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Which goal system works better for you?
I need to put the caveat that I somewhat hate dancing sometimes. I know that means I probably shouldn't be doing it, etc, but I don't hate it enough to give up the money, at this point. haha
So, given my distaste, I tell myself 'stay until you make X dollars', but sometimes that happens too quickly. (ie- before my shift is over...we have to stay 4-5 hours). Then I say 'stay until midnight', or whatever.
Which is a better way to maximize my money? I find I make the most money when I make myself work towards something. Otherwise I will try to duck out early/ as soon as I start to feel 'sick of it'. If I set too high of a goal, it's too easy to give up. Sometimes I really have to make $800, then I go in early and stay until I goddamn do. That always feels good, but I'd burn out too quickly doing that all the time. I like to say, for example, 'stay until you make $575 or until you've worked 5 hours, whichever comes last'.
Yeah, it means walking out on money sometimes. But psychologically, I need that. I used to be able to stay until I made a grand. That doesn't happen anymore. And regulars make me sick. Haha, I really suck at the 'game' in that respect, but trust me when I say I'm good at making money off strangers/ semi-regulars. I've got a system, and it I like it. But am I deluding myself? Is there a better way to go about this?
Basically what I'm wondering is how can I make the best earnings without making myself freak out so much? Without quitting?
Because my biggest money making problem is not 'at work', it's getting myself to go there/ not suddenly feeling sick and miserable, and therefore going home. When I'm there and working, I'm very satisfied with what I make...if that makes sense.
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Re: Which goal system works better for you?
I personally find goals that aren't about the money often work best for me. The other night my goal was $360 in 5 hours. After 4.5 I had $440 and I sat in the dressing room for the rest of my shift. REALLY BAD!! And of course there are the nights when you know you won't reach your goal and you give up too easy.
I've started making goals surrounding my behaviours rather than the dollar amount for each shift. I even have a book I write them in!
The one that is currently working best for me is how many guys I am going to hustle and I divide it by outfit. For example, I will bring 4 outfits and hustle 5 guys with each outfit. That way I keep thinking "okay, just go hustle 2 more and then you will move on to the next outfit." Changing outfits also changes my perspective a bit and keeps me on my toes. That way, if the night is crappy, I know I will keep on hustling anyways. If the night is good, I end up staying longer because it takes so much longer to hustle 20 guys when you are constantly dancing.
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Re: Which goal system works better for you?
Another thing I have started doing is writing my dancing shifts in my agenda so I have plan and feel like I "have" to go in.
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Re: Which goal system works better for you?
Molly, I find that making a nightly and a weekly goal work best. Like, I always would aim for $700, but as soon as I hit that, I'd have a secondary goal of $1000. When I hit that, the goal jumps up again to $1200, and so on. Set up something realistic for you and your club.
Weekly, I would tell myself that I had to make $2500 (3 days a week), but once I made that the goal became $3000. I would reward myself after $3000 with a $100 treat, be it a massage, or lush treats, or a nice dinner. Something to make me happy.
Hourly goals require too much math and constant counting, and monthly goals don't keep you focused enough, IMO.
I think nightly goals, with secondary and even tertiary goals, are the best way to go, and weekly ones for supplementary goals to give yourself a treat with.
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Re: Which goal system works better for you?
the yanks are playing tonite so i won't make money til late and the club closes at 2pm. so i better walk out of that joint with at least 300-500.
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Re: Which goal system works better for you?
^ how is that a goal system??
eta: Molly, I also think that if you focus on the money, and focus on your horse and some other stuff that you need money to enjoy, that maybe you will be able to get there easier.
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Re: Which goal system works better for you?
^^Thanks, that does help. It's just an ebb right now. If I get back into the groove, it'll be easier to keep being there. I have to regain my inertia, and then I won't be so easily put-off whenever things get difficult. I also like the tiers of goals...I'll give it a try!
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Re: Which goal system works better for you?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
NewMoon
For example, I will bring 4 outfits and hustle 5 guys with each outfit. That way I keep thinking "okay, just go hustle 2 more and then you will move on to the next outfit."
That's a cute way of keeping your mind friend. I like that idea.
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Re: Which goal system works better for you?
As someone who kinda hates dancing too, but recognizes the gift that it is, here's what I've found. The best thing for me is to set a money goal, something just at the edge of realistic for the time I have to work, but not something so high that I start to feel sick and want to crumble before I even get there. It's either that amount or 5 hours. If I hit my money goal in 3 hours, I get even more ambitious and stay longer because things are going well. So, x amount or 5 hours.
I know some dancers don't set money goals and keep working for "more". Those days of enthusiasm are behind me and when I do it that way "more" suddenly turns into "enough". I set an amount that keeps me aggressive and on my toes for the whole time I'm there, but not crazy and panicked. If I've worked really hard and I don't make the money goal in my 5 hour shift, that's okay and I go. Unless I'm on vacation I'm too busy to throw off my schedule my forcing myself to stay longer. Overall, I've found that discipline really is the key.
In my darkest times of loathing stripping I've even set goals of just walking through the door of the club. Once there, I set $100 increments. I try not to be in that place too often though.
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Re: Which goal system works better for you?
I actually don't set a money goal, technically. I mean, I go into work every time wanting to make AT LEAST $200...but that's not really a goal. In reality, I should be making 3x that much where I am or more.
