DANCING PARTNERS

Evening Star, Issue 20139, 2 April 1929, Page 7

DANCING PARTNERS

SALARIES EARNED The probable incomes earned by, “dance hostesses,” “professional dancing partners,” and “dance hosts” or, “ gigolos,” as the men are colloquially, known in London and abroad, have become an object of keen curiosity as it result of a telegram from Geneva printed in the ‘ Daily Mail.’ In this telegram it was stated that a young man bad given £8 to each of the professional dance partners with whom ho had danced on the night before his arrest. Such a sum is exceptional, : but not so infrequent as might be supposed.' In the Casino towns there is a regular, tariff and a regular convention. If a' gigolo approaches a table and asks whether one of the siteers there would care to dance, he does so the first time as a speculation. That is to say, if, when he approached her again for the next dance (supposing she haa accepted his first invitation), she refuses him. he cannot expect a tip. Jr she accepts ho will be given a 100-frane note at the very least, either by her oilier escort, at the end of the afternoon

or evening. . . The average sum earned by a gigolo on the Continent may be estimated at about £8 a day for one who has a good “ practice,” and about £3 for one who is new to the profession and does nob know many people. In London, where there are now about forty gigolos, there is a different procedure at nearly' every restaurant or, dance club that employs them. A man was dismissed from one smart establishment for doing what is tolerated in another. This is' to exact a percentage of the earnings from the “dance hostesses” for introducing them; to unattached men. At the restaurant where _ this is allowed the retaining fees given are nominal, bub the women earn between £2O and £3O a week and the men between £lO and £ls a week, apart front what they receive from dance hostesses.', Here, though there is no hard-and-fast rule, a dance hostess expect® at least two guineas for dancing with the same man the whole evening, and is not surprised if she receives £5.