New girl-Need hustling tips BAD!
Hi everyone, I'm Zoe and I just joined today. I dance at a club in Philadelphia and I've only been dancing for about 2 months. Luckily, I've gotten over the awarkward, new girl thing so I don't think that's what's holding me back--but I'm just not making that much money! In fact, my first couple of weeks I was doing about double of what I've been doing the last few weeks. In my club we do 2-4 dances on the main stage, then walk around the large bar. I have been going in for the "double sided tip (one on each side of my thong)" which has only helped a tiny bit. My lap dance response hasn't been super high lately, either. Any suggestions to what I could do differently? I don't stink ( I checked ;) and I'm a cute girl.
Thanks so much and I look forward to talking to you all!
zoe
Re: New girl-Need hustling tips BAD!
Coincidentally, my stage name is also Zoe.
You've discovered the fun, and the pitfalls, of being the new girl, aka the fresh face among the usual crowd. Patrons of a particular bar have already seen the other dancers time and time again; you, however, are new and exciting.
It doesn't last. Congratulations! The customers are now familiar with your face and you have to earn your money the more difficult way.
I don't pretend to be the most knowledgable nor the best hustler in the game. Some basic tips which I was delighted to learn, when I myself was new not so long ago, are:
1) Avoid the dressing room/backstage like the plague. Change outfits only when necessary (but of course when dirty/sweaty). Freshen make-up when you get off stage and then get back out there. The money is out in the lounge, which is where you should be as well.
2) A customer in the hand is worth ten in the lounge. Once you have a fellow back in VIP, keep him there. The very best (and I mean it) time to ask for a dance EVER is when you've already given one and you're lightly tracing his jaw or lips with your index finger. The method for asking is with a sultry, husky voice, "May I have another?"
3) Request to sit with a customer, don't just plop down and say you're feet are killing you. The method is a sweet smile and a "May I sit here?" as you pull out the table's spare chair. Spend one song's worth of time in small talk. The second song is when you move in for the kill or move on. Don't hang out too long, wasting his time and yours.
4) Never trash-talk your co-workers. You may be griping about his favorite girl. Never gnash your teeth over how the night sucks, how little money you are making, whatever fight you had with your BF, or how expensive daycare is. As far as the customer goes, you have neither a significant other nor children unless he gets too possessive. Cultivate every customer by being an available fantasy, even if this isn't the night he wants YOU as that fantasy.
5) Do not burn your bridges. Declining a dance is not an insult to you, your looks or your ability. Take it with grace. He may change his mind another night or suggest you to a friend. Exception: feel free to merrily burn that bridge if he gets weird, grabby, solicits sex or other illegal activities that you do not wish to offer. That isn't the sort of business you were looking for anyways and (Bonus) you'll win brownie points if he is undercover Vice or a club plant looking to catch dirty girls in the act.
6) You will have bad nights. Let them go the way of water under the bridge. Tomorrow is another day, with other wallets to lighten and other men to tease.
Good luck and much money to you.
Re: New girl-Need hustling tips BAD!
Forgot to add this one.
After your set, circulate the crowd and personally thank every customer who tipped you on stage. Those are the best fellows to hustle, as they have already shown with their wallets that they like something about you. Hustling is like fishing; you got a nibble on stage, now hook them on the floor and reel them in for the VIP.
Re: New girl-Need hustling tips BAD!
Lot's of good advice from Lilith. If you haven't already, read the articles secton and the other threads on here about hustling for more tips.
You might also spend a little time watching the more sucessful girls and how they work the room. See if you can pick up any ideas from them.
Lastly, you stated, "I have been going in for the "double sided tip (one on each side of my thong)" . I've heard some guys say that they are offended by this technique and they consider it too pushy. Just something to consider.
Re: New girl-Need hustling tips BAD!
Yeah, I read that part about asking for the second dollar and I'm unsure about that too.
While it is obviously about making as much money as possible, you don't want to alienate your customers by making it blatantly obvious that it is. If most of the girls are getting one dollar from the guys and you are asking for a second, it seems like you are all business, trying to milk every dollar you can out of them (again, this IS what we're trying to do, but NOT the image we want to portray).
You want a guy to find you so sexy and charming...so desirable that he will want to give you money to make you happy and pay attention to him, so when you do ask for a dance, he'll happily accept.
Re: New girl-Need hustling tips BAD!
Quote:
1) Avoid the dressing room/backstage like the plague. Change outfits only when necessary (but of course when dirty/sweaty). Freshen make-up when you get off stage and then get back out there. The money is out in the lounge, which is where you should be as well.
Lol... i am new too... how did you know... i am so guilty of hiding out in the dressing room!!!
xoxo
heidi
i'M slutty and proud of it
ACT SLUTTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THEY WANT A GIRL WHO IS CONFIDENT-DON'T BE AFRAID TO BE AGRESSIVE!TAKE CONTROL!
Re: New girl-Need hustling tips BAD!
hehehe, my stage name is Zoe, also. And, like zoeanarchy, I just got into the buisness myself, and, alas, I'm not making as much as most of the other girls I work with (even the ones new to the buisness like myself). So all those tips from Zoe/Lillith were very much appreciated!
