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Tips for making it in the strip club industry
Okay ladies, I'm a little high on Vicodin because my knee is killing me (I got a hairline fracture and tore my MCL five months ago), so I'm in a loving mood and I'm extremely bored. I decided to write up some tips about strip clubs, and I may elaborate on some ideas for hustling as I write.
Here are some general tips for almost all strip clubs:
1.) Approach everyone, be genuine, have a positive energy
2.) Never appear bored, sullen, lonely, depressed, or angry (except Mediocrity)
3.) Don't lounge with customers too long, they'll expect your time for free if you waste too much of it sitting at the table. 1-3 songs depending on how fast the hustle is at your club.
4.) Never become intoxicated, high, or otherwise disoriented. It will hurt your business and make you look vulnerable to customers.
5.) If you are new, milk it. Tell customers you are new there (even if you have danced for years at other clubs) and that you are excited to have your first lap dance with them.
6.) Tip people who can make your life easier. You don't have to tip the creepy cleaner that looks ready to kill everyone if he has never said a word to you, but be sure to show your appreciation to the DJ, bouncer, and other staff who interact with you regularly and help your business.
7.) Be friendly to management, but not too friendly. Try to keep your relationship with them as professional as possible. Bringing your manager coffee once a week is a nice gesture, I do that with my manager. You'll be shocked at the favors you get when you surprise management with nice tokens of appreciation.
8.) Try to make friends with top earners. Their persistence, work ethic, and hustling skills will rub off on you--I promise.
9.) Bum the DJ a cigarette when he needs one. I have never seen a DJ allowed to leave the premises during their shift, and if they are low on smokes offer them one. That's a quick way to make friends with the DJ. If you are running to get fast food on break you can offer to buy them a burger too.
10.) Keep your area of the dressing room CLEAN. Clean up q-tips, gum wrappers, tampon strings, and put everything away when you are done using it. Other dancers SHARE the space with you, and you will make friends faster if you don't interfere with what they need to do.
11.) Always return to a customer when he says to come back later. If he keeps making excuses, move on. A good hustler knows when to call it quits.
12.) FIND A WAY TO RELATE TO YOUR CUSTOMER. If he sells carpet then you tell him that you are looking to have some carpet laid over your hardwood floors. Ask him for a recommendation. Alternatively you can talk about how your Uncle lays carpet for a living and that he is a hard worker. Stroke their ego, make them feel important. I don't care how boring the topic, or if you have to lie to relate to them, make them feel special and fake that "connection".
13.) Following up on point #12, DON'T GET CAUGHT IN A LIE. If you are conversational in French, don't tell them you are taking your certification for translation services next week. You never know when you'll run into someone who is knowledgeable in the topic you're discussing--then you'll look like an idiot and lose the sale.
14.) Include little details about yourself that are TRUTHFUL. It is very difficult to fake a persona 100% of the time. If someone asks what you do for fun, and you don't want to tell them your life story, you can tell them about how you were on the track team in high school and that you are an avid runner in your free time. If you have a weird habit, SHARE IT. People are more receptive to you when you share quirky habits. It makes you seem more human.
15.) Make up a fake nickname for yourself. This is very important. Studies have shown that on dating websites and in speed dating scenarios (which is essentially what we do with our customers) that people who share their nickname that they are known by friends and family are more likely to be perceived as honest. My stage name is Laurisa, so I tell people that my friends call me Laura.
16.) Being personal is key. If you have trouble coming up with things to say on the fly then try to come up with 5 one-liners that you can use to open up a conversation and cycle between them. If you say the same thing over and over it can make you sound like a robot. You want AND need customers to perceive you as honest. Honesty is key to making the sale. Human psychology has proven time and time again that people will buy from salesmen that seem honest. Trust is a huge factor in making a sale. The reason for this is because people tend to blindly follow the ideas and suggestions of people they trust. If someone trusts you then they will not ponder an idea (like buying a lap dance/CR/VIP) as intensely as they would if they distrusted you. You want customers to be in "automatic" mode versus "logical mode". Strip and Grow Rich discusses that concept more, buy Dancerwealth if you want to learn more about that.
17.) Use subliminal messaging. Brush your hand across your chest, nibble on your lip subtly, bat your eyelashes quickly, smile a big grin--FLAUNT YOUR ASSETS. You can phrase a question as a statement to encourage people to buy from you. "You're ready for a lap dance now, right?", or "You want to do a second song, don't you?".
18.) Accept failure with grace. Walk away from tables that you have been rejected from at a normal pace, don't run or speed walk as if you are running from a murderer. People will pick up on the fact that you dislike rejection. You have to act as if you are there to have fun, not there to make $1,000. Smile politely and touch their shoulder as if you have just finished a conversation and are leaving on your terms--not because you were rejected. Other customers are always watching and someone is bound to see you stomp off with a scowl.
19.) Don't gossip god damn it. If you don't like Mary Jane's dance moves then discuss it privately with a dancer friend when you are at her house. Don't bring drama to work. Be really careful who you discuss personal problems with, girls will share it with other girls and it will get back to customers. You don't want your customer finding out about your baby daddy/child support drama, do you?
