Eight Million People...and One Lonely, Depressed NYC Dancer

Yes...its true, NYC is a fun, amazing, energetic and vibrant city. In many ways, it is the cultural and artistic epicenter of the world. You would think that with all the opportunities that the city has to offer, dancers would always have something on their plates to keep them occupied and busy. But here's the reality...unless you are being pro-active, seeking out these opportunities and experiences, getting your face out there at auditions, going to class, "the city" doesn't care whether you leave your apartment, get out of bed, or quit and move back home. NYC isn't going to come to your door and ask you if everything is going OK, how it can help you acheive your dancer dreams, or how it can make things easier for you. Lets just say that when it comes to dancers, NYC doesn't have the best customer service reputation. But it's the biggest love-hate relationship you will ever face. I can't tell you how many times I have dragged my tired feet/body/mind home and felt like NYC just chewed me up and spit me out...and then you get up and do it all over again the next day. Under these circumstances, it is easy to see why lots of dancers would rather just curl up under the covers and stay in bed all day. Donald Trump said, "Going through tough times is a wonderful thing, and everyone should try it. Once." What's interesting about this, is that he doesn't specify how long these "tough times" may be. In other words, you may be struggling in NYC for a year and a half before you book something and things turn out OK. In the meantime, trust me when I say you will have learned such valuable lessons about yourself, others, and life in general. These are lessons that money CANNOT BUY. And as hard as it is to see the "value" in being broke and having nothing but hope and dreams keeping you afloat, in the end, all the deposits you have made into the investment of your life will pay off. And don't worry, these are the rules of life, which apply to everyone, no one is exempt. The most you can do, is try to minimize the amount of hardship that you subject yourself to by preparing, making smart decisions before you get to the city, hit the ground running, having realistic expectations as far as the possible timeframe, being very objective about your skill level, staying positive in the thick of it, and refusing to ever throw in the towel and give up. The things I just mentioned are the only areas you have any control over. Anything outside of that is beyond your realm of influence and it makes no sense to stress about it. Keep your head up, cuz no one else is gonna do it for you!!

"This is the blessing of humankind, what separates us from the animals: to dream."
Hugh Hefner

The Low Down On Prod. Cos...

In addition, to helping with the psychological side of the NYC dance scene(keeping yourself positive and optimistic), in this blog, I also want to highlight other avenues that utilize your unique talents as a dancer...preferably ones that involve getting paid!! Unlike other touristy spots(eg Orlando, LA, Las Vegas), there are relatively fewer...how shall I phrase this..."gigs" that look for and employ dancers in NYC. In LA and Orlando, even if you aren't in a Broadway Touring Cast, even Equity members are eligible to work at Theme Parks, Dinner Shows, and atmosphere entertainment. Las Vegas also has many entertainment venues that offer jobs for dancers, even though they aren't considered "high profile." In NYC though, there exists very well paid jobs on Broadway, even fewer off-Bway paying gigs, and more non-paying revues, showcases, dance companies than you could ever dream of. So if your life-long ambition has been to dance purely for the love of it...NYC is the place for you!!!! However, if you actually want to get paid for what you do, well then, you gotta get creative, be persistent, and be willing to think outside the box. So what I'm I saying? I am suggesting that until you get a break and lock your big Broadway star contract, you might consider being the dancing star of...drumroll please...some 13 year old kid's bar mitzvah. OH WAIT, that's not glamorous enough for you...sorry, get used to it. I can count on one hand the number of non-Bway gigs that employ trained dancers, and let me put it this way...while it isn't stripping, good technique isn't their top priority. See, in Vegas or Orlando, there is TONS of work, that mom and dad can actually come and watch you do. So you can be working AS A DANCER in a Disney show, Universal show, shows at Treasure Island hotel, etc. But in NYC, the fluff touristy shows don't really cut it when they are up against Broadway caliber performers and producers. OK, so back to the mitzvah!! What NYC DOES have ample supply of, is events...corporate events, fundraising events, bar mitzvah events, opening gala events, every night there is something going on and frequently the event planners for these events want DANCERS to entertain their guests. Thats where you come in!! It is not an ongoing gig where you show up day after day, until you get bored and audition for something else, but its the way that NYC works. In order to get these gigs, you must hook up with a production company or event planning company. In many cases, the event planner will just sub-contract the production company to provide all the entertainment. One of the biggest production companies in NYC is Chezzam Entertainment, however, there are probably many others. Although, Chezzam is unique in that they provide far more than just entertainment(costumes, decor, music, etc). This is just another option for money if you don't see waiting tables in your future...or want to suppliment your day job. Typically, an event will pay around $150 to $300, depending on the length of the performance, and the amount of rehearsal required. So its not the lotto jackpot, but it definitely makes a difference in the dancer's pocket!

Gym It Up, My NYC Dance Folk...

