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Changing your character/personality to make more $$$
As someone relatively new to the industry, I've noticed that my natural personality (which is quite sarcastic) doesn't really work for my customer base as a whole. It works for some customers who appreciate the smart girl with a sense of humour, but I've found that most would rather pick my brains/have a conversation with me than buy dances off me.
So, I've been experimenting with different characters (bubbly party girl, dark/quiet/sexy) and was wondering what works best for you guys? what kind of character do you take on to suit different customers? i'm finding dark and mysterious is working for me best at the moment, but it's hard not to break character and go back to my usual self. How did you guys develop your work personas?
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Re: Changing your character/personality to make more $$$
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Originally Posted by
lolly1
As someone relatively new to the industry, I've noticed that my natural personality (which is quite sarcastic) doesn't really work for my customer base as a whole. It works for some customers who appreciate the smart girl with a sense of humour, but I've found that most would rather pick my brains/have a conversation with me than buy dances off me.
So, I've been experimenting with different characters (bubbly party girl, dark/quiet/sexy) and was wondering what works best for you guys? what kind of character do you take on to suit different customers? i'm finding dark and mysterious is working for me best at the moment, but it's hard not to break character and go back to my usual self. How did you guys develop your work personas?
The one that works best is the one you can pull off the best.
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Re: Changing your character/personality to make more $$$
I'm fun and flirty, but I act like a lady. I'm totally into you. I'm your stripper girlfriend!
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Re: Changing your character/personality to make more $$$
After you have been dancing for a while you will probably find that you just develop a persona naturally; in time you will just enter the club & the dancer in you will switch on out of habit. If you try to dramatically change your personality etc then it may come off "fake" or be too draining to try & pull off shift after shift. By all means amp up some of your actual characteristics & tone down others to suit your customers. If you want to experiment then you will soon find out what does & doesn't work for you. Then, you can always build yourself up from there .i.e.what kind of personality do you enjoy "trying on" or feel more comfortable with/what is appealing about you/what are your physical assets? And what do these qualities/features scream?
You are not selling you, but the idea of you-the fantasy! You mentioned that you are naturally "smart with a sense of humor"-to me the translation would be-sophisticated, sensual, witty/cheeky/naughty. You can use your actual traits to your advantage, but "up grade" them to things that will benefit you in this kind of environment. Being a great conversationalist is an advantage, especially if you are working in a gentleman's club or wish to in the future. If you are a good talker, in time you will be a good hustler too! When you chat to or sit down with a custy just be sure to engage them "sexually" as well-this can be as simple as altering your body language or the tone of your voice, making eye contact/the way you look at them, the way you smile/laugh etc. Then they will enjoy your company, but also WANT to get a dance from you. And of course you can also use your name/outfit/make-up/music to project/compliment the image you want customers to see.
IMO-at the end of the day, as long as you wear your chosen stripper skin with confidence, you'll bank!
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Re: Changing your character/personality to make more $$$
ive been doing this for eleven years,
and i would have to say i do my best to just sell myself, i am up flirty. i talk about my passions, and for some reason men seem to freak out on that..
youre a stripper that teaches real dance?? you can read?? u have education ect??
you can usually tell if he wants to sit and chat for a miniute and pretend hes yer boyfriend in his mind, or if hes a wham bam and wants to go straight to the dance area.
if he engages right away , usually he wants a chat. if hes cold , dont go to far into yourself.,
be who you are , but witht he positive qualities amped up.
if you try to be someone else, it will drain you and quite possibly hurt your money, and make you a very tired girl at the end of the day :)
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Re: Changing your character/personality to make more $$$
thanks girls! i've definitely been finding that straying too far from my personality is making me very tired (and cranky when the customers are idiots - I seem to have less patience with them when I'm pretending to be someone completely different).
I'm finding it easiest to mostly be a more assertive version of myself, as to be honest I previously wasn't much of a salesperson and wouldn't normally push people into things, which would make me terrible at hustling! so I'm giving it a go with mostly being me, but incorporating a lot of the hustling tips i've read on SW. Thanks again!
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Re: Changing your character/personality to make more $$$
I used to do the blonde, ditzy personality which did quite well when the club was quieter but now there are a lot more girls working I have been working the sarcastic, funny, 'I don't give a shit' personality which is doing really well. I think one reason for this is that guys aren't used to it and get a bit thrown off and don't know how to take me.
My sarcastic personality actually sold dances to a whole of guys on friday night who took turns to get dances when the club was really busy after I acted sarcastically and actually asked if they wanted to 'see my cunt' lol. Worst line ever but somehow it made the whole table spend money on me.
