Dancing 3 nights/wk vs. "good" full-time day job.... What to choose? Am I nuts?
Ok, I'm all set to return to dancing after my second little one (almost 7-mos. old now). I've been putting in some serious effort to get back in shape and prepare... I've had a few procedures (for my leg veins, etc.) even that I might have not done if I weren't going to be seen nude, lol. And now, I'm actually called to interview for a "good" full-time day job (that for various reasons I most likely will secure)!
But, if I do get the day job, I'm seriously considering whether I want to take it. I don't like the idea of my baby in daycare full-time. If I'm dancing, she'll be with my hubby at night, and I'll only need to work 3 nights to make what I will at the 5-day a week day job. But, the day job really is for one of the best companies to work for with some nice perks. I know that considering I have a degree, etc. etc., I'd be a fool not to take that position. I also think about how I'll be stuck w/o disability insurance should I break a leg (god forbid) or something and not be able to dance. And who in this day actually turns down good jobs?! It's not like they're exactly easy to find in this economy. :O
Hmmmm..... Also, am I being crazy because I feel bummed now because I'm in awesome shape and I won't be able to show it off and perform on stage anymore? I really value having a physical-type job vs. sitting on my behind all day. And I love dance.... I mean in general, like aerobics, gymnastics, etc. I've always been some type of performer, and that's what I really miss about dancing now that I've been off for over a year. I also miss the challenge and competition of it. I take it quite seriously, ha ha.
I wish, wish, wish I'd have put off my vein treatments. I would already be dancing, and could then take the day job and maybe work one night every or every other week? But, I don't think that'll work without already being in the club now.
I'm hoping for a little perspective from those in the dancing world, since of course all of my 'regular' friends think I'm crazy for even thinking about turning down the day job. Arggghhhh!!! And the hubby of course is all for it, too. But, it's really my decision.
Re: Dancing 3 nights/wk vs. "good" full-time day job.... What to choose? Am I nuts?
I would definitely take the full time job. that $$ is guaranteed and won't go away when you are burned out, it's slow season, you hurt yourself, etc.
plus 3 nights of dancing making the same $$ as 5 days day job isn't really that much better. for example, if I wasn't dancing I would be forced to work minimum wage jobs with probably limited hours, making around $800/month, so making $800 in a night is obviously a much better ratio. so even when I make less than $800 in a night, I'm still making much more than $800 in a month. but 3 nights of dancing to make the same that you would make 5 days...it's just not that much of a step up.and everything else you are turning down would make this choice pretty obvious to me.
can you dance once or twice a week on a non schedule basis on top of the day job?
Re: Dancing 3 nights/wk vs. "good" full-time day job.... What to choose? Am I nuts?
If this job comes with benefits for you and your family, that's worth a lot. Personally, I'd take it if offered and supplement with dancing once or twice a month since it sounds like you really enjoy it - I don't really understand why you think that's only an option if you've already returned to dancing but not otherwise.
Keep in mind, you can't dance forever and you ought to be keeping your résumé current if you plan on going into the "normal" workforce one day. A wonderful job opportunity has (possibly) just landing in your lap - take it and see how it goes. You can always quit and go back to dancing, but companies aren't always going to be knocking at your door with offers.
Re: Dancing 3 nights/wk vs. "good" full-time day job.... What to choose? Am I nuts?
Agree with Charlotte and Shanna...
Personally, I would say you need to make AT LEAST double the money of a vanilla job in less time to make dancing worth it in this type of situation. (example $300 a week at vanilla job 5 full time days should equal $500-600 in 3 days dancing) If you're working for a company that has a good health plan, paid sick/vacation time, a retirement fund contribution match plan (love free money), etc, I would think those benefits outweigh the flexible dancing scheule. These days, that type of stability from a company is hard to find. If you're dancing for income, you have to suppliment all of that stuff yourself. Plus your taxes would double since you have to pay the employer portion.
If it were a minimum wage/ entry lvl type job I'd say dancing is the better option. In most cases it is, since most minimum wage jobs have zero benefits.
Otherwise, think of dancing once a week (if your club lets you do that). The money you put into the cosmetic proceures wouldn't be a total "waste", and you would have some play money. You would still be home all week after work for your little one, but dancing could be your "mommytime". Its not like you would be in dire need of the money, so I would just think of it as getting paid to work out and be beautiful once a week :)
Re: Dancing 3 nights/wk vs. "good" full-time day job.... What to choose? Am I nuts?
