DANGERS OF RESTAURANT DANCING

Okay lets get the ball rolling on this one. I haven't done restaurants for quite a long while now, but not sure what the biggest danger is ... 1) owners who insist on you getting people up to dance when they just want to eat dinner, and 2) drunks who think thrusting their pelvis at you is dancing.
How to deal with it? For no 1 - basically agree with the boss, but don't force people. You need to watch their response to see who needs encouragement, and who is just trying to hide.
Dealing with drunks - best thing is to defuse their power by getting the audience to laugh at them, eg put hands on hips, go tsk tsk, and then turn your back on them and go dance to someone else. Leave it to their friends to get the drunk back down in his chair. Walk away from him is the best solution.
Any other ideas out there, ladies??

Cheers, from Mala Karim

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Cheers,
Mala Karim

When I receive a booking I make it clear to the client that I call the shots. If they are asking for something that I feel is unsafe, inappropriate or just silly - I tell them I won't do it and why. Then I will suggest a compromise. Most of my clients are happy to go with what I suggest and I think partly that is because of the way I approach them and follow with a positive idea. I have to admit I am pretty easy going and most things don't faze me. I've been at gigs where the client has gotten me in specifically as entertainment over dinner - which really is a stupid idea - people want to eat, not have a Bellydancer flitting here and there. It's also dangerous because you have wait staff trying to serve dinner, people getting up and down - some places are like dancing through an obstacle course. In this situation I say no to getting people up to dance simply because it's too dangerous and every client to this date has been fine with that. Most people when they hire entertainment don't think further than "oh that would be nice over dinner". They don't think safety, logistics, praticallity and lastly what their guests want. I beleive its my job to bring them back to earth and say well we cant do that because... but how about we try ....... Also it really depends on venue - how large or small it is. Whether its a party or resturant. As a rule of thumb , I watch people very closely - if they look like they might like to get up and dance - I invite them, If they are acknowledging you - dance for them at their table awhile then move on, if they aren't interested I either dance past them or do something tricky that might get their attention.
As far as men are concerned - when I was a caberet dancer I use to get the token " show us your titts" and the drunken clown. Really I use to ignore them but as I have gained more experience I seem to have more control over situations. Having said this though I now specialise in Gothic Bellydance which is a completly different look and feel to Caberet - and maybe just alittle bit scary lol. But a point worth noteing is that when I first come into gigs, the male members may play up abit to start with but as I start to dance and move around - I don't seem to get bothered like I use too. The men actually seem to be mesmerized and enjoying the dance for what it really is. I never ever get show me your titts anymore and they never dance with me ( unless they are arabic). I do get at least 1 marriage proposal a month lol but hey. I guess it all comes down to experience, the way you conduct and present yourself and the aura you give off. Costuming also is abig this to consider as well;)