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Why do strippers retire from the industry when virtually no other job pays as good?
I apologise if I sound ignorant in this post but I cannot get my head around why a stripper would want to consider a job which pays less with more working hours...
I have met girls who would earn $1500-$2500 per week at the SCs. Even the average girls still virtually make a thousand or very close to it in less than the average work week which is 38 hours.
2 dancers came into work and they were fairly attractive but not super super attractive (7/10 and 8/10) yet they can bank $700 a night. 2 nights = $1400 and they don't get taxed that much because most of that money comes from tips.
A qualified doctor who has to work with sick patients (ughh) makes about $1500 per week yet he or she would have to work 38-45 hours. It also takes 7 years of hard study to become a doctor. So do the mathematics.. it is foolish to go to university and incur a massive debt only to earn less money and put in more hours. Some strippers pay off their house by the age of 23... name me one professional with a university degree who paid off their mortgage by 23? noone does that! except professional athletes.
Some people are under the impression doctors and lawyers have glamorous lifestyles... what bullshit! they are always working long hours, getting disrespected by the public, getting degraded (that magical word) and have to go through years of study just to earn a base wage of $65,000 a year (lame). it takes so long to build a reputation in these professions and it only takes 1 mistake to see your reputation take a dive.
If you retire because you can afford to thats fair enough
If you retire because you can make money in investments thats fine.
If you retire to pursue a business thats great because of the unlimited earning potential in business..
But why on earth would you want to sacrifice the money for a job which pays less and you have to work more hours? don't try and bring in the age argument... some women in the gym look fantastic in their early 40s.. infact they probably have better bodies than the 18-19 year olds. They would certainly bank hardcore if they knew how to dance at SCs.
Also... the love for the job thing is a bit sketchy. When people work in a job long enough they get bored of it eventually... interests and hobbies change over time so its not like other jobs are fantastic and have no negative sides to them. Every job has its negatives and drawbacks..
Could it possibly be because the occupation is frowned upon by some people which leads some girls to get a job held in high regard by the public despite much lower wage and longer working hours? fk that!
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Re: Why do strippers retire from the industry when virtually no other job pays as goo
How long have you been stripping?
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Re: Why do strippers retire from the industry when virtually no other job pays as goo
This is often the "fatal flaw" in the "I'm just dancing while I'm in school" theory. After 4,5 or how ever many years in takes to get what ever degree the reality sets in that what ever job would result from that degree it won't pay anything close to what she is making now, not to start anyway, maybe not ever and it also requires working full time, eight hours a day five days a week instead of maybe five or six one or two days which is essentially a part time job
So they keep dancing
IMO it also leads to a lot of dancers that once they see that the degree they are going for isn't going to pay what they think, they quit going to school at all.
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Re: Why do strippers retire from the industry when virtually no other job pays as goo
Phonehome, I thought Luci`s post was abot why dancers retire, not why they carry on dancing?
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Re: Why do strippers retire from the industry when virtually no other job pays as goo
There are a lot of things I miss about dancing.....making my own schedule, taking as many vacations as I wanted to and the money. To a certain extent, yes it's a easy job, when you look at the $$ made with the hours put in.
Why did I leave........
The industry has changed, too many girls, not enough customers = not enough $$. The quality of entertainers has gone way down. girls are dancing now that wouldn't have even been given an audition 5 or 6 years ago. Girls are doing too many extras. I am not going to do extras to compete with these girls! With all the extras, those that don't do them have to work twice as hard for half the money. I've seen girls that are 9/10's make way less than an girl whose a 5, the only reason is because the 5 girl will do things that others won't.
I had danced for 11 years. I'll be 40 tomorrow and I do look good (tooting my own horn here!). Could I still make $$ in this business? Yes, but I'm damn tired of it. This is a business that not everyone is cut out for, it's a lot of hard work, both mentally and physically. For those that do it for a long time, kudos! I am now working in an office doing admin work, I'm working 40 hours a week and I do bring home less than I did dancing but I'm happier now than I was when I stopped. (I stopped in August but went pack part time in October after my husband was in a motorcycle accident. I stopped again the end of January when he went back to work.) I'm enjoying my life now, it's been an adjustment both financially and mentally but I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.