Talking with other dancers and choreographers in the city, I realized that I wasn't alone when it came to my relationship with fitness clubs and workout gyms. A lot of dancers end up teaching Pilates, Yoga or Dance at NYSC, Equinox, Reebok, or most recently for me, the JCC(Jewish Community Center). And while I have seen some of the ugly politics that go on in these places, I still think that they can be great resources for NYC dancers. If nothing else, being on staff at a chain gym, guarantees that you will always have access to a clean bathroom, showers and lockers, which can come in extremely handy for people living out of their backpack during the day. Another thing, unless you are working in an administrative position, say, at the front desk or in sales, you have a great deal of flexibility and finding subs is relatively painless. Another benefit, has to be the facilities themselves. While there are always exceptions, NYC boast some of the most amazing workout locations in the world. The clubs are clean, beautiful and crawling with eye candy...but that's no reason to go to the gym right? wink wink Seriously though, its so important for pro dancers to stay on top of their game and be in shape. I'm telling you, its a fifty fifty game out there, casting directors are looking at your body, face, personality just as much as they watching your technique. Lastly, gyms provide a great perk that restaurant jobs can't match...rehearsal and practice space for FREE. I may be overstating this last point a bit, but its really beneficial to have a spot in the city to go and give yourself barre or work on choreography...since trying to do it Central Park only attract weirdos and creeps, believe me...I've tried. I've also done lots of recording in the gyms(one caveat, make sure you get management's permission to video). Since renting studio space at say STEPS costs $35 per hour, free gym space can be a great thing to have access to.

"Just Don't Give Up"

Don't Analyze, Just Do It...

One thing that NYC is big on is opportunity. Nearly everyday there are auditions, go-sees, EPAs, you name it, its probably happening in the city. But what a lot of newbies don't realize initially, is that many of these opportunities are not the type that you spend a week preparing for. In fact, a lot of NYC "chances" are right in front of you, and then...whoooosh, they're gone, just like that. So you constantly need to be ready. It goes without saying, that in NYC, you should ALWAYS carry a couple headrez(headshot resumes), some people go the business card route(also a viable option), and it usually a pretty good idea to have a couple sheets of music with you that you can pull out at any time. I'm speaking from experience here. When I first moved to the city, it didn't really dawn on me that I would need to carry around a binder with my headshots, sheet music, monologues, etc. But I quickly learned that if you aren't ready, you will be missing great opportunities to step up in an instant. One of the big differences between LA and NYC, is that the geographical lay-out of LA, makes it impossible to have spontaneous, spur of the moment, casting opportunities. In LA auditions are always posted a couple weeks out, everyone needs time to drive around the city, traffic is always a factor, etc. But in "the city," it is not uncommon for your agent, or best friend, to call you and say, "can you be at Chelsea Studios in 30 minutes, Rob Ashford is having an audition." True story: efore she went nutso, Britney Spears had an audition in NYC just prior to the VMAssacre. Dancers, including my old roommate, got called in an hour before the audition. Seriously, things happen THAT fast in the city...because they can. Everyone lives within 20 miles of mid-town, and so casting agents take advantage of that. So the lesson is...ALWAYS be ready. Furthermore, if you are interested in teaching and choreographing, ALWAYS have your class music or I-pod(and connection cables!!!) with you, in your bag, and a few combos pre-choreographed. I have picked up so many classes, in situations where a teacher failed to show up and I was prepared. This leads me to my final suggestion: Just Do IT!!! Now if someone had a heart attack in the middle of Time Warner Center, and people were asking for a doctor, I certainly would not step up and say "sure, I can do it." That just isn't within my capacity(although, can you imagine how cool that would be, Dr Dance, random side note, I actually KNOW a brain surgeon who is a fierce dancer, google Kalvin Latimer see for yourself) BUT, and here's my point, if someone is running around saying, "OMG, Leslie Feliciano can't make it to class, we need a teacher, who can do it," that is a BIG FAT OPPORTUNITY staring at you in the face. So, if you are prepared, and have your tihs together, then "just do it." Step up, don't second guess your abilities, and take advantage of the opportunity that just fell in your lap. This is what separates the dancers who "make it" from those who don't.

"What you are thinking about, you are becoming" Muhammad Ali

Pre-NYC Preparation...

I know that I have been promising this for a couple weeks, and I'm sure I will be adding to it as I do further research...but, two very promising "side" careers for NYC dancers are Pilates and Yoga certification. I say "side" because for many fitness professionals, this certification IS their primary source of income. But for dancers, it can be a very reliable and immediate source of revenue, its very flexible(no pun intended), an excellent networking tool, there is a high demand(unlike the dance teacher market) and I have a tendancy to believe that dancers have an inherent advantage when teacher Pilates and Yoga classes. Now some people have asked me, "well, what about personal training?" And while I will admit that its a viable option, in order for it to be lucrative, it is usually very time consuming...translation=less time for YOU to be at auditions and class. With that said, why isn't everyone running around teaching Pilates and Yoga? Because...certification isn't cheap. Typically, for yoga teachers, you are looking at around $2000 dollars, depending on the school and instructor. But if you are considering a move to NYC, and you are currently living in Vegas, Atlanta, Miami, or anywhere the cost of living is cheaper, seriously think about getting your certification BEFORE you make the big move. It is an investment that will pay for itself and give you the means to survive while you are getting your foot in the entertainment door. Although I was able to fight my way into the dance teaching market through sheer persistence and fortunate timing, I wish so much that I had gotten my Pilates certification when I'd had the time and money, prior to NYC...but hey, everything happens for a reason, and now I'm passing on the info to you. While it is far from the one and only way to make money in the city, it's something to think about.

