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how do you feel about Hustling?
I was working last night and felt like every time I asked a guy for a dance it was like begging for money. Part of this was the guys reaction and part was my attitude, but god, I wish I could make all my money dancing on stage!
I get tired of hearing from the guys "all you girls want is money." Well, Duh! Why do they go to work everyday? I do like dancing, but really wish that the "Hustle" wasn't part of my job. I was wondering if other dancers ever feel this way? Are there very many of you out there that wish for the "old days" when lap dancing wasn't a part of a dancer's income, and all a girl's money was made on stage? Not that I mind doing dances, but I get bored with it day in and day out, and really wish for more stage time, and the ability to use more creativity!
Just venting and hoping that I am not alone.
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Re: how do you feel about Hustling?
paris.....it's also the time of year, we're getting it here in canada as well, everyone has cabin fever, everyone is grouchy and everyone has a pickle up their ass ;)
i promise, by the end of next month things should be kinda back to normal...april 4 sure
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Re: how do you feel about Hustling?
I also dislike hustling. The only time I don't mind it too much is when I can tell that a guy is looking at me from across the room and I know he will buy a dance. But I do sometimes find it hard to approach a guy I have never talked to before, just chat for a while, and ask for a dance. I know I shouldn't feel funny about it, THEY are the ones who are patronizing MY club, and if they don't want to spend money on dancers they should go to a regular bar rather than expecting us to entertain them for free.
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Re: how do you feel about Hustling?
Well i had to quit one club because i refused doing laps. Thats fine, or they were going to probably fire me. Alot of dancers were complaining about me.
The club i came up from Lauderdale for is great! I know the owner, and don't have to do lap dances. But, i still have to mingle and hustle on the floor to get stage shows. And yes, it can be draining, but if i don't get to know the guys and just hang on stage off and on i won't make near as much money. I still hustle, just not to get on the laps.
And if you are really motivated that night and have a good stage show alot of guys do come to you. But...i like to meet them and get regulars.
Pamela
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Re: how do you feel about Hustling?
I hate hustling! In my outside work life I would never, ever approach a man. It's just not in my personality. I am much more of a girl's girl. All of my friends are women. Outside of my boyfriend, I generally only socialize with women.
It sucks because the first six years that I danced, I danced mainly only at one club that didn't have private dances of any kind. Just stage money and it was great. All you had to do was dance naked. No flirting, no asking, nothing. Boy, was I spoiled. Well that day has come and gone. There is every kind of dance imaginable now and more girls on scedule than ever. Make me lonesome for the good old days. :'(
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Re: how do you feel about Hustling?
That's the #1 reason I stopped dancing, I just found that I couldn't handle the hustle anymore. I still crave the actual dancing part, but got so tired of asking for money and dealing with jerks! I also found that nights where it was such a struggle messed with my self-esteem. It's ridiculous when you think about it, because I am perfectly confident and happy with myself, yet I was really letting it get to me. I am so close to returning to dancing (very part time) right now, but that is the one thing that is still holding me back, is knowing how those tough nights made me feel.
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Re: how do you feel about Hustling?
Ara, you could not have put that into better words for me......
The nights where you walk out wondering what you did wrong, and why you were the one not to make any money that night.......
You said you were thinking about going back part time,
What about bartending ???? I bartend now more shifts then I dance, and love it...... I make more over all bartending, and don't have to deal with so many of the down sides of dancing.....The Flirting and playing around you learn from dancing really helps you make money back there..
I wanted to bartend after reaching the point you did, I didn't have it in me to hustle anymore...
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Re: how do you feel about Hustling?
Paris, it all depends on how the clubs are run. if you saw my post under black dancers I commented on how some clubs push the dances and guys are used to girls walking around asking for dances (like Arizona clubs and El Paso, and Southfork in Watertown SD) and other clubs guys just sit and the club doesn't set the scene for dances.
you can't make all of your money off stage. The clubs where the girls constantly work the floor and which run 2/1's hourly after all the dancers go on stage and are announced by the DJ have higher dance sales.
If you are working in clubs where the girls don't work the floor then the guys are NOT used to being approached. I hate those kinds of clubs. it makes our job harder.
Try talking to the owners/managers about running dance specials , having the dj CONSTANTLY push the guys to buy dances and getting the girls to ask every guy for dances.
