Tavern Dancer

Tavern Dancers are professional entertainers that typically dance on tabletops of taverns, inns and brothels for tips from patrons. They also will perform in market place and at fairs. More renown tavern dancers are often invited to perform at entertainments given by nobles and wealthy merchants. Tavern dancers are almost always female, although occasionally males who can successfully present themselves as female pursue the profession.
Tavern dancers are almost always exceedingly physically fit. They typically dress in slit skirts and halters, although in some regions less revealing attire is used. Tavern dancing is generally highly provocative and is sometime used by prostitutes as a means of drumming up business.
Typically tavern dancers will join up with travelling musicians to provide musical support for their acts. However, the best know tavern dancers will recruit small troupes of musicians so as to have reliable accompaniment for their performances. This a common practice for dancers that regularly can manage to find performances commissioned by wealthy patrons.
It is not uncommon for tavern dancers to become the mistresses of powerful individuals and occasionally to receive offers of marriage.

Career

Qualifications

A tavern dancer needs to be agile, graceful and physically fit. A strong ability to read an audience is very important.

Career Progression

Often mothers or aunts pass the profession down to their daughters and nieces. High regarded dancers will often take apprentices.

Payment & Reimbursement

Typically dancers will place a bowel in front of them before beginning their performance which patrons will drop silver or copper coins into. Innkeepers will often offer a dancer room and board in exchange for performing since its is seen as good way to bring in addional customers. Dancers will also perform on demand for individuals willing to pay for a performance. In these cases the amount of payment is usually agreed on in advance.

Other Benefits

The best tavern dancers are often highly regarded and some even manage to become wealthy.