Charges to participate in a student show?

Casi started this discussion · 4/28/2015

Hey all, my pole school has announced it will hold a show to celebrate its 14th anniversary, and they have invited students to sign up to perform. I was nervous about it, but also a little excited, thinking it would be a really good challenge for me, a shy, one-year poler. Until, that is, I saw the cost to participate. It's the peso equivalent of $180US to do a solo performance ($136/girl in larger groups). This seems really high to me, especially considering that it equates to the cost of 34 regular classes. The school says this rate is to cover the cost of the facilities, plus private sessions with an instructor to help you choreograph a routine. They haven't said how many hours of personal instruction we'll get. We also have to sell 10 tickets at $11 each or make up the difference. I don't know ten people here I'd invite to watch me pole, so I'd likely be on the hook for more money with the tickets as well. The other four advanced girls from the school tell me they have already signed up for singles or doubles routines, so I guess I am the only one questioning the cost. Is this how student shows work at other schools? Maybe this is all reasonable if you factor in the private sessions with an instructor to develop a routine? Has anyone else been in a student show that worked this way? I have to decide whether to sign up by April 30, but I'm really torn. Cheers.

11 replies

hookedonpole · 4/29/2015
Wow, maybe others will be able to give input. Is the pole school renting a bigger or different venue to have the show? Who is instructor(s) giving privates for routine? I've been part of showcase at two different studios and know of a few others in surrounding area. The shows are at the studio so no cost to performers. Only fee for spectators and performers are not responsible for selling a minimum or make up difference. We are encouraged to invite others, and we do like doing that! Also, those who want help with routine/choreography set up their own privates as often as they like and with who they want. I agree it would be good challenge, as it took me almost 10 years of poling to do simple routine. I never had interest in performing, but finally tried it. I will do a couple this year again, even though my routines are simple and basic, I am stepping out of comfort zone. Not knowing all the details, this seems a little steep and many financial requirements to participate. Hopefully others can give input.
Casi · 4/29/2015
Thanks for your input. Yes, they must be renting another venue because our studio is very small. And if they insist every participant bring ten guests, it's going to need to be a giant space. The instructors will just be our regular class instructors.
CD Hussey fka Jivete · 4/29/2015
That sounds crazy to me. The only way it would remotely make sense is if everyone is buying matching performance gear. Otherwise, no.
AllysonKendal · 4/29/2015
I agree that seems very high. I would think it would be free to participate?!?! If there is some deal with private lessons I would make sure you get that in writing! I'm not saying anyone is trying to screw you over, but sooooo many times you think you and someone else are on the same page and because its not in writing you end up remembering the conversation. It might come off like "as many lessons as you need to make sure you're prepared" and that may end up being as many lessons as THEY think you need, not what YOU think you need to feel comfortable and confident. And if you're like me, you have a hard time saying "No, I need more, this is not what I paid for" :) Anyway, I'd really try and get a better sense of what this showcase will include before agreeing to pay anything! Let us know what you end up deciding!
epsilonte · 4/29/2015
That sounds really expensive. OO I guess it's because they need another venue, but still... I think it's odd that you as the performers are expected to pay so much for the venue. I danced at the 5-year-birthday-party of my studio, but it was free (for everyone, attending and performing, with cake and all that stuff) and inside the studio itself. There were about 70 people attending and 7 performing. But we didn't take/get any private lessons (at least I didn't, I pretty much freestyled 60% of my song and just met with a two of the other performing girls two days before at home to practice our "routines" xD). So, I second what Allyson says, get everything in writing and ask any questions you might have.
joiceiamara · 4/29/2015
I danced once in an event from my studio for an external audience, in a theater, and it was free of charge. My studio is also small (it only supports five girls per class) and still we didn't pay to do dance. We had sponsorship and the routine was made by ourselves and our instructor during class....
Casi · 4/29/2015
Thanks everyone for the feedback, good to know I'm not crazy. This just doesn't seem to make sense at all. I really like the people who own my studio, and their classes are some of the cheapest around if you buy the annual packet, so I keep thinking I must be missing something. I don't think they would just be trying to scan us. But surely the venue rental doesn't cost more than a couple hundred dollars. I'll wait and see what they respond on the private lessons, and on my question of whether I could pay for those with multiple class credits instead of cash. I'm still baffled that my Mexican classmates are fine with paying this!
