Yes. The new owner has some ideas. None of which I think I want to do.

As of now Gypsy Night is canceled.

If only I lived closer, I take this one on, but alas, I don't. Good bye, Gypsy Night. It was fun!
But when am I going to get to see Genevieve again? Love you, girl!

After talking with a few working dancers and muscians this is what was discussed.

We need less gigs that pay hardly anything or nothing at all. These events usually take a lot of work for a couple of people. They are randomly attended and become a burden very quickly.

We need just a few gigs that are well attended, well publicized, at a good location, with cooperation from many, good sound system, good conditions for the dancers and best of all - opportunity to be paid for your ART.

While monthly events are fun to go out and play, they saturate the market and no one gets anywhere. The musicians and dancers in SF, LA and on the East Coast understand this and more carefully craft these events. They plan with the general bellydance world calendar in mind so as not to overlap if possible, resulting in better attendence.

So perthaps the path to walk is to work smarter not harder - just to fill a void, just because there is one.

Ok let me explain.

It's not that we were doing Gypsy Night to make money.

In the begining, the band made between $5-$25 each and the dancers made $30 each in tips. The last year or 3, the drummers that have showed up have got zero dollars and most dancers as well. The rare occasion the tips were offered I think on a big night, one dancer went home with $10.

My point was that IF there were less gigs in the first place, people would be more likely to be WILLING to pay the band and tip the dancers. It costs money to put together costuming, pay for classes, ect. It would be nice to recoup some of that outlay of cash, right? And the opportunity to get better musicians to show up is greater if there is payment possible. You have to buy your instrument, pay for classes, ect. And then there is the cost of advertising to get people to come to events. It takes time, copying cost, and gas money to take flyers around town to get people to events to make it worth while.

There is cost involved for those putting these shows together. Really. Even if you are a student just showing up to dance in front of an audience for the first time, someone had to put that event together for you to be there. Really.

The cafe doesn't put any money into it. They benefit by having customer there buying product. That's why they want us there. The fact that there are now obligations, rules, and restrictions on top of the already drain to my time, money and effort to put this event on - I am willing to let it go. I for one can't afford it any longer.

If we had fewer events per year, at better locations, with better advertising, with a better crowd draw - we might be able to at least break even, we might actualy go home with a few extra $$ in our pockets. I really don't know why being prosperous is a bad thing.

well if there is ever an event settled on I would love to be involved, and I have a sweet little fender amp. that I can bring to help wit sound You just plug in your Ipod and dance. I an more then willing to help get something going.