Yshka
New member
Ok I had a performance last night and have to vent. My performances were in different cities with only little time to travel between the two.
The first performance was in a village. I was dancing there with another dancer. We were supposed to be picked up at a quarter to nine PM, but after waiting for almost an hour at the trainstation they showed up. We were cold, and having a neck injury this is not nice, my muscles are all clenched and hurt today. I cannot move my neck properly.
When the co-organisers got there, I told them I wasn't quite happy having to wait that long. They apologised but on the way to the car, the co-organisers started arguing in front of us about how one of them could have picked us up earlier, blablabla...
Finally when we got to the place we were supposed to perform in with only 30 minutes left before I had to leave again for the other performance.
We got dressed and decided I'd do the first 15 minutes show. After the performance I talked to one of the co-organisers again, and like before, as I talked he glanced at other people nearby and gave them weird looks that were obviously about me, like he wasn't taking me serious. My sense of respect for them decreased but I remained calm and professional about the entire thing. I talked to him again later to get the payment settled, which went alright. I had to leave by then and the other dancer needed my cd (I had one for the entire night plus some back ups, but not all of my music was on backup and she had no backups at all of her music). To make sure she'd be ok I left my cd with her and made sure a taxi was arranged to get her back to the railway station.
The co-organisers were very seemingly irritated. I then just talked business to them before leaving. My friend was to perform later on but the main organiser insisted on a 15 minute break. A pole dancing stripper came out:shok:. I was dumbstruck as I'd just danced and the other dancer had her show right after the stripper.. But I couldn't stay around either having other oligations.
From what I have heard the other dancer handled it perfectly and was very conscious not to 'cross any lines', which is already harder after such a show.. I very much admire her for that.
After my show, the other dancer told me I had an 'attitute' towards the co-organisers and should have just laughed everything off, I should have been nicer, etc. I got confused. I had talked to her about my frustrations in the dressingroom more freely, but had not shown them explicitly to the co-organisers (except for the running late thing, but we had settled that in the car, no hard feelings IMO). I had handled everything correctly though I couldn't stand any longer laughing about it all and acting like it was okay to treat me that way and give me strange looks. It had been a big misunderstanding, nobody was to blame.
What should I have done?? The other dancer told me I was going to loose this client if I didn't smile about a bit, but what was there to smile about?? They were not very nice to me and looked annoyed the entire time, still I remained calm and as kind as I could be at that point, and took care of the business part in a correct fashion IMO. Also, this other dancer thought it was rude of me to ask about payment issues etc.
Is it?? I have had clients try to not pay me at all and one time I went along with the other dancer the organiser was just postponing payment, and she was afraid to ask.
This dancer is a dear friend of mine, but less experienced in performances and everything that comes with. She insisted I should have been "nice and smily" to the organisers because they should think "oh, this person is really nice..".
Now I'm just freaked out and confused. What have I done that is so wrong?? Never have I treated this client inapropriately or with disrespect, and still the other dancer told me I had to just smile it off??
Is it normal to just have organisers treat you anyway they like and not be allowed to say anything in case you might loose them as a client? I have performed before and have had to deal with payment and organisers, and I have done nothing but act in a professional maner, being serious but kind.
I feel we have to treat our clients properly, but they must have equal respect for us also right?
I haven't talked to my teacher about it since she is abroad, but have mailed her about my experiences last night and hope to receive some feedback soon. I need to talk to her about this when she gets back some time this week. On one hand this is difficult, it was her gig but she gave it to me. I would not want to cause trouble for her (though I know she has never dealt with these people before and probably will not either judging by the kind of event, backyard party involving stripper).
On the other hand I feel like I have handled everything in a correct way and should not be blamed for not 'smiling at the organisers enough'. Should Am I wrong here? Should I feel guilty for not having responded all smily and brainless to someone who was not being cooperative and didn't take me seriously? I hate this situation and I really feel bad.
So one should just be all smiley and nice, and if one talks business all of a sudden it's their 'attitude' playing up?? Come on... We have also not had any trouble with the main organiser. His family members (co-org) were the ones picking us up and acting strangely.
I'm sorry for the long post but I had to get it off my chest. I just don't know what to think about all this. I hope some of you more experienced performers can tell me what you think. Thanks so much!
