Making the most of my stage time
I am in a small club with mandatory stages. I am up there 3 songs out of every 12 or 15. Since I can't avoid it all together, does anybody have any suggestions for making myslef really stand out on stage and using the stage really effectively for advertising?
While we are at it, how do you hustle when you know you are going to get called to stage jsut at the moment you wan to ask for a dance?
Re: Making the most of my stage time
Wear bright colors ,smile, and pick music based on the clientel that night. Eye contact , giving a hand gesture "come over here" , and looking like you love your job will help people get up and tip. Crazy original stuff works too. One black dancer did Tina Turner and jumped up and downshaking her hair and it broke the ice (not to meantune halarious)!
On slower nights watch what girls do on stage, and do something else.Most Girls look bored and robotic on stage.Move to the music and slow.
Dont get discouraged If this doesn't make you as much sometimes on stage.Usually the descrete admirer will get dances after your set.
If I am called on stage during a hustle I majorly flirt and ask them to come see me on stage for a sneak preview. Most of the time they do and tip better since you made time for them before.
Re: Making the most of my stage time
You can always do theme sets.
The crowd always remembers that, even more so if you do them well.
Try neon glowing body paint, and paint 60's flowers on your body. When you take off your clothes, you will still stand out in the black lights, and it will remind guys of Austin Powers, (sure for a laugh) and dance to 60's music.
Or dress like Little Red Riding Hood, and dance to the song.
Dress like a nurse and dance to Dr. Feelgood.
You get the idea?
And no matter what, keep a "prop" on.
Like the paint, or the red hood, or the stethoscope.
That way you will still be associating with the tunes, and you will have a call, and something to talk to the guys about.
For example, of you do a medical set (nurse, dr. etc...) keep the stethoscope on and ask the guys for dances like this.
"Oh, your heartrate is low; let me take you into my exam room and get it raised up a little."
Corny I know, but very memorable. Guys like a good laugh too, and you will show them you are having a good time.
Maybe DW can give you more ideas.
Re: Making the most of my stage time
Ive always tried to make myself be more noticeable. Through costumes etc, or props (like sparklers until the manager tells you that the fire department doesnt like that) etc
I sometimes use those pop things you get at July 4th cause you can throw them at people and they make a noise and get attention.
I also take the attitude at work that its all about me. Everything else is just icing on the cake. Im the substance.
Re: Making the most of my stage time
Oh my God, this girl at my club did this great set with a Navy theme. She wore the outfit and used those songs from DDR (Captain Jack, In the Navy etc..) It was so high energy that all the guys loved it and she was wicked on the pole. Just have a great energy and attitude.
Re: Making the most of my stage time
Colleen, again we're in the same boat. I'm on stage every 9 songs, 12 if I am lucky. I hustle from there. Screw routines and costumes. They take too long. I play, tease, and flirt with customers. Basically, I move a little while looking as cute/sexy as I can, tell jokes, make them laugh, talk a bit, and one by one, I ask them for dances so that I have a line-up when my set is over. If no one is at my stage, I wave customers over.
Time is money. Stage time is wasted money. I. Hate. Going. On. Stage.
Re: Making the most of my stage time
it depends on the club. in the clubs i've worked at, your stage time can be a shift's earnings all by itself. but these were smaller nude clubs mostly, although there was a topless club where you went on stage once for a 4 stage rotation and that was usually good for 50-100 over 8 songs. i mean, in general stage time is best bought off, particularly in medium to large topless clubs. but in the smaller clubs, i've found you can spend all night getting stage tips from the guys who want high mileage or extras and spend your quality time with the customers who cater to your limits and rake in lump sums for dances. i see no reason to reject money if it's something i had to do anyhow (stage time in small clubs).
i've had nights where there were few girls and we had to hit the stage every 10 or so songs. i chatted with the extras-seekers briefly, they tipped me every set on stage, and i chatted a little longer with the handful of customers that suited me, and those customers were often good for 100-200 each. so i ended up getting money from all the guys, even the raincoaters, and had a low-stress night overall. as for the stage sets themselves, i just worked the playful silly kid thing and had fun dancing to silly songs.
Re: Making the most of my stage time
Definately ask the custy to come up to the stage with you or tell him that you'll be right back as soon as you're done. If he's interested he'll wait and shoo off any girls who approach him
Re: Making the most of my stage time
I am in a club that is almost stage only -- I usually break off in the middle of a really good rip-roaring story that I am telling the customer and say "I have to go on stage now, follow me!" and motion for him to follow. If the rapport is good he almost always does, and tips.
