Uncomfortable? Or pissed? I'm waffling.

[clevermanka]

Last night I discovered an ugly piece of information. I knew that the Renaissance Festival administrator types decreed a couple years ago that they would not hire bellydancers for the Smoker (a special pay event where you got a turkey leg, 2 beers, a cigar, and a short bellydance show) unless the women submitted a full body photo with open costume that showed their figure. In other words, they didn't want fat, ugly chicks dancing the smoker. That angered me, but I could understand management's reasoning. They didn't want to pay for a dancer that nobody wanted to watch. I might not like the politics, but I understand the economics. However, last night I was told that RenFest management specifically uninvited the dancers from a certain neighboring city from participating in the Middle Eastern weekend because the girls were "too ugly".

Now, let me be clear: the bellydancers you see performing for Middle Eastern Weekend (or Caravan Weekend or Sultan's Treasure or whatever bullshit name management thinks won't scare off the xenophobes) do not get paid for our two days out there that weekend. We come and dance because we want to share something that makes us happy. And for some of us, show off the kick ass costumes that we don't get to wear very often. We are not under contract, we're out there for only one weekend, and we do not have anything to do with the script, nor do we interact much with the regular performers. We're there to dance for that one weekend. If we're lucky, we get one comp pass for each day of the weekend. That's it.

But now, there's a group of dancers who don't get to do even that anymore because they don't fit management's concept of what bellydancers should look like. This really really pisses me off. To the point where I'm having second thoughts about dancing this year. I love to dance and perform. But I feel like putting myself on their stage places me in the position of supporting the management who say No Fat Chicks.

I realize that there are a lot of assholes out there and my doing or not doing something doesn't change that. But do I want to, when it comes down to it, support their asshole-ness? I don't know. Just really don't know.

Dammit.

Comments

[bellanorth.livejournal.com]

I would feel pissed and conflicted too. Are the other dancers aware of this? Would they stand with you in some sort of walk out, with the intent to allow the dancers at the weekend if not at the special Smoker event?

[rougewench.livejournal.com]

I can certainly understand your frustation. However, there are a couple of points that I would bring to your attention with regards to dealing with the Festival Management:

1. The only thing you know is that you are required to submit a photo, it is the perogative of any director to cast his show as he/she sees fit with regards to look. I have been passed over for many parts over the years because my bust size was considered inappropriate for ingenue roles and only good for bitches, witches or whores. If they instituted a particularly preference for body type, one can imagine one of two reasons for it. Either a personal preference on the part of the director (who in this instance likes to put all men in tights, whether appropriate to the costume or not, supposedly because the audience demands it), or they have had comments from people who have attended the smoker which lead them to believe there is an audience preference. Given the stigma against heavy women in this society, I would believe the latter, particularly from the clientle they are serving the smoker up for.

2. If anyone at all other than a member of the managment team told you the story about the "too ugly" remark, do not believe it. It may be true, it may not be true, but you have no way of knowing. Frankly, even if it comes out of a member of management you have no way of knowing the actual truth. The women may not have been hired for other reasons, such as the management team not likeing them personally or if they have worked there previously, they did not like their performance, etc., and the unattractive rumor or excuse got put out instead of "too big a bitch to work with".

Only you can decide whether or not you want to dance in that environment. However, do not send your contract back yet if you are weighing this question, in that if you choose not to dance, I would hope that you would consider working with me that weekend instead.


D.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Are the other dancers aware of this? Would they stand with you in some sort of walk out

Yes to the first question, no to the second.

Jo (the troupe leader) also found out that management just contracted a group of dancers from Manhattan to dance every weekend. We don't know any dancers in Manhattan. So god knows what their dance skills are. Also, I know from Jo's experience trying to get a contract with RenFest, they won't even be paying those girls enough to cover their travel costs. So who knows what kind of dancers they are, but I bet they're all young and skinny.

[professormass.livejournal.com]

Frankly, I'd dump them like hot potatoes. Screw their contracts and their right to show whom they want. If enough dancers voted with their feet, they might change their decisions.

I'd go work with rougewench instead. RenFaire admin types, in general, need a swift kick in the crotch, in my humble experience. It's not like they're casting a frickin' Broadway show. And, as you so adroitly pointed out, it's not like you're even getting paid.

Fuck 'em.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

As I mentioned, I understand the deal with the smoker, and I understand the issue of not wanting to pay fat ugly girls to dance. But these girls weren't being paid. They were doing it for free during the open shows of ME weekend. And I'm pretty sure the reason the Lawrence group didn't get re-hired after the 1998 year that we actually had a contract was the "bitch" reason you mentioned. =)

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I am, actually, working with rougewench for the first two and last two weekends. That will be a blast.

[rougewench.livejournal.com]

That does truly suck. I don't envy you having the make the choice.


D.

[kijjohnson.livejournal.com]

Oh, feh. If this is true, these folks are jerks. One of the nicer things about bellydance is that you get to feel good about your body no matter what you look like -- this is like saying you don't like lesbians because they don't know how to wear makeup.

