| A friend sent me an email recently asking me if they | | | | You should watch their dance routines and practice |
| could make a living being a cheerleader, which forced | | | | this daily. If the team has clinics, then get involved, as |
| me to do some research. What I found was that if | | | | this will help you to learn their routines even better |
| you want to become a cheerleader for say, a NFL | | | | and gain a relationship with the people who are |
| team, it is not wise to give up your day job. Bad | | | | already on the squad. |
| news for those interested, sorry, however it is | | | | You must have excellent dancing skills. Most cheer |
| impossible to maintain a decent life being a | | | | leading squads require that their dancers can make up |
| cheerleader. | | | | things on the fly, do splits and high kicks, be able to |
| During my research I discovered that most | | | | dance to various kinds of music and be able to smile |
| cheerleaders earn about $50 per hour, per game. | | | | and be pleasant while doing their routines. Get to |
| That works out to between $400 to $500 per | | | | know the type of music the squad dances to, and |
| game, as cheerleaders are usually asked to work | | | | practice their dance routines daily. You should also |
| between 8 to 10 hours per game. You may have | | | | make up your own routines, so that you can add |
| between 1 and 2 home games per month, so you | | | | your personal touch. |
| would earn between $400 - $1000 per month for a | | | | Get an idea of the sort of look the cheer leading |
| couple months. This is obviously far from what | | | | squad requires. Some squads requires that |
| anyone would consider to be a steady well paying | | | | cheerleaders be at a certain height or weight. You |
| job, in fact, some professional teams require cheer | | | | should keep your weight down and look and be |
| leading applicants to have a full time job before the | | | | physically fit for obvious reasons. There should be no |
| team would even consider the job application. | | | | noticeable blemishes on your skin and you should |
| The good thing about being a cheerleader is that it | | | | ensure that your hair is done similar to the members |
| can be a spring board for dancing gigs, modeling and | | | | on the squad you are interested in. Most squads go |
| other forms of entertainment. For those who are | | | | for longer hair, but their are exceptions to that rule, |
| lucky or good enough to get other gigs, cheer leading | | | | so keep an eye out for the squad's particular style. |
| can be a short term career which can fetch you | | | | The clothes you wear is important. Again, try to get |
| between $2000 and $4000 per month. However, | | | | an idea of how the cheerleaders on the squad dress |
| cheer leading is a very unforgiving profession, as how | | | | and follow them. Makeup is also very important for a |
| well you do in most cases has more to do with how | | | | cheerleader. Makeup should keep the audience |
| good you look and not how well you dance. | | | | focused on the cheerleaders' eyes. Make sure you |
| It is not easy to get in the profession, as there has | | | | that you use foundations that match your skin, use |
| been an increase in the amount of cheer leading job | | | | liquid eyeliners, making sure it matches the colors of |
| applications to professional teams over the years. | | | | the team you want to represent, use eye shadow |
| The competition for these jobs is getting more | | | | (using different hues and glitters) and use strong |
| intense and as such, the cheerleaders have treated | | | | colors on your lips ensuring that their is a gloss over |
| their profession like a science and try to pull out all | | | | it. Do not use too much glitters. |
| the stops to be prepared for their tryouts and | | | | Just like any other job, you will have to do a formal |
| interviews. | | | | interview. Do not take the interview for granted. |
| What do I need to do to be a professional | | | | These squads requires professionalism, so look |
| cheerleader? | | | | professional and answer the questions asked by the |
| All teams with cheerleaders have scheduled yearly | | | | interviewer professionally. Prepare for the interview in |
| auditions. These auditions are usually scheduled | | | | the same manner you would prepare for any other. |
| weeks in advance, so you should keep in contact | | | | Be prepared to answer questions about why you |
| with the cheer leading squad you are interested in | | | | want to be in the profession and a part of their |
| joining. Make sure that you submit your application | | | | squad. Be prepared to tell them why choosing you |
| before the stated deadlines and that you complete all | | | | would be their best option and how your experience |
| your preparation before the audition. | | | | will help them. Be early for your interview and ensure |
| Most professional cheer leading squads have a | | | | that the interviewer understands how serious you |
| particular routine that is modified on a weekly basis. | | | | are about getting the job. |