Gotta Be Familiar...

I can't tell you how many times I've heard dancers bemoan the fact that they get passed up at auditions by lesser technical, better connected dancer.  I could have a steady passive income if I got paid everytime I heard someone ask, "Who is HE sleeping with, He always gets kept."  This question is inevitably answered by another jaded dancer with, "Hmmm, its all about who you know."  So hold on, pause for a second and think about that.  Put yourself in the choreographers shoes, and chances are, you would behave very similarly.  Now, I'm sure there are people out there who would insist that they would take a very meritocratic approach, and only cast the BEST dancers...BUT REALLY?!?!  I mean, think about the majority of Broadway shows.  For 95 percent of the shows out there, you need to be a good dancer...but not a GREAT one.  It isn't necessary for you to look like Corella or Vishneva.  So consequently, if you are friends with the choreographer, have a working relationship with the casting director, or are simply a familiar face on the NYC scene, and they know that you are capable of the doing the choreography...YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE THE BEST, DOLLY DINKLE, STUDIO TRICK, COMPETITION DANCER TO GET THE JOB.  Which is why so many technical, monkey flip, dancers get disillusioned when it comes to auditions..."I was always winning competitions, but now I can't get a job, what happened?"  SO, what do you do?  Well, keep in mind, that the goal is to become a "FAMILIAR FACE."  Even if choreographers don't actually KNOW you, if you audition for them enough times, eventually they will begin to associate your dancing with your name, with your face, with your attitude, with your voice, with your personality, with your special skills...and somewhere down the line, you will become very FAMILIAR to them.  They will feel, in a sense that they already KNOW you.  Once you have gotten to that spot, you are in a much better position to get hired.  But realize, it might take a half dozen auditions for this process to take place. And since projects audition every couple months, you have to be willing to stick it out long term.  I guess it comes down to this- Show Business is really all about who knows YOU, even if they don't really KNOW you...I know that sounds like a contradictory statement, but if you're a smart dancer, you understand.  So don't be surprised, if in ten years, you are the one sitting behind the audition table hiring four dancers and five walk in.  Four of the guys are people you have worked with, they are good but average dancers, and you really like them, personality-wise.  The fifth is a phenomenal dancer you have never seen before and know nothing about.  As long as the choreography is typical Broadway fare, the amazing new guy doesn't really stand a chance until he becomes more familiar.  And yet, its very likely, that he would leave this audition feeling very put out that he just got passed up by "lesser" dancers. So people, thats the game, and the sooner you learn the rules and start playing, the sooner you will reach your goal!!

"Put things in perspective, you are alive, you can dance, you have A LOT to be thankful for.  Quadriplegics envy paraplegics, they say "man, he's got it made!"" 

How You Can Teach...NYC Style

I mentioned in the previous post, that if you are coming to New York to work professionally, it is vital that you have something to start generating income relatively soon after you arrive. I will talk about some of the more viable options soon, but first, I think it is important to address a common misconception. Many dancers, who have taught in their hometowns, or in local studios, have this notion that teaching in NYC is going to be their part-time gig until they book their big break. The fact of the matter is, unless you are an established name in the business, it will be very difficult to parlay your knowledge into a full time teaching position at any of the major studios. However, like I always say, DIFFICULT DOES NOT EQUAL IMPOSSIBLE. If teaching is your passion and gift, you basically have three realistic options. 1) Develop a consistent attendance routine with a teacher, become their assistant, and sub when they are out of town, 2) Build up a consistent following teaching at one of the many NYC sport fitness clubs, many of which now offer dance classes, 3) Teach at one of the outer borough amature studios and schools. Each of these options has their own pitfalls and drawbacks. For example, the type of class you might teach at a fitness club will generally be a very different style and technical level than even a basic studio class in Staten Island. Teaching at the gyms is a tricky topic that involves certification, CPR training, etc...so I will go into more depth about that later. But for the most part, new dancers simply need to realize, that when it comes to making immediate money in the city, there are better alternatives than trying to establish yourself as a teacher...although, it can be done. The outside studios are always looking for teachers, and often rely on word of mouth recommendations. Ask friends for studio recommendations or post your information on dancer.net.

"Risk means guessing at the outcome, but never second-guessing." Mel Brooks