Here's a little thing about hiring a dancer.


What you think you're paying for : someone to do a little dance routine.

What you're actually paying for : someone to do a little dance routine,

PLUS

1. equipment
2. hours of rehearsal time
3. rehearsal space
4. burning the song to a cd
5. transportation/petrol to and from the venue
6. the amount of money they spent on
lessons/schools/trainings to be the
Dancers that they are
7. promotions and website cost
8. the percentages that goes to income tax
9. telephone & internet bills spent on
organizing the performance and its rehearsals
10. booking fee
11. manager/agent fee (if any)
12. insurance


not to mention
we still need to pay rent, car insurance, health insurance, housing bills, we also need to feed ourselves.


AND

we also run the risk of your guests ruining our costumes spilling red wine on the stage/floor. There.. Still think that offering 'exposure and experience' is a fair price? you wouldn't expect a plumber, carpenter, hairdresser, doctor, dentist, optician, electrician, chef, mechanic, dressmaker, shop owner to work for free would you?


PS : Respect every dancer. Our jobs aren't as petty and easy as it may seem. We do shit just like everybody else. If you ask yourself why artiste(singers, dancers, musicians, producers etc) charge so much for performances is pretty straight forward..
We don't get paid vacation, we don't get paid sick days, we don't get bonuses for outstanding performances nor for Raya. We don't have insurance plans nor do we qualify for unemployment. We sacrifice our family on special days so that we can bring happiness to others.

Illness or personal affairs are not excuses for a bad performance. Next time you ask, remember that artiste are artiste because of the love of music & art, but that love doesn't pay debts.