Thursday of next week I am going to be performing a mini-set at a local restaurant (Byblos in FW) Although I’ve performed in a restaurant before, that was a 5 minute solo in a show with a lot of other dancers. This time it is 20 minutes, and I’m sharing the evening with only two other people.
I am stressing so bad.
I am not in as good a shape as I want to be for this. I’m afraid I’m going to have a heart attack dancing for 20 minutes.
I am going to be doing some things I’m not very good at (playing zills while I dance & dancing to a drum solo) because those are required for a performance set.
I am going to be going out for body tips at the end of my set. I’ve never gone out for body tips.
:eek:
Someone tell me something nice to help me calm down, 'k?
I don’t know what a body tip is, but it sounds frightening. Don’t worry, hon. Keep repeating the following mantra: I will rock. I will rock. And given the tiny chance that I will NOT rock, I’ll never have to see those people again, so it doesn’t matter what they think of me.
Swiddles: A body tip is where they stick the tip in your costume. Yes, it’s a little sleazy. The restaurant owners tend to think the dancers are glorified strippers (Sorry, folks, but it doesn’t pay enough) Actually, they want the dancers to do more than what we do, but the good dancers refuse & usually management doesn’t insist. Body tips are a bit of a compromise. Belly Dancers put their own spin on the tipping - basically we mess with the tipper: just when the tipper is about to tip, the dancer will start shimmying or do a move that confuses the tipper. I’ve never done this before & don’t have anyone to practice on, so that’s part of why I’m nervous.
Chef, having someone dive for change is the other reason I’m nervous about body tips.
Like most things involving talent and training, most people are never going to know even if you do slip up (WHICH YOU WON’T). Heck, you could fall on your face and vomit and I’d think it was all part of the show…okay, maybe that’s a bad example. My point is that you are up there being cool and creative; something most, if not all, the audience hasn’t got the nerve or ability to do. You’ll impress the hell out of them.
As far as the tips? They’re going to get a charge out of it and it’ll be the big news at their work Friday morning–“Hey! Guess what I got to do!”
You’re giving them a treat. Wow…wish I could be there myself.
I hope you won’t be offended or hurt if no one here is surprised at how great you do…looks like everybody here has a lot of faith in you. best to you,struuter
zyada, don’t worry. Public appearances are nerve-wracking, but once you get up there, you realize “it’s not that bad!” At least that’s been my experience.
And like struuter said, even if you do make a mistake in a step or what not, who’s going to know?
But if you need some more practice, why don’t you practice on the SDMB? Start moving those hips in this thread, and we’ll tip you and give you pointers.
Woohoo girl you will knock them dead I know. Jitters are good for you. They show that you want to do your best. When the jitters aren’t there, you usually don’t do as good because you aren’t worried about your performance. I’m crossing everything I have for ya!
