Re: Help me write this book?
Bookwriterlisa your first major problem is that you are not part of the industry. Dancers, DJ's and club managers would have some great stories to tell but probably wouldn't tell it to a stranger. Even if it was set out in a documentry format.
I dont want to burst your bubble but the task you have set out for yourself is going to be a hard one. Just look at the movies that have been produced on the theme of strippers, most of them got it wrong and will usually get it wrong. So if any books are released surrounding strippers, it would probably come from the strippers themselves once they have retired because the stories they would tell maybe harmful to their career or hurt the club and even close co-workers.
The reason i say this is that i'm working on 2 novels [fictional] that will have elements in the stripping industry. But then i've been DJing in the industry for the last 7 years, and i have been a driver for an escort agency for the last 2 years as well. So i have alot of inside stories to tell without compromising my DJ position.
To be honest, rather than relying on this forum, you are better off going into some stripclubs and talk to some of the girls. There maybe some that are interested and then base your book around their lives rather than just a chapter on each [just a suggestion]
Anyway good luck, i hope i haven't put you off your work, just remember that if you want to do a chapter profile on different dancers that you will need to get into their heads to make it worthwhile rather than just giving a summary on their techniques, costumes and thoughts.
Im not saying dig up the dirt on them and put it in, but when the book is published you will have mostly people within the industry reading it so they would want to be entertained as well as educated.
Re: Help me write this book?
Lisa,
I'm curious, if you've always been fasinated with stripping proffesion~have you ever worked in the industry? I know one does not have to be a part of it to write a book or produce a documentry..I do think its good for one to try it for themselves...it they want a "true insiders" prospective. I understand from your post that you want people to have a better understanding of the industry and that you want to put strippers in a better light.
My concern is your profiles that you want. Yes you're trying to get women/men from all backgrounds, yet it sounds like you're sterotyping the people of this industry from the get go. The profiles with the exception of some seem to be from the sad background that people think that all strippers come from. I disagree with that. Yes some strippers might fit those profiles. But there are a lot of people in other lines of employment that lead "real lives" and have had things happen to them. In my own opnion I think that you could have just asked us to share our dancing experiences and lives with you. You would have found the backgrounds you were looking for.
I hope you find all that you're looking for and I hope that you will produce something interesting and real. But I think that you should change your approach, especially if you're ever thinkinh about entering a club and asking dancers their stories.
Re: Help me write this book?
You forgot transsexuals.::)
Or, did I just miss it reading the list too fast?:-\
Re: Help me write this book?
Sorry but how you can write a book when you don't have any kind of expirience in our industry? And why?
A hint for you :
Be a striptease dancer for a month or two, maybe it will be not enough to write a book... but atleast you get some inspiration...
We all can tell you a story but...
To be a good writter of erotic dancers you have to become a dancer by yourself!
To write is easy, but you have to give the feeling to others while they are reading.
Can you give that to them??? NO!
Maybe i would help you if i get 50% $$$ lol ;D
ok lets be serieus now....
Better for you to write and publish a "dancers diary" interview some dancers near you... it was an idea of me but i have no time.:'(
I believe it could be a bestseller everybody like to read a diary especialy when it is about and from strippers. Your readers will be 100% strippers and 90% men so better you can't get.
good luck :-*
Re: Help me write this book?
By the way.... there will be always people around, who never can't and want to understand us. Dancers... we don't care what they think
I have a lott customers who asking me if i like my job, I smile ;D and answer them that i love it...
They wouldn't believe me and telling me all the time that i can do something else and that i don't belong here... but believe me i know what i do! if i wouldn't not like my job.... i will never be in this industry :-\
Re: Help me write this book?
Hi, thanks for the reply. No, you didn't put me off my work.
As far as writing about techniques and costumes, well, I don't even plan to write about that at all. And yes, my interviews will be very in depth, much more of a psychological/sociocultural thing. And I want dancers to proofread, proofread, proofread before I ever publish to make sure I have it right.
