HELP! PLEASE dark skinned newbie Dallas/ Ft.Worth, Texas
Hello everyone,
I wanted to seek out more knowledgeable advice from some of you. I am trying to get into the industry. I have a degree in Dance Studies, have been gogo dancing since 2012 and a burlesque performer since 2015. I have been to 4 places in the past 2 days. Two of which had an add seeking dancers ( specifically stating that inexperienced dancers were welcome as they set you up with a mentor is need be) waitstaff and bartenders. ( I also have 10 yrs of cocktail/ fine/med/casual dining experience and 2 yrs of bartending) once I arrived. Dressed beautifully. Black pencil skirt, 4inch strapping heels so they could see my toes, a Lacey red wine ( dressy) halter top that allowed for them to see my form. My Hair/makeup were done,the only thing I did not have was fake nails but my natural nails were trimmed neat and polished to match my toes.
1st club -PTs Gentlemen’s club -I wait for the manager and he proceeds to do the interview at the bar. He asks for my experience and I let him know I had not danced in a club before but I am a classical trained dancer with burlesque and gogo experience, and a quick learner, so I was excited to see that they were open to new dancers. He immediately turns me down and says he doesnÂ’t have room for me there because of my lack of experience. I referenced the ad, and told him I was confused since the ad specifically said newbies were welcome. Then he repeated it was my lack of experience. So I responded very sweetly “oh I see you just do not have room for me, no problem, thank you for your time.” Gathering my dance bag and holding out my hand to shake his. He got flustered and was like no no I do not want you to think that. We just have a sister club that we send our newbies to first. He gave me the club name and told me to tell them he sent me.
Club 2- Lipsticks Gentlemen’s club- As I am approaching I notice the girls I am seeing are not carrying themselves very well. Young girls that have not grown into themselves and lack self confidence. I think to myself well at least you have that ( posture on point!) I speak to the manager and he tells me they got a lot of response from the ad and are full but to be sure to submit the entertainer form on their website so they can get back to me if they need more girls.
In my mind I am watching the girls at the first club and thinking there was nothing they did that I can not already do, and well I might add. I took everything in me to not tell that manager that I could copy the dancer that was on stage. She literally just stood there and bent over... wth? If that is what I need to work up to.. I could have started 6 years ago. The second club I feel like I physically was an upgrade simply based on the way I carry myself. My biggest concern is I was not seeing a diverse mix of girls. The POCs I did see were of a fair complexion.
I am not sure if its me or them. I do not believe I come across as arrogant but I do exude confidence, I am attractive. I do have tattoos an arm sleeve and almost a full leg sleeve but they are beautifully done. I am a bit more alternative- my hair is colored brown to indigo to aquamarine. I have some facial piercings ( nose septum) small dainty black jewelry and my Medusa which is small and silver and fits well with my face. I am educated and have tons of customer service experience in food/hospitality industry.
Any advice on what I might be able to change to better my chances? I do not know if it is my look, my skin color, my experience ( or lack thereof) or a mixture. But yall had to start somewhere so I figured I would come to pros.
Also I hope this post does not come off as snotty or arrogant. But I know my strengths and weaknesses and sex appeal, dancing and making someone feel comfortable, wanted, and heard are some of my strong suits. Plus I have a killer smile too!
Thank you in advance.
Re: HELP! PLEASE dark skinned newbie Dallas/ Ft.Worth, Texas
My guess is a combination of being dark skinned and having an alternative look.
DFW is a bit more...finicky to WOC. Heck, I’m more olive toned, and management probably would have turned me away if I had tats when I was applying to a dayshift at BBD. When I’ve seen a blond or two who had plenty of tats working there just fine. It is what it is.
Re: HELP! PLEASE dark skinned newbie Dallas/ Ft.Worth, Texas
Thank you! I have a beautiful brown lacefront coming in, Ill try a few places with that and see how it goes .
