Last Saturday, I happened to come across a lion dance going into a coffee shop. They went into the noodle stall for a short dance and went to the drinks stall which is usually owned by the coffeeshop operator. Some people seems more interested in their food but there are still many people watch and taking pictures. So, did I. Here are some pictures of the short session.

上个星期六，我见到一对舞狮进入咖啡店。他们走到面摊舞了几下就去了咖啡店买饮料的摊位。通常买饮料的都是经经营咖啡店的。有些人似乎对他们的食物更感兴趣，但仍有许多人观看和拍照。我也拍了。这里的照片就是短短几分钟内发生的事情。

The Chinese Lion Dance is performed during many celebratory moments, one of which is the Chinese New Year. Lion Dance troops are very busy during the Chinese New period because they are engaged by many to perform. Many people involved in Lion Dance troupes have their own full time jobs but take leave of absence from work to do the lion dance. During Chinese New Year period, it's quite common to see the lion dance in shopping malls, temples and places of interests as the Lion Dance troupes get engaged to perform there. Sometimes, they stack their appointments quite tightly and result in being late for some. Many business also engage them to perform at the workplace as part of Chinese New Year celebration. The lion dance folks are so busy that they have no time to wash their clothes. One time, I saw they were washing their "uniform" at a 24 hour self service laundry. LOL.

舞狮是在许多庆祝时刻进行的，其中之一是农历新年。舞狮团在农历新年期间可忙碌，因为他们被许多人请去表演。许多舞狮团的人都有自己的全职工作，所以请假参与舞狮团的活动。在农历新年期间，很多商场，寺庙和旅游胜地都会有机会看到舞狮。有时，他们预约排得满满的所有会迟到也不稀奇。作为农历新年庆祝活动的一部分，许多企业也聘请他们在工作场。舞狮团的人可忙到没时间洗衣服。哈哈。有一次，我看到他们在24小时自助洗衣服中洗了他们的“制服”。

In Singapore, other than being engaged to perform, the Lion Dance troops also peddle their service door to door to earn some hong bao (lucky money). I've observe over the years and here is how it goes. They will ride in their truck beating the drums and gongs and all to a place where there are lots of shops. Sometimes, they may happen to be engaged by one of these shops, finished their act and continue to peddle their act to other shops.

在新加坡，舞狮团除了被聘请到某地点舞狮也会一家一家“推销他们的服务”，为赚取一些红包。多年来的观察就是这么一回事。他们会乘坐他们的卡车，敲打鼓和锣，到一个有很多商店的地方。有时候，他们可能碰巧被这些商店中的一家预定到那里舞狮。过后，继续导引其他商店请他们。

How this works is, there will be a kind of sales guy (not necessary a male individual) who is not involved in the lion dance act including the drumming, will find the next target shop to approach and peddle, negotiate, or whatever they do to sell the lion dance. Meanwhile, the lion dance is doing the act somewhere nearby. Usually, these kind of spontaneous sale lion dance is not as elaborate as the engaged ones. So, it's usually the lions going into the shop dance a bit, few bows and delivery of some Chinese scrolls. However, it's extra money for the troops. After all, many of them are already on leave of absence from work. If you know someone who is always on long leave of absence and the person is always busy during Chinese New Year, perhaps this is what he is doing. OK, it could be she. Look at the last photo.

这是如何运作的，一个不参与舞狮或敲锣打鼓的人（可不一定是男生）在其他人在舞狮时会找下一个目标，就是附近的商店。商量一下。讨价还价。与此同时，舞狮在附近另外一家商店进行。通常，这种临时上门的舞狮并不会有复杂的动作。甚至连採青也没有。所以，舞狮进店舞动几下，拜拜，然后送出春联。但是，对舞狮团来说，这是额外收入。毕竟，他们中的很多人已经请了假来到某地方。如果你认识一个总在农历新年请长假的人，并且在农历新年期间这个人总是很忙，也许这就是他正忙舞狮团的事。可能不是他，而是她。看最后一张照片。