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.