <\/p>\n \u00a0However, in the real world, I think that, as professionals, we shouldn’t dance for less.\u00a0 In fact, maybe we should charge more!<\/p>\n \nConsider the budding student of dance who undercuts the professional at a restaurant gig.\u00a0 If the restaurant or club stays open long enough, and she works there long enough, it will become obvious that she’s not a professional in so many ways.\u00a0 She may pick the wrong music (such as using Debke for a Greek audience or a Loreena McKennitt song for the Lebanese Association Valentine’s dinner) …you get my drift.\u00a0 She might call in at the last minute and cancel, or worse, not show-up, because something else \u201ccame up\u201d.\u00a0 She won’t know how to cover for the mishap that often can happen early in a performer’s career, making it part of her show …costume malfunctions,\u00a0 customers who are out-of-line, music mishaps, musician misunderstandings. (Don’t ask; I won’t tell!) God forbid, she might even perform a second set without charging! She won’t be able to respond in a cultural context to her audience, etc. Eventually, it will become obvious. Even the costumers will be able to tell. If the establishment has a reputation of any kind, she won’t be there long.\u00a0 In comparison, a professional dancer will help an establishment!\u00a0 Her performance will encourage repeat business for the owners as well as develop her following of fans.\u00a0 <\/p>\n Undercutting also occurs within the general public.<\/span><\/p>\n I recall an agency with which I used to contract. There was a fee schedule for women who looked like Belly dancers (They just dressed up like one and added to the atmosphere!) and a different one for \u201creal\u201d dancers. The agent was sensitive and savvy enough to realize there was a difference!\u00a0 With the vast amount of online advertising that promotes Belly dancers today, I think the sharpest\u00a0 web-page layouts and top search results, along with a cheaper price (and of course, the visual appeal) are what will appeal to mainstream.\u00a0 For some dancers, this might be their most effective gig generator.\u00a0 In contrast, the performer of yesteryear developed her following and reputation by working a lot, and hence, word-of-mouth was how her reputation was developed; it was not created by a website. This was the time (for me anyway) during which a dancer could charge and receive what she charged with ease–without\u00a0 \u201cshopping around\u201d or \u201cGoogling\u201d for a cheaper price that occurs today.<\/p>\n \u00a0The Internet presence has created a whole new style of \u201celitism\u201d in the dance world. <\/p>\n Its standards are Photoshop, high-end graphics, certification, and merchandise. All of this requires an amount of assertiveness for\u00a0 a dancer who has relied previously on talent, ethics, and authenticity to be considered valuable and command the attention of the general public as it surfs the web.<\/p>\n Like other industries–music, musicians, singers, comedians, sports and athletes (especially)–name their price and get it (…amazingly, even though more than half the world’s population lives in poverty).\u00a0 You can engage a cover-band for approximately two thousand dollars to appear at a wedding and play Rolling Stones<\/span> tunes, but you can’t get the Stones to come for that small amount!<\/p>\n In the San Francisco Bay Area particularly, yes, there has been undercutting.\u00a0 For 20 plus years, I have not only had my own, long-established gigs, but I have \u201csubbed\u201d for my dancer friends and club owner friends.\u00a0 My dance buddies like my track record because I would never steal their gigs, and club owners like it because they know they will get what they pay for.\u00a0 There are some places for which I will no longer substitute; they are paying dancers the same (if not less) than what I have previously charged them.\u00a0 (This is not just last year’s price, but the price of a dance a decade ago.)<\/p>\n Advanced students and budding professionals will work occasionally for significantly less money than established dance personalities. The consumer will pay what he wants, and will receive what he pays for.\u00a0 There are some consumers with discriminating tastes who are happy to pay a professional dancer. <\/p>\n I think the \u201cfananas\u201d<\/em> out there who have been working their art for some time and have cultivated long standing relationships with their clients, would be reluctant to keep within an \u201cagreed industry standard\u201d.<\/p>\n You don’t want to rob anyone of his or her hard earned dollars, but your art shouldn’t be given away.\u00a0 Your prices for real dancing shouldn’t be less than \u201ca walk-around\u201d from an agency, or less than what you have charged in the past.\u00a0 Therefore, teachers, tell your students.\u00a0 Dancers, talk to other professionals in your area (…or check their websites)! Check the current rates.<\/p>\n Nowadays, there are a variety of venues to perform, with a variety of distinctions in the dance and the dancer.\u00a0 <\/p>\n I say let the consumer beware….you get what you pay for.\u00a0 If you want a 20 thousand dollar Scion Toyota, you can get one; if you want to pay more for a BMW you can get one of those. <\/p>\n \n\t\t<\/p>\n Have a comment? Use or comment section at the bottom of this page or Send us a letter!<\/a> Ready for more?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \t\t\t<\/p>\n![\"use](\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/graphics\/acommentbox.jpg\")
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\nCheck the "Letters to the Editor<\/a>" for other possible viewpoints!<\/p>\n\n\n