I do plan to go into the clubs as well. I have met a few dancers already- The main thing is I am interested int his site because the people here seem well read and when it is over the internet it doesn't sound so smarmy as asking in the club. I plan to give both a try.
One big reason I am doing this is I want to go to a really good school and get my PhD in human sexuality/psychology. Maybe that explains my angle a little more.
Re: Help me write this book?
Hey again,
apparently these replies post to everyone? Heh that's ok.
Yeah, I know it's lame of me to write and not be a dancer myself. I have entertained the notion, though, believe me. Maybe one of these days. I have thought about working in the industry a bit to experience firsthand. Especially now that I just graduated and am needing a job and money!
Sorry if I seemed to be pigeonholing people, or creating stereotypes. Not all of those listed were bad, but I did include the stereotypes like "the runaway" or whatnot to include those stereotypes and break them by exploring them.
Transexual would be a interesting interview though. I would love to understand people in the industry more anyway because of my goals as far as the human sexuality studies thing. I'm trying to take my GRE soon to get started on a masters. Hell, maybe I should dance while I get my masters. Problem is, it makes my boyfreind uncomforable. Guess thats's for antoher post.
Re: Help me write this book?
Lisa--
I agree with the other posters that your project would be much more of a legitimate representation of the stripping indutry if you actually tried dancing yourself for a few weeks. I don't think it would be necessary to include your experiences in your book, but it would allow you a more well rounded perspective on our business. My own perception of the industry has radically evolved since before I became a stripper, to now, two years later. I really think that personal experience working in a club would be integral in providing you with a more comprehensive point of view.
This is not meant as a personal attack, but your list is also plagued by many persistent dancer stereotypes, which working in a strip club would help to dispel.
I would be interested in exactly what your project entails. Is your goal to provide a collection of stripper biographies (which is what I gleaned for your description), or are you interested in providing a critical analysis on some facet of the industry?
Good luck...
Re: Help me write this book?
Writing is a craft, and you don't need to be an expert at the subject matter to write well about it.
She's trying to make contacts that will serve as her subject matter experts. Maybe many will not want to talk to her, but some will.
Keep the faith!
--TarzanBass
(who has ghostwritten several books about topics he knew little about, one of which won a "reader's choice" award)
Re: Help me write this book?
There's a book called "Lapdance" by Juliana Beasley
The author is an ex-stripper, and in her book she writes about stripping, has pictures of strippers, customers, etc. The book is mainly customers' views, but also some of her own. Maybe you'd comprehend the business better if you read this book? Just a suggestion
Re: Help me write this book?
Oopsy.. it's called "LAPDANCER"
sorry
Re: Help me write this book?
I dont think it would be necessary to dance for a few weeks. I think it would be better to look at the subject from a objective angle. Afterall, you want to tell their story and talk about their experience not your own. That would just muddle things up. Though it would be different if you were writing fiction.
Re: Help me write this book?
O.K I know that most of the following things have already been covered but anyhow... I really think that you need to dance in order to write about it. Why wouldn't you give it a try for a month or two? Do yoiu think that you are too good to be a stripper? I am not trying to be rude but every couple of weeks there is someone new on here with the exact same requst as you. Just dive in and give it a try, you will find your material with the girls you dance with and the girls on here will probably be more open with you. I don't know, really I know that there are a lot of holes in what i am saying but i think that In order to write a sucsessful book about dancing you need to be on the inside.
Re: Help me write this book?
I think your approach is ass-backwards. Instead of trying to find dancers who fit into a "category" you should just be trying to find dancers who want to tell their stories. I'm not trying to be a wiseguy here but will you stop interviewing "runaways" after you find the first one? Will there only be one feminist profiled? What if the first 3 people who answer your request are all male dancers? Will you interview all 3?
It just seems that, the way you have laid this out here, you are already hip-deep in the stereotypical thought process of an outsider.
Re: Help me write this book?
