remaining anonymous in the industry
The club I just got hired at just asked to see my license, to make sure I was of legal age. They didn't photocopy it or anything, just glanced at it and gave it back.
Is this usual? I am going for a career in a field where it would be detrimental if it was made public that i dance. I'm not worried about being recognized by people that come into the club; I'm worried about having my information on file at a club, and the possibility that my history as a dancer would come back to bite me in the ass later, if I do find success in my chosen field. I try to tell myself that I'm being paranoid, and that if a club does copy/record my information, there's little chance it would be released to anyone in the future. But I'm not sure...what is the deal, really?
Re: remaining anonymous in the industry
I think that you need to take a deep breath and relax. I understand that there are certain people in the world who look down on this type of a job, but as long as you don't feel like what you do is degrading or wrong in any way you shouldn't be worried about it comming out when you're older. I think that's what is wrong with the world. To many people are worried what to many other people think. Your life is yours and yours alone and if you are comfortable with what you do than it doesn't matter what someone else thinks. As for it comming out later on, most likely it won't, unless you're into politics and in that case you shouldn't dance then. If you're worried about it you obviously view it as wrong and indecent and in the event that it comes out later on you won't be able to defend your image. Good luck in life and i really hope you come to peace with yourself as well as with what the world thinks of you
Re: remaining anonymous in the industry
they have to card you to make sure you're legal... ummm they could get shut down if you were not of age to dance.. thats just standard.... why is it so weird that you got carded? thats just a given at any club you start working at....
Re: remaining anonymous in the industry
Since they didn't photocopy anything or ask you to fill anything out, it's not on file anywhere. All of the clubs that I have worked at have had me fill out some sort of information for tax purposes, or to cover their asses for one reason or another. I don't know what club or area, you are at to tell you the "standard" in your situation. My advice would be that if dancing is so detrimental to your future occupation, or if it is associated with being a public figure in anyway, you shouldn't do it. It's difficult to tell you what your chances are with so little information, but the chance is always there.
Re: remaining anonymous in the industry
Dont ever excpect to work in Vegas then,cause they have your ss# and all there to dance. But showing your d,lic. is just a normal thing,even if thy wrote the info or copyed it at a later date (which they sometimes do) is very much the norm.
Re: remaining anonymous in the industry
The club im at we had to get a license to dance from the goverment, they photocopy it put it on file, take your SIN and a drivers license. A lot of girls dance to put themselves through college/uni as long as you dont get caught up in illegal activity showing that you worked in a SC on your files isnt going to harm any future you may have.
Re: remaining anonymous in the industry
Quote:
I try to tell myself that I'm being paranoid, and that if a club does copy/record my information, there's little chance it would be released to anyone in the future. But I'm not sure...what is the deal, really?
Actually, under the US Patriot Act and other laws, the club that 'hired' you is required to check both your age and your identity/citizenship. I'm surprised that you weren't required to fill out a 'job application' asking for your personal information - not doing so is arguably against the law ! I would not totally 'bank' on the fact that just because the club didn't photocopy your driver's license that they don't maintain records of the dancers working in the club.
You're right though that the odds of a club disclosing personal info about dancers is pretty small. This is much more likely to happen as the result of IRS/state/local tax returns, which require that you list your identity, SS# and your occupation code. This is also much more likely to happen as the result of any (bogus) club bust, where local media won't hesitate to publish your identity based on police records of the bust !
Re: remaining anonymous in the industry
I totally understand your paranoia. I dance about 45 minutes away from where I'm in graduate professional school. I really don't know what I'd do if anyone in my program ever found out what I'm doing. (Although when I graduate in May I'm planning on applying for jobs a few states away).
As for checking the licence. Thats completely normal. I would have thought it was weird if they had never checked my ID. That way they know if there is some type of bust, you are not only of age but you also have your ID on you which also covers your ass as well as theirs. Despite checking my ID I don't think anyone pays enough attention to remember my real name anyway, let alone my last name.
Re: remaining anonymous in the industry
If you're discreet enough, you'll probably fly under the radar. However, just as it's not helpful to be paranoid, it also would be totally naive not to acknowledge there is some risk. It's simply not possible to predict one specific individual's precise odds. As Melonie said, it's not limited to employment records; a bogus club bust that nets you could expose you to media coverage, even if it's determined you weren't doing anything illegal. Or some idiot customer with a cell phone could snap your picture cladestinely and post it to the Internet where someone else might recognize you. Or someone recognizes you in the club and tells someone else, or a close friend who knows could let something slip to someone else. If you're later in a high profile, high power position, some snoopy reporter could hear a rumor and start digging. Those are all worst case scenarios and they're unlikely but there's no guarantee.
