Thinking about entering my first Pro/Am competition

I have been taking private lessons at my DVIDA studio for the past 7 months. They recently released their pricing for the October DVIDA Pro/AM competition in Las Vegas. Its $2,000 including hotel plus $40 per event.

Is this typical? I have no idea whats a reasonable price. If I decide to do it, I'll definitely have to incur credit card debt.

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The pice doesn't seem to be too out of line for a pro-am comp, assuming it's all-inclusive for entry fees, pro fees, etc. Does it include meals?

One way to keep comp costs low is to go a la carte, if your studio allows it. By paying for each element separately, you have better control over costs. There are some comps I can drive to, so I don't stay in the hotel. When I travel, I often compete in only one style, so I only need to stay in the hotel two nights and don't get the meal package. My pro is great about finding ways for me to compete inexpensively (relatively, anyway).

I would think twice about incurring credit card debt for a comp, unless you're *sure* you can pay it off within a few months. If you like competing, you'll want to do more, and what then? More debt? Not a good idea.

If competing will be a one-time or once in a blue moon thing, I'd consider waiting until you got a little more dance experience. Have you participated in any studio showcases? That is a good way to get your feet wet and do a "dress rehearsal" for competing. For me, anyway, I have more confidence and enjoy a comp more when I feel confident in my dancing and have had some live-audience experience.

BTW, what is a DVIDA studio? My studio uses the DVIDA syllabus, but AFAIK, isn't affiliated with DVIDA in any other way. Are they starting a chain?

I've recently completed a studio showcase. I really enjoyed the experience. Having the showcase date coming closer each day motivated me to nail the technique and choreography. My instructor and I performed an East Coast Swing routine while most other students performed smooth routines. We got a lot of compliments from other instructors as well as people attending the showcase.

I definitely got the addiction to performing in front of a group of people after the showcase. I wish I could do a "do-over" cause I missed a triple step. I blanked out a split second at one point feeling disoriented with the spot light shining in my face and having everyone's attention on me. But my excellent instructor got me back on track.

The other option is to choreograph more dance routines with my instructor that we can perform during a studio dance party. I think I'll go this route for now.

Yes, my studio follow the DVIDA syllabus. I don't think they're a chain.

That's what I would do. I did my first comp after 6 mos. of dancing, but it was mostly about trying to remember my routines and regretting the missteps. Now, of course, I regret the technique and performance mistakes I make, but that's a more satisfying agony, I think.

Welcome to DF HoboChilli! Hope to see you around the boards here at DF.

depends on what you are doing at the comp...but I wouldn't be surprised if 2K was reasonable

What does $40 per event mean? Is that the cost of each session or is that $40.00 per dance? If per event and not cost for each dance then it is sounds reasonable to me.

JANATHOME said:

What does $40 per event mean? Is that the cost of each session or is that $40.00 per dance? If per event and not cost for each dance then it is sounds reasonable to me.

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I would assume that's per event as usually the events are pretty reasonable from what I have seen from my research.

But yeah, I agree with the others that it's a good idea to try to slim down the cost as much as possible for your first cost. Even though, I'd like to enter into everything during my first comp., I know that won't be ideal for me. So, I want to enter into the things that I know we'll have our routines done etc. Also, you could try cutting down other costs as well by sharing rooms or what have you. But $2000 from what I have read in past threads isn't that much (unless you are broke like me ).

JANATHOME said:

What does $40 per event mean? Is that the cost of each session or is that $40.00 per dance? If per event and not cost for each dance then it is sounds reasonable to me.

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It could very well be $40 per dance. It's unlikely to be $40 for the entire event. When I've pro-amed, I paid per dance, plus entry fees and all other associated costs. Overall price sounds okay to me.

My first pro-am comp was about 2000 (actually I think it was 1776 in a interesting quirk of costs ) But that was a local event that I could drive to all three days and didn't stay at the hotel. I did get most of the meals. Think that was about 20 single dance entries and two championships and a showcase entry

So your price sounds like $2000 for hotel, meals, registration fee, session tickets. sounds a little high if not already including say 10 entries .... or does that already include airfare, in which case its probably reasonable.
Still sounds a little on the high side to me, but the $40 per dance is better thanthe $50 I'm used to and that $10 can add up if you do a lot of entries...

It's a bit on the high side for me, since it does not include the entries. Does it include your teacher's fee and expenses as well? If yes, then it might be OK. How many days is the competition?

The cost includes teacher's fee, entry fee, 1 meal per day, double occupancy checking in Thursday and checking out Sunday. Travel expense is extra.

I guess $40/dance, but I don't know what that means either way. If I compete and move on to the next round of eliminations, do I have to pay another $40 again?

NielsenE said:

So your price sounds like $2000 for hotel, meals, registration fee, session tickets. sounds a little high if not already including say 10 entries .... or does that already include airfare, in which case its probably reasonable.
Still sounds a little on the high side to me, but the $40 per dance is better thanthe $50 I'm used to and that $10 can add up if you do a lot of entries...

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wow. i always heard that pro-am was crazy expensive, but now that someone has put a number to it... that's almost more than i made all last summer. never have i (and consequently my wallet) been happier to be in an am-am partnership.

HoboChilli said:

The cost includes teacher's fee, entry fee, 1 meal per day, double occupancy checking in Thursday and checking out Sunday. Travel expense is extra.

I guess $40/dance, but I don't know what that means either way. If I compete and move on to the next round of eliminations, do I have to pay another $40 again?

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This seems a bit on the high side for me then.

Btw, you don't have to pay again if there were semi-finals and you made the finals.

Some teachers do charge if you make more rounds. I talked to one last year who charged $150/round for a scholarship and another one a few years ago who charged $90/dance and counted each dance in each round separately.