How to become a Feature Dancer??
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I have a question for all those who may be able to help me ? I have previous experience in dancing in clubs but I left the industry a while ago, now I have decided to come back to it but as a feature dancer instead. I really need to find out how to go about it now in days or find some type of guide ex. book chat room etc.. I really want to do this and travel while am at it but don't know where or how to start...thanks for the help ladies..
Re:How to become a Feature Dancer??
lotsa advice on this go to thetop and click on search then enter feature and GO!
Re:How to become a Feature Dancer??
I Dj at a club and a couple of the dancers are on thier way this month to a feature school in FL to learn to become a feature entertainer. If you have not yet found the answers you were seeking I can get the name of the school for you.
Let me know
Ron
Re:How to become a Feature Dancer??
I am also wanting to be a feature...if Ron gives you the name of the school please let me know.
Re:How to become a Feature Dancer??
I think it's called Pure Talent. It was written about in Strip City. I only read the first chapter.
Re:How to become a Feature Dancer??
To be perfectly honest, these days "feature fees" are so low that it's really difficult to earn enough extra money from featuring to justify the travel and expenses. This is an outgrowth of the sustained poor economy on strip clubs. Many clubs which used to routinely bring in a feature every week have now dropped back to every two weeks or once per month. In addition, clubs which used to pay for a feature to perform for 6 nights with 4 shows a night now typically have dropped back to 5 or even 4 nights, with only three shows a night (with the feature fee reduced accordingly). Also, some clubs which used to bring in features have now stopped altogether due to stricter anti-dance club ordinances limiting the type of shows that the features can legally perform on stage.
Most girls actively travelling as features these days actually wind up earning the majority of their incomes by providing "private sessions" with fans/club customers in hotel rooms between shows, and not by performing in the clubs. The feature booking itself then more or less becomes just a means of writing off the travel and accomodation expenses of travelling to different cities. See for more info on what you're likely to find yourself competing against as a feature these days.
Personally, I'm not into the "private sessions" thing AT ALL, and as a result I have pretty much quit featuring. Without the "private sessions" to augment income, you're looking at maybe a $1,500 feature fee for the week plus whatever you can drum up in stage tips, autographed polaroids, autographed magazines you've appeared in (if you have them), video tape sales (if you have them), or private dance income (if the clubs allow features to do private dances - many do not because of complaints from house dancers). Out of this you'll be expected to cover your own transporation, accomodations and meals, which basically prices air travel out of the question and puts you in the mode of driving your own car between bookings on Sunday and staying at the cheapest hotel in town once you get there.
Additionally, these days some clubowners have resorted to a song and dance after the fact that goes something like this - "when we hired you to feature this week we assumed that you would have the drawing power to bring X number of new/additional customers into our club. These new/additional customers did not actually show up. Therefore, we can't afford to pay you the feature fee we agreed on since you didn't hold up your end of the bargain. Here's half of the amount we talked about - see you later ! Any complaints, take them up with your agent". Having this happen to you can turn your week into an instant net money loser.
Considering the fact that in order to equip yourself with the necessary flashy costumes to advertise yourself as a feature act you'll need to invest an initial $5,000+, given the present business climate in the feature business you may want to think long and hard about your potential return on investment versus saving the front money and working as a house girl in local clubs without all of the travel and accomodation expenses.
Of course there is a shitload of money to be made if you're down with doing "private sessions" - way more money than escorting, since you'll be constantly moving to new markets with each feature booking. Four one hour "private sessions" per day between feature shows, for five days, adds up to $20,000 or more per week of undeclared, unreported cash income ! Of course, if you choose to do this I'd recommend setting aside about $10,000 for bail money, attorney's fees, unreimbursed future travel expenses to return to this city and appear in court, and money to cover the fines, if the local cops decide to poke their nose into your "private session" business.
Re:How to become a Feature Dancer??
I went to Pure Talent Feature Dance School and would recommend it. While I already knew a lot of the info, I learned a lot too, and am very happy I went. Here is the link: http://www.pure-talent.com/school.htm