If you haven't worked in El Paso or Arizona clubs where the dances are cheaper and girls ASK for dances you should give those clubs a try. Getting dances is an easier sell.
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Re: how do you feel about Hustling?
Yeah, the bad nights are bad. BUT the good nights are so good! When I walk into a room and look around and know that I can sell anything to any guy there, I love that feeling! Or those nights where everyone wants me all night...
I try not to let the bad nights happen. If it gets to me at all, it fucks up the whole rest of the night, and I leave feeling bad. So as soon as it starts to get to me I stop, change my outfit, re-do my make up, try to think up some positive affirmations, get happy and go back out there. It makes all the difference, for me.
Lena
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Re: how do you feel about Hustling?
Thanks for the words of advice!
I do hustle, I just don't like it. I managed to pull down $200 on Tuesday w/o doing table dances. I know, not a great night, but not too bad considering.
I am working on getting ready for Bachelor Party season, as that is much easier money, although it is more sporadic.
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Re: how do you feel about Hustling?
EvilCyn,
I would love to tend bar - but bartending jobs are hard to come by here. It is the coveted job in most clubs, and you need to get a serving licence, etc. I'm also looking for more flexibility, I already work 45-50 hours a week at my day job, I just would like to dance again 1 or 2 nights a month to pick up some extra cash and for the fun of it. If only there was a way to make sure those night were the good ones ;)
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Re: how do you feel about Hustling?
Ara, Bartending was a blessed thing for me...... I still dance one shift a week..The 3 nights a week I am behind the bar I set up customers for the night I dance.....
You are always more desireable when your out of reach, so behind the bar I am unattainable....... So I give them the line of, "Friday night you may come in and take me to the champane room to spend some time with me "
I was never a hustler of VIP's or champane rooms........ I sell myself better and hustle better behind the bar for the one night I dance.....
I love this set up, and am very grateful to the owner for allowing me to do this..
They don't let bartenders dance at my club, but I have the highest sales out of any bartender and bust my ass...Took me till I was 33 to find a club and set up that worked well for me.......
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Re: how do you feel about Hustling?
I'm with Paris - I'm not thrilled about the hustling part of my job and do prefer the dancing part.
Unfortunately, the club I work at now.. all (or at least 95% of it) is made from hustling (private dances) and not the stage. I'm such a stage lover.. I don't mind it and find I'm one of the best dancers on the stage.
Yet.. whilst my stage show is great.. I'm not the world's greatest hustler .. just ain't in my make-up.
Granted, it is easier when guy's approach you before other dancers asking about PDs or when it is obvious a customer wants you...
Oh man.. I'm glad I read this thread as now I know I'm not alone in that I wouldn't mind if I could make all my money from the stage alone. O well.. I guess I just got to learn and keep learning until I can find a way to hustle that I like and works for me.
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Re: how do you feel about Hustling?
I know there are so many girls that hate to hustle, but I thrive on it! I used to hate the type to try to sell stuff (like remember those high school fundraisers? UGH!) but it's different when the product is something that guy want to buy. It's kind of a rush for me now that I've learned how to do it (been dancing almost a year now.) I get a high off being the girl with the most slashes by her name for couch dances. I like being the envy/hate of other dancers that assume I'm performing extras (and I'm not doing anything that they aren't doing.)
In the end...I realized I'm a capitalist! Money is good. More money is better!
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Re: how do you feel about Hustling?
More money is better........ That's why we are all here !!!
I Am with you on the thriving on being number one......For me it is bartending......Your sales at my club determines how many days you have, and I always have top sales for the week. And I work Mon Tues and Wens nights......... I blow away the bartenders that work Fri and Sat nights, and I love every second of it !!!!
Every week I come in and ask, "who was number one"
My manager gives me this look of....."just quit asking already"
More Money is Good !!!!!!!!
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Re: how do you feel about Hustling?
Well since my last posting above, i have quit one club, and i now have been doing table and air dances! They are fun, but nothing can keep me from wanting to get on that stage/pole!
Hustling is a challenge, and i think that can make it all the more fun. Plus we learn how to handle rejection. Which it seems people in most "regular" jobs have a hard time doing.
Although on another note it can be draining at times, so i now work weekends and a 2 extra days only. 4 hour shifts!
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Re: how do you feel about Hustling?
Quote:
I know there are so many girls that hate to hustle, but I thrive on it! I used to hate the type to try to sell stuff but it's different when the product is something that guy wants to buy. It's kind of a rush for me now that I've learned how to do it.
