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How to work a 5-day shift?
I'd like to know how you girls work a full week. I have tried to pace myself and I'm still draggin' by my fourth day. A lot of vets advise working this job like a regular full time position but I never make it to the fifth or sixth day:P . I'm panting and achy and cranky. I see custys and want to take a bat to them like Al Capone in a miniskirt.;D What's the secret?
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Re: How to work a 5-day shift?
lol I have problems with that too, so I usually only work 3 days a week. I need to work more though. I used to work at a club that had a set schedule for all the girls (5-6 days a week) at 9-10hours at a time! I think that burned me out a bit. /:O
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Re: How to work a 5-day shift?
I want to be that chick but I fade. My friend works six days like it's nothing. Everynight I feel like I've run 10 miles at the track.
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Re: How to work a 5-day shift?
god me too. I work three nights, and I'm great, but by day four, I can't drag myself in, for the life of me. I'm just burnt. Maybe try three consecutive days, then a day off, followed by two consecutive days, and another one off? Me, I tend to shoot for four days, but with longer shift lengths...cuz I can usually dig my heels in (so to speak), and keep my lazy ass at work for longer once I"m already there. It's getting myself into the club in the first place that is so hard. It really sucks that they expect us to be soo flakey. I almost need a stricter schedule, because i am sometimes so undisciplined.
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Re: How to work a 5-day shift?
I pretty much work 5 days a week all the time.
Before I started dancing I had the mon thru fri, 9-5 gig so I'm used to the eigth hour shift thing. I dop break my week up and don't work all 5 days in a row. I'm there mon and tues, off weds, work thurs, fri and sat. My club is not real busy in the begining of the week so it's not that hectic, it's actually kind of quiet. Most of my regulars come in then or on my saturday day shift.
If I start to feel burnt out I'll cut back from two shifts a day to one (they're 4 hour shifts) or take an extra day off. Sometimes my sanity is better than money! Plus if I don't feel 100% I won't make as much.
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Re: How to work a 5-day shift?
I work Tues 4 - 9(im always gone by 9), Weds 4pm - 2am, Thurs 4pm - 10pm, I work three fridays a month I do the 9pm - 3am shift then I work Saturdays 11:30am - 10pm and Sundays 2pm - 3am. I always have Monday off, it seems every other week or so latley though i've been dropping my tues shift as well. Or sometimes i'll tell them to take me off the 11:30am - 4pm shift for Sat and i'll work 4pm - 1am on Saturday insted. Or sometimes i'll drop a Friday shift, I honestly hate fri/sat night at my club anyway lol.
The key to it really is just get a good rest, eat the right food and pace yourself. If im working a super long shift i'll just chill out at the bar for a bit, do my stage show and if a customer comes to me for a dance i'll go, otherwise I wont hustle for dances. When I get to the last few hours of my shift i'll start my major hustle and make my money. Its all about how you pace yourself.
Wow im looking at my shifts and going 'no wonder I want a vacation' lol. I flip my shifts around though as I need to, my club is flexable with the days and hours I work because they know im reliable and am there when they need me.
The other key is, do not drink alcohol, drink bottles and bottles and bottles of water while you work, it helps a lot to keep you going through your shift.
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Re: How to work a 5-day shift?
In my heyday,I worked 5 night weeks and pulled in 50+ hours every week.Now,three night weeks are even too much for me.
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Re: How to work a 5-day shift?
Those are good points Cally because I'm really cheery in the begining of the night and like to go go go doing dances all night. It doesn't always flow that way. Sometimes the crowd takes 2-3 hours to loosen up. By then I'm talking to some intellectual guy and not paying attention and being myself instead of strippergirl.... Fun but not profitable.;D I have to adapt to reading the pace of the room.
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Re: How to work a 5-day shift?
I do it quite often, but i can only do it by not really having a life outside of work for those days.
