Getting up the courage alone...
I've been wanting to go back to dancing for about a month now. I briefly walked into a few clubs in Indy (from which I'm about an hour/hour and half away depending on traffic) several months ago when I first quit my other club. But I didn't really get that good of a feel for anywhere - I was in and out so quickly, it was daytime, and only one really seemed like someplace I would want to work anyway. So I've been wanting to go back to that club, and 2 others that I didn't get a chance to physically check out, as a customer during a busier night shift. I just don't want to go in anywhere and audition without getting a good feel for the place. With my first club, I had been in there as a customer before, and when I went to apply, I went with my best girlfriend who sat at the bar and had a drink with me to pep me up before I went to talk to anyone.
Anyway, I've been asking her several times a week for the last 4 weeks to go back up with me to check out these clubs. I would feel awkward as hell checking them out as just a single female customer. But she keeps blowing me off. She always uses the excuse that she has no money (but then goes out on weekend nights when everything is more expensive) or says she has to work the next day (at like 3pm...) Basically, she just doesn't want to put in the effort or money to go until... who knows when... when she quits her job and wins the lotto? I can't sit around waiting for her to begrudgingly have a free night and "enough" money to finally go with me. She's the only female friend I have who would do that with me, and I would feel weird asking a guy friend to go with.
Anyway, that was a bit of a ranting backstory that probably didn't need to all be told lol (just venting), but I feel like I'm just being a baby, and should just suck it up and go by myself. It just feels so awkward if I'm just checking things out and not actually planning to ask to apply or audition that night until I compare them all. Some clubs around here I think won't even let females come in alone. When you're looking for a new "home club" do you go alone? Do you get friends to go? Do you just decide you want to work at a certain club and just go in and ask to audition without really checking it out as a customer first?
Re: Getting up the courage alone...
I've always just checked them out first. I would go in and tell the doorgirl or guy that I am thinking of working there, and could I please sit and look around for a minute, and if possible speak to the house mom, and experienced dancer, or a manager.
If I could get a guy friend to go with me, normally my husband, I go as a customer.
Re: Getting up the courage alone...
mmm, i don't like to work alone anyway, so i typically will go in to clubs where i know someone. this is currently making it a pain in the ass to plan a dc trip (don't know anyone who works in dc).
i find all sorts of reasons to feel uncomfortable. a friend helps but when you're fed up with waiting, you'll just go on your own.
Re: Getting up the courage alone...
I'm in your same boat right now. I went with my ex the first club I went to but that's obviously not possible and my current bf and I are still chatting about me going back to work. Any who since I basically have no friends in this damn town I'm going to have to go by myself.
Re: Getting up the courage alone...
You can always ask one of the guys, or you will have to go alone. Your friend doesn't sound interested even if she isn't actually saying so. I feel your pain, after all this time I still hate going alone and I am a bit uncomfortable going to a club to work where I have no idea on what to expect or the atmosphere. It sends my anxiety through the roof, which will affect my money.
Depending on where I am, I have no choice but to go alone, but I try to avoid it. Or I just ask guys I know, and they are always enthusiastic.
Re: Getting up the courage alone...
If I can't visit as a customer, I try to go on recommendation of a friend/another dancer.
The one time I didn't, I ended up in a dodgy club and packed my shit and left at 7am the next morning.
Re: Getting up the courage alone...
Apparently I'm a giant creep because I have never felt uncomfortable checking out clubs by myself. I go as a customer, usually by myself, and hang out for like an hour. I just hope that people think I'm some hot lesbian or something.
I once went to a club to audition without checking it out first, I walked in and told the manager who greeted me that I was sorry but he falsely advertised his club, it was not up to my standards and I walked out.
Re: Getting up the courage alone...
When I decided to start dancing I just googled strip clubs in my location. I knew which club was considered the best and went to one I felt was one tier below that club. I went in and got the job by myself.
Re: Getting up the courage alone...
I've always auditioned or looked at clubs alone. Don't feel weird say you're checking places out and are thinking of dancing, see if you can talk to the manager or staff and get the club vibe. You can always audition, get hired, decide you don't really like it and leave :)
Re: Getting up the courage alone...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
sweetheart18
You can always audition, get hired, decide you don't really like it and leave :)
I guess this is true. I guess I just really want to compare them all first so I get a good idea of what I want to go for first. What if I got a job at, and then left, one club, and then went to another to find out it's actually worse and I want to go back to the first one? :-\ But yeah, I guess I should just suck it up and go by myself - say I'm thinking about working there and ask to talk to a manager and sit and observe a little bit.
I just rarely have nights off and when I do, my friend wants to go out (and I do too). I figured this would be a kinda fun thing to do - go to a few clubs as customers. We get to drink a little, tip the dancers, have a good time in a club - but I also get to see how things are, and then when we're done, we're already up in Indy and can go other places if we want. The thought of taking one of my few nights off to drive up there all by myself and just "job shop" alone and then drive home is... boring and kinda depressing lol But I guess if I can't find anyone to make it fun, I'll just have to treat it like a regular job search and go in purely for info. Thanks for all the advice, guys!
Re: Getting up the courage alone...
i'm a stripper fetus to.
i might put off starting until next year. it will give me time to grow thicker skin, get in shape and look at the clubs. i've been finding different clubs on facebook and google to see what the insides of the club looks like. i don't want to work in one that's in the city i'm going to live in, i want to keep dancing private so going with someone is out of the question for me
i can't drive either and hopefully by the time i start i can drive my self there but using the train is ok by me.
Re: Getting up the courage alone...
I still like going alone :) Dont be depressed! i wish when I had first started I hadn't just applied to the first and stayed because I could've done better. Maybe after you get hired at club A say youll be back to work the next day or that night, then check out club B and see if you like that better. I alway do TUSCL reviews + stripperweb girl info and order from best to least for me in a city then go for it and check out the best one you can 1st!
Re: Getting up the courage alone...
When I was looking for clubs I just went in alone and quickly checked them out and got a vibe of the place.
It's hard to know what they're really like until you work there though. I'd just go back to the club you thought was alright, work a few shifts and see how it really is. If you think there may be a better club, you could always do a shift somewhere else on another night (and not tell the first club) and see what you think, whilst still keeping your options open.