One of the commonest complaints I hear when someone tells me about their experience of either going to a haflah with live music, or organising an event with live music, is their disappointment where the music and/or musicians are concerned. It seems to me that there has been a general deterioration in the standard and the quality of service offered by many musicians in our community.

Many bands these days seem to have a woeful lack of anything like an up-to-date or varied repertoire. The occasional different song would not go amiss! I am not saying that they have to be familiar with all the latest pop songs, but knowing a few of the really big hits would be useful. A lot of them have a very small collection of songs that they play over and over again. Curiously, they seem oblivious to the fact that when there is only a small number of musicians playing at a number of different venues, it’s likely that many dancers will go to more than one event. How disappointing for those dancers to be presented with the same repertoire as the last event, played in almost the same order!

To give them the benefit of the doubt I am assuming that part of the problem is that the musicians don’t necessarily rehearse together regularly, therefore a list of songs that they all feel comfortable playing ensures that they play in harmony. But therein lies the problem – ‘familiarity breeds contempt’. It does seem that musicians who play a long-used repertoire of songs often look (and sound) like they are doing the musical equivalent of ‘painting by numbers’! If I had £5 for every time I saw a musician glance at his watch during the course of a couple of songs, my costume wardrobe would be full to bursting by now! Yes, they could be checking to make sure that they are playing according to an agreed schedule, which is fair enough. However, a quick glance should suffice rather than a longing look at their watch because they are bored!

Do these musicians think that we are so incredibly grateful to have live music at our event that any old sloppy stuff will do? That open displays of boredom or apathy on their part will pass unnoticed by the dancers? This laziness smacks of an arrogant disregard, even contempt for our dance community! I am sorry if that sounds harsh, especially as I know that there are lots of ethical musicians out there, but nowadays it seems that so many are not!

I should say that I am always deeply impressed by anyone that can play any musical instrument well. I struggled with the piano for years and could never quite get it right. The only musical instrument I have only ever felt comfortable with is sagat/zills as I had some great instruction from some really wonderful musicians in late 70's early 80's. So I really do appreciate the skills involved, it just the presentation that I object to! I know that most of them are truly accomplished musicians but sadly a lot of them have got very lazy, as they know that they work in a niche market, with little or no competition.

Much of this is all down to the fact that there are a lot more gigs than there are musicians to go around. Therefore many of them think that even if they arrive late, play with indifference and ask ridiculous prices for poor quality music, we won’t mind because we are so grateful for them to be there. They assume that we won't mind the poor service or value for money, because they know that we all say to ourselves "aren't we lucky to have live music".

Coupled with the problem of tired old repertoires is the thorny issue of reimbursement. When I first turned professional there were approximately 4 or 5 times the number of musicians available to us, many of whom had also worked with top dancers in Egypt. They kept their standards up to compete for work and as a result we got to dance to some fabulous music. It wasn’t all a bed of roses; there were plenty of bad/lazy/arrogant musicians around in those days too. However, most of them soon learned that this kind of behaviour resulted in less work. Sadly, these days I hear more and more complaints about bands or individual musicians who turn up late, play poorly and then have the cheek to ask for exorbitant sums in return. Many of them even ask for more money at the end of an event if they think the organiser has made a reasonable profit. Then when no money is forthcoming, they try to intimidate them into paying up by making an unpleasant scene! Not professional behaviour in any shape or form!

Performing to live music can be an ordeal all of its' own in this sort of situation, and this isn’t confined to a dancer’s first experience of dancing to live music either. You arrive, full of excitement because performing to live music can be such a wonderful experience and then you meet the band! They look at you blankly when you ask for a well-known song, even when it is an old classic or they pretend they have never heard of it. So you work through their repertoire and come to an agreement about what they will play and for how long, plus entrances/finales, drum solos etc. Feeling reassured you go off to get changed. Later on waiting for your cue, you hear your name announced, the band strikes up and it’s all wrong! Maybe they are playing a different song or perhaps a *very* different arrangement, but you know you have no choice to go on stage and dance to it, as it’s impossible to stop the music without causing a lot of trouble. You don’t want to cause a scene or be labeled a diva, so you go out and give it your best shot. Sometime this gives you a brilliant buzz! You made it - the ultimate test of your improvisational skills. Every now and then it happens, but when it doesn't . . you come off stage knowing that you didn’t perform at your best because the musicians did not play as rehearsed and let you down. Later on you overhear someone who was in the audience saying that your performance seemed a little nervous, or that you didn’t seem at your best. You feel angry, but unable to do anything about it. As a dancer with many years experience I would have no qualms about approaching the musicians and asking what went wrong - maybe there was a misunderstanding about what was agreed.

