Who works and who dances full time?

[jivechica]

I was wondering, what do people do outside of dance, work wise? I'm just curious how many people dance full time (more or less) vs. how many people work in order to be able to dance. I work in accounting so it's very interesting to work with numbers all day and then cha cha :)

[mamboqueen]

I assume you're very good at counting beats ;)

[nucat78]

I'm more or less in accounting also for a university.

I would dance / teach professionally if I had that skill level. Maybe someday...

[jivechica]

I don't know about beats, but I sure can count quickly how much all the comps and lessons are costing :)

[_malakawa_]

when i was 17 i started to teach dancing part time, but after i finished my high school i started to work in a shoe store + teaching + practicing every day.

there was no coffee, going out every week, dinner in a restaurants ...... my friend was so mad at me because i didn't have time for them. i couldn't afford my self to go out with them and pay them a drink, because i knew that that money i can spend on my lessons.

[mamboqueen]

I don't know about beats, but I sure can count quickly how much all the comps and lessons are costing :)

bwah hah! I choose to be completely ignorant of costs....to my own peril, I imagine.

[danceronice]

I'm posting from my new desk at the realty office where I work. I can only assume that whatever the computer issue was it was fixed as this SEEMS to be working fine. Now all I need is my boss to get here so he can clear up how I get pictures to post ads...should probably also try and remember what I used as my picasa login, too....fun.

But I can has real desk! (I speak fluent LOLcat.) Now I just need real clients!

I wish I could dance full time...though I'm a little old to go pro. By the time I'm anywhere near good enough myself to teach, the arthritis and cataracts will have set in. And I still don't have time for anything outside work and dance, or spare money for it--at least besides lunch from ABP. Table service? What's that? Soemday I'll be able to do lunch and not feel like a sponge.

[jivechica]

Just seems like so many people are doing pro am and are competing several times a month... I wish I could do that ... Unfortunately no time to rob a bank :)

[Ravenmoon]

I work whenever I get the chance--whether that is summer break, winter, etc--so I can pay for my college tution and also have money for dance otherwise I woudn't be able to take private lessons.

[fascination]

incidentally...we do have a thread on this if anyone cares to do a search...or not ;)

[Me]

I am open to opportunities for teaching ballroom and Latin dance, and one thing I can bring is authentic Argentine Tango. (Anybody hiring? Hint hint - Wink Wink!) I have a background in classical ballet (which I have found to be largely useless) but for whatever reason, people seem to think that is a strong asset.

Currently I put my MA in creative writing to use working for an institute concerned with health and wellness. I edit reports, write newsletters, and work with statistics and scannable surveys. I am good at what I do, but it keeps me behind a desk all day and I have difficulty scheduling time off. My office is decorated with paintings and statues of dancers, and tango music is always in the air. :)

[Becca]

I work full time to fund my dancing, I quit school so I would be able to afford to dance. I now work in a bank and it does absolutely nothing for me, except pay the dancing bills of course!

[Standarddancer]

I was wondering, what do people do outside of dance, work wise? I'm just curious how many people dance full time (more or less) vs. how many people work in order to be able to dance. I work in accounting so it's very interesting to work with numbers all day and then cha cha :)

I'm in accounting too...able to afford compete several times a month, but am, not pro-am, my parents helps sometimes, but also I manage my money carefully, like what malakawa said, no money wasted on socializing, drinks, etc. my non-dancing friends are mad at me too cos I don't have time for them. I also try to cut down nondancing related personal expenses like I can't afford go shopping every week or every other week since I try save $$ for a nice ballgown + coaching lessons, every bit counts.

maybe you haven't find a right place to work? if your boss don't pay you well to afford comps? pm me if you want to know bit about our firm...

[Brookedancer]

I work to dance. I could teach in my city but I don't feel good enough to compete pro. So what would be the point? I don't want to give up competing. (I dance pro/am so teaching as an amateur isn't an option). I haven't cut back all of my spending like many of you are talking about...but then I only make it to about 7 comps a year. I also work with local tailors to get my dresses made and do all the stoning, jewelry making, designing myself so that usually cuts the cost of my dresses in at least in half. My dance budget goes mostly to outside coaching.

[dancingmomof2]

I work as a process engineer which helps pay for the lessons. My husband and I enjoy private lessons and try to go to one group lesson a week for fun. My 2 sons both have their private group lesson with their partners and then they both attend a different group class each week. Crazy. I wish I could dance full time. Well maybe in a couple of years when they are both off in college.