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Re: Changing your character/personality to make more $$$
I don't think it matters what personality you use as long as you keep your energy sexual. You are not here to be their mate. They are thinking about sex... pretend you are too.
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Re: Changing your character/personality to make more $$$
I do the whole "cute and evil" like I'll dance to "Pussy Liquor" by Rob Zombie and I'll do a lot of smiling, batting my eyelashes etc. Basically act like Baby Firefly. She was cute, evil, sadistic, ditsy and a psychopath.
Acting sulky and angry is ok but I gave that up a long time ago.
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Re: Changing your character/personality to make more $$$
I don't strip but I'm a cam performer. My natural personality is more dark, sexy, mysterious and quiet. I'm not that bubbly at all and I don't even know how to flirt because I think flirting is dumb. lol. I keep a constant sex appeal and don't show off much of my dorky habits. But I think a somewhat coy but fun personality on cam works best for me.
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Re: Changing your character/personality to make more $$$
Some great advice in this thread!
If you're naturally sarcastic, then perhaps you're like me...one of my biggest problems was that I'd insult my customers. I'd do it in a way that was hilarious (they'd be laughing genuinely with me) and smart, but I don't think it was the best way to generate business. I had a massive chip on my shoulder where I felt I needed to prove that I was smarter than my customers because I felt like they were judging me. Which, even if that was generally true, is just not a good chip to carry around in a strip club.
It's good to be witty and hilarious, but do it in a way that makes them feel really good about themselves. Fun, light jabs are okay...but balance that with tons of praise / fun humor. Make them feel like they're "in" on your world, like they're in your bubble without having to try.
Also, try to really figure out your persona early in the game and then STICK TO IT. If I get back into the business, I can't do it as Charlie (who was a 'persona' that was 100% me)...I need to go in as someone slightly more fun, slightly less sarcastic, definitely more sexual (I used to tell my customers I was asexual back when I was burning out of the business), etc. I think it'd really help to conceptualize this early in your stripping career.
It's actually kind of incredible that I was the top earner in my clubs considering how many hustler rules I broke. I think I must've just been working 100x harder all along to make up for my own mistakes!
Try to find bits and pieces of celebrities who inspire the sexy / fun side of yourself...whether it's Demi Moore in Striptease, Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's, or whomever. Even come up with a back story...where you're from, etc.
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Re: Changing your character/personality to make more $$$
Probably the best thing you can possibly keep in mind...seriously, you need to brainwash yourself with this mantra...is that you are there to MAKE MONEY.
It sounds so obvious, but it's actually really hard for a lot of strippers to prioritize this.
You are not there to prove you are smarter than they are (generally a wasted effort).
You are not there to argue with customers about politics and religion.
You are not there to gossip in the dressing room.
You are not there to get drunk (or if you are, then you need to change priorities).
You are not there to make new friends with your customers!
You are there to MAKE FAT STACKS.
When you go home at night, and your knees are killing you, and your back feels like it's going to break, and you're counting your money, you want to feel like all of the effort you put into every dollar you made with your sweat, blood, and tears is going towards $$$. Otherwise you are just working against yourself...making it harder for yourself.
So come up with whatever persona will make men want to spend money on you (try to stick with a 'better' or simpler version of yourself to avoid burnout / coming across as fake). If you're good enough at the job, you can switch personas to match your customers. But in the beginning, start with a persona that is more broadly defined to fit the vast majority of your customers.
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Re: Changing your character/personality to make more $$$
LOL i made a thread pretty much asking the same thing. Didn't get any replies so I'm glad I found this thread. I haven't started dancing again yet, since the first time I bombed which was about a year ago. It traumatized me for a few months afterwards. But finally after getting my self esteem up a bit and getting my depression under control I think I'm finally ready to try again. But this time I know I literally have to make a new persona/character in order to keep my sanity while WORKING. My friends who are also dancers tried to tell me and it got me hurt in the end.
But anyway when I start dancing again which should be January or February I think I'm pretty much just going to be the sexy, flirty, classy seductrice (sp?) which is sort of my other personality (when I'm with my boyfriend). I'm doing the whole pin up girl look and making my costumes/outfits really classy even though most of the girls in my club only wear a g string and tiny tiny bra. I like to stand out and be sexy without trying too hard.....ya know? So i'm going to try and go for the whole pin up girl look. You don't see it too much on a black/mixed girl (like me) so hopefully that'll help me stand out and not in a bad way.....We'll see :)
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Re: Changing your character/personality to make more $$$
Also to get into "character" I listen to a playlist that kind of gets me pumped and look in the mirror and give myself a little pep talk.
