You’re hilariously misinformed on my career. You’re certainly not the only one who thinks dancing is as black and white as “taking clothes off and keeping all the money,” so allow me to break it down for you.
*side note: every city and club charges dancers differently, I am merely telling you about my personal experience in this industry so that you may have a better idea of how it all really works.*
First and foremost, before I even made it onto the pole I had to go to city hall to acquire an adult entertainers license. I had to read through a significant amount of documents which listed laws, potential fines, random fees that are thrown at me randomly and without reason, the possibility of undercover officers coming into my club and trying to trick me into illegal activities and so much more.
Reading through and signing those documents took about four hours total.
Next, I had to pay an initial 160$ for the license and then an additional fee in order to receive the information on the next steps I needed to take.
On the next available Wednesday I was ordered to report to the police station so that I may be looked down on, ridiculed, and have my fingers prints taken.
I returned to the club and was given the requirements for the kind of stripper shoes I needed to purchase before I was allowed on stage so I continued working at my fast food job until I had an extra 80$ for the shoes I was told to buy. I spent an additional 100$ so that I may purchase 3 simple stripper outfits, and then finally I had all that I needed to begin dancing.
(Outside of the makeup, hair products, lock for my locker, lotion, band aids, feminine items, socks, tissues, extra charges and lots of other extra things!)
So I finally began to work. As I struggled to learn the basics of pole dancing and dodge around the horrifyingly bitter attitudes from my fellow dancers, I also learned very quickly that the treatment you get from the Dj, bouncers, manager and bartender also depends on whether or not you tip them more than the minimum.
Speaking of, lets talk about minimum tip outs. Before I even begin my shift, I automatically owe the club 60$ (80$ if I get there an hour late, 100$ if I get there two hours late.. and on and on it goes.) The manager automatically gets at least 12$ from each dancer, the Dj automatically gets 15$ and each bouncer gets 5$.
*theres two bouncers every week day, four on the weekends*
Lets do some calculations, shall we? Let’s say it’s a saturday. So if I get there early and only pay everyone the minimum then I already owe (60 + 12 + 15 + 5 + 5 + 5+ 5 = 117$)
But of course, if you pay the minimum then the Dj will play songs you dont like, the bouncers will be mean to you and will sometimes even talk down on you to the customers, and the manager will be extra strict over things he lets others get away with. So realistically that 117$ has to turn into at least 170$ minimum real fucking quick unless I want mean treatment next time I work.
And of course they take 40% from my cabanas (160$ private half hour dances) and 20% from my one-song private dances. Which doesn’t sound horrible, but it adds up really quick when you’re relying on those and the usual 1$ tips that you’re working for in order to pay the automatic 100 and something payment.
Us dancers have to pay for our drinks too, by the way. We don’t serve alcohol, so this rule in particular really bugs me. It’s frustrating that I have to pay for water or gatorade when my job is literally to exercise vigorously.
Thieves enjoy roaming the place as well. I have been robbed 6 times when I was on stage. We’re asked by management to carry a tip bag so that we’re not running back and forth to the dressing room every five minutes to put our money away which is also a place where we may potentially be robbed.
What? You didn’t really think that strippers would help and support each other.. did you? 80% of the girls there have formed cliques and are only nice to those who are apart of theirs.
So sure, let’s say I make 140$ in tips and two side dances. That means I made 200$ for the night!! Except.. tipout takes away the 170$ right away, and then the two sidedances takes away 40% out of the 30$ I had left. Although that sounds frustrating, thats actually a good night because I didn’t leave in debt.
*insert sarcasm here*
Leaving in debt is the best! There’s nothing better than going on stage 26 times in one night, hardly getting tipped or not at all, giving lap dances, finishing up a 9 hour shift with my body aching and exhaustion clouding my mind only to find out that I didn’t make enough to cover the tipout!
That doesn’t just go away, of course. I am not allowed to return for another shift until I somehow gather the missing funds, show up to work half an hour early so that I may give my boss the money that I shouldn’t him but do, and then try again that night.
I assume when you sent me this offensive and upsetting message you also didnt take into account the fact that I get belittled by all those around me, have been laughed at on stage, have been attacked by a fellow dancer because I was wearing the same color as her, I deal with customers giving me the same old bullshit “I’ll save you from this lifestyle” speech, and have watched people overdose, fall incredibly ill, and literally listened to somebody get shot and killed in the parking lot!
I bet you didn’t consider the emotional exhaustion I get from the drunk fools who come into my club just to confess horrifying truths to myself and the other dancers. I bet you didn’t even stop and think about how much physical strength is required to pull myself fully onto a pole and the hours of endless pain filled time I have devoted to perfecting my craft so that I may amaze everyone who walks through the front door.
I wish so badly I could just walk in, take my clothes off, and keep the money. I really do. But this is a job, same as any other, and there’s much more to it than stereotypes inform.