[syncopationator]

I'm a banker by day and a dancer by night (and on weekends)

Dance pro/am and starting to compete in Amateur as well.

[ChaChaMama]

I'm an English professor at a small (~1700 undergrads) liberal arts college. I love my job. (Well, not every minute of every day, but overall it's a great fit for me.) There are days where it stuns me that an adult can actually earn a pretty decent living sharing ideas about literature with 18-22 year olds. (Then again, every now and then I teach "developmental" composition to students with skills too weak to take English 101, and I definitely remember why this actually counts as work!)

My younger sister is in business, and she definitely earns quite a bit more than I do...but she is jealous of how flexible my schedule is and how much time I get off. And she can't believe that I'm top of that, I'm getting a paid sabbatical in spring 2009! It really is a pretty sweet gig.

I wouldn't say no to more money ;), but I am very satisfied with my work life on the whole.

[Gorme]

I'm a Test Engineer. It's a low stress job that has moderate responsibilities. Everything has to pass by me for a stamp of approval. Alot of my tasks are mundane and takes alot of time so I have the opportunity to think about what techniques I am currently working on. I also tend to be in weird locations all by myself so I can practice my dancing while I wait. When it's quitting time, I head straight to the studio every night and on the weekends.

I haven't started competing yet, but looking at the competition costs, I can afford to attend the local ones - not the long-distance ones. I don't have that much vacation days.

[jwlinson]

Multiple duties at an occupational medicine clinic (1) managing the controlled substance testing programs of our client companies, (2) primary IT tech, and (3) advertising.

Outside of that, in my spare time I design websites and deal with random computer issues on an on-call basis, which helps pay for my dance addiction.

[jjs914]

I work in fundraising for a university during the week. I dance at night and on the weekends. I love them both! :p

[NielsenE]

Software consultant by day; scrutineer on many weekends once the college circuit is back in session for a little extra income.. I do think that switching to being a professional is in my future at some point, since I love teaching of all forms... but the studios I most respect (in terms of atmosphere and support of their students/alignment with my philosophy) don't tend to hire part-time teachers (and I appreciate their reasons)

[jwlinson]

Software consultant by day; scrutineer on many weekends once the college circuit is back in session for a little extra income.. I do think that switching to being a professional is in my future at some point, since I love teaching of all forms... but the studios I most respect (in terms of atmosphere and support of their students/alignment with my philosophy) don't tend to hire part-time teachers (and I appreciate their reasons)

Many studios will lease their floor space to pros. The studio I attend has done that.

[Kanela]

I work FT in financial industry so it leaves a couple of evenings only to get away without the guilt kicking in as I have little ones at home as well.

[NielsenE]

Many studios will lease their floor space to pros. The studio I attend has done that.

Yes I know. However I know I'd want to be part of a team (staff at chain or independent) not completely free-lance. And thus the attitude/philosophy of the owners and existing teachers are very important to me.

[dancepro]

As I am retired from competitive dancing. I don't spend that much money on dance per say. I do spend a lot of money on studying dance related topics. Today I have 6 multiple sources of income. I am working on creating more. I had a couple of business as an amateur and I danced full time a professional and had only one MSI.

Dancepro

[fascination]

skulking guiltily, I work only 12 hours a week...and I dance about that much as well...

[Dancebug]

What do you do with the rest of your time, if you don't mind...?

[fascination]

lol...I have two kids and I DF allot (see post count) plus dh works out of state so all of the maintainence of said large house and yard and bills (sans hired help) is on my shoulders...plus I have had the care of several ailing relatives...until 4 years ago I was a fulltime grief counselor and chaplain for hospice

[Dancebug]

Having sick relatives can be very taxing.

[fascination]

yes...and 3 was overwhelming

[nucat78]

I wish I could dance full time...though I'm a little old to go pro. By the time I'm anywhere near good enough myself to teach, the arthritis and cataracts will have set in.

Says who? Granted we have to be realistic, but why not shoot for the dream? At least you will have tried.

[latingal]

Granted we have to be realistic, but why not shoot for the dream? At least you will have tried.

Reminds me of the quote: "Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars."

So many people have in essence told me that I would never achieve the level of dancing I desire because of my age. But I desire the moon, and I think the stars are just out of reach now.

[nucat78]

See my PM, LG.

[tanya_the_dancer]

I wish I could dance full time...though I'm a little old to go pro. By the time I'm anywhere near good enough myself to teach, the arthritis and cataracts will have set in.