One thing I noticed though. I am under 21, and have snuck drinks b4, and I seem to loosten up and become more carefree and slutty, hence making more money. however, I really do not want to risk drinking in there anymore, because I could get fired, or worse, busted by someone undercover. ( I had a big scare the other night by some asshole busting my balls, pretending to be undercover. ) So now I realize I gotta make myself wait 7 more moths b4 I can drink legally. It's just a really hard job to do sober, and not get frusterated easily and loosten up. So any money making tips are really appreciated by me as well.
Re: New girl-Need hustling tips BAD!
Zoe83, try and get used to dancing without alcohol. Honestly, you do not want to get dependant on it as part of the job, that can only lead to problems.
I normally find it hard to adjust to the atmosphere sometimes too but the best way to do that is to keep circulating and chatting to people (I sometimes use the stage to warm up to). I do like the odd drink or two at work if a customer offers but I try not to overdo it. Only leads to probable suspension by management.
Re: New girl-Need hustling tips BAD!
Thanx for the advise! Another common problem I'm having is how to chat a customer up. Sometimes after the hello how r u bit it's hard to think of what to say to start a conversation that would lead to me getting a dance from them after a few minutes. If anyone has some ideas for how to chat 'em up please share! Thanx a bunch!!!!!!!
Re: New girl-Need hustling tips BAD!
Chatting:
Every guy has a fantasy, a reason for being in that strip club. That reason, should you find iut, will cause him to shower you with money. You need to entertain him, discover his fantasy and then become his fantasy.
You also have a seven minute time limit in which to do this. The key to hustling is to let no moss grow under your shoes (ie; keep moving). Everyone has different methods of speaking to the customers, and you will develop your own style. Here's mine.
First, you have to ascertain that he's even interested. Try to limit your conversations to customers who have tipped you on stage, smiled and given you the "come hither" eye as you shimmy past their table or those who buy your drinks at the bar. It's easier, at first, to snag a guy who has already shown some interest. Once you've found your guy, smile pretty and ask, "May I join you?"
Introduce yourself. Guys who automatically respond by demanding your "real name" are big clues that you need to move on as quickly as possible.
Ask what brought them out to the club tonight. The answer reveals many clues to the dancer able to read between the lines, and gives a good jumping off point.
Possible answers:
"I stopped in for a beer after work." He wants to unwind; chat him up about his work, let him talk and he'll likely buy some dances after you've given him the relaxing time he wanted.
"I just stopped to grab a beer before meeting some friends elsewhere." He's telling you that he won't be in for long and that he doesn't plan to spend a bunch. Ask about his plans for the evening with these friends and then ask for the dance. He'll probably get only one, if that.
"I'm here all the time/I live across the street/I'm here two or three times a week." He's seen it all. Be a real person and he'll buy multiple dances, otherwise he won't spend anything at all. The guy who lives across the street never spends any money.
"I'm here for the tits and beer." Grab your tits. Play with his hair. Squeeze his thigh and dig in with your nails. He wants a sexual gal and he wants some fun.
"I'm here because there's beautiful women and alcohol." This guy wants a class act. Be sensual rather than sexual, and this is a good opportunity to show off your intellect. Potential big spender.
Okay, you've got a name from him and his reason for being in the club. Five minutes of conversation yet to go. Most people have decent conversational skills; if you ask them a question then they will also want to know your own answer to that same question. If you have an interesting hobby, then ask him about his own hobbies. If you're from out-of-town, then ask where he's from. I an usually find something in these questions from which to start a small conversation.
The most important thing you can say to a guy is "Would you care for a dance tonight?" Don't say it within the first minute; make sure it is said within seven minutes. I am ever surprised ast how many dancers shy away from asking. You NEED to ask.
Once your time is up and you need to move on, don't lie about needing to see the DJ or say that you'll be right back when you have no intentions of doing so. Just say that you need to get back to work, tell him it was nice to meet him and then leave.
Re: New girl-Need hustling tips BAD!
Lilith, those were some really good points you made. Trust me I'm going to put them to use. I see alot of girls who literally just walk up to every guy, one by one asking for a dance. And they wonder why they get told no haha
Re: New girl-Need hustling tips BAD!
OMG, thank you so, so much! Where/how did you learn all of this, and how long have you been in the industry? These tips are definately great! Just one question: I've run into the guys who when I introduced myself say something like, "no, your real name!" Why do I get out of there ASAP? Are they looking to take me home/not going to spend any money, or what? Just wondering.
Re: New girl-Need hustling tips BAD!
"Are they looking to take me home/not going to spend any money, or what?"
Yeah, pretty much. They also may just like to mess with dancers, knowing damned well that most dancers don't like being asked about their real name. They also might be stalkers. With a few rare exceptions, a customer immediately nagging me for my real name is a good cue to get the hell out of there.
I've not been in the business very long, six or seven months. But I worked my ass off and I paid attention. I may not be the expert but I'm not half bad at my job. All it takes is practice, persistence and a push-up bra. I've gleaned a few tips from this site (like saying that you have to go back to work now), picked up a couple more from co-workers but most of it I figured out on my own.
Re:New girl-Need hustling tips BAD!
Quote:
Guys who automatically respond by demanding your "real name" are big clues that you need to move on as quickly as possible.
I'll throw support behind what my fellow dancers elaborated on. These guys present themselves as being quite familiar with the industry, thus asking your real name. If they are so above the fantasy you present, they are not worth your precious time. They rarely spend a dime, and might even seems a bit hostile.
Move along to someone who isnt there to play games/waste your time because you might be new.
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All it takes is practice, persistence and a push-up bra.
LMAO! Agreed.