Dancer Archive
Thread: Innovative Ideas for Males to Work the crowd
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QuixoticJedi1
Thu Jul 29, 2004 11:19 am
#1
Howdy guys,
I think the ladies have a small advantage over us when it comes to entertaining the cantina crowd. Their beautiful moves and charming personalities easily attract more of the male clientele. And since there is a straight male majority out there, that leaves male entertainers with fewer tools to entertain our clients. I've seen it myself, most attention in the cantina is paid to the lovely ladies. So, as my contribution to improving "entertaining" I'd like to hear how you guys and gals keep your clientele entertained, above and beyond flirtation. It's a unique situation when a male dancer interacts with a male combat profession - and to me there always seems to be a bit of uncomfortable tension in the air. How do you guys break that tension? Do you tell jokes? Make polite conversation?
For my part, I try to talk about their latest combat ventures. Where they've been, where they're going? Sometimes I get a response, other times I get nothing. So how about it? Any other ideas?
Osawa_Scylla
Thu Jul 29, 2004 11:38 am
#2
Probably not entirely appropriate for this topic, but it sort of fits.
I'm working on an upcoming project...one that requires a male Twi'lek dancer who can at least do poplock, though I'm thinking maybe full master for exotic3 would also be nice. Since I have multiple accounts, I decided to make the male Twi'lek dancer on my second account that way I can have my two characters dance together.
So, anyway, I was on Starsider last night working on Tahzix Nin, my male Twi'lek, and this guy comes up to me and says, "Ur Gay" then "Faggit." I said, "Me?" and he said "Yes." So I /kissed him. I think he said "lol" and then ran off. But it was oddly surreal and amusing.
The thing I really have to remember is that I can't be the flirt I normally am with this character. I don't think that any of the guys in the cantina would like me winking suggestively at them. 
The thing I really need to decide is whether to add in an explanation in the bio or not. Not sure how many people will look at the bio to see that I'm not reallya guy, and that I'm just doing this character for a video project. hehe
On topic for the post, I've watched Smiling "work the crowd" both on Scylla and on Bria. Just talking about stuff seems to be normal. Either in-game stuff or out of game stuff, whatever people in the cantina want to talk about.
Osawa
NewJedi
Thu Jul 29, 2004 11:48 am
#3
I like seeing male dancers in the game, and I sometimes ask them how they like it, whether female players flirt with them much, etc. I know what you mean about the male-to-male tension that exists when a male dancer is, um, buffing me. But I dunno, I think it adds kind of a neat dimension to the game. Then again, I'm a pretty big proponent of gay rights, and I have little patience for use of the word "gay" to mean "bad." As a Musician, I always like having a male dancer in the group. It makes for fun conversation opportunities with the ladies in the audience.
I'm curious: are female customersmore polite to male dancers thanmale customers are to female dancers?
Kitachiira
Thu Jul 29, 2004 2:49 pm
#4
I'm a supporter of gay rights too and try my best to never let a male dancer get harrassed by fools like that. Besides, you can always inform them that you probably get alot more dates then they do anyway, being surrounded by all those girls
The uncomfortable tension is just from guys not knowing for sure how to interract with male dancers.
As far as interracting goes, for a wookie I always mention any armor they may be wearing in a complimentary fashion.They seem to like talking about their armor. I ask questions individuals about their profs, andif they've ever done any big game hunting in-game to compare experiences. I ask about PVP experiences as well. Iread bios and see if they're RPers or not to gage how the conversation should go.Asking questions about their guild can bo good too. Sometimes I ask what they think about the latest patches and what they want to see happen with their profs in the future. I find that, for some people, if they see themselves as the teacher and me the student, I can engage them in conversation for a bit longer than they intended on staying. I have seen male dancers do this as well, especially if they have no combat prof, and compare what they hear with other patrons. It seems to work sometimes.