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Re: Changing your character/personality to make more $$$
yeah in my club i've noticed if you're desperate - eg flashing on stage, etc, you'll make tips and definitely won't go home with nothing .... but the girls who i think are the top earners have a much more classy style - not revealing as much on stage, not necessarily dressing as a pin-up, but definitely with more of an old school look. and they're getting tipped $50 notes on stage from the guy in the corner nobody noticed whilst the more 'out there' girls are flashing for $2.
it's definitely inspiredme to take a good look at my wardrobe! :)
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Re: Changing your character/personality to make more $$$
Quote:
Originally Posted by
lolly1
yeah in my club i've noticed if you're desperate - eg flashing on stage, etc, you'll make tips and definitely won't go home with nothing .... but the girls who i think are the top earners have a much more classy style - not revealing as much on stage, not necessarily dressing as a pin-up, but definitely with more of an old school look. and they're getting tipped $50 notes on stage from the guy in the corner nobody noticed whilst the more 'out there' girls are flashing for $2.
it's definitely inspiredme to take a good look at my wardrobe! :)
;D EXACTLY!!! I think the girls who do "too much" and are too "extra" don't get paid as much because i feel like theres no mystery there.... You know they may get tips and few or a lot of dances, but I don't feel like they're as intriguing as some of the classier dancers.
But I guess it's just preference on who you want to be while "WORKING". Do you want to be the crazy, wild, fun, party stripper...... or do you want to be the one who's not as LOUD and kind of mysterious....... It's all personal preference.
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Re: Changing your character/personality to make more $$$
Quote:
Originally Posted by
charlie61
You are there to MAKE FAT STACKS.
AMEN!
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Re: Changing your character/personality to make more $$$
I'm actually really interested to hear about the personas of some of the stronger characters / hardest workers on this board. For some reason J.D. intrigues me...I picture her like this fucking shark who swoops in and eats up all of the cash in the room!
I'm sure there are so many ladies on here who are awesome at putting on these personas and taking them off when they get home.
So, let's hear it ladies! What personas work for you?
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Re: Changing your character/personality to make more $$$
i kind of change for each guy i get a feel for what they like and then thats what i am either a lover a party girl a sex kitten so on and so forth and i make tons of money doin it this way and everybodys happy lol
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Re: Changing your character/personality to make more $$$
great thread a good selection of different persona's gives you a nice perspective
charlie pretty much summed it up there is no "one size fits all" do what works for you
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Re: Changing your character/personality to make more $$$
Im always really aggressive... I usually start off with my bubbly personality just to get them relax then I order us both a shot of patron talk a little trash about if he's sure he can handle me & then I go into the dominant side... Im usually like "I love the fact that we can be naughty with know strings attached...I like to pretend....want to play pretend?"
Then theyre usually like pretend what?
"LLLLets (making sure to stick out my tongue when pronouncing) pretend THAT YOU DONT WANT TO CUM WHEN I PUT MY ASS ON YOU!
THEY usually giggle... I grab their thigh really firmly & say "I know what I want, I know what you want, now lets go play!"
This usually works everytime, but again my hair,make up, outfit, & shoes all scream I WILL MOLEST YOU!
And I always bring my furry handcuffs and whip to work! for my real submissives
I do have to be careful because I am a naturally passive person (daytime)and if you have a true submissive they will figure me out quick if I stray an inch away from my character!
I cant sit & talk to you to long until you've spent some money to show you deserve to discover who "I" am because men know how to play head games just like dancers and I am a talker so I dont wanna look up & its last call and I have $100 bucks in my pocket!
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Re: Changing your character/personality to make more $$$
}:D}:D
Quote:
Originally Posted by
lovely1021
Im always really aggressive... I usually start off with my bubbly personality just to get them relax then I order us both a shot of patron talk a little trash about if he's sure he can handle me & then I go into the dominant side... Im usually like "I love the fact that we can be naughty with know strings attached...I like to pretend....want to play pretend?"
Then theyre usually like pretend what?
"LLLLets (making sure to stick out my tongue when pronouncing) pretend THAT YOU DONT WANT TO CUM WHEN I PUT MY ASS ON YOU!
THEY usually giggle... I grab their thigh really firmly & say "I know what I want, I know what you want, now lets go play!"
}:D i would fall for it lol
This usually works everytime, but again my hair,make up, outfit, & shoes all scream I WILL MOLEST YOU!
And I always bring my furry handcuffs and whip to work! for my real submissives
I do have to be careful because I am a naturally passive person (daytime)and if you have a true submissive they will figure me out quick if I stray an inch away from my character!