RobynPoleDancer · 4/29/2015
I'm not agreeing with the charges, they do seem high (that's higher than if you were competing etc). But from experience as a studio owner and event organiser, there are a number of frustrations with organising events like this. 1. Amateur dancers / students agreeing to take part, and later pulling out because they either get nervous, or don't work on their routine enough to want to perform it (or other reasons that are equally frustrating to the organiser). If you've told people they are going to get a 2-hour show for their money, but then 1/3 of your amateurs drop out, you might get some disappointed audience members. 2. Students taking part, but not even inviting their boyfriend, or family or friends to come and watch them. (I DO think 10 tickets is a LOT to try and shift though!). As the organiser, I can't advertise directly to my students' family, I don't have "access" to them. Surely it's better to perform to your F&F and interested people, than for the organiser to have to advertise and sell tickets to the general (unknown) public. [just imagine advertising "pole dancing show!!!" to the general public, what kind of people do you expect to attend?] I'm just trying to think from the other side of the coin. Because these are both problems that happen to my events, and I've been wondering for a while how to combat the drop-outs and expectation that even *I* have enough friends that I can invite to watch amateurs they don't know!
makasha · 4/29/2015
I agree, that amount sounds really high. On the other hand, what kind of venue and what kind of poles will be used? I know that professional rigging and poles is NOT cheap, but if it's a conference room-type of place and using stage poles that the studio owner owns, then that's not so much a consideration. $50 is the most I've ever paid to perform, but that is for a LARGE audience in a LARGE venue with professional rigging, lighting, optional judges feedback, photography and video, etc. I wish you luck though! Performing can be very empowering.
Casi · 4/30/2015
So they haven't gotten back to me yet with answers to my questions, but unless something changes, I won't be participating. Really, it seems like what this comes down to is that they are selling packages of eight or ten private lessons with a show at the end. But, if that's the case, they really should have marketed it that way and not as a school-wide show with exorbitant prices for participation. As for the details, they will need to rent a space, but they shouldn't need poles or any other equipment. They already organize shows for other people and have all the sound and light gear and portable x-poles. I went to a Christmas student show they managed for another pole school and that is what I was expecting: low key and fun, with student and teacher performers, and only about 30 spectators who were all friends and family. It's a pity they aren't doing the same at our studio, because I do believe those of you who said performing is empowering. As a shy person, I think it would really have been a good step for me. I love pole so much and am proud of the skills I've developed, so it's the first thing I would have risked putting myself out there to perform publicly(cellulite and all!). I guess I'll have to wait for a better opportunity. Cheers.
PenelopeAnn · 4/30/2015
I own a studio, specialising in bellydancing, pole dancing & fire dancing. We've done an annual student showcase every year since 2004. Our shows are usually in a theatre and the costs of putting on a show are substantially higher than most people would ever guess! Having said that, I've never charged my students to participate in any show - this is their opportunity to show off their hard work and how much they've improved. I expect my ladies to sell 5 tickets each, and book our venue based on an audience size of 5 times the number of dancers. Our total expected costs divided by the number of tickets available gives the ticket selling price. Everyone in the studio takes part in the showcase. All classes learn a choreographed dance during their normal lessons (even the beginners) which they perform, and I invite advanced dancers to do solos/duet, which I work on with them at no extra cost to them. Most of the ladies organise their own costumes, although my pro troupe and some smaller groups/duets design a group costume which they each pay for and keep afterwards. Our shows are not intended to make money - as long as they cover the costs of putting on a show (which they don't always do!), I'm happy. I can understand studio owners wanting to make a profit though. Shows are flipping hard work for the producer/promoter/director, and they should get compensated for that! For me though, it's far more important that the students get a chance to become the best dancers they can be, and getting a chance to perform really helps them with that!