20.) You are ALWAYS having a great night. If a girl uses the "how's your night going" (aka how much money have you made?) then say "oh, I'm doing great tonight, how about you?". If she says she's doing poorly then compliment something about her and continue on your way.
21.) Know your audience. If your audience isn't there then re-think your approach and make the sale. If you have a complete aversion to customers and no one good is there to hustle, head to the dressing room for five minutes (no more than five), touch up your make up, fix your hair, and change your underwear. Go back upstairs, grab a drink (even a soda is fine), and sit down with someone so you appear busy. If there is no one you can reasonably sit with, talk to a bouncer, the DJ, a manager, the cleaner, the bartender, etc. Make small talk, appear busy.
22.) When in doubt, grab another girl and head out. If there is a packed club and you and most of the other girls can't make a sale, try grabbing a dancer you know and double hustling for a couple songs. Two girls can divide and conquer a group of four easier than one. There is a lesser chance they will make rude jokes, and more often than not they will agree to a double dance. Make sure you ask the dancer ahead of time what she charges for dances and how much touching she is OK with (if any).
23.) Maintain your look. Have your hair cut, nails neatly trimmed, clean outfits, shoes in good condition, fresh make up on, and your teeth brushed. This is a no brainer.
24.) Take a break when you need one. Did a guy just insult you? Did a customer touch you inappropriately? Someone throw a quarter at you on stage? Go smoke a cigarette or suck on a lollipop downstairs or outside. Take your ten minutes that you need to recoup. Don't think about what happened. Get on your cell phone and check facebook, send your pen pal an e-mail, read a book, check tomorrow's weather, watch a funny youtube video, look at pictures of your kids. Get your mind in a happy place and then re-enter the work scene with a fresh attitude.
25.) If you're burnt out, you're burnt out. Take one day off. ONE day, it will make you feel better. So often do we feel trapped, lonely, and alone because of our lack of support. If you are burnt out then take one day off, and either stay home and have a wonderful night alone (or with your SO) watching movies/doing something fun, or have a blast going out with friends. Make it a day that is the complete opposite of work, everything you need it to be.
26.) Plan a vacation at least once a year. Give yourself the OK to relax, and it can't be a work related vacation. I don't care where the vacation is, or who you go with, just make sure it is fun for you and that you can afford it. Nothing is worse than taking a vacation you can't afford and having to work 5x as hard to compensate when you go back to work. Try to make a definitive date for the vacation so you can count down the days to your relaxation.
27.) Save your money. If you make $100/night then save $25. If you make $400/night then save $100. If you make $1000/night then save $250. Try to save 25% of what you make OR MORE. If you have trouble saving then 25% of what you make is a reasonable starting point. Don't save less than 10% of what you make or your efforts will seem pointless and you will give up. Have a goal for your savings. A rainy day fund is great, but for starters you can do something like this: say "I'm going to save $5,000, and when I hit $5,000 then I will spend $1,000 on furniture".
28.) Think of your bank account/cash on hand as your net worth. It pretty much is, but really think of it that way. Print out a FORBES magazine cover and put a picture of yourself on there. Work toward a high net worth. This will encourage you to save.
29.) Gently touch customers when you sit with them. Studies have shown that physical contact is important. Premature babies in poverty-stricken countries can survive by laying on a woman's skin naked for several hours a day. This regulates their body temperature and helps control their heart rate. It's called Kangaroo Care, look it up. My son was premature. Men don't have the ability to regulate a human's body temperature, but women do. Try to touch their bare skin, such as their hand, neck, etc. It is more effective than touching their sweater which is covering their arm.
30.) Imagine you are talking to your boyfriend/husband/love interest/make someone up that you want to sleep with. Get that sparkle going in your eye. Envision them next to you and project your feelings of love, admiration, and desire for closeness onto the customer. They will receive your energy and the experience will seem more authentic for them.
I hope this helps!
-Laurisa
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Re: Tips for making it in the strip club industry
I've read to #15 and just had to say, WOW great advice. Now back to reading. :)
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Re: Tips for making it in the strip club industry
This is great! Its nice to have a refresher and im sure alot of girls will benifit from this because i didnt even know most of this stuff going into this indusrty. For me it was trial and error and now i know the stuff i do is backed up by research
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Re: Tips for making it in the strip club industry
A couple more worth adding:
31.) If you are new, dance slowly on stage and during dances. If you can pop your booty and keep up with the beat then go ahead and do that, but there is a right way and a wrong way to do it. I've seen girls look ridiculous on stage popping their booties, and I've seen girls sway with the music and it looked great.
32.) If you are new, keep one foot on the ground. Don't even think about working that pole on your third day. You need to wait a few days to find your footing in the shoes and become accustomed to the bruises, stiff muscles, and having an audience. I would recommend practicing pole tricks when no one is in the club (beginning of shift or after) or when it is very slow. Don't try to copy veteran dancers who do advanced pole tricks, start with basic spins or learn to climb the pole first.
