Studio showcase economics

To update this thread, I was able to do only one pro/am showcase ("Lullaby of Broadway" foxtrot from "42nd Street") for a Spring Showcase ( Usually I do 3 and it was a tough choice to make). I created a video channel a few years ago and updated the channel with new design last week. I saw that overall channel views reached over 14,000 so far. I have no idea how those searchers happened exactly and how accurate the numbers are.

Even though I do not compete ( only one competition back in 2009), I have gold and silver moves in my showcases;I realize that average DF competitor’s technique is much stronger and if I ever to compete again , it will be at silver level at most for smooth and standard.
I am sharing my channel, as well as my latest show with DF in my signature. Any comments, feedback and suggestions for my channel and shows in general are welcome.
 
theAnnelis said:
Oh my goodness...1st post sounds like a dream come true to me, showcases in my studio cost thousands...
Click to expand...
Thousands, including lessons packages as some of the previous posts mentioned (15 hrs lessons, stage, fancy lighting, and theatre experience? I never tried that, just special nights at the studios about twice a year)
Or thousands for just a show itself and performance?
 
anntennis said:
Thousands, including lessons packages as some of the previous posts mentioned (15 hrs lessons, stage, fancy lighting, and theatre experience? I never tried that, just special nights at the studios about twice a year)
Or thousands for just a show itself and performance?
Click to expand...
I was only able to do one showcase while I was dancing...and in total, it was almost $2500, for 16 lessons and the show/performance itself. And my ticket to the show itself and afterparty, valued at $55 for my friends coming to see me (I was in theater for years before I started dancing and I'd never heard of a performer needing to buy a ticket for their own show)...and a show DVD I never got.
 
Showcases in our studio are around $150 which includes the ticket to the show and party. Obviously there's the cost of lessons on top of that but there isnt a requirement to purchase a minimum number before you're allowed to do a showcase
I think we're very lucky to have access to reasonable priced opportunities to dance and perform looking at some of the costs involved here. I'm feeling rather blessed
 
My last showcase – I found a different, very nice studio close by, without original request to buy extra tickets and bring more people, and pay for extra services that I do not need or want, so it worked out pretty well and I am very happy with my last showcase.

Of course, lessons, DVD – that is extra cost and it is up to the student- how many lessons to take, to purchase picture package or not, or video/dvd, etc. I never buy pictures. There are a lot of good software that just extract pictures from DVD, and they are better than photos in motion.
 
I've seen some bad photography, the quality of photos you get with a point & shoot in the typical studio lighting environment can be pretty bad.

I'd be interested in seeing a video capture that is better than a photo taken by a competent photographer with good equipment. Do you have such an example? Maybe some on your FB page, other than the thumbnail collages.
 
One of the software’s that I like is "Fast video indexer",
it is very easy and user friendly. Also to fix light and such, I use Picasa. But it is not an issue for me to use any advanced software for photos, slice and dice them. I think "Fast video indexer", and Picasa - all people can use who know how to type.

Fast Video Indexer allows you to extract the moments you like the most.
I paid previously for very bad pictures taken by professional photographers, and the moments that they choose to capture. Before I figured it out how easy to extract pictures from DVD,

It was either that or nothing. But, well, it is a personal choice. Photographers are still very popular, and a lot of participants buy photo- packages.

I think it is a completely different topic- "pictures/video/pictures extraction from video" and can be moved to another thread by moderator. It is an interesting topic by itself.
 
Videos are not shot frm the same vantage point a photographer takes them, and photos are often a combination of the phtog's eye, the moment, and where they are in relation to you. A video shot from a platform in the corner of a room is much different from someone with a great lens 15 feet away using a flash.

The lenses in video are usually much worse than a good camera, and also photographer will choose a lens, focal length, and exposure that is really much more flattering. Yes, the comp guy who has taken a thousand shots every session can be forgiven for not getting the best moment, but then again,your dancing leads him to where he thinks the best look will be.
 
I figured out one of your video captures from the link under your post: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...103192.-2207520000.1372373301.&type=3&theater
Seems that you find this acceptable.

I do a bit of dance photography myself, and try to get the best moments and spend time adjusting for the best technical quality I can get from the available light. Maybe I work to hard at it if people don't really care in the end:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.498952223472140.118127.369903976376966&type=1
 
snapdancer said:
I figured out one of your video captures from the link under your post: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...103192.-2207520000.1372373301.&type=3&theater
Seems that you find this acceptable.

I do a bit of dance photography myself, and try to get the best moments and spend time adjusting for the best technical quality I can get from the available light. Maybe I work to hard at it if people don't really care in the end:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.498952223472140.118127.369903976376966&type=1
Click to expand...

Professional photo costs from $10 to $15 per print. Image extra.



It is just nice to have an option to buy quality professional DVD (showcase DVD price about $25) and extract all the pictures you want yourself. For the price the quality is acceptable- you can get every second of your dance. It is just an option.

It is not a professional service. Just hobby and fun. Only video of my choice and my own dancing. No Services/professional offerings to other people like on your FB.

People always buy quality photography, photos, and portraits. I am not your competition at all, Snapdancer.
 
I'm not in the business of competition event photography, so I don't view your activities as competition. If you're happy with the low resolution blur from a video capture, then so be it. Just wondering how many people feel the same way.
 
Re: OP, is it possible the event organizers are trying to create a minimum standard for their performances by creating a package of everything they think should be involved in developing a successful performance?

I remember a few years ago I was involved in a formation team for the university dance club, and it was open to the volunteer teaching assistants at no cost except costuming (about a $50-75 cost) - all the other fees were covered by the club. The problem was, there were a few people who just wouldn't put in the effort - showing up late for choreography sessions, not showing at all for practices, half-@$$ed attempts at hair and makeup. It made for a pretty shoddy show in the end for that particular year, and the people who were slacking generally weren't the better dancers who could have gotten away with missing a few practices.

Maybe your studio is trying to improve the quality of their show by making sure everyone who is performing has put in all the effort to create a high-quality performance at the showcase? (Everyone has had at least x lessons, x practice time, hair professionally done, etc.) I realize that doesn't help you decide whether it's still worth it TO YOU to pay those higher fees to perform, but that might be part of where they've come from.

(I also second everyone who mentioned things about discounted rates from hair/video vendors for bulk orders, plus the fact that you'd be taking the lessons anyway to be improving your dancing.)
 
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