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Thread: getting a regular job after dancing for awhile

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    Default getting a regular job after dancing for awhile

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    Last edited by KaraLynn; 05-29-2015 at 12:32 PM.

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    Featured Member Starling's Avatar
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    Default Re: getting a regular job after dancing for awhile

    Hey! So I think I told you what I do. I actually made a thread a long time ago asking a similar question. I actually got my first degree, but then danced full time for a couple of years. Then I had enough and got a job in my field. I wasn't terribly picky with my first job and I wasn't asked much about the employment gap actually...if anything I told anyone that asked that I 'bartended for a while and traveled' and I had a couple of club bosses I trusted vouch for me just in case. Traveling is an enriching experience and you grow more as an individual, you could definitely explain that to future employers.

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    Default Re: getting a regular job after dancing for awhile

    Well, for me, I was a care giver for a fam. member, I used that, (I extended it longer than it was). To get fast(er) cash, I worked conventions/trade shows, food demos, cleaning & delivery jobs. Look on cl, in gigs, event section.
    Not all pay cash, but some do, one of the food demos paid by pay pal, weekly. Some take out taxes, some don't. I also said I ran a small home based biz (partly true) & did volunteer work and charity donations, also true.
    Good luck dear.


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    Default Re: getting a regular job after dancing for awhile

    Well, it sort of all depends on what you've been up to while you've been dancing and what you did before then. Do you have a degree or any sort of postsecondary education, even just classes? Have you ever had a vanilla job? Have you done any volunteer work? Past experience goes a long way in helping you get out of dancing and into a vanilla job. If you don't have any, what's your network like? Would a manager offer to be a reference and say you were a waitress/bartender/coat check/anything but dancer? Do you have friends, family, or acquaintances who could hire you or put your name in front of people who could? Who you know goes a long way too.

    Short of all that -- what do you good at? What parts of dancing have been your favourite? Are you a regulars girl who like to build relationships? Is the straight up hustle/sales of the job your thing? Do you like the fact that you can meet so many different people? Think about your strengths and preferences and try and figure out what jobs those could lead to. Sales is the obvious one, and it's something you can often work your way up within even without an education or prior experience.

    Typical employment gaps are: getting an education, taking care of a sick family member, being a stay at home mom, and running your own business. As for what you put on your resume, make sure you can actually speak to it all. It's all well and good to lie and say you've been running your own home business, but if you don't know the first thing about it, you're likely going to stumble in the interview when asked about it. If you're close with a manager, it's probably best to just say you've been serving/bartending/whatever at the club, so at least you have some sort of work experience and it's not a total employment gap.

    I'm not sure what type of work you're looking for, but I've found that http://www.askamanager.org is a really good resource for white collar employment. If you want to work in an office, that blog is a goldmine of information. It's not so relevant if you're going into retail, restaurant, or other service work though.

    Also, consider going to school. It sort of hits the reset button since you'll be applying for jobs as a new graduate, and they aren't expected to have work experience. There are many great programs at community colleges that are designed to get people working right away, so look at what's offered in your area and what interests you. I find a lot of dancers go into massage therapy, hairdressing, nursing/other medical, paralegal, etc. These are all careers you can start without a 4 year degree, and many of the programs include work experience, so not only do you get something for your resume, but you also get to find out if it's the right field for you.

    There are so many options out there, and you're only limited by yourself. It's never late to go to school, network, or start working your way up from something small. I find the hardest part of transitioning out of dancing is getting used to less/no flexibility in scheduling, less money, and just being at work for so much time of the day/week. You'll adjust, but it's just very different from being a dancer only.

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    Default Re: getting a regular job after dancing for awhile

    I think the easiest transition job would be as a server/bartender... similar hours, decent money/cash in hand daily, easy to switch shifts with people, not too many questions asked about background. Meanwhile maybe take a few classes at a CC and see if you want to get a degree in something else.

    Re: gaps, I've either lied about my time at the last job (restaurants rarely call references), or said any of the following: I worked at a place that is now closed, was taking care of a sick family member, traveling, full-time student, working at the family business, running my own business, teaching dance/riding lessons/whatever.... the lies are endless. As long as you have an answer prepared for any follow-up questions, you're fine.
    "People jack off with the left hand and point with the right."

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    Default Re: getting a regular job after dancing for awhile

    That's what I've been telling my boyfriend, that I should be applyong for sales jobs because I have great sales skills. He was like what job have you ever worked that was sales oriented? Uhm, hello what do you thinking stripping is? (According to him it's just being pretty ).

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    Default Re: getting a regular job after dancing for awhile

    This is such an awesome thread for any of us that might be looking to getting a vanilla job in the future I'm loving all of the ideas. I have always wondered what I would tell employers myself but I've always been afraid that my lies wouldn't add up & they wouldn't hire me LoL I like the whole caregiving & running your own buisness thing. My aunt who was a dancer many years ago used to tell the family & me (when I was a kid) that she owned her own lingerie business , that's a good one also bc you can always say you've been in sales.

    KaraLynn, try blogging , that usually pays pretty good for each project you get assigned to. I've been thinking of that for myself lately. Good luck hun <3 *hugs*
    "Alot of people are afraid to say what they want, that's why they don't get what they want"~ Madonna




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    Default Re: getting a regular job after dancing for awhile

    Quote Originally Posted by Selina M View Post

    Re: gaps, I've either lied about my time at the last job (restaurants rarely call references), or said any of the following: I worked at a place that is now closed, was taking care of a sick family member, traveling, full-time student, working at the family business, running my own business, teaching dance/riding lessons/whatever.... the lies are endless. As long as you have an answer prepared for any follow-up questions, you're fine.
    This is true- a lot of restaurants have high turnover so they aren't huge on checking refs.

    I worked at an auto supply place & a restaurant after I retired. My advice, get good as saving money- tiny paychecks are going to make you see red after getting paid cash as a stripper.

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    Default Re: getting a regular job after dancing for awhile

    Quote Originally Posted by SnuffleUffleGrass View Post
    tiny paychecks are going to make you see red after getting paid cash as a stripper.
    The key is to continually remind yourself of why you wanted a straight job in the first place. The money may be less, but there are many other benefits (including a guaranteed paycheck, which can feel so good after having the pressure of being an IC for a long time).

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    Default Re: getting a regular job after dancing for awhile

    Good thread.

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    Default Re: getting a regular job after dancing for awhile

    I was sleep all day, when was working in club, but now i start to sleep at night... oh,, this is heaven

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