Hi again. I'm in the process of moving, so my internet is sketchy at the moment. I understand the criticisms, and that is okay. I know I included a lot of stereotypes, I did that on purpose. I don't think dancers fit into those categories, I promise. I do want to explore those stereotypes and expose them for what they are- stereotypes. And yes, I would have to limit my coverage of the stereotypes. I would, however, like to see as many or most all feminists in my book. I want to convey that a woman can be a feminist and a dancer at the same time.
I know it seems ass backwards, and I am not adverse to dancing myself. I am actually looking into it. The only problem I have with dancing is the fact that I really suck at it. Honest to goodness, I am terrible. But I have no problem trying!
I know the industry of book writing is a tough competition. I'm in the process of reading several books already published. And as said, I am totally up to altering the topic as the situation demands. This book may really not have many readers or anything like that, it is a learning experience for me most of all. I've never written a book, and I know it is challenging.
Thanks for those who have shown support. And thanks also for the criticism, I need it to understand what I am doing here. I know I am a novice, and I hope my suggestions up there did not offend anyone. I promise those are not the stereotypes I hold. I think I came across all wrong. Sorry about that! I wouldn't be wanting to work with dancers or write this book if I didn't respect you all as human beings, honest. So I guess I put my foot in my mouth there. But please notice that I included dancers with high educations (this may surprise a judgemental reader) and feminists, Christians and dancers who have faced great prejudice. I want to show people the realism, the real people, you know, that dancers are human beings just like everyone else. I was trying to cater to an ignorant audience, not my own ideas of what dancers are.
And as soon as my move is complete (two weeks to go, woo), and I have actual real internet, I will try to post again. Also, I will be looking into working at a club, at the least as a waitress if not a dancer. So hopefully I haven't rubbed people the wrong way here, and I do plan to finish this project out, even though it won't be easy. I'm pretty stubborn like that.
Re: Help me write this book?
Sorry to be rude (ok, not that sorry), but I am so sick and tired of people 'fascinated' by the industry. No sh*t. Everyone is. Even Crunch Gym teaches a 'striptease' class!
Everyone always gets it wrong. EVERYONE. It's like me saying, "gee, I want to write a book about Mergers and Aquisitions. I'll just interview some people and get their opions."
Not so easy. It takes one to know one--- especially in this industry. Dancing in an experience which varies to so many different extremes.
If you want to try it, go ahead- it's the ONLY way you'll get a book written.
SEE: "A Bunny's Tale" 1985, Kirstie Alley
Gloria Steinem's personal story of her Playboy Club experience in 1963. Gloria (Kirstie Alley) is talked into going under cover to get a story.
Great flick. Try and watch it-
Re: Help me write this book?
Nychos99,
I agree with you about the whole fasination with the industry. I think people are fasinated and they'll go take the "s" factor class...but oh! No way will they go work in a club and actually strip! I get ircked that people try to cash in the industry but have never actually worked in it. I mean the whole "S" factor, Yes that woman made money and she's doing well..but to even teach her classes (if you look at her website) you have to shadow her in her classes for 6 months or something! Please! We all could teach her something!!!! I'm not mad at her sucsess, and I know slowly but surely people are becoming more open about our industry...but it just gets me about people wanting to cash in on something they really no nothing about, but still make slight judgments on. This has nothing to do with you Lisa ;) ...I'm just responding to Nychos comment about strip classes at Crunch Gym.
Teri Hatcher, if you caught Oprah was showing Oprah on her show the moves that she learned from the "S" factor class. And she said she felt almost empowered...I'm glad that she can feel that way (and I like Teri)..but the real empowerment comes from facing ones fears (if they have them) and going out and stripping for REAL!:boobies: I think they have a false idea about really stripping for $$. Sorry for ranting. Thanks!
Re: Help me write this book?
Quote:
Originally Posted by amber88
Teri Hatcher, if you caught Oprah was showing Oprah on her show the moves that she learned from the "S" factor class. And she said she felt almost empowered...
That's like saying you practiced a speech on feminism without ever giving the speech in public. No one knows how empowering the dance is until they give one and see the look in a guy's eyes and realize that, in that moment, you own that man.
Re: Help me write this book?
