Long-time lurker, finally want to get into dancing!
Hello all! I've been lurking on SW for about 2 years and finally decided to join! I've been curious about dancing for a long time but now I finally want to try it out. I'm a total newb who has never danced in a club before...in fact I've never even BEEN to a strip club! So I'm not entirely sure what it'll be like, but I worry I'll be pretty clueless and intimidated. I already have a list of questions I want to ask management when I decide to go talk to them!
I've read a ton of posts on here but I still feel so unprepared (I do tend to overthink things)! I do have a few questions I haven't yet found answers to while lurking about:
1. Do dancers always collect money before a lapdance and/or private room? I'd imagine there would be plenty of guys who want a dance and then afterwards say they don't have enough money to spend, but maybe I'm wrong and they do pay....
2. Do dancers use their stage name with everyone in the club (i.e. when introducing themselves to management, DJs, bouncers, and other dancers?) or just with customers?
Also, I've read a bit about filing taxes as a dancer but it all seems so overwhelming and confusing! How do you all get the hang of it?! I remember reading about paying taxes quarterly and I'm wondering if one pays taxes for the quarter they just worked or if they estimate their taxes for the upcoming quarter (which I feel would be really hard to do as a new dancer!)? Is it possible to just set aside the money throughout the year and then pay taxes on income made throughout the year? How do you find out what the requirements of your individual state are? I'm hoping TurboTax Home & Business will suffice, as I've seen some dancers on here use that.
Well...I think I covered everything I wanted to bring up in my first post :D happy to finally be a member here! There are so many awesome and intelligent people here!
Re: Long-time lurker, finally want to get into dancing!
IN GENERAL always collect your money upfront, sometimes management won't back you up.
no, you'll have to sign papers for management and you use your real name and social..although i'm always addressed by my stage name by the DJ/manager/bouncers, nobody really uses real names unless its for legal purposes.
as for the tax question , i only do my taxes once a year and i get them done by an accountant, but there's tons of threads in dollar den
Re: Long-time lurker, finally want to get into dancing!
Go check out a club. It will make you feel a lot better, or a lot worse, but ether way it will answer questions.
Re: Long-time lurker, finally want to get into dancing!
1. No. I never do at my current club. I've worked in clubs where that was the case though, either because of the clientele or security, but customers expected it there. Always feel empowered to get payment upfront though if you are more comfortable that way. I will ask for it if I have a bad feeling about someone.
2. Yes. When you walk into the club, you are your stage name. Your real name should only show up on your ID when management confirms your age. Otherwise, always introduce yourself to everyone as your stage name. It just makes it easier.
3. Might be work getting an accountant for year one. You don't have to file quarterly for the first year though. You will base next year's quarterly filings off this year's earnings.
Good luck! I promise that once you start dancing, you'll wonder what you thought the big deal was.
Re: Long-time lurker, finally want to get into dancing!
When I got lap dances during my 'research', some girls made me pay first, or pay later. I personally would give a dance first, unless I get a bad feeling about someone. Maybe you should ask the other dancers if they expect payment before or after?
Also, it's better to use your stage name for everyone, because the other workers such as the DJ or other strippers might out your real name by accident.
Re: Long-time lurker, finally want to get into dancing!
I always collect payment after the dance, but I work in a club where the bouncers WILL hold customers to their payments and chase them down. So far I haven't had any problems.
Bring your id when you apply, but generally everyone including the club staff and other dancers will call you by your stage name. It's funny..if you make friends with other dancers and learn each other's real names you'll still call each other by your stage names out of habit. I answer to my stage name more than my real name now! lol
Re: Long-time lurker, finally want to get into dancing!
I have not worked in many clubs that held customers to their payment obligations, so I always get the first dance upfront. After that I typically collect every third song or so.
Other than during the hiring process, where you will need to give them your real name & SSN, just go by your stage name. Ther will be a space to list your stage name along w/ your real name on the application. They will have your real info on file for legal purposes but there is such a turnover in this industry, & even veterans bounce around so much, that no one is going to bother trying to learn both. So just stick w/ your stage name.
That said, if any1 asks for your real name (other than a mgr taking you into the office to discuss smtg), either lie or just tell them you don't give out your personal info. Many girls actually find it offencive to be questioned abt their real name, for privacy/safety reasons. So don't tell & don't ask.
Re: Long-time lurker, finally want to get into dancing!
Well I went to the club last night and I felt surprisingly comfortable!! I actually loved it and could really see myself working there! I talked to the management and got a ton of my questions answered (they actually give dancers a W2 during tax season like a company would for a regular employee) and am going back next week on Amateur night! thought I would be terrified but I'm actually feeling confident and EXCITED!!!
Re: Long-time lurker, finally want to get into dancing!
Not sure if I'll be carrying on a somewhat dead post here but I'm just so excited!! I did amateur night, was hilariously awkward and wobbly on stage (which I was mentally prepared for; at least I smiled a ton!), won, and got a job offer! I start tomorrow night!!!
I wasn't expecting stage tips as a total newb but some guy was sitting by the stage and tipped, and then tipped again (well, kind of, he held it up and waved it in the air but wouldn't give it to me so I kind of danced away and he set it on the stage for me...sooooo awkward!). Overall I had fun and felt surprisingly comfortable being topless on stage! :D