Emily, (or anyone else for that matter) what is your secret to selling dances??? I have been dancing about three weeks and am trying desperately to get the hang of it. Granted, I make decent money, but my club is one where all of your income comes from lap dancing. I try to find a balance to chatting with a customer and making the rounds, but some days are awful!!! Whay type of personality is best??? Do you have any certain lines you use??? I am a good conversationalist, but don't know how to transfer chatting into selling dances as well as I would like. Any advice would be vastly appreciated....especially since clubs are slow right now. :-[
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Re: how do you feel about Hustling?
I don't know if I have a secret, but I have noticed there are things I do differently than other dancers.
Before going on stage, drop a few hellos to the guys that look like they might have money, or are at least alone. Get them to get you in their heads so they will look forward to seeing you on stage. Plant the idea in their head that you'd like to do a dance for them later and they should check you out while you're up there.
Make eye contact on stage. Make lots of it, not quick glances. This will get them thinking you are really into them, you give a sensual private dance, and most of all, will let you know who to approach first. If they are staring hard, that's the guy you want!
Avoid drinking alcohol! I think this makes you lose focus as to why you're there. You slow down and who needs the extra calories.
When you're done with the dances, thank him and move on. Why girls sit back down with a guy after he bought dances is beyond me. Let him know in a polite way that you are working to maximize the amount of money you're making. Say something to the effect of "I'm going tow ork the bar a little bit, but maybe we can finish where we left off later."
Make him think he's getting something special. This works great when it's slow because I always use the line "I just saw nobody else is back there getting dances and we can get away with more"...in reality they aren't getting anything raunchier.
I also don't talk to any guy for more than 5 minutes, and when I do, it's very breezy and light. If it's busy, I'll stay for only a short time. I always make a more suggestive move as I ask him for the dance....like put my arms around him or squeeze the top of the inside of his leg and smile and nod at him sugestively like "oh yeah, this will be good, trust me!"
Do not sit around. Don't be seen talking to other dancers. Make it clear that your time is not cheap. If they want it, they will have to pay. Sure there are girls that will sit around for free, but think about it in terms of jewelry. Like those Tiffany sterling bracelets. You can get a knockoff that's exactly the same for $20, but you want the real thing simply because it's more desirable and even because it's more expensive. The pricing is part of the marketing! Don't ever sell yourself short. Believe that your time is worth a lot of money.
I used to do the whole conversation thing and I believe I'm a pretty good conversationalist. A lot of times guys would buy dances off me because they enjoyed my company so much. On the other hand, I'd spend so much time talking and about feeling nervous about going for the sales pitch, that I would take the relationship from business to friendship. I think it's best to stay away from topics that aren't sexual or flirtatious. That is kind of a default approach. You have to read your guy. Like maybe they will ask where I was from and I will say "I grew up in Las Vegas and I went to college in Massachusetts" This will lead into what kind of girl they want me to be. (i.e. "wow, Las Vegas, you must have lived a crazy childhood!" or "oh yeah? which college? OMG! that's a good school! what did you study?")
I feel that I dumb myself down a lot and put on this fake attitude of being so happy (don't ever let them see you whine about anything...you want them to enjoy being around you, and being a downer is a no-no")
Talk to every guy. Think about the times you didn't approach some guy. Maybe you sat down right next to him but didn't say a word to him because he didn't look like he'd buy dances. Then some girl comes up and asks him and he goes like right away. Don't you wish you asked him!
Don't be afraid of rejection. Not all guys will like you. That's okay!
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Re: how do you feel about Hustling?
The number one lesson I've learned so far on this site and in the clubs is that the one you don't talk to, who doesn't fit the "look" of a big spender is often the one you want. I see the girls go to the same guy over and over during second half of the set on stage for dollar bills, he doesn't get laps and can't help but think....the guy right next to him who tips one or two dancers didn't cash his hundreds in for ones.
I'll go to him, maybe not selected for a dance but will always get more than the few dollars. Plus off my feet for a few minutes. I'm adjusting to the hustle, but so far so good;)
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Re: how do you feel about Hustling?
