Here are some thoughts to consider before quitting your day job and jumping into the scary abyss that is the business of the belly dance world .
1 . KNOW YOURSELF ! Who are you ? Are you high energy , outgoing , or shy and demure ? Your personality traits will have a lot to do with your success as a selfemployed dance artist . You need to have self-assurance . Your product is not a book or a car … it is YOU . Do you feel okay selling yourself ? How do you do this without sounding like you are bragging ? There is a fine balance between selling the product that is you without sounding overbearing . Do you have strong entrepreneurial skills ? Do you prefer weekly paychecks with benefits over the “ excitement ” of waiting for a dance contract to come through ? A dancer needs to be extremely financially savvy ! Know your budget and your bills . A nice savings account is always handy .
2 . WHO IS YOUR AUDIENCE ? For instance , if you are a young , athletic dancer , your audiences may be more nightclub style . If you are an established , mature dancer , you may appeal to the senior centers , seminar shows , or lecture circuit . You may be suited to teaching more than performing . Consider outlying dance professions , such as vending , sewing , and creating costumes , computer technical help , etc . Know where your appeal , your market , and your interests lie .
3 . WHAT IS YOUR BODY TYPE ? Pretending to be a body type you are not is particularly awkward . Costume yourself carefully . Be objective and pragmatic about your physical attributes and negatives . Don ’ t fall into the trap that a costume will work for you just because it is gorgeous on the mannequin . For instance , if you are tiny and slim , a huge , padded bra cup is silly . If you are large in frame , wearing a tiny , string costume is distracting . Pay attention to flattering lines , fabrics , and designs to help you look your best . Ask for outside , objective help as to what works for you onstage . After all , we all want to look gorgeous and feel super comfortable and confident once we hit the stage !
4 . BASIC COMPUTER SAVVY : In today ’ s world , to be a successful artist and entrepreneur , you must be handy with a computer . Are you comfortable in the social media arena ? Do you know how to send your show music to your sponsor ? It is most important to start developing a mailing list and a worldwide media presence and your computer is your friend in this task of building a fan base . Using the web is a super cheap way to market yourself but it does take time .
5 . PEOPLE SKILLS : Working well with people is a must . Handling crazy audience members , macho club owners , irritating students , and disorganized wedding planners are a huge part of necessary people skills . ( These problems can be lessened if you have the money to hire a manager !) You will also need a tough skin to brush off negative comments about your product that happens to be you . No matter how perfect you are , this will happen . It is hard not to take things personally . All artists in the public eye will experience this hurtful part of show business .
6 . BASIC BUSINESS MANNERS : Do you know how to respond to a digital contract ? Are you prompt in returning leads or do you tend to procrastinate ? Have you learned how to ask for money ? Knowing your worth and the going prices in your community , as well as writing thank you notes , are just a few ways to build your network . Don ’ t forget to support other dancers , sponsors , musicians , and vendors . Our business is very “ incestuous ”. Everyone talks and we are a tight community . Don ’ t develop a “ diva ” persona . The word will get around and your phone will stop ringing . Building relationships is # 1 for having enduring success .
7 . MUSIC … MUSIC … MUSIC : The importance of being musically smart can never be underestimated . Know your teaching or performance music inside and out . Know the history of your chosen song . If you choose a song with foreign lyrics , you must find out what those words say ! Do not make a mistake of dancing soulfully to a song about taking cattle to market .
8 . PRIORITIES : Be aware that very difficult life decisions will need to be made along the way of becoming a professional dancer . Getting into a marriage or close relationship with someone can be very distracting to your career ! Is your partner confident enough to not be jealous or competitive ? Having a family and rearing children is particularly challenging to a dancer . Not only will your physical body change , your daily schedule will
56 The Belly Dance Chronicles � September 2022