The Holidays...they're heeeere!
For
many dancers, the holiday season is a usually huge moneymaker. There are oodles
of private gigs for Christmas, Hanukah and New Year’s Eve parties. There are
also many year-end corporate gigs, office parties, and charity events going on. Clubs
and restaurants are crowded and want more live entertainment than during other
times of the year, and patrons customarily tip more generously. The standard
rate for New Year’s Eve gigs used to
be triple what you’d normally receive, but with money being tight everywhere,
this sadly isn’t the case so much anymore. Though there is certainly an opportunity to
make bank during the holidays, it may also be an idea to think of what you are
forfeiting by doing those shows.
Since
we perform so often on holidays no matter what time of year, they usually don’t
seem like a day off for dancers.
To begin with, because of gigs, you are
spending your holiday away from loved ones. You dance at other people’s holiday
celebrations (not to mention birthday parties, weddings, graduation ceremonies,
etc.) year-round, but don’t celebrate those occasions yourself, because you are
working. During Christmastime through
New Year’s Eve, in order to work, you’re braving not only the weather, but also
bumper-to-bumper traffic, long lines at police sobriety checkpoints, and even
if you don’t imbibe at all you’re risking the potential hazards of others who are driving while under the influence.
I have always had a steadfast rule about my
holiday gigs- especially New Year’s Eve:
Just Say No. It doesn’t mean that I don’t accept holiday gigs- I do,
frequently. It’s just that I am ultra-choosy
about which ones I accept, as well as how I schedule them.
Though it might seem crazy, throughout the
years, the Just Say No policy has served me well. Unless I am absolutely certain I can get to and from a show (or
multiple shows) on time and get paid what I am worth, I’d rather stay home. That
means I won’t be spending the New Years Countdown stuck in traffic, stressing cause
I’m late for a show; or shivering in a drafty backstage or lonely hallway
waiting through endless techno renditions of “Auld Lang Syne” and lengthy
toasts to perform a set for a bunch of revelers who are only focused on where
their next glass of champers is coming from! Choose your holiday gigs wisely,
and decide for yourself it it’s worth the sacrifices you will inevitably make.
Another thing to think about is your own
safety- and I don’t mean the common-sense rules that usually apply, like
bringing an escort to a private gig or making sure you get a deposit in
advance. Holiday gigs present a variety of “hazards” that may not be present at
other times of the year. Specifically, I’m talking about things like open
flames from candles, spiky evergreen boughs, breakable glass ornaments, and
clusters of snaking extension cords for holiday lighting. While these all make
a home or restaurant pretty and enticing, they could be dangerous for you…so scope your performance space out
carefully, don’t get too close to anything that could break and cut you or snag
your costume – or set it on fire! And while you’re performing in a smaller
space, really try to get a bead on the drunks in the audience (they’re always
there, but even more so at this time of year!) and practice your crowd-control
skills…because you’ll need them!
During
this fun but oh-so-hectic season, make sure to take some much-needed “quality
time” to recharge your batteries and give back to yourself… even if it’s just spending time with your family, friends and
beloved pets, or stealing a few moments of quiet each day! A massage or a nice hot bath with Epsom salts
are great year-round, but a necessity at this time of year, so treat yourself
to some quiet relaxation, because you’ll need it!
#
In honor of the holidays, I’m
having a Black Friday-through-Cyber Monday sale… many of my DVD’s and my
new book “Showgirl Confidential” are on sale here:
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