For our troupe, all money from contracts goes into the troue fund. It helps offset costs for large costume purchases, travel for shows, troupe retreats, etc.

Tips are divided equally among the troupe members which performed that night.

If we had a band, there would be an extra charge involved and we would give them their portion to do with it as they saw fit.

I teach any and all workshops. I sometimes invite another member as an assistant and I either pay her a portion of the workshop payment or we trade for classes or costumes.

Our only dues is that we split the costs of our two hour rehearsal each week, so we each pay a flat rate each month (regardless of how many rehearsals we actually have--it fluctuates from month to month just based on the number of Tuesdays in a given month). Any overage goes into the troupe fund. Any under-payment, we offset with troupe funds.

Everyone is also required to attend Intermediate classes every week, which I sortof an additional "fee" involved in being with the troupe. We are responsible for our own costumes.
Any questions? Haha

A paid Gig gets split evenly among all my dancers after costs for that gig are covered, such as Gas, food, Costume items etc etc etc.... Most of the time breaking even is where it ends up but when it doesn't I make sure it is fair. I need them as much as they need me is how I see it and new dancers work just as hard if not harder so I feel they deserve an even cut. That's how I run it and it has worked so far, we are going on a long time without loosing core members and we are growig beautifully :). If we have musicians we charge more of course and everyone still gets out equal.

Troupe funds? That is a blurry subject If we are going to do a show together that requires us to put some money down for it we all go in evenly with time or money and decisions making. I have seen the so called "troupe funds" being used to make One troupe members "troupe Ideal" or personal view work, and in my opinion that does not work. Unless you make it worth the Troupe members while somehow, you are just waisting their energy time and money in the end. Why? well, in the end other than fillin up the troupe members closets with unwanted, ugly, or unworn, costumes and random garb that they never wanted in the first place, to bring one persons view to fruition, along with planting bitter seeds because Visionary leader is the only one making a dime, or at worst does not give a dime about anyone elses feelings/visions in general.
In that case when we are presented with one group members passionate Idea that will cost a pretty penny they have a few things to consider upon presenting it to the whole group 1. They must consider footing the costume or taking responsibility for most of the bill and not expecting other members to pay. 2. if they cannot affored to cover the expense then it is up to the members that are chosen for the gig to decide how much to put down for it. Especially if the gig makes barely enough to cover expences, it will not lead to more Gigs, and the costumes will only be used once. In a situation like that each member is responsible for the idea completely and whomever they choose to do it with them is under the understnding of a shared expense if they want to do the gig aswell. So in all everything is a collaborative expense and is treated as a collaborative decision and responsibility. Troup funds are drawn from our gigs or replenished by our gigs for the most part.

Troup members paying for classes? No, but splitting the overall rental of the room yes. I'd rather have the room paid for and have members show up to practice/drills than have to meet up later with them (on my own time) to catch them up just because they could not affored the class that day. It is more important to have the space and the members up to par with the new combos and choriography, but if they are not there, then it only makes them look bad in the end. And we all really know and have learned what slacking on practice can do to your performance. Having member show up is much more important to all of us than to make a few extra bucks. Especially since it is already understood that all expenses decisions and money made is equally split between members that are involved in the projects. It works itself out because each member is chosen to do gigs depending on their consistancy availability and ability. We have 8 members total, 4 core/soloists, 4sub members until their soloing ability builds up, and are able to manage gigs on their own.

Ultimately it is a group effort and project everyones vision is considered and shared and so are the expenses equally. There is a mothering by the more exp dancers/performers but not a governing within the group, so no one feels intimidated or restricted creatively. Most importantly everyone is encouraged to scout for Gigs to bring their vision out and the one who finds the gigs chooses who goes with, what to wear, Music, no questions, it is understood as just that and seems to be working really well.

I think as long as it is always honest and fair and the communication about money and troupe issues is always open it works very nicely and the fun and friendships are not comprimised. It does not work for everyone I am sure but It is doing well for us :)))

There are many ways to handle this, so I think what you're going to find is that each group does something a bit differently, or they try multiple ways until they find what works for them.

Here are a few we have used in the past:

1. Split all monies evenly among performers for the gig
2. Take a percentage of the fee paid and put it aside for Troupe Funds, then split the rest up evenly among performers
3. All fees go to the Troupe with tips being split up to performers.

Some of these work better than others depending on Troupe goals and member participation (ie - troupe of 10 people, but only the same 4 people keep up with performing on a regular basis).

Also, we don't have dues, but most rehearsals come out of our personal funds.

We put all our money into a troupe fund, which like Sharon said, goes to paying for expensive costume items and/or workshop, festival, travel expenses. When we get tips, they go in as well, as we are trying to get a nice base in the account, and it is best to save save save sometimes! Since there are only three of us, and we trust each other very much, there is no issue with the account. Our director keeps tabs, and divys out when need be.

We do have a monthly class fee, but we also teach the beginner's class (the two of us who don't teach the performing troupe class) so that cost is offset by the teaching pay. There are no troupe dues, but we are expected to cover any hotel, workshop, transportation fees outside of what our troupe fund can cover.

sundara varna did it like this:

<$100- divided amoungst the dancers in that particular show.
>$100- 50/50 troupe fund/ dancers in show.

principle dancers don't pay for classes, but gypsy camp does.

--required 3 out of 4 of classes offered every month.....plus once weekly rehersal in a troupe run studio/ garage....

-teachers- we kinda had a pecking order, i'd say most the most experienced one has first dibs....

-everyone was responsible for their own costumes, but they don't change very often and we shared alot......with people who have been doing tribal for 10 years you've got a good selection of costumes after a while!

In the past we split the money evenly between all dancers. We do have troupe dues that go into the pot though and so that helps offset the cost of costumes and equipment, advertising and other fees.

Rayya

We usually put a small percentage into the troupe fund, and the rest gets divided evenly.

On the rare occassion when our student troupe gets a paid gig (usually retirement/nursing homes), it's not generally enough to divy up between dancers so we just all go out for food & drinks after the performance and put our pay towards the bill. It makes for a fun night out :)

We are furtunate enough to have free practice space!

well my troupe currently dosnt have paying gigs. we have only done festivals and currently starting to do competitions.

Currently any money made goes to advertising for more classes, and paying for competition fees. it's not alot of money coming in so we have to offset by splitting the fees and such.

All troupe members are required to be in class at least once a week. either at the studio in Sunnyvale on mondays, or at my assistant director's house sundays.

all troupe members are responcible for their own costumes. They can either give me the money to purchess/make it for them or they can get it on their own.

Mina
Dalloua Dance Company
Dalloua.com

When we have a paying gig, 1/3 of the money goes to the troupe fund and 2/3 gets split among the dancers who were at the gig. If we know we have a big expense coming up that we need to save for as a troupe though, we dump all money into troupe funds.

When we work with musicans (since we don't have regular ones), they charge their rate and are paied seperately.

When we do workshops, we normally send 2 teachers (we have 4). The teachers split half of the workshops earnings and the other half goes to troupe funds. If we are doing a full-day seminar all four of us teach and half the earnings are split between the 4 of us , half going to the troupe. If the workshop is at the location of one teacher's regular classes, she does the workshop alone and reaps all the benefits.

Our troupe does not pay dues, nor do we have to take classes from the troupe, as we are a collective with practically equal experience and no clear superior dancer or teacher. We are all expected to remain enrolled in Egyptian style dance classes though and take advantage of workshop opportunities as they come.