A few weeks ago, I was contacted by a local business wanting to know if I could do an Introduction Belly Dance Class for their employee’s and the end result on what they wanted was to say the least shocking and did not turn out as I would have hoped. The end result was that this business asked me to hold a 1 hour class for at least 18 or so women for free!! Yes, I said that word, FREE!! Let me ask all of you one question, who out there would work for free at your job at this day and age? Anyone?
Being in the entertaining business, we sometimes come across those who do not understand that this is our profession and that we are professionals. It is obvious that neither people who want something for free, first do not care nor are they educated about what we do and how much time, money and effort we put into our business. Yes, my belly dancing is my business, I wear several hats that of a dancer and a business women and to be able to make a profit, just like any other business. I have heard from not only many other dancers, but singers and musicians who are asked the same thing; will you perform for free? I have found also that in the past when someone asks me to do something for free, there is no benefit that I get out of it and it does not pay. You might say it is free advertising, but in reality it isn’t due to the fact that when someone wants something for free they are not supportive of you or your worth and they will not help you spread the word because it is too much work and takes time and someone who is not willing to pay for your expertise is not going to value what you do and spread the word to others, unfortunately this is how it is.
What is our worth? When we are hired out to perform whether it is for a birthday, wedding or organization it is important to know that you are paying for the preparation that goes into that performance or class and the time that is spent in that 20 minute performance and or hour class. Before any performance or class there is preparation that needs to be done in order to give my clients and students the best for their money. We spend many hours preparing the music, choreography’s, curriculum, costuming and last but not least traveling and gas to the event and preparation leading up to the event takes a lot of time and money. The list though does not stop here and any dancer will tell you that you get what you pay for and when someone hires me they will get the best out of the best in quality and professionalism. This is my business and I take it very seriously. Being an artist it takes a lot of not only my time and money and I spend money on rent, dance training, music, props, makeup, advertising, computers, software, website expenses, business cards, supplies for classes such as folders, music cd’s, dvd’s, ink, printers and so much more. Then there are the many hours that I spend on training and studying, editing music, adjusting and fixing costumes, engaging with clients and lastly working and performing.
Lastly, asking anyone to do something for free in today’s world is inappropriate and that my time in preparation and dancing is very much well worth the price those we dancers do charge. In fact, It think we sometimes do not charge enough and we have to be careful when it comes to how much to charge. My dancing is not a hobby anymore, even though, yes, I do enjoy it. It is my profession and my job and I treat it as such.
As Leyla Najma put it in her blog on Shades of Grey; Leyla Najma’s Hip Phylosphy; I need to ask this, “Do you work for free at your office? Would you like it if your boss said, I want you to travel and do this work for me but I can’t pay you so you’ll have to pay for all your expenses out of your own pocket?” What would be her response…?
You can read Leylas blog at: http://leyla-najma.net/3086/shades-grey/