I wanted to know if anyone (hopefully girlinterupted herself) would elaborate more on this.
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IMO...
Successful dancers treat dancing like a job, a good one at that. They take the time to learn what works, and what doesn't. They don't sit around the locker room, or sit by themselves, while at work... They actually work! (This is not to say you won't make money if you do this, we have all had our nights, lol) They set goals, and work until they achieve them.
Unsuccessful dancers are usually the pessimistic ones that whine about never making money. Of course the customers don't want to hang out with/dance/spend money on you if you are miserable! I believe any dancer that dances just enough to 'get by' is unsuccessful. Also, any dancer that feels that she has to, and doesn't like dancing, is unsuccessful.
These are just my personal opinions...
I think that's a good opinion. I definitely rethinking my views.
I think it's the same as with any sales job. Those who gets results most easily and those that don't.
Here's a great web site to help you understand what sales techniques are out there:
http://changingminds.org/disciplines...n_handling.htm
I recieved a minor AIM ass kicking this morning and was thus forced to haul my ass into Denver Public Library to find books on sales techniques and shyness.
Never before have I been embarassed to check out books in my life! Today changed that streak as I stood in the 600s trying to find the book with the least skeezy title that put off the lowest amount of weaselocity vibes. And of course a librarian had to be fucking shelving books two feet from me...fail.
It was only moderately less embarassing to pick out books on combatting shyness cause at least I look the part in that section, lol.
OMG Chrissy, kick ass site -> how do you find this stuff?
If I may add what I've found to be true from studying the most successful strippers in all the clubs that I've been to.
1. These girls are efficient. They keep track of their time and how they spend it in he most efficient way possible (yet they make it seem like they're very relaxed)
2. They have a high sex appeal in one way or another. The way one girl is sexy can be different from another girl's sexy... but the point is that they have the ability to get a guy real hot. (well most of them)
3. They're good with words and handling objections which is something you can learn from studying sales techniques. It's hard for a stripper to make these techniques seem "natural" unless she's good with words and it's a huge turn off for a guy if he feels like he's being "sold" It's really an art form. But this could be one of the most important difference that makes a girl successful in my studies because it goes back to efficiency. If you can't up-sell a customer then your losing a lot of time and report by trying to find a new customer when you could still be making money off of the one that you've already sunk your hooks into ;D
Anyways, that's just what I've come across so far: Sex appeal, sales ability and EFFICIENCY. There's a lot of nitty-gritty techniques involved on these abilities however... especially with how they relate to stripping. So it can be a lot more difficult in a technical way than the simplified version. You could spend a life time figuring it all out and becoming a true expert... unfortunately for us we only have a limited time... so hurry up and learn the hustle before your wrinkles spread to your lady parts!!! lol
btw I'd like to hint at Mr. Covey's book The Seven Habits of Highly efficient people at this point :)
idk..... was this way off topic?
Read Bryan Tracy's "Advanced Selling Strategies"
i am more successful at work when i treat stripping as a career not a job. you work on (developing) a career, you work at a job. i think i got that from britneyireland? anyways theres my 2cents....i really just wanted to post so i could find this thread easily later for the link chrissy posted :)
SUCCESSFUL Dancers treat stripping as a BUSINESS, consistently improve on their sales skills and find ways to stand out and market themselves. In Portland, many of the dancers who perform themed/costumed stage sets do very well.
These are my favorite sales books:
http://astore.amazon.com/strandgrori...ng=UTF8&node=4
I think of dancing as a mixture of acting (playing a role as an actress) for the purpose of pleasing the customers. My purpose is to get to the back for private dances, and so I need to present myself in ways that lead to the back.
When I stopped taking the experience so personally, and began focusing on customers instead of myself, I began being successful. I laugh inside when I see dancers (and there are many) who seem to be dancing for themselves, looking in the mirror not only when on stage, but even in dressing room they're looking at themselves in the mirror instead of me when talking! Yes, confidence is necessary, but dancing is about delivery. You can be hot, but you must deliver it. Generosity is very important. You've got to love yourself. Very different from narcissism, and using people to elevate yourself.
I think so much of it has to do with getting used to "no". When you get so used to it that it doesn't phase you at all (or just barely ), it makes it so much easier to move on to the next sale ( the next yes ) , get your money , get to the next yes ... and keep repeating. It takes time and practice to not internally feel the nos or get the least bit upset about them. I haven't danced long, but I've been in sales for 8 years. During my first 4 years or so ... I would really "feel " the no's. Now ... I just don't feel them at all ( whether I'm selling outside the club or in ). I feel like I've just become good at the process in the last few years.
Excellent point. I've often noticed that the girls that lay it on thick and are wholly invested in their persona (as opposed to being merely present and looking good) are the same ones that I see most often on the walk of glory to the private rooms. My VIP hustler mentor at work takes an all or nothing approach in her act and it works most of the time.
One of the girls in the dressing room asked me how I sold so many VIP's and my own answer surprised me because I'd never thought of it as a tecnique: "Fall in love with EVERYONE you dance for." Again, the idea of investing yourself in an act that is focused on the customer.
There are many other things that separate a successful dancer from an unsuccessful one of course, but margo80 made a great point and I wanted to expand on it.
I think being successful at anything is 1. enjoying what you do, and 2. making enough that you're satisfied.
However, being a top producer at every club I've ever worked at I think I have been successful because 1. I enjoy flirting. 2. I am eager to please, and 3. I dance because its good money and its a fun job- not because I have to.
Don't know if that answers your question or not but I can only speak from experience.
;) being the most successful dancer at any club i work in big or small i just have a high attitide of confindence. i know i am the best and i lead whoever on to believe that. then from their i make my living. i make it sound easy but it ir rather complex.
there is so much involved in being a successful dancer it is unreal.;)
I think the traits that distinguish the successful from the unsuccessful are confidence- believing you're hot and that they will give you all their money, and tenacity- not letting rejection slow you down
you have to feel like you are the only girl in the room. that's key knowledge.
that's where it's at babe. thank you.....
Marketing yourself is understanding your target market, as well as understanding and READING the customer's desires. You can then tailor yourself to that. After a while doing this, you should be able ot tell if the guy wants a slutty chick, or a smart chick, or a geeky chick, or what. Read him. I think I wrote something recently about this:
http://www.stripperweb.com/forum/sho...86#post1615386
Collette's thoughts are great too.
In addition:
Get professional "pinup" photographs taken and put them on a simple business card with a link to a myspace page where customers can view your schedule. I'm sure some clubs will have restrictions on this... but in my area I've had success using this technique.
Create a unique persona that highlights your strengths (not just being "another stripper" and trying to blend in)
Put together themed stage shows that customers will talk about, bring friends to see and look forward to...
***These are ideas that have worked for me in the Portland market. I realize that every area is different.