So you're a dance customer, eh?

Does this sound familiar?

Sometimes you will encounter an individual who believes that their payment for admission to a evening of dancing, a dance class or a workshop entitles them to far more than that which is stated or even implied. Some seem to think that their payment includes great indulgence on the part of the event promoters who are there to serve their every whim or fancy.

I hear constantly from the dance teachers or promoters about these individuals who seem to not care about what is appropriate or even decent behavior in public. They seem to forget that their mothers aren't around to remind them that their behavior might leave much to be desired.

I think we know who they are. We've sat beside them and danced beside them. And we've wished they were somewhere else.

How to be a good dance customer

I'm sure you're all reasonable adults. Put yourself in the dance promoter's shoes and think about how'd you feel it if someone approached you with the following situations.

Teachers and "Celebrities"

Ultimately, the event promoter has the final say. If the promoter and the teacher are two different people, then the *promoter* has the final ruling. The teacher is hired by the promoter to be a part of an event.

I'll be honest here. Often I don't have to pay for the dances and workshops that I attend. I never ask for free admission to anything; I'm ready to shell out my hard-earned money for the entertainment or education that I'm about to receive. However, because of my efforts with publicizing the dance events in Boston, New England and around the country, many dance promoters *don't* want to take my money because they feel that I'm helping them out a lot without asking for anything. And yes, occasionally, I feel guilty about it (but not too often).

If you wish to have an exception to the rules, you should check with the dance promoter *ahead of time*; don't wait until you get to the door to argue with the promoter. At the start of the class or dance, the promoter is busy checking people in, collecting their money, and making sure the instructor or band starts and ends on time. They are going to be too busy to be dealing with your personal issues.

Dance promoters? You might want to post these workshop rules outside the classroom.


Feedback on this article should be directed to Benson Wong at benson@@btwong.org,

Copyright © Benson Wong 2003. All rights reserved by the author. This article are intended for the reading pleasure of the DanceNet On The Web readers. Duplication or use in any other medium, including but not limited to print publication, another web site, or downloading to a storage medium on CD, floppy disk, hard drive, zip drive, or tape, without the written permission of the author is prohibited.

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