Instead, I just try to do the best I can. I know, it sounds cheesy, but I try to dance the sexiest I can on stage and during lapdances and sell the best that I know how.
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Re: Which goal system works better for you?
I have been struggling to make my goals this summer (see ticker). I usually work 4-5 hours, 5 days per week. But, this summer, I have been training later due to the heat. I get in by ten, check in w/o my makeup done, then go back to the dressing room and do my makeup and relax with the girls a little. Although I am liking my job more this way, I just bought a house, and I am not maximizing dancing this way. I want to go on another long trip this year (to Australia) and I have savings goals, too (although I have already met some of those).
Anyway, I am happier. I race twice a week at night, I run with people in the evenings...
But setting lower goals, I just can't do it. I want to find a way to make this goal I have below for the month of July and still have my fun.
I think I will change my strategy to weekly goals.
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Re: Which goal system works better for you?
I do something a bit different, but it works really well for me sometimes.
Okay, I will do a time and money thing. So I will say, for instance, I HAVE to be at work for 6 hours. After I make X amount of dollars, the rest of that money I can take and do whatever I want with...shopping, go out, massage, whatever I want and it CAN'T go towards bills. I always find that does really well for me bc then I'm totally motivated to make money and see how much extra spending cash I can get.
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Re: Which goal system works better for you?
Vegas princess, I always want to use that system, but I end up saving the money instead. I know this is a good thing, but it means the system doesn't work for me and i want it to. I want to be at work and remember how good that facial felt from last Monday's extra earnings...
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Re: Which goal system works better for you?
I tend to do rewards, but usually immediate ones. Like... After I make X number more dollars I can sit down and play that video game/ have that drink or snack. Since I work day shifts, if I make a certain amount of money in the full shift I'll go shopping afterwards (otherwise I'll usually go straight home.)
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Re: Which goal system works better for you?
Shasta, I think you'd profit off of weekly ones, based upon your posts here.
VP, what about savings? Do you set aside a certain amount for savings?
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Re: Which goal system works better for you?
im simple i just make weekly goals and work untill i make them. then i can take the rest of the week off.
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Re: Which goal system works better for you?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Chrissy68
Molly, I find that making a nightly and a weekly goal work best. Like, I always would aim for $700, but as soon as I hit that, I'd have a secondary goal of $1000. When I hit that, the goal jumps up again to $1200, and so on. Set up something realistic for you and your club.
Weekly, I would tell myself that I had to make $2500 (3 days a week), but once I made that the goal became $3000. I would reward myself after $3000 with a $100 treat, be it a massage, or lush treats, or a nice dinner. Something to make me happy.
Hourly goals require too much math and constant counting, and monthly goals don't keep you focused enough, IMO.
I think nightly goals, with secondary and even tertiary goals, are the best way to go, and weekly ones for supplementary goals to give yourself a treat with.
i do the same thing. once i hit my goal, next i go for another one.
i also usually think in terms of sets of 5 dances, because thats $100 at my club. it's so simple when i break it down that way.. like how hard is it to do 5 more dances? instead of saying "ok i need to do 45 dances tonight" because that's more daunting to look at it as a whole.
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Re: Which goal system works better for you?
$1,000 and I can go home. Thats always my goal. Sometimes I hit it, sometimes not. I also have my "weekend" goal. That one is - if I make $1500 on Fri I can go home and dont have to work Sat. Only done that a couple times...
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Re: Which goal system works better for you?
^^Wow, that's cool. I've only made over $1500 once, and it was on a Friday.
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Re: Which goal system works better for you?
Well, I will say I need to change my goals. I guess the summer is S-L-O-W. I made sh*t Friday and ended up just coming home and skipping Sat. Im kinda over dancing... $1000 a night USED to be do-able... not so much anymore.
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Re: Which goal system works better for you?
I'd say $1000 is doable here...but for a long, long shift. I'm not being under-ambitious either. I know what's possible, and yeah I might make a grand on a friday if I worked from 4pm until 2am. But so tiring, and I doubt I'd manage that very often. I don't have a boyfriend who would hit me if I didn't make my requisite 'eight bills' either. (unlike so many of my colleagues). That's why I know what it takes to make bank every night. It takes lots of hustling and long hours. These chicks, or many of them, really know how to hustle too. Getting slapped by their lovers is a great motivator.
Sorry I am so bitter tonight! lol.
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Re: Which goal system works better for you?
No, that's being realistic. I think most people would choose the 6 hour shift with whatever they make instead of the 10 hour shift and the possibility of making a G.
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Re: Which goal system works better for you?
Okay, I tried the time limit thing yesterday, and I think it worked well. I worked from 2pm-7pm, and I really wasn't expecting much, but I had something going on later so my time was limited.
I basically didn't stop hustling the whole time, except for when I had to go on stage...something about knowing my time was limited and that I had fun plans for later on really motivated me. I made nearly what my night goal would have been, and I didn't have any douchebaggery/ de-motivators!
I honestly think that knowing I was there as a 'shift', like it was something I was supposed to be doing, helped light a fire under my ass. Sometimes at night I sit around txting friends, feeling bored and trapped. I'm going to try to keep this attitude adjustment going!