I wish I could dance full time too. But at 35 I think I am too old to do so. Besides, I probably would not make a good teacher in anything, it is usually a painful experience when I have to explain something. It is even more painful when I am explaining something I know how to do really well, i.e. set up some simple spreadsheet. I could do it in my sleep, but explaining how to do it to my other half, who never did it before resulted in a marital argument. It was really a lot easier to just do it myself than explain him how to sum up values in a row and the copy it to other rows. So I guess I'll continue with my full-time software development work.

[fascination]

I think I'd make a good teacher...alot of what helped me to learn was about body mechanics and useful analogies...I think I am able to articulate that stuff well...granted I am not delusional enough to think that I could be a top level competing pro, but I think I could be a good teacher to a sizeable amount of the market in the local studios..having said that, I rather doubt I would want to be...but I don't think my age would be a factor at all and I am older than both of you, I beleive...in fact I am off for my afternoon nap...lol

[dancepro]

Reminds me of the quote: "Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars."

So many people have in essence told me that I would never achieve the level of dancing I desire because of my age. But I desire the moon, and I think the stars are just out of reach now.

Good idea

Dancepro

[K_8ie]

I work full time (accounting) , but dance is what I do. I had a job interview once, and I mentioned that once in a while (every week) I would need a Friday or a Monday off for comps. They seemed ok with it, but kept asking when this dance thing will be over? LOL! It's like asking, "So when do you think you'll stop breathing?"

Isn't it sad?! Don't you look at these people and pitty them? Pitty that there is nothing but 40hour work weeks in their lives?

[mamboqueen]

...in fact I am off for my afternoon nap...lol

lmao! Wish I could join you! :cheers:

[lcdancesport]

I was working ~60 hours a week between a full time day job and teaching/training at my studio at night. I recently made a change though and I'm now working part-time with my day job and train/teach more during the day as a full time instructor. It's so nice to actually have some time to breathe again... but I know that will quickly become filled with more dance!

[chocolatchica]

What don't I do? Lol. I am a bridal consultant on weekends, supervisor of a Cold Stone Creamery, EMT, full time student, and full time mom. I too am baffled hoe some people can afford to do pro/am so much. Or by the ams who can spend all day at the studio or traveling from comp to comp. I only live that life in my dreams. Lol. I also do not have the time to rob a bank. Darn! I was trying to get another job but can't possibly squeeze in anything else.

[Standarddancer]

...in fact I am off for my afternoon nap...lol

I love nap too...lol...but usually nap before evening rounds if my starbucks coffee doesn't do enough to wake me up

[DanceMentor]

I have an internet company (http://www.phplinkdirectory.com/). I don't count the hours, but some weeks can be more than others. What is nice is I can somewhat set the hours I want to work, and work from any location where there is internet.

[fascination]

...in fact I am off for my afternoon nap...lol

I love nap too...lol...but usually nap before evening rounds if my starbucks coffee doesn't do enough to wake me up
thursday has always been my day off ...the day I reserve for coachings and getting things done around the house...today it was the lawn...couldn't sleep anyhow...sigh...but at least I had the option....BOT...I am very fortunate that dh works a job that he loves and which allows me quite a bit of flexibility....

[dancerman]

Just seems like so many people are doing pro am and are competing several times a month... I wish I could do that ... Unfortunately no time to rob a bank :)
Unforunately if you had time to rob banks you would be spending the rest of your time (life) paying for it. I haven't competed in a year for the same reason, but I'm working on that. I figure my time will come. I admire the ones who can do it, and I am sure they respect why I can't.
In the meantime I'll just dance when I can and dance when I can't...
:rolleyes:

[jwlinson]

supervisor of a Cold Stone Creamery

I LOOVE Cold Stone!

[syncopationator]

coldstone is not good for dancing, but I love coldstone too...

[chocolatchica]

I LOOVE Cold Stone!

Too bad you live so far. I would have treated you to a Gotta Have it :-)

[chocolatchica]

coldstone is not good for dancing, but I love coldstone too...

I know! I spend so much time making the darn ice cream though, that I end up having no taste for it all. But hey, it pays for dancing at least till I get through school. Business Economics major and Dance minor. My real love is dance though. I would leave it all in a second for dance. Thinking about going back to ebay to make a little more. I stone everything within my grasp so I figure maybe I can sell my stuff for something. I hear anything with computers is a great job for dancesport competitors though because it pays well and leaves you with the flexibility to dance (my managers hate it when I ask for time off to go to comps).