I am surprised but relieved to hear of other dancers that don't really care for hustling! I've had other sales jobs but dancing is the ULTIMATE sales job by far. Although I ALWAYS gets nervous before a stage show - I LOVE IT. I absolutely thrive off the enrgy of the crowd, the more excited they get the more pumped I get. I think one of the reasons that I don't care for the hustling too much is that I don't feel as if I've got it locked down. Like I don't know if others have experienced this (they probably do) but sometimes I feel like I am sooo close to closing the deal and then....nope. Dammit! And it's not the rejection, just the feeling of $20-$80 or more slipping through my finger tips. I've danced mostly in SF where there was no alcohol but there was full nudity and full contact both on stage and in private dance booths. I'll be relocating to Hawaii in 2 months so I've been trying to find out as much about the club scene out there as possible. I've read about clubs in Honolulu where girls just dance on stage and then hustle for drinks - no dances whatsoever. This was somewhat befuddling as I have never heard of this before. I don't understand how the dancers make a lot of money that way, as the majority of my income has always been from private dances. I guess I'll just have to check each club out and see what I like best.
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Re: how do you feel about Hustling?
A good way to help yourself hustle is to have an hourly goal - set yourself a pretty modest one, so that you won't be tempted to give up during a slow hour or two. This will help motivate you to talk to everyone that's available, and to come back to guys that might say yes later on in the evening. Just think of it as waitressing - he may not be thirsty now, but that doesn't mean he won't be later! Also, thinking of hustling as selling drinks (as flawed an analogy as I know that is) can also help girls that have a problem taking nos. The way I see it, a no frees me up to look for another yes.
Also, it never hurts to ask for that second dance - when the dance ends, be sure to ask, "Do I have to stop?" or "Is just one enough?". That way, you can sell another dance immediately, or he might say "Why don't we take a break for a minute," and you know you can get another from him without worrying you're losing time on the floor.
Emily gives really good advice, especially about not lounging around on the floor. For me, the biggest contributors to being a good hustler are motivation and not worrying about hearing "no". If I lack those, I won't be able to hustle. If I'm determined to make my goal and I don't care about being turned down in my quest, I'll be perky and peppy and give good dances and do well.
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Re: how do you feel about Hustling?
I still am not thrilled about hustling however since my last post... my opinion has changed a little bit. I guess this is thanks to now having more focus (per night and weekly goals) as well as educating myself a little more about sales.
I still prefer the stage however I have improved my hustling since my last post. Knowledge is power indeed... I'm still not no. 1 @ my club but that isn't what I really want to be... I'm not that competitive.
I just want to be able to consistently make more than I plan on making.. that's all :D
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Re: how do you feel about Hustling?
Every job has some aspect to it that really stinks. This job isn't any exception. Part of why I went the feature route is to avoid the hustle. I'm a stage performer. I give great lap dances but I hate the crap leading up to it unless the guy is fun to talk to. I've learned if I have a good attitude, I meet with less assholish behavior but there are always those nights where the moon is full and the asshats are plentiful.
I actually stopped dancing as a house girl recently just because I had such a horrible experience with a guy that I needed the distance. But I know it's part of the job.
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Re: how do you feel about Hustling?
Emily! That was a fabulous read!
I heard touching a customer in some way, say hand or leg will increase chances he will go for the dance :)
My personal tip, though perhaps unethical, LOL, is to talk yourself up like you just did 2 VIP's already tonight... This seems to work remarkably for me when he thinks my product (the dance) is selling like hotcakes.
Edited for spelling: selling, not "seeling" :D
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Re: how do you feel about Hustling?
I am a big hustler,because I know only work like 4 times a year and travel and stay about 10 days so I only work around 6 shifts every time I go out of town, though it has now been a year since my last trip,and I am nervous about returning, which I never was, though when I travel I work at fast paced busy large clubs were the girls dont sit and stay like neighborhood clubs, so a line I use is are you ready for the florida girl, which breaks the ice and gets them interested in me and starts a conversation, like oh what are you doing here in wherever,then I can talk and ask for a dance, but when I worked in a neighborhood club here I can remember husling and I am sure this has happened to you ,when you are on a roll and your aproaching a guy and before you barely reach him,no thank you,I hate these guys its like I didnt ask you for anything,sometimes I am just like do you know what time it is to make them think I didnt want a dance,but even better are the ones that see you comeing and do everything they can to not pay attention to you, but the funniest thing that happened to me was when I realized that one of those no thank yous was sitting direclty under the black lite and his glue from his hair piece was just glowing away,while he thought he was so slick, too funny.