Bellydance from Hobby to Pro

From Hobby to Pro

Currently with the increase of bellydancers in Tokyo we thought it would be good to give a few tips for those who want Bellydance to be more than just a hobby.

The studios can provide you with a great way to learn bellydance movements, culture, & history. We want to try to prepare you for self marketing. These are some of the things that we believe you should think about as you extend your career as a Bellydancer.

1. Dancer Name
   Your name is your brand. It’s never too early to think of what would you like to be called. Every artist wants their art to be distinguished from others. Your name should be unique. Do you want to use your real name? Are you comfortable with everyone having your full name? Do you want to use just your first name? Do you want to have your name spelled always in Omoji? Kanji? Romaji? These things are all part of your branding & marketing of yourself?
2. Profile
   A profile is just as important as a resume. It tells others what you have accomplished. Building up your profile is a first step. The events, parties, shows, contests is an advertisement to those who may not be familiar with you or even bellydance. I suggest you write 3 versions of your profile.
   A. Complete Profile: A long version that’s like a resume that lists things about yourself & also a list of events you have been in.
   B. Summery Profile: About 300 moji long. This will be the profile you may use the most. Write a great summary of yourself. This length is good to email to promoters, & use on the web for events you may be in.
   C. Short Profile: 150 character profile that would be good for flyers.

   Even if you don’t use the short profile, or complete profile immediately it is always better to have it than to suddenly be asked & keeping an event organizer waiting.
   We suggest you to keep a copy of these emailed to yourself. You can then easily email them to any event organizer. If you use a web email keep it as a draft or in a separate folder.

3. Photos
   Even though organizers & friends may know you & how beautiful you are good pictures are still needed. Initially one set of pro pictures are necessary. Don’t wait for a friend to give you their pictures of you taken from their keitai or digital camera. Just like your beautiful performance photos only enhances what your viewers are expecting to see. Compared to studio fees that are monthly photos taken once for between 15,000 to 20,000 can actually last you a year or two.
4. Web Site
   Whether this is just a Mixi page, Ameblo, Yahoo Blog, or a full custom web site it helps to have something on the internet. This way you can easily tell friends, & people wanting to see your performance, & where you are performing next. By keeping a personal blog you may also find new fans.