Heck, being male you can talk about girls in the game (just remember to be respectful or you may find yourself hunted on your server! lol)
Yeah galactic politics is good. I had quite the discussion last night with one Rebel about slavery and what I believed (being Imperial) were it's benefits. Sometimes I try to convert people and that usually ends up interesting!
Good luck on finding what works for you!
Estevan_Starshard
Thu Jul 29, 2004 5:21 pm
#5
For one thing, I always have my entertainer droid out. That works wonders in gathering attention, even from other guys. I'll mock anyone who claims I'm gay, which usually results in some nice tips :-)
It all depends on the situation. If there are folks dueling in the cantina, I'll make fun of the loser, unless its someone I know.
You're only hampered by the limits of your imagination. Most folks don't have qualms with interacting with a male dancer....especially if your a male Master Dancer and they want buffs. Heh heh.
It all depends on the situation. If there are folks dueling in the cantina, I'll make fun of the loser, unless its someone I know.
You're only hampered by the limits of your imagination. Most folks don't have qualms with interacting with a male dancer....especially if your a male Master Dancer and they want buffs. Heh heh.
PoetDancer
Fri Jul 30, 2004 12:07 am
#6
I found talking about politics is a good one. Not about national or global politics, mind you, but galactic politics. Whenever anyone chooses a faction, its obvious they made that choice for a reason. Now the reason may be as simple as all their friends are doing it, but it seldom is satisfying to a player to keep it at this level.
Players will inevitably create a backdrop for themselves, if only to assure that thisindividual they created in the virtual world has some kind of place and meaning in the greater scope of things. It may take a little prodding, but players--even non-roleplayers--want to create something. Its a natural urge.
That's where we come in. We take clues and cues from a player's bio, tags, title, and equippment to try and identify those things that a player may like to discuss and expand upon. If it is a Rebel Mon Calamari, ask him why the Mon Calamari should join the Rebellion. If he says something boringly typical like "u get an FP nerf for going imp," do not take this as a failed attempt. Expand upon it. Ask him, "Why does the Empire treat Mon Cals so badly? I hear your species has a long history of brilliant engineers." The answer is not as important as keeping the dialouge alive. Because as long as you can keep the player distracted in an attentive and responsive conversation, he will be too busy to keep his ctrl-c screen up, or watching the buff timer slowly tick down in anguish. And players will want to stay long after they really have any reason to stay, because they are so engrossed in something that they may not have had in a long time, an immersive experience. Trust me, it works.
Aleyo
Fri Jul 30, 2004 12:33 am
#7
The best advice is to fit your actions/conversation to the customer as best you can divine.
I tend to play a kind of silly character, especially when I'm dancing instead of playing music, so I'll use a few gimmicks that seems to always get people laughing/chatting.
Trick one: Dance in boots, hawtpants, and a warm hat (so far I've been making do with short shorts, but I'll get those hawtpants someday!). Strangely enough, I've gotten less homophobia while dancing in this outfit than when fully dressed.
Trick two: Selective licking. It's important you know who you can lick and who not, as you don't want to make your other entertainer friends uncomfortable. I've grown quite a reputation on my server for communicating by licking, and for having a far reaching tongue. Don't be afraid to occasionally lick a guy either. I've done it a few times, and I've always gotten the same laughing reaction mentioned earlier in this thread rather than bad or homophobic comments.
Trick three: Use emotes to playfully suggest you're jealous of the other dancers getting all the attention. This usually gets you some attention without you coming across like a jerk or something like that.
Those are the gimmicks, but they need to be founded on a fun and interesting personality. Good luck!
I tend to play a kind of silly character, especially when I'm dancing instead of playing music, so I'll use a few gimmicks that seems to always get people laughing/chatting.
Trick one: Dance in boots, hawtpants, and a warm hat (so far I've been making do with short shorts, but I'll get those hawtpants someday!). Strangely enough, I've gotten less homophobia while dancing in this outfit than when fully dressed.
