Well I didn't know what else to title this post. But I feel its paramount and in the common interest. I try to blog on issues that have value to others and the topics almost always results from me having heard the topic voiced from more than 1 individual. This is a case where I have heard from multiple people on this issue. I am meant to be the voice of those crying out.
I tend to blog on things that are a bit controversial that nobody wants to bring up due to dance-community-political-correctness.
To producers out there and representatives of products and anyone of similar stature...being courteous counts a lot. I have heard from a least a half dozen individuals (dancers/choreos) who have opted NOT to become involved with a troupe because the producer chose to ignore their messages or were curt with them when they did.
You may not be aware that your **** stinks so I am trying to make you aware that if you find you are having a hard time attracting, hiring and/or keeping dancers, this may well be the reason. Ask people you trust if your stage-side manners are respectable. It is simply a case of being nice, showing respect, and 'doing the right thing' at the right place and time. If you wear your *** on your shoulders and that's just how its got to be then please ignore this post, but for those of you who are trying to build an ongoing theatrical concern, and wonder why people treat you as if your anti-antiperspirant is failing, then this might be the wake-up call you needed.
I hope I never get like that. If I do, tell me, "Yummy, you didn't answer me, I sent you an IM. Why are you blowing me off?. Why don't you speak to me?" And i will cower and apologize and will do better.
I guess it can work both ways. Dancers need to show respect too. Yep I'm guilty as a performer. I missed a show practice and didn't tell the producer. I had gotten called into some temp. work, since i was out of work for a long while before that time I guess I got so excited, that I got my priorities backwards. SL 1st then RL. Anyways... They played the "C" card on me. Told me that so-and-so let them know they would be missing practice and they were dying of cancer. I almost wished I was dying too just to avoid the embarrassment. Wow. I looked in my excuses bag, dying relatives, national emergency, dog ate my internet cable, but couldn't com close to matching the "C" card. I could have played the race card. But essentially I was out of cards. Suffice it to say i got the cold shoulder from them and their mate for years over that incident.
But on a more serious note, had I took the time to call in sick, I could have avoided ill will and a friendship burgeoning friendship. Who knew?
So if you are a show producer and you find yourself losing performers as fast as you are gaining them...or if you have a product and wonder why people are not upgrading, or expanding into other product offerings, this may be a culprit. Now if you have too much business and you are using the cold-shoulder to help whittle down the number of support calls ,then that makes sense to me. After all there are only so many hours in the day. Damn whiny customers!
Play nice.
Yummy
