First Time as a Traveling Dancer - Safety Questions
Well, I tried searching the forum for "traveling dancer" and "safety" but the closest I came up with was a poll done in 2004, so I'm starting a new thread. :)
I live in NW Arkansas (the Fort Smith - Fayetteville area), but work is almost impossible to find here. The clubs in Fayetteville are kind of a hack and the club in Fort Smith (singular, you might notice) has something like 75 girls working there and won't be hiring til the Second Coming, or so they assure me. I worked in Jane, Missouri (TINY little town right over the AR/MO border) for about a month, but then they realized they had hired too many dancers for such a slow season and let the newest of us go. ::)
So I went to Tulsa, OK, which is only about 2 hours from where I live. Close enough to work there, far enough that I'll need to spend the night there a few nights a week. I think what I'm doing right now is driving up on Thursday and driving back on Saturday night or Sunday. I have a part time day job in Arkansas on Tuesdays and Thursdays (modeling for the University's art classes), so I can't just stay in Tulsa nonstop. Plus, my fiance isn't traveling with me.
I have a couple of questions, though. 1) Is it stupid of me to attempt to do this? For both safety reasons and just being away from anyone I know? 2) What are some tips you guys can give me for being as safe as possible, considering I'll be traveling alone? I bought some Pepper Spray and have practiced with it - it's attached to my key chain right now.
I guess I'm just nervous. I know I'm not the first dancer to ever have traveled, but any kind of advice you guys can give me would be so greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Re: First Time as a Traveling Dancer - Safety Questions
1.) Make sure someone always knows where you are and you keep in constant contact.
2.) Make sure that you always have a way home.
3.) Having internet access is a huge bonus. You never know when you'll need to look up the phone or address for a doctor, local police department, or to locate other work
4.) If you are traveling by car make sure you have something like AAA.
5.) Get a hotel room that only has inside access (via hallway), so you don't have to worry about someone breaking into you room from outside. Try not to let people know where you are staying.
6.) Some dancers like to bring their own sheets, towels, etc. You may want to consider that if you are staying somewhere on a short budget incase the place isn't very clean.
Other than that general safety rules are good. Try to have security walk you to your car at the club, and try to park in well lit areas. You might want to keep the pepper spray in your hands. Don't dilly-dally once you are in your car either - sometimes criminals look for women who do that, so get in and get going.
Re: First Time as a Traveling Dancer - Safety Questions
I used to make a similar commute, about two hours, from Albany to NYC. I kept it up for a few months to supplement my income. What I still find to be most important is to BE CAREFUL DRIVING. The long commute, especially after a few days of working, can be killer. I don't think I'd ever been more fearful than when I would be driving home because I had to meet other obligations and I was exhausted and nodding out. Therefore, my best advice for you is to schedule a FEASIBLE, REALISTIC schedule. While it can be hard to justify spending the money on that hotel room for an extra night when you don't plan on working the next day, keep in mind that slapping yourself awake until you can sleep at a shady rest stop is less than ideal.
Good luck!
Re: First Time as a Traveling Dancer - Safety Questions