After a request for any tips about restaurant dancing I've been thinking about it a little. I'm by no means an expert having only done about a dozen or so gigs over the years. I've usually been too busy to take on a regular gig and they can be hard work and not very well paid either- but they can be a wonderful opportunity to hone your skills and learn while geting paid. And if you love intereacting with the public it can be great fun.
Dancing in a restaurant (or a dinner function) can be quite complicated unless you have a regular spot with them and know what they are after, so the best first step is to acertain what they expect from you, and also to find out practical things like what music system they have, ceiling heights, stairs, stage/space and also to agree a price for performing.
Usually restaurants want someone to entertain their diners, but not to harrass them! There is a delicate balance between having fun with the diners and knowing when to keep your distance from those who just aren't interested. Sometimes diners don't know you are going to be there and plainly are embarrassed or aren't interested- they usually look away or keep their heads down. The ones to intereact with are those nodding their heads to the music and grinning at you! You will also need to check out if there is enough room for sticks/veils, and what the floor surface is like.
When you have chatted with the restaurant owners you can then decide if it works for you. I made the mistake early on in my career of being available constantly and dancing whenever needed, and consequnelty was exhausted at the end of the night! Now I usually suggest that I do two or three sets of about 15/20 mins through out the evening, with a change of costume, music and props each time- about 3/4 tracks each. this can of course be flexible- if diners are really enjoying it you maybe able to add another track on the end of your set.And you will need someone from the restaurant to operate your music, stopping between tracks for you to catch your breath and pick props up. Alternatively you can arrange the tracks on a copy disc with a gap of a few secs between- and sometimes I have taken a friend along who has done the music for me. And arrange with the organisers when to do the sets- usually between courses and towards the end of the meal works best. Find out if the restaurant want you to get people up to dance with you, and also if there is anyone special- like a bride/groom/birthday boy you need to focus on. and whether there will be a cake or birthday gift you can help deliver.
Improvisation is a must for restaurant work! You can do choreographed dances too, but often the space available is not suitable, and flexibility is the name of the game! You may find yourself dodging waiters, tables and customers, while smiling and not losing your step so you can see why a choreography may not work. A set piece could work as an opener but then improv would work better afterwards. One important thing I have found out is that as a restaraunt dancer you can't afford to have a big ego that needs to be stroked! Some restuarants see you as just another employee and expect you to fit in around the food and customers which are most important. Your job is to entertain, and that may mean intereacting with the diners, getting them up to join in and having some playful fun. If you are comfortable with cheeky eye contact and getting close to the customers to have a joke that's great, but you will need to have a clear idea of your boundaries and may occasionally have to take control of unruly/drunk diners who might think you are offerring them something more than you had bargained for! In some cultures it is considered acceptable to put money into the bra or belt of a dancer, or simply throw it at her. You need to decide how much of this is acceptable to you. If offerred money I usually point to my belt or help guide their hands so they are not tempted to stuff it down my bra! DON'T stop to pick it up off the floor...looks tacky! Get someone else to do that for you! And if people want to dance with you, I suggest holding their hands only, and not allowing them to touch other parts of your body like bare waist, leg, chest etc! Peoples boundaries get a little fuzzy under the influence of alcohol and messages can get confused- this also means I advise you not to drink before your performance so you remain on the ball and in control at all times!!
Other things to consider are- how revealing your costumes are and what to wear depending on the customers age, preference etc. I also take shimmy belts to put on customers, and if there is a bride or birthday girl/boy they get a specially shiny or noisy belt, and sometimes a veil. Make sure you remember to collect them before you go, as well as your music!
And finally, don't be afraid to approach the owners to get paid! Don't allow yourself to be bullied to accepting less - always agree a price beforehand, and if possible confirm it by email or letter. And a big no-no is don't undercut other dancers- it's very unprofessional and damages others employment opportunities, plus sends a negative message out to employers and other dancers.
I'd be interested to hear if any of you other dancers out there have any comments to add to this or observations, as I know there are many people out there with much more experience than I. We can always learn from each other!
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