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Re: Why do strippers retire from the industry when virtually no other job pays as goo
Your forgiven for being ignorant. Heh.
Respectfully, you are over hyping the positive money aspect while ignoring many of the negatives. Here are a few ....
COSTS
I think your figures are overly optimistic, especially today, and are flawed because you've ignored the cost side of the equation. How much money does it take for a dancer to stay at the top of her game? What about employee benefits that she's likely not getting and having to pay for herself?
AGGREVATIONS
You're also ignoring the spiritual and emotional toll the job takes on many of the dancers. It think many would agree that the majority of dancers only work 3-4 shifts per week. While some might see that benefit vs. a job where you have to work 5+ days a week, they are ignoring the recovery time needed. Dancers need their time off, and it takes longer to regroup emotionally and physically from their job then it does many others. Eventually other opportunties, even those paying less, can look appealing if they mean less aggrevations.
MONOTONY
I think people in general feel the need to grow and change. A young girl starts off as a dancer. Five years later where is she? Unless she can somehow move into feature dancing, there's not much of a career track. Some dancers leave just because of simple boredom.
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Re: Why do strippers retire from the industry when virtually no other job pays as goo
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Jezzebelle
How long have you been stripping?
nowhere near as long as you.. but I know you become desensitized to an extent from the stuff that goes on in this industry eventually.
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Re: Why do strippers retire from the industry when virtually no other job pays as goo
thanks Susan
I guess happiness is always most important..
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Susan-Va
There are a lot of things I miss about dancing.....making my own schedule, taking as many vacations as I wanted to and the money. To a certain extent, yes it's a easy job, when you look at the $$ made with the hours put in.
Why did I leave........
The industry has changed, too many girls, not enough customers = not enough $$. The quality of entertainers has gone way down. girls are dancing now that wouldn't have even been given an audition 5 or 6 years ago. Girls are doing too many extras. I am not going to do extras to compete with these girls! With all the extras, those that don't do them have to work twice as hard for half the money. I've seen girls that are 9/10's make way less than an girl whose a 5, the only reason is because the 5 girl will do things that others won't.
I had danced for 11 years. I'll be 40 tomorrow and I do look good (tooting my own horn here!). Could I still make $$ in this business? Yes, but I'm damn tired of it. This is a business that not everyone is cut out for, it's a lot of hard work, both mentally and physically. For those that do it for a long time, kudos! I am now working in an office doing admin work, I'm working 40 hours a week and I do bring home less than I did dancing but I'm happier now than I was when I stopped. (I stopped in August but went pack part time in October after my husband was in a motorcycle accident. I stopped again the end of January when he went back to work.) I'm enjoying my life now, it's been an adjustment both financially and mentally but I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.
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Re: Why do strippers retire from the industry when virtually no other job pays as goo
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Originally Posted by
Lucifer911
nowhere near as long as you.. but I know you become desensitized to an extent from the stuff that goes on in this industry eventually.
When did you start stripping?
I thought you were a cocktail waiter in a strip club?
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Re: Why do strippers retire from the industry when virtually no other job pays as goo
Also I think to other people stripping can seem so easy like you just go shake your ass for money but strippers I think work harder for their money than alot of other proffesions, they have to constantly put alot of effort into their appearance, reading and working out new ways to hustle customers, looking after their injuries when they finish a shift, the stress it can put on relationships, the shit they need to put up with from customers/managers, the bitchyness from other dancers (I know there can be bitchyness in offices but deffinatly not to the same extent), Making sure they are always safe when leaving work etc
And how after all that effort alot of people look down upon them and like they didnt earn that money..HA!
Sometimes the money isnt worth the stress and money doesnt buy happiness anyway
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Re: Why do strippers retire from the industry when virtually no other job pays as goo
Eventually, people realize the money isn't everything. Yes the money is awesome, yes it is the highest paying legal job that doesn't require a degree. But, often people sacrifice their personal relationships, education, and sense of self worth (and normal sleep schedule!!!). Those things can't be bought back. So, sacrificing the money for a job that allows them to be "normal" probably doesn't sound like a bad trade!
