10 Powerful Ways Dance Crews Can Secure Paid Gigs and Thrive in the Industry

 Getting paid work as a dance crew requires strategy, networking, and leveraging opportunities. Here are 10 ways to secure paid performances and earn from dancing:

1. Corporate Events & Private Parties

• Approach companies to perform at product launches, team-building events, and gala nights.
• Offer entertainment packages for weddings, birthdays, and other private celebrations.

2. Music Videos & Artist Collaborations

• Connect with musicians, producers, and video directors to feature in music videos.
• Perform as backup dancers at concerts and live performances.

3. Dance Workshops & Training

• Host paid dance workshops for beginners, kids, or professional dancers.
• Offer personalized one-on-one coaching for aspiring dancers.

4. Social Media & Content Creation

• Create dance challenges and viral trends to attract brand sponsorships.
• Monetize content through YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.

5. Competitions & Talent Shows

• Participate in dance competitions with cash prizes and sponsorship opportunities.
• Audition for TV talent shows to gain exposure and paid gigs.

6. Nightclubs & Entertainment Spots

• Perform at nightclubs, hotels, and casinos as resident dancers.
• Offer theme-based performances for special nights (e.g., Afrobeat, salsa nights).

7. Brand Endorsements & Advertisements

• Partner with brands for commercial ads, fashion brands, and fitness campaigns.
• Secure sponsorships from sportswear brands and energy drink companies.

8. Street & Festival Performances

• Perform at cultural festivals, carnivals, and city events (some pay performers).
• Street performances with a tip jar can also attract sponsorship and local gigs.

9. Collaborate with Event Organizers

• Build relationships with event planners who need dancers for their shows.
• Offer a dance showcase package for regular bookings.

10. Online Dance Courses & Memberships

• Create an online dance school with paid subscriptions.
• Offer exclusive dance tutorials to paying members.

20 business ideas of businesses to start in Kenya with little or no capital

 Starting a business in Kenya with little or no capital is possible with creativity, resourcefulness, and leveraging free or low-cost resources. Here are 20 business ideas to consider:

Service-Based Businesses (Require Skills, Not Capital)

1. Freelance Writing & Blogging – Write articles for websites, newspapers, or start your own blog.
2. Social Media Management – Manage social media accounts for small businesses.
3. Graphic Design – Create logos, posters, and marketing materials using free tools like Canva.
4. Event Planning – Offer coordination services for weddings, parties, and corporate events.
5. Tutoring & Coaching – Teach academic subjects, music, fitness, or other skills.
6. Photography & Videography – Start with a smartphone, then upgrade to a camera.
7. Laundry & Ironing Services – Offer to clean and press clothes for neighbors.
8. Errand & Delivery Services – Help people with shopping, parcel delivery, or home services.

Online & Digital Businesses (Low Startup Costs)

9. YouTube Channel & Vlogging – Create content around a niche like travel, beauty, or tech.
10. Dropshipping – Sell products online without holding inventory.
11. Affiliate Marketing – Earn commissions by promoting products on platforms like Jumia and Amazon.
12. Online Course Creation – Teach skills on platforms like Udemy or Gumroad.
13. Virtual Assistant Services – Provide admin support to businesses remotely.
14. App & Website Testing – Earn money by testing apps and websites for companies.

Small-Scale Retail & Home-Based Businesses

15. Homemade Snacks & Baking – Sell mandazi, chapati, or cakes from home.
16. Soap & Detergent Making – Make and sell homemade cleaning products.
17. Thrift Business (Mitumba) – Start selling second-hand clothes with as little as Ksh 1,000.
18. Urban Farming – Grow and sell vegetables like sukuma wiki, spinach, or mushrooms.
19. Homemade Beauty Products – Make and sell natural skincare items like body oils or soaps.
20. Mobile Phone Repair & Accessories Selling – Offer phone repair services and sell accessories like chargers and screen protectors.

The Art of Negotiation: Mastering Key Elements and Winning Tactics in 2025!

 Negotiation is an essential skill in business, relationships, and everyday life. Whether you're closing a deal, securing a job offer, or making a purchase, knowing how to negotiate effectively can make all the difference. Here’s a breakdown of critical elements and tactics to maximize your success in negotiations.

Key Elements of a Successful Negotiation

1. Preparation: Before entering a negotiation, gather all relevant information about the subject. Understanding the needs, goals, and potential objections of both parties helps in crafting a compelling argument.

2. Clear Objectives: Define what you want to achieve. Have a target outcome, a realistic settlement range, and a bottom line that you won’t go below.

3. Effective Communication: Active listening, clarity, and assertiveness are essential. Understanding the other party’s perspective and addressing their concerns fosters trust and cooperation.

4. Emotional Intelligence: Negotiations can be intense. Managing emotions, staying patient, and recognizing non-verbal cues can help in making informed decisions.

5. Flexibility and Creativity: Sticking rigidly to a stance can limit outcomes. Being open to alternative solutions and creative compromises often leads to win-win results.