Re: Making the most of my stage time
Heres what I do. May or may not be the best way of handling it... but I just hustle as if I dont have to be on stage. And sometimes that means closing the sale for a dance and then hearing my name announced for the next rotation. What I do then, is act a little disappointed and tell the guy that they just called me to the stage and say "I'll be right up there so you can watch me." That way he doesnt think i disappeared. And I also say something like "How 'bout I come right back to you" or "I'll come right back to you as soon as I'm done on stage. I promise." If you've closed the sale, you've closed the sale. The only problem then, is delivering the product. The custy just might have to wait for three songs or so for you to do it. As long as he has your word that you'll be right back... and as long as he knows where you'll be... he should be good to go.
Doing what I do, I've only had a couple times where I've gone back and the guy has had another girl with him or he just says no. It is seriously rare though for the guy to change his mind after he's already told you yes. (part of my approach too, which might be worth mentioning, is acting super-excited when I sell a dance. almost like i've been waiting to dance for him all night and i'm just giddy and turned on that he said yes... so after that initial excitement, how could the guy let me down and then say no after he said yes?)
Re: Making the most of my stage time
Quote:
Originally Posted by amylynnej
Ive always tried to make myself be more noticeable. Through costumes etc, or props (like sparklers until the manager tells you that the fire department doesnt like that)
Yes, please don't use sparklers! One dancer handed out like 20 of them to customers, and all the smoke that they made made the air toxic! Everyone had to leave becuse of the chemicals those spaklers give off.
But... to answer the orignal question,
I frequently work at mandatory stage clubs, and when I want to ask the customer for a LD I phrase it like:
Me: So would like like a lap dance?
Customer: Sure!!
Me: I'm up on stage next, would youlike to come watch me on stage and then we can go do the dance, I hate to rush through my lap dances. That way we can take our time.
Customer: Sounds great!
I then walk him to the stage, do my set, and then do the dances after I get off stage.
I hope that was the answer you were looking for.
Re: Making the most of my stage time
If I am with a customer and get called to stage when I am about to wrap up a dacne I will also say something like, "Well, I've got to go to stage, and I'll be right back over when I am done so we can go play! Now make sure you come see me so I can give you a preview!"
As far as making the most of your stage time, just keep telling yourself it's free advertising. When there aren't people at the stage, or not a lot at least, I will make eye contact with someone people in the crowd and grin and wave them over, and they almost ALWAYS come. I too am a big fan of theme outfits. The school girl is great, you can dance to hot for teacher and other themed songs. If you are wearing a cherry print outfit dance to Cherry Pie by Warrant. And just smile and look like you are having an absolutely great time!!!!
Re: Making the most of my stage time
Here's an exsiting thread based on a similar situation....
http://www.stripperweb.com/forum/showthread.php?t=42157
Re: Making the most of my stage time
I agree with you Lydia. I keep my hustle the same acting as if I dont even have to go on stage. Then when I do have to go, I promise to come right back to them. EYE CONTACT is so important. Make a note of which ones are looking intensely at you. Remember to wink, lick your lips be flirty.
Re: Making the most of my stage time
Plenty of clubs have mandatory stage sets here in Australia. A very rare few will allow you to buy off stage. Therefore, if you know what time you will actually be up on stage or doing a table you have two ways to approach it: Hustle like you do not have to (this one has been mentioned in this thread) or manage your time around the times you are going to be on stage or tables (do not start or close any sales 10 mins prior to your stage or table time).
The best way is to continue like you didn't know you were going to be on stage next as has been mentioned. Invite the guy to have a seat in pervert row so you can give him special attention throughout your stage set (whilst also hustling any others that are stage side).
If you can manage to get your payment for the dance prior to going on stage then you can even give him a little something special for 30 seconds during your stage set for free. This will work for you in two ways: it gives the guy who has paid you a very quick sneak preview of what is to come ("wet his lips" as such) as well as kinda show everyone else who may not be stage-side why they should be ;)
If you do not manage to get payment prior to your stage set, then invite the guy over regardless. It is up to you then if you want to give him some teasers throughout your set. You'll have more of a chance of him going for multiple dances if he is stage-side after or during your close prior to your stage set than if he stays back away from the stage.
The ones that tend to hang back from the stage have too much of a chance to change their mind and go with someone else as it just might be timing.... he was ready to go then not later hence doesn't want to wait. Never ever take it personally and do not begrudge the other dancer that took him.
I also change for my stage sets (where possible) into something that is the same colour as to what I am wearing out on the floor so I keep the colour association consistent. Another thing I love to do where the majority of dancers do not wear costumes is wear a costume. We're not talking about anything too involved however it will help you stand out.
Another way is to use a feather boa or veil during your stage set. It's something different and will make you stand out.
If no one is stage-side or the tipping isn't that generous, perform like you would for a packed house... make your stage set stand out in some way (be it costume, music, props etc)... as you are advertising yourself :)
Re: Making the most of my stage time