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Sunday, March 8, 2009

The Bouzoukia club etiquette experience

We arrived at our choreographer's place and were educated about bouzoukia etiquette: the performers must mingle with the audience after the show, as it makes the club seem friendly. A waiter will tap you on the shoulder and lead you to a table to sit down. You have either been requested to go to that table or just put there. The waiter pours you a whiskey (every table has a whiskey on it) you must lift the glass and toast your guests, but you must not drink it. If you want a cold drink you are not allowed to get up and get it, the waiter has to fetch it. Then you can ignore the whiskey. Smile, introduce yourself, watch the show. If the customer starts any funny business, like touching you or making suggestion, you just say politely that you have to go to the bathroom, get up, and don't go back. There are always a lot of waiters and bouncers around. We were assured that the customers are not allowed to do anything with us, in fact if we started a business with them on the side we would be fired. Another rule: no relationship or friendship with the staff. We must always look groomed and pretty. If asked where we come from we are to say "from a ballet school in England". Oh yes, and the whole dance number we do is called a "ballet"!

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