I agree with everyone else. And even if the club won't let you work one night a week, you could always do amateur nights once in a while if any clubs in your area have them. At least try the full time job for a few months because you might actually like it.
Re: Dancing 3 nights/wk vs. "good" full-time day job.... What to choose? Am I nuts?
Remember, you can dance while you have a full-time job! It works a completely different part of your brain - so dancing can feel like a "break" even though you're working.
Agreed with others that you should probably take the FT job. Dancers burn out, get injured, have off nights, etc. A regular job is guaranteed money with benefits. Use stripping to get ahead of the game (icing on the cake), and use a regular job as a comfortable financial foundation.
Re: Dancing 3 nights/wk vs. "good" full-time day job.... What to choose? Am I nuts?
Especially since you have children - that's a ton of pressure to make good money every night, and it's hard to live up to that much pressure without coming across as desperate. Guys can smell the stench of desperation miles away. If you have a FT day job, then you're no longer desperate to pull in the big bucks. You can afford to have bad nights when you dance because you have consistent money coming in.
Re: Dancing 3 nights/wk vs. "good" full-time day job.... What to choose? Am I nuts?
Thanks for all the replies. :)
I didn't mention that benefits aren't an issue, since we're all covered under my hubby's pretty decent insurance. It's even covering some of my leg treatments, amazingly. So, I really look at the bottom line, money-wise. And, I haven't danced in just over a year, so I can't be totally certain of what money's like, although I'm sure it hasn't changed that much. I'm a consistent earner and do well dancing. But, I do think somewhere in the back of my mind that if I were dancing now I'd be ready for the day job.
And, there's only one club close that I'd work at and they used to be fine with me working a night a week before, but I haven't been there in a while. So, I don't think coming in 'off the street' I'd have that option, since most house girls work at least both weekend nights. But, I don't know for certain....?
The main thing is I really don't want my little one in daycare. I know millions of mommies do it, even for 6-week-olds. But, I can't. I refused until she's at least 6 months, so we managed financially. And also that she'd be sleeping most of the time I'd be at work vs. being all day with strangers (that I'm sure she'd grow to love???). But I would have to nap w/her on the weekends since I'd be working late (which is a bummer for my 5-yr-old). Arggghh.... I go back and forth. That and the freedom dancing offers. I love being my own boss. ;D Oh, and the fact that dancing totally motivates me to stay in shape, lol!
Re: Dancing 3 nights/wk vs. "good" full-time day job.... What to choose? Am I nuts?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
charlie61
Especially since you have children - that's a ton of pressure to make good money every night, and it's hard to live up to that much pressure without coming across as desperate. Guys can smell the stench of desperation miles away. If you have a FT day job, then you're no longer desperate to pull in the big bucks. You can afford to have bad nights when you dance because you have consistent money coming in.
I totally thrive on that pressure, though, for some crazy reason!? And, I never come across as desperate. I've been doing this long enough to know how to show 'genuine' interest in the patrons. But, you're making sense about the day job being my main cash flow.
Re: Dancing 3 nights/wk vs. "good" full-time day job.... What to choose? Am I nuts?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
sexymia
And, there's only one club close that I'd work at and they used to be fine with me working a night a week before, but I haven't been there in a while. So, I don't think coming in 'off the street' I'd have that option, since most house girls work at least both weekend nights. But, I don't know for certain....?
Eh, you worked there before, so it's different. My home club wants girls to work 3x a week, and I was gone for about a year before returning and had no problems doing 1-2 shifts a week. As long as you were a good girl (no drama, made money) and had that luxury before, I'm sure you'll be fine now if you return.
In any case, your interview probably isn't for a couple of days, and even if not, no matter how sure you are that you'll secure the job, the hiring process can take time and rarely do you get a job offer at the interview and a start date for the following day. It happens, sure, but all I'm saying is that you probably have a bit of time during which you could pop into the club and feel things out to make a more informed decision.
Re: Dancing 3 nights/wk vs. "good" full-time day job.... What to choose? Am I nuts?
There's nothing stopping you from doing both. But I do think for the sake of yourself, your family, and your future, you should probably take this other job that you yourself described as "good". It will suck to have to put your kid in daycare...but I think taking that job will be good for you in the long run. Worst case scenario you try it and it doesn't work out for you, and you dance 3x a week like you said, but may as well give it a shot eh? especially since it sounds like a job you're actually interested in! Plus I get the impression you're really looking forward to going back to the club, and if you want to go, go! If you really want to be there you'll probably make at least decent if not great money :) I think if you take the job and dance on the side you'll get the best of everything.