How risk averse are you? Only you can decide the risk vs. benefits in your situation, how best to minimize the risk, and what you'll do if you're exposed. I'd say if your intention is to be nominated for the Supreme Court, no, definitely don't. People tend to dig a lot on that one. :)
-Ev
Re: remaining anonymous in the industry
Well are you going into politics? Are you thinking about being a celebrity of some kind? Is it likely that anyone is going to be raking up muck? If so - I would say you are going to be screwed. If it is a field in which you would not want your colleagues to know, but nobody is likely to try to dig anything up, then you are a little safer.
Re: remaining anonymous in the industry
OK, maybe my first post wasn't entirely clear. I wasn't paranoid because they simply looked at my license...I was quite relieved that they didn't take down my info. BUT, i highly doubt that this is the only club I'll ever dance at, esp. since I know i'm going to be moving around a bit in the next few years.
No, I don't plan to go into politics. I am a singer. Even though I've gotten a few really good breaks recently...I'm struggling to support myself. <---*understatement of the year* :( My goal is to make it as a classical recording artist, and the scary thing is, if things keep going as well as they have been lately, I actually have a decent chance.
BUT...there is no job I'm "qualified" for that will allow me to support myself and give me the time and $$ i need to get me toward my goals. Studio time, CD packaging/marketing, composition software, travel to and from competitions/showcases...all of that costs money, and quite a lot of it.
So it's a catch-22...either I take some low-level, shit-paying job and I barely earn enough to keep a roof over my head, nevermind affording to do anything with music, and my career is shot before it even started. Might as well give up now.
Or I dance and take my chances, and one of three things happens: I make it, no one finds out (or if they do, I lie and get out of it)...or, I make it and the fact that I've danced comes back to ruin my career...or, I never make it, and the $ I saved from dancing pays for me to go back to school and get a decent job.
I've thought about doing the fake ID thing...or just saying that I worked as a *waitress* in an SC, if the info ever comes out.
Thank you for the advice, everyone. But Ferra..."if you're worried about people finding out then you obviously view it as wrong and...." What? If I viewed it as wrong, I wouldn't be doing it. I'm worried about the chances of it ruining my hopeful career, not about moral implications.
Re: remaining anonymous in the industry
You're delusional. Would you go into a bar and expect them to serve you without checking your ID...? Then why would you expect to get a job, any job, and not have to show ID--especially a job at a bar where you have to legally be a certain age. I understand paranoi about how information is used... but they didn't even have you fill out any papers or copy your ID? 95% of all clubs I have been to do at least one of the two latter.
Re: remaining anonymous in the industry
Don't worry. I thought maybe you had political aspirations, and even if you didn't have your name anywhere in the club, the press and the opposition has a way of digging up dirt.
Unless your agent has reason to believe that you are an exotic dancer, he/she will probably never ask. Why would exotic dancing and singing not be compatiable? Unless, of course, you are producing music for the christian customers. I could see how that would be a career buster.
Chances are that it won't cross people's minds to even ask. As long as you aren't on your club's website or something, I think you should be just fine- even if you do have paperwork out there.
Re: remaining anonymous in the industry
Helle--delusional, my ass. i've been bartending for three years; obviously i don't expect to not have to show ID when being hired for a job. you're reading something that isn't there. I was merely expressing concern about how the information might be used in the future, and what the chances of it coming back to haunt me are. sigh. whatever.
Paris--thank you.
Re: remaining anonymous in the industry
Honey, I don't think you're delusional either. I also thought you had political aspirations, in which case you would be screwed. I don't think tabloids really spend a lot of time raking muck on classical musicians though, so I'd say you are likely safe.
Re: remaining anonymous in the industry
I plan on teaching highschool and/or college in the future so I resonate a bit with your feelings of caution. I've done catering for the past 2 1/2 years to get myself through my undergrad degree and afterwards, and they still have me on file for occaisional gigs. Because I expect to have to account for these months that i"m dancing in a future employment history section of an application, I plan to list the temp agency that still technically "employs" me, and not the dancing job. I hope that has me covered, and if for some reason it comes up and I have to talk about it in a future interview, then talk I will. But I doubt that will happen. There's no shame in earning a living legally.
Re: remaining anonymous in the industry
^^ that's a good idea, the temp agency thing.