Middle Eastern Dancing in a resturant

[bmlw]

I see there are several girls here that "belly dance".
What are your thoughts in performing at a resturant?
I have been offered a job...performing but when I went for the first show...they tip.....in the belt....this has got me bothered. I don't mind so much customers wanting to tip...say in a basket...kinda like a street performer to show appreciation. ..I didn't feel like a stripper or anything but was just enjoying the dance. It is a pricey place as to keep out the rift raft...but still have questions as to if this is crossing the line. I love dancing and enjoy performing but having trouble deciding if this is something that should be done.....thanks so much...

 

[deornie]

Sorry, somehow i managed to post the same thing twice... I am quite sure I only clicked it once...

 

[deornie]

Hi there!

I think it all depends on the rules and atmosphere of a place. I have frineds who do middle eastern dancing in restaurants, and I have done quite a few of their dancing videos.

Sometimes you get girl dancing in a costume stylized to look like middle eastern, but is just to reveal 'some skin', instead of creating an image of a 'princess'. They dance to 'belly dance music' but smth just vaguely reminds of middle eastern dance, but in fact is provocative more 'sexy' dance, that lacks the dignity and beauty of real dance.

My friend always says that she always dances like a lady, like a queen, with sence of dignity. Sometimes ppl do give her tips in the belt, suppose this is smth that is a standard in many restaurants, unless a restaurant has a stage. And she says that if it is a decent place, say, they dont have strip dancers, etc, then even if ppl put tips in the belt, it does not feel wrong, or indecent.

But if whole atmosphere of the place is so to say 'dodgy', when ppl do not see the dancer as an artist, but as, so to call it 'show-girl', then I suppose that must feel quite humiliating.

My friend does also latin dancing in restaurants, often with her husband, who is also a dancer, she has 2 beautiful kids, and won several dance competitions.

This question is smth you have to decide for yourself, if receiving tips in the belt feels degrading, then probably you should not do it. But if the whole atmosphere of the place is ok and you feel like an artist, a performer, not a 'thing', then it is ok.

Just look inside yourself, and you will know the answer!!

BESTEST OF LUCK AND BESTEST WISHES,

Lots of hugs and love from deornie.

Feel free to PM me if you have more questions.

 

[fazincik]

I am not so sure what "tips in the belt" means anybody want to explain

 

[pilarcruz]

The audience puts money in the belt of the costume.

 

[BoxBunny]

I am training currently to beginning dancing at a restaurant. I thought you might be interested in some of the tips my mentor has given me.

1. If you are comfortable receiving tips in the belt find some sort of cuff to go around your upper arm and place a dollar there before you begin dancing. Ebay sells a lot of snake bracelets that work well with costumes.

2. It is perfectly acceptable to simply hold out your hand elegantly if a patron makes a gesture to tip you in the belt. Do not grab the money from them, but make in known that you would prefer they hand you the dollar with a gesture.

3. Towards the end of a dance routine you may want to grab up a tamborine or basket and just finish with that.

4. Provide your own basket at the front of the door because many patrons will not feel comfortable tiping you in the costume.

5. Print up a flyer and place it near a the basket telling a litttle bit about Bellydance, yourself, and tiping etiquette. Be sure to include that it is NEVER okay to tip the bra of the dancer.

Another bit of advice is that if you are uncomfortable getting tipped in the costume avoid working Bachlor or Bachlorette parties at the restaurant if you can.

 

[inzone]

you go girl!