[chandara.livejournal.com]

Knowing a good many of the dancers in the KS/MO area over a period of about the last 20 years, I know that "striking" won't do any good. There are troupe directors who care about no one else but themselves and would happily do it just for the exposure and the promise of "we'll pay you next year". I've seen it too many times for too many years. I wish I had a suggestion that might help.

I can lay odds on who the "fat chicks" are, and happen to know that they (especially the director, if it's who I think it is) can dance fire-circles around a vast number of dancers who might be considered by some to be more physically attractive.

And considering the amount of money that dancers PAY to perform at M.E. Weekend - and by the time you count costumes specifically for a Ren Faire setting, travel - we used to drive 5 hours one-way - hotel, food, etc, believe me, they are spending WAY more than one might think. To be told that you're UNINVITED... THAT is an incredible slap in the face.

A picture that shows one's figure? HA! How many svelt dancers have you seen over the years who look gorgeous and can't perform worth a damn?

I used to MASSIVELY lock horns with my business partner when I owned a dance company in St. Louis because she felt that only "physically fit" people should be allowed in the troupe at all. Just thinking about it still pisses me off 4-1/2 years after the fact.

I certainly understand your anger, sweetie... pisses me off too.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

It's good to hear from someone who (like rougewench) completely understands the situation. It just really burns me. I talked this over with some friends at lunch and I still haven't reached a decision. The whole thing is just so maddening!!! It's like, if I go with my ethics, I'm punishing myself, not them, ya know?

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

The participants and actors, yes, they are nearly all overwhelmingly body positive and sweet, affectionate people. The folks who run them, though? Rat bastards, all of them. Or so I'm coming to believe.

[http://users.livejournal.com/louie_d_/]

I'm going to throw this out there and see what happens. I suspect I may be opening a hornets nest....

Back when I first joined LiveJournal, I remember a post you made (http://www.livejournal.com/users/chernobylred/32206.html if you're curious), were you talked about heckling a performer you didn't care for. You were of the opinion that it was acceptable to heckle a performer you didn't like. While the situation you described in your previous post is different that the subject of this one, one could extend your previous argument to say that you would also consider it acceptable for patron to make vocal comments about dancers they found unattractive, but it's not acceptable for the festival management to set standards for the performers they cast in their show.

I have to agree with Denise that IF dancers were not invited back to perform due to their body type, it more than likely has to do with patron feedback, or at the very least perception of patron desires. Whether or not a group or individual is performing for free or not, is totally irrelevant. For most of us, the cost of doing the renfest far exceeds whatever compensation we receive. Certainly, very few patrons are going to know (or care) which performers are volunteers and which are paid.

I felt I needed to comment on this as I found your ire over the required attractiveness (if any) of the belly dancers to be at odds with your opinion on heckling.

[jmstrange.livejournal.com]

Is there anybody that hasn't been pissed off by the Festival Management or by the Entertainment Director? Yet a lot of people continue to work for them, and IMHO put on a pretty damn good show, perhaps because of the management, or maybe in spite of the management.

[oldwolf.livejournal.com]

Ya don't have ta stand tall, ya just have ta stand!

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. Good point. But I still think management is in the wrong here. Interestingly enough, everyone I've ever overheard has always been wowed by the big girls who dance. They might not meet societal standards for attractiveness, but those girls can move. I never once heard a patron complain or saw someone leave a show when the big girls took the stage.

[redheadfae.livejournal.com]

errr... Maya teaches out in Manhattan. For free.
Has been for a couple years. You do the math. ;)

the whole dancer thing has gone on for too long now... I don't know why dancers are willing to PAY to entertain a crowd, but this we've done willingly for far too long (the privilege of performing, maybe?) Too bad about the management decision, but I'd rather do a costume check than a weight check. *sigh* Makes me reconsider also.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I don't mind dancing out there for one day for free. Don't mind it at all. Now if I lived in Manhattan or Wichita or Omaha or St. Louis, no way in HELL would I make the drive. But a 20 minute drive from Lawrence is no biggie for me. I love performing out there.

I don't see it as a privilege to perform. I see it as a way to share something that makes me happy. It's rather the same way I view the Aladdin restaurant gig. I know we have different views on that too, and that's cool. I completely understand your point of view. But for me, it's worth it to go dance for my friends and the other restaurant patrons.

[starstraf.livejournal.com]

Not the Smoker but the weekend - where they come and volunteer their time and talent because girls from said city are to ugly?

My guess is a strike (as mentioned in comments) would not do any good since there is an un-ending supply of kids not yet burned out on the ways of renn fest. I could see them possibly saying - "we want a different troup this year so there is variety between different years so we can get repeat customers" Heck even if the real reason was they wanted thin and young they could have been diplomatic and not said that. But knowing faire I would also wonder what has been feed by the rumor mill