Re: HELP! PLEASE dark skinned newbie Dallas/ Ft.Worth, Texas
StellaRose is right - if you didn't see much diversity in the club when you visited it's not going to be very friendly to any alternative dark skinned WOC. Is it possible to take out your piercings (or put in clear retainers) during audition? You should take that beautiful lacefront and try again at places like Bucks Wild and Bucks Cabaret. Auditioning is already a brutal process and doing it during the slowest season of the year is going to make it more difficult. Good luck!
Re: HELP! PLEASE dark skinned newbie Dallas/ Ft.Worth, Texas
I would recommend applying for dayshift at bucks wild in dallas. They seem to be more open to tats/piercings. Start on days then move to nights later if you want.
Re: HELP! PLEASE dark skinned newbie Dallas/ Ft.Worth, Texas
I don't have anything to add as I have never properly been to Texas before, but my close friend had lived out there last year and they told me that they had a hard time getting hired! They are dark skinned and they have 4c afro hair. My friend told me they even contoured their face and wore wigs and still got shooed away from Dallas clubs. They do the background checks and sometimes that can take even weeks for that to clear. Sorry I wish I know more. But if you can, you should definitely try to travel to Houston or Austin. I heard the money is better at those places and those clubs are willing to hire more darker skin women. Good luck!
Re: HELP! PLEASE dark skinned newbie Dallas/ Ft.Worth, Texas
and oh, the first club that turned you down was definitely racism/anti blackness/colorism. they always use that "Oh sorry you're a little too inexperienced for us" bullshit lie whenever an unambiguous black comes through for an audition lmao. Another thing to add is invest in a Tuscl.net account. Not only you get to read reviews of strip clubs written by the guys, but they will also tell you what are the nearest strip clubs from you lol. You can also promote yourself on there as well!
Re: HELP! PLEASE dark skinned newbie Dallas/ Ft.Worth, Texas
^Get in the dancer directory and get verified on TUSCL (no face/nudity required) and accessing reviews is free. No investing needed.
Texas in general is iffy with WOC. There’s no way around it :/ The chances are probably better in Houston than Austin, but doesn’t hurt to try in both if you’re able to do so. Another fallback option is San Antonio, where I think the clubs have improved in the past couple years and the hiring standards won’t be as stringent. (But as a black dancer, def be be “classy” as possible still) Towards the months of this past April and May, I was mostly hanging out there because I was burnt out of Austin clubs. Cause I was getting mostly consistent $300-600 most shifts in San Anton instead of dealing with $0-200 and $700-900 and getting more and more shifts that ended on that first low end in Austin...around a time of year that’s supposed to be good. Eff that stress.
Re: HELP! PLEASE dark skinned newbie Dallas/ Ft.Worth, Texas
You can now access reviews for free with your dancer account? How does verification works? Cuz $7 a month is a lot!
Re: HELP! PLEASE dark skinned newbie Dallas/ Ft.Worth, Texas
Log into your profile and go to settings. From there, you should find the option to get verified. It will involve having a piece of paper with your TUSCL username and a number code that will be given to you taken in a selfie.
Re: HELP! PLEASE dark skinned newbie Dallas/ Ft.Worth, Texas
My medusa is fairly new so I won’t be able to change the ball to a small Black one for a while, the others I can take out. Thank you for your advice!
Re: HELP! PLEASE dark skinned newbie Dallas/ Ft.Worth, Texas
I’m from Houston and moving back. I’ll be teaching school starting in Fall or Spring and would rather not dance in the city I’m teaching. I have definetly been looking up places in Austin as well. Thank you!
Re: HELP! PLEASE dark skinned newbie Dallas/ Ft.Worth, Texas
I suggest using the neutral colored lace front wig, removing piercings, and going for the pageant look. This is a very colorist industry and this is coming from a POC.
Re: HELP! PLEASE dark skinned newbie Dallas/ Ft.Worth, Texas
I think more women should start opening or running strip clubs!! Maybe that can help fix the problems
Re: HELP! PLEASE dark skinned newbie Dallas/ Ft.Worth, Texas
The same thing happened to me when I went to cheetahs WPB the girls were just standing there not doing anything got turned down then I went to Rachel’s they made me fill out an application after i filled out my application they told me they’re not taking newbies so wtfff was the purpose of making me feel out the application plus it had a very bad smell in there