For 5+ nights straight work I have to make sure I eat and sleep regularly. Idealy I wake up sometime between midday and 2pm and eat a large meal. Breakfast is definatly the most important meal of the day when I'm dancing all night! I eat again between 5 and 7pm and sometimes have another sleep. Then have something else to eat before I start work at 10pm or otherwise try to eat during my shift. I finnish at 6am, I try to grab a sandwich before going to sleep but sometimes I'm too tired even for that.
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Re: How to work a 5-day shift?
I'm like Susan...I'm just so used to it from my pre-dancing life. It feels weird not to work 5-6 days. Before I had a 9-5, I was in college, which was draining too.
I've gone 2-4 weeks without a day off on occasion...then I start to get whiny and snippy. But as long as I have one day a week off to look forward to, then all is well. Oh yeah, and a vacation (not just time off....but really leaving everything) every 3 months. A lot of people think that's excessive, but I feel like it's charging my battery.
I think my love for money doesn't hurt either.
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Re: How to work a 5-day shift?
^^^ Ya know Emily, I thought about you last night. I remember you saying once before that you take a vacation every 3 months and I think that's such a fantastic idea and in no way excessive.
Anyway, now that I'm back in school (Mon-Thurs, but only 7 or 8 cred. for 12 weeks), I'm trying to go at least 4 nights a week. I even have trouble with that. I think the key is to make sure you feel 100%. Last night, before I went to work, I was so tired and really depressed about something. I got on the subway to go to work, and fell asleep while on the train. That's when I decided to go back home. My mom was like, "In your business, you've gotta be feeling up to par to work, and you're obviously not, so take a night or two off and rest." Once my mom says I should take off, then I do. I feel great this morning. I'm so glad I didn't work.
Cally also mentioned limiting alcohol at work. I fully agree with that too. I've stopped drinking at work and I can actually make it through the shift w/o falling asleep. When I do drink, I have bottle of water for every glass of alcohol.
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Re: How to work a 5-day shift?
Well, here's a question for you then. Why would you want or need to work 5 days a week? Do what's best for you and perhaps that isn't working 5 days a week. Ask yourself this...is it better to work 5 nights a week and make less each night because you're exhausted all the time or is it better to work less nights each week and make more per night because you feel better because you've had more down-time? Ultimately working that extra night or two every week just may not be worth it physically to you even if it is a few extra bucks in your pocket.
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Re: How to work a 5-day shift?
yeah, the drinking will bring you down. You have to keep a schedule too. Go to bed at a reasonable hour. Sleep 8 hours. You know...be normal! :)
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Re: How to work a 5-day shift?
yeah, a set schedule that leaves enough time for sleep is an absolute must. the closer to normal you, get the better.
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Re: How to work a 5-day shift?
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Originally Posted by greggy
yeah, a set schedule that leaves enough time for sleep is an absolute must. the closer to normal you, get the better.
Whats this normal thing you speak of? lol
I made the mistake ONCE of working a month straight 10 hours a day... by the end of the month you couldnt even look at me without me taking your head off :( I think I need to start the vacation every three months like Emily... I hear having sanity is good for you lol..
The only reason I think im able to do this though is because I used to do 7 days a week 16 - 18 hours a day at the horse farms without hardly even stopping for a lunch. So I look at the hours I do now as a joke.
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Those are good points Cally because I'm really cheery in the begining of the night and like to go go go doing dances all night. It doesn't always flow that way. Sometimes the crowd takes 2-3 hours to loosen up. By then I'm talking to some intellectual guy and not paying attention and being myself instead of strippergirl.... Fun but not profitable. I have to adapt to reading the pace of the room.
Thats your biggest thing... I know at the beginning of my shift no one is in a dance mood, so I wait a bit sit at the bar talk to some friends, do my stage show then start to try and make money. It helps save you from burning out.
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Re: How to work a 5-day shift?
I work 4 days but I split them up... Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and then Thursday... It makes for better sanity... I can do three in a row, but by four I am a bitch... Definetly try not to drink too much, and mental health breaks (even if you just stay home for a few days) are the key for me... I think this is an industry with a high burnout rate...
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Re: How to work a 5-day shift?
