does having a day job or a second job help with the stress of stripping?
as long as I've been dancing I've heard girls say that the more you work, the less you make. some say it's because everyone will remember you being there and not want to buy a dance because they see you all the time and others think it's because you're more tired and stressed and not in the right mindset to make money.
dancing is my only source of income and it sucks when I want to make a certain amount one night to make up for a row of bad nights and it turns out to be another bad night!
I'm thinking about getting another job.
any thoughts, experience, stories, and advice are appreciated ;D
Re: does having a day job or a second job help with the stress of stripping?
I have another job I go to 1-2 days a week. It's an office job so i button up about my other gig, and I get to be around people who are normal and think I'm normal. I like having the contrast, working somewhere that my income isn't in the hands of customers and not being objectified 100% of the time. Plus, then I know that I'm definitely making X amount a week at the day job so even if I have a bad night at the night job I'm not going to starve.
Also, it convinces me I can do something other than shake my ass and show my tits and it gives me a work history for potential future, "after the industry" gigs.
ETA: The contrast also helps me appreciate the night job more. I'm thinking, "I worked 9-5 ALL WEEK and I made 300$?! Fuck that noise." Or when I'm wearing a whole bunch of clothing and a guy at work is saying I'm 'cute' but nothing special, those times I can really appreciate the night job. Hey buddy, I have ROOMFULS of men drooling at me nightly and I make your weekly pay in a NIGHT.
Re: does having a day job or a second job help with the stress of stripping?
I think it would help. I don't have a another job right now (just dancing), but I'm been considering getting a vanilla job for a while now in addition to stripping.
I think that knowing you have enough money from your pay check to pay your most basic living expenses (rent, food, other bills) takes the pressure off enough to function better at work.
You never have to be in a panic "OMG I HAVE to make $1500 this week or else my cable bill will be late" etc etc, so you'll be more pleasant in the club, and flirtier, happier, and make more.
And, any money you make dancing can go right to luxeries and savings, because your most basic needs are already covered.
Re: does having a day job or a second job help with the stress of stripping?
I have a regular job in addition to dancing at my club and it has made a huge difference in my income and peace of mind. Just like IsobelWren on those shifts when the money is plain shitty it's nice to know that there is a regular paycheck coming in. With the recent NASCAR weekend being a wash and being offered bartending shifts at my club Im taking a hiatus from dancing there while I pursue other goals. Having another job is a saftey net for me since I was starting to get majorly burnt out. The downside like Isobel said is your weekly pay doesnt amount to how much you can make in a night. You should try it. It's a good motivator and something to add to your resume should you decide to leave the industry altogether.
Re: does having a day job or a second job help with the stress of stripping?
i think this coming winter im going to get a PT job to help with the stress of it. by then i should be pretty burnt out.
Re: does having a day job or a second job help with the stress of stripping?
Well, I can't say if I would make better money stripping by having a "day job" too cuz I've always had one. But I can definitely say that it helps my mindset a lot on the days I don't want to go into the club because I can remind myself that I don't have to if I don't want to. I work enough at my day job (which is actually a night job as well: waitressing) to cover all expenses including a bit of spending money. I planned it that way when I started dancing so that I knew I could always quit at ANY time if the stress started getting to me, or if I couldn't handle the stigma associated with it etc.
Also, having a day job really helps me with my budgeting because I keep my dance money and my day job money completely separate. This way I don't all of a sudden have a shitload of money to spend when I have a great week dancing. I have a fairly steady amount of spending money that comes in from my day job plus 20% of what I make dancing I get to spend as well. All of the rest of my dancing money is saved/goes to debt repayment etc.
I'd definitely recommend having a day job. It's really helpful for me ;-)
Re: does having a day job or a second job help with the stress of stripping?
It also helps keep you grounded. Normal jobs have perks, and stripping has perks. Obviously, the biggest perk of stripping is the potential for quick money. So if your part time job pays by the hour, then it'll help put the money you make stripping into perspective! Even if you only make $1-200 on a bad night, that's cash in your pocket.
Re: does having a day job or a second job help with the stress of stripping?
I used to have a day job and it was nice to know that every 2 weeks I would get more money in my checking account regardless of how well the club was doing... but now that I quit that job, I hesitate to get another vanilla job. I bet it would keep me more sane to not have to worry about bills and rent as much, but I really love the freedom of just stripping. I get a ton of free time and if I can't, or don't want to, make it in, I don't have to worry about being fired (at least, as long as I don't just not come in for a full week). I've been half-heartedly looking for another job but I'm not entirely sure if I want it...
Re: does having a day job or a second job help with the stress of stripping?
Working half day job and half stripping has proven best fit for me. I've tried other ratios. Almost full time stripping didn't work so well for me. It got under my skin too much . I'd take low earning days way too personally. Now it's more like " well, I'll make at least what I do at day job,maybe much more" .
Re: does having a day job or a second job help with the stress of stripping?
thanks for all the insight everyone!!