Tactics for Winning Negotiations

1. Leverage the Power of Silence: After presenting an offer, pause and let the other party respond. Silence can create pressure and prompt concessions.

2. Use the Anchoring Effect: Start with a high but reasonable offer to set the negotiation range in your favor.

3. Build Relationships: Establishing rapport and trust with the other party can lead to more favorable outcomes.

4. Ask Open-Ended Questions: Encouraging dialogue helps uncover motivations and creates opportunities for solutions beneficial to both sides.

5. Be Willing to Walk Away: Knowing when to step back gives you leverage and prevents unfavorable agreements.

By mastering these elements and tactics, you can navigate negotiations with confidence, ensuring optimal outcomes while maintaining positive relationships. Negotiation isn’t just about winning—it’s about creating value and reaching solutions that work for everyone involved.

Boosting Brand Awareness with Branded Caps and T-Shirts

 In today’s competitive market, brand visibility is everything. One of the most effective ways to ensure your brand stays top of mind is by using branded caps and T-shirts. These wearable marketing tools act as mobile billboards, making your brand visible in everyday life. But how do you do it right to maximize results? Let’s break it down.

1. Design with Purpose
A well-designed cap or T-shirt can create a lasting impression. Choose colors, fonts, and graphics that align with your brand identity. The design should be simple yet striking, ensuring people can easily recognize and remember your brand. A strong logo placement, along with a catchy tagline, can enhance visibility.

2. Focus on Quality
The quality of your branded merchandise reflects your business. Invest in high-quality fabric and printing techniques to ensure durability. A comfortable, stylish, and long-lasting T-shirt or cap increases the likelihood that people will wear them repeatedly, extending your brand exposure.

3. Leverage Influencers and Brand Ambassadors
Get influencers, employees, and customers to wear your branded gear. A well-known figure sporting your merchandise can generate buzz and credibility. Encourage satisfied customers to share pictures of themselves wearing your branded items on social media, using a branded hashtag.

4. Strategic Distribution
Giving away branded caps and T-shirts at events, trade shows, and community activities is an excellent way to spread brand awareness. You can also offer them as incentives for purchases, loyalty programs, or contests. The more people wearing your brand, the greater your reach.

5. Ensure Consistency
Your branded apparel should align with your overall brand message and aesthetics. Keep consistency across different marketing channels to reinforce brand recognition. Ensure that your branded merchandise matches the tone and values of your brand.

By following these strategies, branded caps and T-shirts can become powerful tools for increasing brand visibility and awareness. With the right approach, your brand won’t just be seen—it will be remembered.

Ready to elevate your brand? Start designing your branded merchandise today!

For the best T-shirt and cap branding in Nairobi, Art Extreme Brands delivers top-quality printing services. Contact them at 0745 376777 to bring your brand to life!

The Importance of Sunscreen: Protecting Your Skin from Harmful UV Rays

 The sun is essential for life, providing warmth and vitamin D, but prolonged exposure to its ultraviolet (UV) rays can have harmful effects on our skin. Whether you're spending a day at the beach, running errands, or just stepping outside, using sunscreen is crucial in protecting your skin from premature aging, sunburn, and even skin cancer.

Understanding UV Rays

The sun emits two types of harmful UV rays:

• UVA Rays: These penetrate deep into the skin, causing premature aging, wrinkles, and long-term damage.
• UVB Rays: These primarily cause sunburn and play a major role in the development of skin cancer.

Both types can damage your skin over time, making sunscreen a necessity regardless of the weather or season.

Why Sunscreen Matters

Sunscreen acts as a barrier against UV radiation, reducing the risk of skin damage. A broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of at least 30 is recommended for daily use. Higher SPFs offer greater protection but must still be reapplied every two hours, especially if swimming or sweating.

Regular sunscreen use helps:
✅ Prevent sunburns and skin peeling
✅ Reduce the risk of skin cancer
✅ Slow down signs of aging like wrinkles and dark spots
✅ Maintain even skin tone and prevent hyperpigmentation

Tips for Effective Sun Protection

• Apply sunscreen generously at least 15 minutes before sun exposure.
• Reapply every two hours or after swimming and sweating.
• Wear protective clothing like hats, sunglasses, and long sleeves.
• Seek shade during peak sun hours (10 AM – 4 PM).
• Stay hydrated to keep your skin healthy.

Sunscreen isn’t just for beach days—it’s a daily skincare essential. Protecting your skin today ensures a healthier, youthful glow for years to come. Make sunscreen a habit, and let your skin thank you later

From Runway to Business: How Risper Mwende Turned Her Influence into a Social Media Venture

At just 24, Risper Mwende never imagined that her journey as a model would open doors beyond the runway. As an enthusiastic and ambitious young woman, she discovered that her influence extended far beyond striking a pose—she had the power to inspire and uplift upcoming models. Realizing that her platform was more than just a space for fashion, she saw an opportunity to build something bigger. This led her to venture into business, leveraging social media to create a brand that goes beyond modeling. Her story is one of passion, purpose, and the power of influence in the digital age.

