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The cut-throat, competitive world of Chinese lion dance troupes
As more groups pop up, old-timers are feeling the heat of competition this New Year
Lion dance troupes are putting on more and more daring acts to attract the crowds.Lion dance business during LNY gets more competitive
It may be the Year of the Tiger in the lunar calendar, but things are heating up for the lions as well -- the Chinese lion dance troupes, that is. This year, another 12 troupes have joined the industry, tipping the number to over 200 in operation, and the pressure's on to keep the competition at bay.
With the Chinese New Year season traditionally the busiest period for lion dance troupes, the increased competition means lower rates and fewer bookings, according to Channel NewsAsia. Some are making up for their losses by performing daring stunts for customers, who are willing to pay a higher price for an action-packed show.
Ng Kim Foo, secretary general of Singapore Wushu Dragon and Lion Dance Federation, said to Channel NewsAsia, "Smaller troupes lose out because they lack the resources, and they resort to searching for their clients online. Some even slash their rates to S$688, from the average of S$1,200."
To control the market, industry regulators say they will enforce stricter permit rules to weed out illegal troupes. Another challenge they face is rising rental costs for lorries due to new safety requirements, requiring lorries to be covered, and companies have had to spend more on renting these heavy vehicles.