33.) Don't be a bum, as in, don't constantly borrow shit from other girls. Using a straightener here and there is OK, but don't be offended if someone says no to letting you use their $300 straightener. Also, use common sense, most people don't want to loan you their make up. You can get eye infections from that shit. And I don't want you using my MAC brush and MAC concealer to hide that big zit. Quit bumming cigarettes, #1 rule of strip clubs--if you smoke, arrive with a full pack.
35.) Be really careful who you give your number to/let see the car you drive/let come to your house. Someone keyed the hood of my car, and I really think it was an ex-dancer friend who has some serious problems. Someone who seems cool at the club can be really problematic for you later. Girls are retarded, and she is presently trying to fight me at work. It's not going to work, but still. If they pop a bunch of pills and use drugs/go to raves/have a new boyfriend every week, don't give them your personal information.
-Laurisa
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Re: Tips for making it in the strip club industry
HA, definitely #35... have dealt with a few of those kinds...
this should either be a sticky or added to best of HH!
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Re: Tips for making it in the strip club industry
I like #13 a lot, especially when you mentioned about being fluent in other languages.
When I encounter a customer who knows Portuguese or Japanese I tell them I learned those languages by watching shows from those countries, which is totally true. I once had a Japanese customer who was a huge DBZ fan, just like me.
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Re: Tips for making it in the strip club industry
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Re: Tips for making it in the strip club industry
<3 x a thousand or so. Thank you!
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Re: Tips for making it in the strip club industry
I love how I was the only one allowed to be angry. Haha. Truthfully, even in my personal life I am not "bubbly" and I don't laugh easily. Though I would claim I'm more stoic than angry. ;) When I was dancing, I always worked the pretty, multicultural angle- which ended up making me the majority of my money.
Either way great post Laurisa!
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Re: Tips for making it in the strip club industry
29.) Gently touch customers when you sit with them. Studies have shown that physical contact is important. Premature babies in poverty-stricken countries can survive by laying on a woman's skin naked for several hours a day. This regulates their body temperature and helps control their heart rate. It's called Kangaroo Care, look it up. My son was premature. Men don't have the ability to regulate a human's body temperature, but women do. Try to touch their bare skin, such as their hand, neck, etc. It is more effective than touching their sweater which is covering their arm.
I knew to touch but I didn't know the part about men not having the 'kangaroo' touch...
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Re: Tips for making it in the strip club industry
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Re: Tips for making it in the strip club industry
#29 is amazing
well, the baby part
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Re: Tips for making it in the strip club industry
Good stuff! Especially about keeping busy, staying drama free, relating and connecting with customers, & saving.
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Re: Tips for making it in the strip club industry
I DO notice I make more money and have a better connection when I briefly touch a custie's hand( as I am dancing on him- OR sitting and talking at the table.
Its an intimate gesture and I didnt realise the powerful effect it had. I apprecitate this; thanks!:) I've had a great week since reading this-:)
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Re: Tips for making it in the strip club industry
@Pink_Bunny I'm gonna try that.
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Re: Tips for making it in the strip club industry
Wow there's some great advice I haven't heard before. Thanks :)
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Re: Tips for making it in the strip club industry
THIS.
Great post - the biggest problem I see with dancers is they don't approach customers! It baffles me. Approach and be charming.
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Re: Tips for making it in the strip club industry
Thanks for posting this! Great refresher :)
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Re: Tips for making it in the strip club industry
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Re: Tips for making it in the strip club industry
Here's another random one:
TRY NOT TO CURSE.
This depends on the club and clientele, of course. But in general, cursing makes you sound negative, vapid, and unrefined. Light cursing is fine ("sucks,"etc.), but if you find yourself cursing a lot, then this usually isn't a good sign.
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Re: Tips for making it in the strip club industry
Quote:
Originally Posted by
charlie61
Here's another random one:
TRY NOT TO CURSE.
This depends on the club and clientele, of course. But in general, cursing makes you sound negative, vapid, and unrefined. Light cursing is fine ("sucks,"etc.), but if you find yourself cursing a lot, then this usually isn't a good sign.
I like watching old classic films to see how the leading ladies behave - classy, poised, flirty....
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Re: Tips for making it in the strip club industry
I think it's really important to truly not care what they think of you. Just be yourself, be comfortable with yourself, don't try to prove to them that they should like you. Not in a stuck up way, but so many new girls try to make the customers like them and it becomes so much easier to approach with the attitude that if you aren't his type then better to know sooner than later because someone who likes you as you are will cause you less stress and probably spend more money.
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Re: Tips for making it in the strip club industry
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Re: Tips for making it in the strip club industry
Develop a very very thick skin and don't take anything personally
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Re: Tips for making it in the strip club industry
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Warped
Develop a very very thick skin and don't take anything personally
^ This! And also don't really make best friends with the other girls in the club bc it never usually ends well(speaking from experience on many different occasions). Always just keep the staff at arms length bc they just like the girls are probably somewhat cliquey & gossipy esp if you don't tip out to "their" standards. Just speaking from 12 yrs experience :)