My fourth stripping attempt in four years. Is the FOURTH time the charm??
I'm feeling extremely conflicted right now, and I could use some advice from you ladies!
It's been such a long time since I've ever considered going back to dancing. Each time I've tried, I have failed miserably. BUT I know where I went wrong, AND the underlying circumstances responsible for my failures are no longer in place:
-All of the other times I've tried, I've either had no means of transport (the closest club was 20 miles away and I had to have the person watching my son also drive me back and forth), or a shitty car. Now I have a good car for the first time ever. And the area I live in now has a large variety of clubs.
-I had no idea how to hustle. Since my last attempt, I've been working at hotels, and now I have over two years of hospitality experience that I believe can translate easily into a welcoming stripper personality.
-I no longer live with my parents, so dancing would be a much easier job to "hide". I live with my uncle, who stays out of my business, and who is always home at night.
-I was overweight. Now I've been hitting the gym and eating healthy for the past few months. I've lost weight, and I'm more toned. At 28, I'm also more "put together" than I was back then (and my nipples are pierced!)
-I didn't have an exit plan. Now I've been training to be a computer technician, and once I pass the exams and get my certificate in a month or two, I'm planning on moving out of state and starting my career as a tech. But I need to have a nice nest egg in order to move.
I'm a single mom on one income. I'm barely making enough money to scrape by on my current income, yet I make too much to receive government benefits. I've been sexually harassed at my job for the past year by my supervisor, and when I finally told management, they have refused to discipline my supervisor, and I still have to work in her presence. I'm so stressed out, I'm nearly in tears typing this. Continuing to work there makes me feel like a fool.
I'm trying to think of the cons of dancing for a few months, but besides the obvious (fears that my family might find out, even though screw them if they judge me because I have a child and no one is helping me out financially in any way) I can't think of any. But the prospect of trying out again terrifies me. I'm not sure if I'm more afraid of failure or success. Do you ladies have any thoughts on my situation? It would be appreciated. Thank you!
Re: My fourth stripping attempt in four years. Is the FOURTH time the charm??
You sound more put-together period than most Alaskan dancers. You'll be fine. Just don't get discouraged. Also, don't get any DUIs.
BTW don't go nuts buying stripper outfits. You only really need a few.
Re: My fourth stripping attempt in four years. Is the FOURTH time the charm??
Cons? Customers treating you like shit, crossing your boundaries... if you don't like the way management treats you at your regular job, it could be a lot worse in a strip club. Imagine grinding on some dude who smells like stale beer, tries to lick you, is trying the entire time to get his hands between your legs (and may succeed, because despite being drunk, he is much stronger than you), then he refuses to pay you. You put up with his smelly ass for thirty minutes but management won't collect more than two songs' worth. They let him stick around after. That's not even the worst case scenario (not the best either, but let's be real about what this job is like).
If you absolutely have to do it in order to move, just do it enough to get that specific amount of money that you need, and then don't go back in at all, ever. Period. And don't spend any money from dancing except for that specific purpose. It sounds like you have something else lined up and no matter how comfortable you think you can be from dancing, do not forego your tech plan. You seem like you have your heart set on this and I just really don't think you should. Stripping should not be something women have their hearts set on. If money is the only reason you want to try it, and you absolutely need the money and can't get it any other way, then do it. Otherwise, I strongly advise that you don't.
Re: My fourth stripping attempt in four years. Is the FOURTH time the charm??
Quote:
Originally Posted by
dakdakdak
Cons? Customers treating you like shit, crossing your boundaries... if you don't like the way management treats you at your regular job, it could be a lot worse in a strip club. Imagine grinding on some dude who smells like stale beer, tries to lick you, is trying the entire time to get his hands between your legs (and may succeed, because despite being drunk, he is much stronger than you), then he refuses to pay you. You put up with his smelly ass for thirty minutes but management won't collect more than two songs' worth. They let him stick around after. That's not even the worst case scenario (not the best either, but let's be real about what this job is like).