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Re: Why do strippers retire from the industry when virtually no other job pays as goo
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Lucifer911
thanks Susan
I guess happiness is always most important..
You're welcome.
You're going to get many different answers to your question since every women starts and stops dancing for different reasons. No answer is the wrong answer to this question.
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Re: Why do strippers retire from the industry when virtually no other job pays as goo
My feet are permanently injured due to the extreme high heels and being on my feet 6-8 hours a night.
Flip flops= not sexy
and I've seen enough clubs in the daylight that I would be too grossed out to walk barefoot through a club. Eewwwww! I know I'd get a staph infection of something.
Just like pro athletes retire fairly young due to the physical and emotional demands on them, so is the case with strippers.
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Re: Why do strippers retire from the industry when virtually no other job pays as goo
I have been retired from stage for 3 years now...absolutely NO desire to return either!
I travelled, so for me the job was not just a job...it really consumed my entire life!
For EVERY positive in the business there is a negative.
My answers to your question are...
1. There are many jobs that pay as good if not better.
2. Age and Beauty are requirements of the job. Sorry but you get old...I did!
3. Keeping a relationship in this industry is next to impossible...and some would like to have a mate!
4. Raising children is difficult as well.
5. Every woman who enters this business will lose something of herself...unfortunately until you are out...you wont know what it is...as it is different for everyone!
For me it was my 2 marriages...the wonderful years of my children....and my sanity!
Money is nowhere near a good as it used to be.....if you break down a rate of pay for girls based on the number of hours they invest into their jobs, and what their expenses are...it comes out to about $13 per hour.
I can name about a 100 jobs that pay more!
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Re: Why do strippers retire from the industry when virtually no other job pays as goo
It is not just a matter of the costs of dancing, but the rewards of doing something else. For me career isn't just about money, it's about doing the thing I'm best suited to do in alignment with my values. Dancing was great, but I have goals that go beyond making a comfortable living.
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Re: Why do strippers retire from the industry when virtually no other job pays as goo
Mention "doctor", "lawyer", "stripper", etc., and people immediately latch on to what the top earners make. A perusal of earnings surveys on SW shows that earnings can indeed be scattered across the spectrum. For every lawyer that makes high 6 figures per yr, there are bunches that make 5 or low 6 figures. For every business owner/ CEO with 8 figure plus net worth, there are many small business owners whose lifestyle is maybe middle class plus a nickel.
Being a non-dancer, I can't provide insight to OP?, can only point out some basic flaws in the assumptions he's making.
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Re: Why do strippers retire from the industry when virtually no other job pays as goo
In this economy, I can certainly see why people would leave. I don't make that much in Portland right now. Breaking $300 is an awesome night for me, and it's becoming more and more common for me to leave with less than $100 (something that was a rarity before the economic crisis, but happens at least once a week now).
Granted, I work in a very relaxed club environment. The customers, management, and other dancers are great. There's no contact and dances are air only, and I get to live in a city where dancing isn't very taboo,, so I don't have to put up with as much emotional/mental wear and tear as I'm sure other dancers do. But I'm sure I'll be looking to more into another field. I would like to be on a career path that I know will still work for me when I'm older. And I'm tired of paying out of pocket for crappy health insurance.
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Re: Why do strippers retire from the industry when virtually no other job pays as goo
I agree with everyone about retiring. Dancing seems glamourous but it can be taxing. It does take a lot out of people. Your self worth is often questioned when you get rejected for very cruel reasons (you're ugly, you're fat, etc). Relationships often suffer (almost every dancer I've known has had rough relationships). Not to mention it hurts your chances for non dancing job. Many say they don't want that, but what happens if you become disabled or you get too old? Dancing only has a window of so many years (depending on the dancer). I've known quite a few dancers who had no other skills so I wonder what happened to them. I hope they didn't become hookers.
Dancing to some extent has destroyed me at least a little. I have arthritis, possibly the result of dancing. I had a gap of job experience (though I was lucky because I often worked a second job to have experience). For awhile I didn't trust men and thought they only wanted me for my body (I've overcome this). Not to mention the extreme highs (making $500+ a night, then next night owing money). This is why some dancers get into drugs, alcohol or other vices. Lately I've considered dancing again, but then I walk into a club and realize I don't want that.