I think I'm gonna start looking for a second job. that way if I need a break from dancing that's longer than a week, I can just pick up more hours at the second job. I do want to hold out for something that would give me peace of mind like waitressing at a nice restaurant or bartending. I hate cashiering and I hate working in offices. I think I'd do well with food/beverage service especially with my dancing experience having to be SOOOO nice to people. Plus as a waitress I wouldn't get drunk guys trying to take me home a thousand times a night :D
Re: does having a day job or a second job help with the stress of stripping?
Don't count on this. I was a bartender for a couple of years in college and they are just as aggressive at SC custies!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
xGigi
Plus as a waitress I wouldn't get drunk guys trying to take me home a thousand times a night :D
Re: does having a day job or a second job help with the stress of stripping?
I think this totally depends on the person. For me, working a regular office job is very toxic & effects me in more bad ways than good ways. I feel like it makes me appreciate dancing more though! I quit my regular job about 2 years ago, & by far prefer to only dance. With that said, I travel which also helps because customers do not get tired of seeing me, & I'm not working around the same people all the time with the same problems... so I don't get caught into their drama.
Re: does having a day job or a second job help with the stress of stripping?
Up your game. What is the point of wasting your time with a part time job if you're okay with being a stripper?
Do one or the other. Not both.
Are you done with school? Go back and finish or pursue a higher degree. Or start a business instead.
If dancing is that stressful for you just don't dance.
If you already have a career there is nothing wrong with dancing on the weekends.
Re: does having a day job or a second job help with the stress of stripping?
I have been looking around at part time jobs. The hang up I am finding on most jobs is that they want YOU to be flexible and work at their convenience. Many part time jobs want u to do what they say and honestly Idk how they will take to me saying for ex. I am only available on Mondays and Wednesdays. Bc of the state of the economy it seems employers want u to bend over backwards to suit them. I see lots of listings that say "must be flexible". I can see myself now interviewing and bc of my limited availability immediately getting denied.
Re: does having a day job or a second job help with the stress of stripping?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
shift_6x
I have been looking around at part time jobs. The hang up I am finding on most jobs is that they want YOU to be flexible and work at their convenience. Many part time jobs want u to do what they say and honestly Idk how they will take to me saying for ex. I am only available on Mondays and Wednesdays. Bc of the state of the economy it seems employers want u to bend over backwards to suit them. I see lots of listings that say "must be flexible". I can see myself now interviewing and bc of my limited availability immediately getting denied.
This has been a big problem for me lately too. I feel like I'm not coming off as a very attractive candidate when I say I can only work Thursday-Saturday (I dance Sunday-Tuesday and would like Wednesdays off if I'm going to have 2 jobs). But I know from my last job that working both jobs in one day is exhausting and actually hurts my money at the club when I come straight from working elsewhere and am already tired. Even though I'm not trying particularly hard to find another job, this concerns me. Employers really don't understand the concept that you have other things going on and can't just toss aside your entire life to work whatever staggered schedule that would please them... or maybe I'm just cocky about my time, idk lol :P
Re: does having a day job or a second job help with the stress of stripping?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Stripper Hacks
Up your game. What is the point of wasting your time with a part time job if you're okay with being a stripper?
Do one or the other. Not both.
Are you done with school? Go back and finish or pursue a higher degree. Or start a business instead.
If dancing is that stressful for you just don't dance.
If you already have a career there is nothing wrong with dancing on the weekends.
I don't know if wanting another part-time job and just dancing part-time as well is necessarily about not being ok with being a stripper or it being ridiculously stressful. But you can get burnt out at any job if you do it all the time. My other part-time job was not stressful by any means but I would shoot myself if I worked there fulltime. Some people can handle just a regular fulltime job and some can handle fulltime stripping, but some need the variety in their work week to keep being motivated to go into the other job. Everything becomes a chore if you do too much. I only dance 3 days a week currently because I like the club and the customers that much more if I don't see it every day. But it would be nice to be making some more money on those days I want to take a break from the club.
Re: does having a day job or a second job help with the stress of stripping?
At first I stripped full time but later on got a regular daytime job and danced part time. The stress lessened and I didn't worry as much about being broke. This actually helped me get out of club dancing because I got tired of it and was able to quit. If I didn't have another job I may have put up with more and more crap. Of course this depends on the other job. I doubt I'd get a job as a cashier or fast food as my other job. My other jobs were professional ones like radio, office jobs, or public relations.
Re: does having a day job or a second job help with the stress of stripping?
It's not a 'job', but I'm at college full time and have found that I stress far less about work now, probably because it's not my #1 priority at the moment. I used to let a string of bad shifts or an occasional lack of motivation really get me down, now I'm more likely to remind myself to shift my focus back to study and let the feelings pass.
I think that even after I graduate I'll create a goal/hobby for myself that isn't money or stripping related, it really works for me and I wish I'd done it sooner.
Re: does having a day job or a second job help with the stress of stripping?
why don't you dance at two clubs? i used to pull 4 nights a week at my old club.. same consistent schedule each week. it wasn't a touristy club so guys got sick of seeing me every night they were there! i noticed when i was only around sometimes, i would make more cause i would be more of a novelty. might be good for you to do a consistent schedule at 2 different venues, so you can be fresh but still keep some regs.