If you absolutely have to do it in order to move, just do it enough to get that specific amount of money that you need, and then don't go back in at all, ever. Period. And don't spend any money from dancing except for that specific purpose. It sounds like you have something else lined up and no matter how comfortable you think you can be from dancing, do not forego your tech plan. You seem like you have your heart set on this and I just really don't think you should. Stripping should not be something women have their hearts set on. If money is the only reason you want to try it, and you absolutely need the money and can't get it any other way, then do it. Otherwise, I strongly advise that you don't.
I'm not sure if you misunderstood my post, but I have been a dancer before. I landed my first audition when I was 24, and I worked there for a couple of months. I couldn't get hustling down, let anxiety get the best of me, and I stopped making money. I ended up quitting and moving back home because my financial situation got really dire. So, I do have some experience with the job itself, and what it entails. And I know that, regardless of the job, management can be shitty any place you work.
I have made three more attempts to become a dancer on the East Coast over the past few years, during the times when I've been really desperate for money, but I haven't passed an audition. The feedback I got (when I got feedback) was that I just needed to tone up a little more, and that I needed to dance with more confidence.
I don't have my heart set on this; I'm very conflicted. I just have the knowledge from years of being a member of Stripperweb, and the necessity to save up a few grand in a short period of time.
Re: My fourth stripping attempt in four years. Is the FOURTH time the charm??
I actually live in New Jersey. I should change that location lol. Thanks for the tips!
Re: My fourth stripping attempt in four years. Is the FOURTH time the charm??
Well you did ask for cons, and those are the cons. You say you 'failed miserably' and only danced for a couple months, so honestly we can't tell how much REAL experience you have.
For the first couple months it's usually all "Weee! Fast money!" and fun, it's only after that the cons dakdakdak listed seem to start grinding on dancers.
What I would add on from her response is that ALL new dancers need to account for the mental toll it can take on you. Frankly I'm surprised you continued to audition after being rejected 3 times, so obviously you have a reasonably thick skin. But I would say a definite con is that there is always some risk in dancing, and you have to be prepared for it; in the couple months you dance, one of those nightmare situations (assault, attempted rape, being stalked, serious injury) could happen and traumatize you for a long time.
Otherwise I think you have things together more than most newer dancers for sure :)
Re: My fourth stripping attempt in four years. Is the FOURTH time the charm??
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSt0NEESrUA
Oop, sorry, didn't know you're in NJ. But, best of luck to ya! Read up on here to get info/hustle tips
Re: My fourth stripping attempt in four years. Is the FOURTH time the charm??
What about Squeeze Lounge? I would head over there myself, but the tolls lol. I haven't worked there, but from the pictures it looks like a pretty stage-centric place so maybe you can't wipe too badly by trying out a few nights. That and Lookers. I went to Lookers before, and it was more of a dive/stage centric but the girls seemed to make decent money.
Re: My fourth stripping attempt in four years. Is the FOURTH time the charm??
I auditioned at a club in Linden today, and I got the job! I still can't believe it.
I called the night before, and was told to come in at 4pm the next day and ask for "Ronnie", but when I got there at 4, he wasn't there. The barmaid told me to wait, and after 15 minutes the house mom came up and introduced herself. She was really nice. She asked me to come back tomorrow, but we held such a pleasant conversation that she changed her mind and had me audition.
I usually screw up the audition part out of nervousness, so I felt tense. All of those other times, I over-thought it; I watched a lot of dancer videos and tried to change my natural style of dancing. This time I deliberately didn't practice much. I still had a few dancers' outfits from when I used to strip in the Midwest; they're still in like-new condition.
I danced a little awkwardly, I think, but I still got the job! My first shift is on Tuesday afternoon. Girls are nice and welcoming so far. Thank you all for the tips!
Re: My fourth stripping attempt in four years. Is the FOURTH time the charm??
Re: My fourth stripping attempt in four years. Is the FOURTH time the charm??
Re: My fourth stripping attempt in four years. Is the FOURTH time the charm??