Trick two: Selective licking. It's important you know who you can lick and who not, as you don't want to make your other entertainer friends uncomfortable. I've grown quite a reputation on my server for communicating by licking, and for having a far reaching tongue. Don't be afraid to occasionally lick a guy either. I've done it a few times, and I've always gotten the same laughing reaction mentioned earlier in this thread rather than bad or homophobic comments.
Trick three: Use emotes to playfully suggest you're jealous of the other dancers getting all the attention. This usually gets you some attention without you coming across like a jerk or something like that.
Those are the gimmicks, but they need to be founded on a fun and interesting personality. Good luck!
QuixoticJedi1
Fri Jul 30, 2004 12:46 am
#8
Aleyo wrote:
Those are the gimmicks, but they need to be founded on a fun and interesting personality. Good luck!
Oh, I'm screwed then.
I've never worried much about the homophobia bit - if some dork has an issue, it's his issue. When they pull out the "gay" card, I'm done interacting. I don't feel the need to interact with people who are so quick to judge.
I like the idea of talking Galactic politics, and I hate to admit it, but I never really thought to use a character's bio. I also like the idea of playing jealous of the other dancers - just so long as I'm not stealing their audience! 
So, is the tension there because of a fear of being seen as "gay" to watch a male dancer? Or is this tension something the women experience as well?
Osawa_Scylla
Fri Jul 30, 2004 12:46 am
#9
I think just finding any way to connect to a cantina-goer is the key. Whether it's politics, fashion, professions, or whatever, just something that allows you to connect to, communicate with, and entertain.
And, I think that goes both ways. It's really easy for a female dancer, though there are many times I've wished I were a guy because there is a point where too much attention can be a bad thing. Sometimes, it's just creepy to have someone come up, stand nearly on top of you, and then start the watch animation with the foot tapping and clapping. Then eventually, you get a tell:
Leetdewd tells you, hi ur hot
Leetdewd has tipped you 200 credits.
I'm also a big supporter of gay rights, and whenever anyone comes into a cantina I'm in and starts bashing the male dancers, I always jump in in support of the dancer.
Osawa
DemmonA
Fri Jul 30, 2004 4:27 am
#10
Osawa_Scylla wrote:
The thing I really need to decide is whether to add in an explanation in the bio or not. Not sure how many people will look at the bio to see that I'm not reallya guy, and that I'm just doing this character for a video project. hehe
A video project on Starsider? Who is the director? When is it?
As for the topic of this thread: Make jokes, sing songs, dance poplock, or dance formal with a sword if the client has a sword or is TKA. Unless they want a buff then they sure don't mind you dance exotic!
Shidi-Rommu
Fri Jul 30, 2004 5:21 am
#11
I'm suprised no-one has yet created a CHippendales style male group.....
or have they ?
Shi_Dira
Fri Jul 30, 2004 8:55 am
#12
Shidi-Rommu wrote:I'm suprised no-one has yet created a CHippendales style male group.....or have they ?
No Chippendale dance group yet, that I have seen on Starsider anyway, but that is exactly the image I go for with my dancer character.
As for the gay phobia that some have, well I have only seen that a few times in the past month or two and my comeback is very direct: you really think those Chippendale dancers DON'T get the women? lol That has always worked well for me anyway...
To the thread starter, Quix, my advice is simply this - be yourself and be natural. If you like to crack jokes, sing a song, or just chat then by all means do so. If you want to RP, then find something that works for you and run with it.
I just RP all my accounts as myself, so I come across as natural and real - if my character says something it's me saying it and in the cantina anything I say is totally off-the-cuff, be it a joke or a song or whatever...bottom line is it appears natural because it is.
Estevan_Starshard
Fri Jul 30, 2004 11:03 am
#13
Well, some of us on Eclipse have been known to get together in Bestine Cantina and wip out the hawtpants. Its sort of an ad-hoc group: Drunken Hotties. Heh heh. Good times, good times.
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