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!