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Re: Why do strippers retire from the industry when virtually no other job pays as goo
plenty of other jobs pay as well as dancing, and you can do them without damaging your body, for decades in many cases.
just going into sales and learning to accept the delayed commissions can give one access to jobs paying 250k per year. with clothes on, earning that kind of income for decades without fear of club closure, contact increasing, etc.
and that is just one example of non-stripping work that pays in the top 1% or so of ALL incomes nationally.
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Re: Why do strippers retire from the industry when virtually no other job pays as goo
Money isn't everything. I want out of stripping.
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Re: Why do strippers retire from the industry when virtually no other job pays as goo
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Originally Posted by
NewMoon
Money isn't everything. I want out of stripping.
Agreed. The instant I have my degree, I'm gone. I have no health ins. so everything is out of pocket. I have no sick time, I don't work, I don't get paid. I have no secure paycheck, there have been nights in the last month I left with $50 as opposed to the $600 - $1000 I was making over the summer, which makes grocery shopping, paying rent/utilities etc all stressful. Plus there is the emotional toll this job takes on me. It isnt all about the money... and while when the money is good and the energy is high I actually do like my job, I don't want to be doing it next year at all.
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Re: Why do strippers retire from the industry when virtually no other job pays as goo
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Originally Posted by
alenadowns
Money is nowhere near a good as it used to be.....if you break down a rate of pay for girls based on the number of hours they invest into their jobs, and what their expenses are...it comes out to about $13 per hour.
:O Whoa- where did this number come from??
I average between $75-$150 an hour at my club. I have few work related expenses other than makeup, outfits, shoes and gasoline. Which never totals one hundred dollars in a week.
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Re: Why do strippers retire from the industry when virtually no other job pays as goo
one would have to know how often you worked, and for how many hours per shift, and then one could calculate your 'true hourly', which is a number combining the ardors of the job plus expenses (so it would have non-numeric elements that were assigned numeric values).
the fact that your effective range is so broad means dangerous things for your true hourly.
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Re: Why do strippers retire from the industry when virtually no other job pays as goo
The simple fact is, you can't strip forever. You have to find another job, eventually. So don't wait until you are 38, should have left the club 5 years ago, and have zero marketable skills. When you apply for a new job, you can't even say what you did for the last 20yrs you were stripping, so its hard to get hired. You'll find that most (not all) of the oldest dancers can't do anything else and are stuck - but not making nearly as much as when it was a great paying job. Sure, when you are 20-something, its hard to find a better paying job. But if you don't look to the future, someday you could be the older dancer who can't get out and doesn't have any options.
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Re: Why do strippers retire from the industry when virtually no other job pays as goo
Quote:
Whoa- where did this number come from??
I average between $75-$150 an hour at my club. I have few work related expenses other than makeup, outfits, shoes and gasoline. Which never totals one hundred dollars in a week.
In Canada, there is waaaay more than $100 in a week on expenses....a regular stage girl (remember girls are paid for stage in Western Canada) pays between $100-500 for a costume...a minimum of 5 is required. Posters and promotional items are required for stage (although tips are received for promo).
Floor time is manditory over an above your shows. So essentially, a girl can be in the club from noon to 8pm for shows then till 2am on the floor plus shows. Much longer shifts than most of you. Here you also pay out 15% of your gross pay to the agent for commission, 3% to Socan to use music, 1% to club for pop & coffee, if you were late for a show...$100 fine, if you missed it...$200 fine!
Payout on dances are different here too....$30 a dance...$16 to the club...$1-2 to the doorman in the VIP. So a girl makes $12-13 a dance!
It all adds up as expenses.
Expenses are not just work things...it really is everything you do or use for your physical appearance or in effort to do you job. Tanning, supplements, eating out, gas, shoes, costumes, hotels (here you are in a different bar each week, possible a different city), makeup, gym memberships, baby wipes......even your tampons!!!
Since I stopped dancing I have really noticed everything I did for my job. It really was consuming...and expensive! So the great money (what you make) is not the decent money (what you keep at the end of the week) we think it is!