The first performance was in a village. I was dancing there with another dancer. We were supposed to be picked up at a quarter to nine PM, but after waiting for almost an hour at the trainstation they showed up. We were cold, and having a neck injury this is not nice, my muscles are all clenched and hurt today. I cannot move my neck properly.
When the co-organisers got there, I told them I wasn't quite happy having to wait that long. They apologised but on the way to the car, the co-organisers started arguing in front of us about how one of them could have picked us up earlier, blablabla...
Finally when we got to the place we were supposed to perform in with only 30 minutes left before I had to leave again for the other performance.
We got dressed and decided I'd do the first 15 minutes show. After the performance I talked to one of the co-organisers again, and like before, as I talked he glanced at other people nearby and gave them weird looks that were obviously about me, like he wasn't taking me serious. My sense of respect for them decreased but I remained calm and professional about the entire thing. I talked to him again later to get the payment settled, which went alright. I had to leave by then and the other dancer needed my cd (I had one for the entire night plus some back ups, but not all of my music was on backup and she had no backups at all of her music). To make sure she'd be ok I left my cd with her and made sure a taxi was arranged to get her back to the railway station.
The co-organisers were very seemingly irritated. I then just talked business to them before leaving. My friend was to perform later on but the main organiser insisted on a 15 minute break. A pole dancing stripper came out:shok:. I was dumbstruck as I'd just danced and the other dancer had her show right after the stripper.. But I couldn't stay around either having other oligations.
From what I have heard the other dancer handled it perfectly and was very conscious not to 'cross any lines', which is already harder after such a show.. I very much admire her for that.
After my show, the other dancer told me I had an 'attitute' towards the co-organisers and should have just laughed everything off, I should have been nicer, etc. I got confused. I had talked to her about my frustrations in the dressingroom more freely, but had not shown them explicitly to the co-organisers (except for the running late thing, but we had settled that in the car, no hard feelings IMO). I had handled everything correctly though I couldn't stand any longer laughing about it all and acting like it was okay to treat me that way and give me strange looks. It had been a big misunderstanding, nobody was to blame.
What should I have done?? The other dancer told me I was going to loose this client if I didn't smile about a bit, but what was there to smile about?? They were not very nice to me and looked annoyed the entire time, still I remained calm and as kind as I could be at that point, and took care of the business part in a correct fashion IMO. Also, this other dancer thought it was rude of me to ask about payment issues etc.
Is it?? I have had clients try to not pay me at all and one time I went along with the other dancer the organiser was just postponing payment, and she was afraid to ask.
This dancer is a dear friend of mine, but less experienced in performances and everything that comes with. She insisted I should have been "nice and smily" to the organisers because they should think "oh, this person is really nice..".
Now I'm just freaked out and confused. What have I done that is so wrong?? Never have I treated this client inapropriately or with disrespect, and still the other dancer told me I had to just smile it off??
Is it normal to just have organisers treat you anyway they like and not be allowed to say anything in case you might loose them as a client? I have performed before and have had to deal with payment and organisers, and I have done nothing but act in a professional maner, being serious but kind.
I feel we have to treat our clients properly, but they must have equal respect for us also right?
I haven't talked to my teacher about it since she is abroad, but have mailed her about my experiences last night and hope to receive some feedback soon. I need to talk to her about this when she gets back some time this week. On one hand this is difficult, it was her gig but she gave it to me. I would not want to cause trouble for her (though I know she has never dealt with these people before and probably will not either judging by the kind of event, backyard party involving stripper).
On the other hand I feel like I have handled everything in a correct way and should not be blamed for not 'smiling at the organisers enough'. Should Am I wrong here? Should I feel guilty for not having responded all smily and brainless to someone who was not being cooperative and didn't take me seriously? I hate this situation and I really feel bad.
So one should just be all smiley and nice, and if one talks business all of a sudden it's their 'attitude' playing up?? Come on... We have also not had any trouble with the main organiser. His family members (co-org) were the ones picking us up and acting strangely.
I'm sorry for the long post but I had to get it off my chest. I just don't know what to think about all this. I hope some of you more experienced performers can tell me what you think. Thanks so much!