I cant sit & talk to you to long until you've spent some money to show you deserve to discover who "I" am because men know how to play head games just like dancers and I am a talker so I dont wanna look up & its last call and I have $100 bucks in my pocket!
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Re: Changing your character/personality to make more $$$
Quote:
Originally Posted by
charlie61
Probably the best thing you can possibly keep in mind...seriously, you need to brainwash yourself with this mantra...is that you are there to MAKE MONEY.
It sounds so obvious, but it's actually really hard for a lot of strippers to prioritize this.
You are not there to prove you are smarter than they are (generally a wasted effort).
You are not there to argue with customers about politics and religion.
You are not there to gossip in the dressing room.
You are not there to get drunk (or if you are, then you need to change priorities).
You are not there to make new friends with your customers!
You are there to MAKE FAT STACKS.
When you go home at night, and your knees are killing you, and your back feels like it's going to break, and you're counting your money, you want to feel like all of the effort you put into every dollar you made with your sweat, blood, and tears is going towards $$$. Otherwise you are just working against yourself...making it harder for yourself.
So come up with whatever persona will make men want to spend money on you (try to stick with a 'better' or simpler version of yourself to avoid burnout / coming across as fake). If you're good enough at the job, you can switch personas to match your customers. But in the beginning, start with a persona that is more broadly defined to fit the vast majority of your customers.
I couldn't agree more!! It's so easy to get caught up talking with costumers...trying to outsmart them and try and convince them you're smarter than they think...But such a waste of time in the end! If ever I go back to dancing I'll definitely keep that in mind.
For me, the minute they asked about my school, I knew right away they hardly ever would take me for a dance after. ( I was in law school while I danced) I was too proud to lie about it and I think it hurt my earning potential. I wouldn't initiate the talk, but if costumers asked, I didn't lie which was a big mistake looking back.
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Re: Changing your character/personality to make more $$$
I went through a phase when I pretended to be from Russia at work because I noticed that guys who rejected even the hottest women would turn around and spend all of their money on the off-the-boat Asian women I worked with. I put alot of time into learning everything I could about the area my character was from, lol. I learned a few phrases and even studied the accent so I could make mine as accurate and believable as possible. I also tried to make my body language and gestures appear to be that of someone who didn't completely understand what was going on, lol. It all sounds so silly when I'm typing it out but I swear, when I was in character it was so much easier for me to work. I'd approach everyone and actually hustle(*I* never hustle!)--and I had no fear of being rejected(which is a huge issue of mine) because it wasn't actually me that they were insulting or rejecting. Overall, it was a really fun experience! Though I am just myself at work now, I think I would actually benefit from doing this again.
I've tried so many times to just be a vampier/sexier/bubblier/enhanced version of myself but I still feel innately, like myself. When I speak in an accent I feel like there is a switch that goes off and I go from myself to work character.
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Re: Changing your character/personality to make more $$$
Quote:
Originally Posted by
MyButter
I went through a phase when I pretended to be from Russia at work because I noticed that guys who rejected even the hottest women would turn around and spend all of their money on the off-the-boat Asian women I worked with. I put alot of time into learning everything I could about the area my character was from, lol. I learned a few phrases and even studied the accent so I could make mine as accurate and believable as possible. I also tried to make my body language and gestures appear to be that of someone who didn't completely understand what was going on, lol. It all sounds so silly when I'm typing it out but I swear, when I was in character it was so much easier for me to work. I'd approach everyone and actually hustle(*I* never hustle!)--and I had no fear of being rejected(which is a huge issue of mine) because it wasn't actually me that they were insulting or rejecting. Overall, it was a really fun experience! Though I am just myself at work now, I think I would actually benefit from doing this again.
I've tried so many times to just be a vampier/sexier/bubblier/enhanced version of myself but I still feel innately, like myself. When I speak in an accent I feel like there is a switch that goes off and I go from myself to work character.
Omg this post totally brought back memories... When I first started dancing, people use to ask me all the time if I was Easters European. ( I'm French Canadian with a different accent when I speak English) at first I would always say no, I'm just Canadian... But after a while I started to pretend my mother was from Russia and my father, from Mexico... Weird mix I know lol. The thing is I lived in Mexico and Argentina for a few years so I speak Spanish. That lie worked very well with customers from Latin America and I got quite a few regulars that way.
Other than that I'd try to act as dumb as I could... Which at the end of my dancing career I wasn't able to do anymore. I had no more energy for it. I think I was just burnt out after 5 years of dancing 3-5 times a week, going to school full time and working an office job part time.