We had the opportunity for an interview with Rizkid 254, check it out

1.Can you tell us a little about yourself and what inspired you to pursue both modeling and entrepreneurship?

1.Am Risper Mwende,24 years old enthusiastic lady.being a model ,discovered that I had a great influence on upcoming and raising models and so I decides to take advantage of my fame and try to venture on business and  to be precise on social media.

2.How has growing up in Embu influenced your sense of fashion and business mindset?

2. Growing up in embu fashion wise has not been easy  because of my parents(strict on the dress code) but as I grew up ,they understood my fashion taske and now can cope up with it.

3.What was your experience like competing in pageants, and how has it shaped your career?

3. This is not for the faint hearted since you'll get a lot of disappointments , you expect to win but the doesn't happen.but with a lot of practice and consistency you end up somewhere.

 

4.What do you think makes Kenyan fashion unique, and how do you incorporate that into your style?

4. Kenyan fashion is unique since we have the (kitenge) that's makes us unique ..but in my style I opt for the American fashion.

5.What challenges have you faced as a model, and how do you overcome them?

5. One of the greatest problem is finding the right attires for an event ,secondly how to find brands that gonna work with you I cope up with this by approaching as many brands to work with and ease my worry of getting outfits.

6.Can you share more about your business ventures and what inspired you to start them?

6. There has been this idea that has visited me for a while on starting my biz and I listened to my heart ,might be the game changer.

 7.How do you balance being a model and running a business at the same time?

7. I work on weekdays and model during weekends and since am self employed, I balance and can leave work anytime as long as  I have a time plan.

8.What advice would you give to young women in Kenya who aspire to be both entrepreneurs and fashion models?

8. Go for what you want  listen to your heart, start messy, start scared, start broke ...just start

9.Where do you see yourself in the next five years, both in fashion and business?

9. I see myself owning my own collection (couture) and many branches countrywide.

10.What legacy do you hope to leave behind in the Kenyan fashion and entrepreneurship industry?

10. Anything is styllable...trust your guts.

Meet Preh Sara: A Kenyan Fashion Enthusiast with a Passion for Style

 Preh Sara, a rising fashion enthusiast from Nairobi, is carving a unique path in the world of fashion with her bold sense of style and creativity. Known for her keen eye for trends, Preh has always had a deep connection to the world of fashion. From a young age, she found joy in expressing herself through clothes, experimenting with different textures, colors, and silhouettes. For Preh, fashion is not just about what you wear—it's about telling a story and making a statement without saying a word.

Her love for fashion goes beyond the typical runway trends; she draws inspiration from her travels, which have allowed her to experience diverse cultures and style influences. Whether it’s the vibrant colors of the streets of Nairobi or the minimalistic style seen in other cities she visits, Preh finds beauty in every corner of the world. This exploration fuels her creativity, making her a fashion stylist with a fresh, global perspective.

As an aspiring fashion stylist, Preh Sara is on a mission to bring a unique blend of traditional and contemporary fashion to the forefront. She believes in pushing boundaries, mixing old with new, and creating looks that empower individuals to embrace their own identities. Her goal is to inspire others to express themselves through style, using fashion as a tool for confidence and self-love.

Preh's journey is just beginning, and with her passion and dedication, there's no doubt she’ll continue to make waves in the fashion industry. Keep an eye out for this stylish trendsetter—her story is only getting started!

Reasess Teejay and 39Kult Crew Deliver an Electrifying Hip-Hop Cypher at E360 Awards

 The E360 Awards, held on Friday, March 7, at Kenya Cinema in Nairobi, was a night to remember, especially for hip-hop lovers. Among the standout performances was the thrilling hip-hop cypher by Reasess Teejay and the 39Kult Crew, who took the stage by storm with their raw energy, lyrical prowess, and undeniable stage presence.

From the moment they stepped onto the stage, Reasess Teejay and the 39Kult Crew captivated the audience with their tight flows, hard-hitting punchlines, and effortless chemistry. Their cypher was more than just a performance—it was a statement, showcasing the depth and creativity of Kenya’s hip-hop scene. The crowd responded with cheers and applause, vibing along to the powerful bars and electrifying beats.

What set their performance apart was their authenticity and passion for the craft. Each verse was a testament to their skill, storytelling ability, and dedication to hip-hop culture. Their presence on the E360 Awards stage not only solidified their reputation as one of the most promising acts in the industry but also highlighted the strength of Kenyan hip-hop as a force to be reckoned with.

As the music industry continues to grow, acts like Reasess Teejay and the 39Kult Crew are pushing boundaries and proving that Kenyan hip-hop deserves its place on the global stage. Their performance at the E360 Awards 2025 was nothing short of iconic, leaving fans eager for more.