However a less experienced dancer would probably go away with the feeling that 'canned' music is the only way to go, thus losing a priceless treasure - dancing to live music. It is my experience that some musicians 'try it on' with the less experienced dancers, whereas they are more prepared to work with rather than against the experienced ones. Whilst I can fully appreciate that there might be a change of song due to a misunderstanding, and will go out and dance my best, I know that this can put many dancers off dancing with live music permanently.

The difference between the ethical and non-ethical musicians is that there will be an apology afterwards. Whereas some of the ones I've worked with in recent years have just shrugged and walked away, obviously not caring at all. As for me personally dancing to live music is now a seldom-achieved treat, that is an attitude that makes me both sad and angry. What should it be like? Ask anyone who had the pleasure of performing with the Feret El Negoum Band at Kay Taylor's Farha Festival 2007! This a professional band comprised of talented musicians from Egypt. They work regularly with dance star Yasmina of Cairo and other top names. They are the epitome of what it means to be a professional band both in the quality of their music and how they treat the performers.

Sadly dealing with unethical musicians is not as uncommon as you might think. Many think that they can get away with this behaviour secure in the belief that you need them, rather than the other way around! The only way to stop this kind of thing happening is to complain – loudly. First of all bring it up with the event organiser; let them know how angry and disappointed you are. Secondly, tell the band how you feel.If they are indifferent to your complaints, make them aware of the fact that you can and will tell other dancers about their bad behaviour and that this will lead to less work or lower pay. I often find that the musicians have little respect for the dancers simply because they are prepared to accept a substandard service without complaint. In the long run you will earn yourself and our dance community more respect from the musicians if you make your complaints heard. It doesn't have to be a full-on argument or screaming session - no one ever wins in that situation, but do make your feelings heard. Try to explain to the musicians how excited you were to be dancing with them and how disappointed you were that things went wrong.

I always recommend that organisers of events with live music enter into a written contract with the musicians. This should clearly state what you expect from them in terms of the following:

- Time keeping: when you expect them to arrive and when they can expect to finish.
Include details of any arrangements for paying them extra if you ask them to stay on beyond the originally agreed time frame.

- The length of time they will be expected to play. 3 sets of 30 minutes each, for instance.

- Any rehearsals with the dancers that need to be arranged, and that both parties are happy with what will be played.

- Any expenses you will pay for.

- If you will provide refreshments, and/or food for them. (It would be pretty mean not to though!)

- The agreed amount of reimbursement. Stressing that this is the full and final amount you will pay them, subject to their satisfactory compliance with the agreed programme & times. Unless you ask them to play extra, which of course would be reimbursed at a rate agreed in advance.

Don’t confirm the gig with them until they have sent back the signed contract to you. Take a copy of the signed contract with you on the night. Ask them for a receipt when you hand over their payment (signing a note on the contact will do) and have someone with you to witness this, just in case they then ask for more or claim you haven’t paid them. Yes, it sounds crazy, but I know dancers that this has happened to! Part of the problem I think is that women sometimes feel uncomfortable making a stand on something, and men almost subconsciously take advantage of that by pressing their demands. That's why having a back up person can be useful. Luckily for me my husband is only to happy to arrange all this sort of thing and we very rarely have problems because (to be very British!) it's 'all chaps together' with none of the awkwardness on either side when making a business transaction.

I would like musicians to know that we appreciate their art and want to perform at our very best in accompaniment to them. It's such a special feeling to realise as you are dancing that you and the band are no longer two separate things, but rather a single and wonderful entity that has a magic all of its' own. This is something that works both ways though - I also want them to understand that I need their respect as an artist too. Ethical musicians understand this and know and love the music as much as we do!

If you would like to read some more on working with a band here is an excellent article on Gilded Serpent which I think sums up perfectly what every dancer should know and do. BTW The Gilded Serpent is full of useful articles and reviews on a wide range of subjects. I guarantee you won't read just this article! Looking for musicians for a haflah? Try getting in touch with Tim Garside (garsaaidi@hotmail.com) - a hugely talented musician who is an absolute pleasure to deal with!

© Afra al Kahira

This is an updated and revised version of an article that originally appeared in Taqasim Magazine