You crack me up Lilith! Good point!
Re: Help me write this book?
Lisa, I think it's nice that you want to write a book and all, but these other ladies are right. You need to immerse yourself in the job to really gain insight about the hows and the whys.
I dropped out of college at the end of my junior year- I was pursuing a degree in English. I have been dancing for nearly 2 years, and have plans to put a book together as well. It's been a lifelong dream to write a book, and I want to put an end to all of the misconceptions out there about strippers. I have run across 3 books thus far "Bare," "Strip City," and "The Exotic Dancer's Bible." They don't do the industry or the girls justice- and each of these works were written by dancers. I wish you well in achieving your goal, but you may want to think about doing some real 'research.' Just my 2 cents.
Miss Kitty
Re: Help me write this book?
I understand what you're trying to do by pointing out that women who seem to fit into each of these stripper stereotypes are really multifaceted people, but some of the people who have responded are right: pigeonholing strippers into those categories before you even meet them will affect the way you present them in your book. Would it not be better to tell real stories that don't necessarily fit into a neat category and allow them to show how multifaceted the women who are telling the stories are?
It's tremendously difficult to understand the outlook of a dancer unless you've done it, because there really aren't a lot of comparable professions out there. However, if you are dead set against stripping, or it would bother your boyfriend, take a service job. Be a waitress. See how people treat other people whose job it is to serve them. That might give you a bit of insight.
Re: Help me write this book?
Ladybug has a great idea about getting a service job -- waitressing in a club would be an excellent way for you to get a better understanding of the industry if you really feel your moves aren't dancer-worthy (though I think every dancer thinks that at first!).
Others have already touched on this, but I've worked in journalism and just want to add that a serious reporter never starts out with a list of "types" they want to interview (I know you're not a reporter per se, but bear with me). You're not doing yourself or the story justice. Try to start instead with a list of questions that you would like your book to answer, then ask dancers those questions, whether it's here or in a club as a visitor or, better yet, in a club as a co-worker, even if you wind up waitressing. Let their answers guide your work and you're likely to uncover a perspective that no one's written about yet, find really interesting stories and "get it right."
Good luck with your research!
Re: Help me write this book?
Here's another interesting book to add to the list above about strippers...
a pictorial:
Susan Meiselas: Carnival Strippers.
by Meiselas, Susan and Sylvia Wolf, Deirdre English.
Re: Help me write this book?
I'm going to play devil's advocate for a moment. First, I don't believe you need to work in the industry to write about it. All that gives you is "street credibility," which is fine, but it doesn't necessarily mean you have any more insight into this job, nor does it mean you can write in an interesting prose style with freshness and energy. I've read quite a few books written by former dancers and let me tell you, they are some of the most poorly written accounts--boring prose, filled with cliches, artless, plotless, no insight whatsoever. Just dreadful, boring, sentimental fluff. Most don't get beyond sensationalism. I think you have a certain advantage being an outsider--IF you can avoid the narcissism of silently glorifying yourself. Just rememeber the unsaid says more than what is said. Although, at this point, your idea in my opinion is based on sensationalism. I guess you need to really ask yourself why dancers? Why not the garbage man or the crew at McDonald's? There are some decent anthropological studies on dancers. That feels more like what you are wanting to do. There's a database called Deviant Behavior, if you go to your local library and search the gender studies area, you should find it. There's several dozen case studies done on dancers, some are positive and some are negative. The thing is this: it doesn't matter if you glorify dancing or run it into the dirt--both sides of those stories have their truths and both are considered narcissistic and or sensationalism if overdone.
If you are a student, you can get on this database: http://search.epnet.com/Login.aspx?d...=721646&db=aph
In this database is an article called, "Undressing The First Amendment And Corsetting The Striptease Dancer" by Judith Lynne Hanna. It's one of the best research papers I've read on the positives of dancing. If you want to write a good book, read good writers, figure out what your real interest is in this occupation, do some soul searching, make sure your objective and passion goes beyond the ordinary exploitation.
Just my 2 cents. Feel free to ignore.