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Originally Posted by Cally
The only reason I think im able to do this though is because I used to do 7 days a week 16 - 18 hours a day at the horse farms without hardly even stopping for a lunch. So I look at the hours I do now as a joke.
Oh lordy, ain't that the truth. When I think back to the farm days, and all the crap I went through...when I was managing one summer (I was sixteen, but she thought I was nineteen so hired me) it was sooo stressful with daycamp to organize, the feeding, stalls, turnout, and the dipshit farm hands who were putting in hay...plus training the young horses after supper....goddamn I was working nonstop from 6am til 11pm. My hair fell out in clumps and I lost fifteen pounds, though I was throwing back food like a hoover vaccuum-
all for like $50 a day. Yeah, amazing how lazy I am now compared to then. But it's true- it makes eight+ hours of dancing feel like nothing! But I also agree with Dancerwealth...I'm happy with $2200 a week. That's my goal, and if I make it on the weekend I won't bother with the rest of the week's shifts. Then I can just focus on school and rest, but if I fall short of my goal I might pop in to pick up an extra shift...though I rarely am motivated enough for that. It's good incentive to work as efficiently as possible on the three shifts I do work.
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Re: How to work a 5-day shift?
DW, I'm going for it. ;D I'm usually a two or three day a week girl. I decided to really go all out this year and go for that fabled level of income, <she whispers> 6 f-i-g-u-r-e-s! My clubs are seasonal resort clubs so you gotta work it hard for the few weeks it's bangin'. Oh, and I worked some of your moves on this dude at work who was tryin' to say no--I had him beggin' me to come straight to him after my set to dance. HA! $75 x-tra bucks for two minutes of persuasion! Thanks, man.
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Re: How to work a 5-day shift?
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Originally Posted by Optimist
DW, I'm going for it. ;D I'm usually a two or three day a week girl. I decided to really go all out this year and go for that fabled level of income, <she whispers> 6 f-i-g-u-r-e-s! My clubs are seasonal resort clubs so you gotta work it hard for the few weeks it's bangin'. Oh, and I worked some of your moves on this dude at work who was tryin' to say no--I had him beggin' me to come straight to him after my set to dance. HA! $75 x-tra bucks for two minutes of persuasion! Thanks, man.
which moves did you pull?
i'm totally buying the at-home course over the summer.
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Re: How to work a 5-day shift?
OK, this guy was like 'I'm just hanging out waiting for my friends. I'm not really looking to buy dances...' You know the rest. So DW says guys ALWAYS come with the thought of buying dances. They always have a little something in their pocket or bring their card. So, I'm like "you know what, while you're hanging out you might as well have a good time. You don't have to be bored just because they're late. You shouldn't have fun just because they're not having any yet?' So he waits a few seconds and thinks and screws up his face and says 'YEAHHH that's right. You know what, I can do a couple'. SCORE! So of course the DJ calls me up for my set so I say <sadly> 'Awww, I gotta go up now.' He says <excitedly> 'Well come back after you get down. Let's do some dances' <pant, pant> DW is brilliant. I would've thought he was a looky-loo but sure enough he came prepared to party!
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Re: How to work a 5-day shift?
Discipline. Set a schedule and make yourself stick to it. Work 5 days in a row and take 2 off. Eat, sleep and exercise properly. Don't stay up for hours after work - go home and go to bed.
Don't work 14 hours in any day - I never understood why so many girls will stay and stay trying to make x dollars on a slow day, then bust out early on a good day when they could be making MORE by staying longer on the good day ::) Your weekly totals will increase if you work a regular shift EACH day.
By making yourself work the regular schedule you'll get used to it and it will become easier. By reminding yourself of the money you COULD be making today if you get your ass to work, it becomes easier to motivate to get in there.
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Re: How to work a 5-day shift?
This is a great question ...here's one for everyone and something I am experiencing right now.
What if you are scheduled to work Tues, Wed, Thu, Fri (noon-4pm then 8pm-2am) and Sat for two or three weeks in a row ?? What if you have no choice in the matter ?
Honestly, less is more with me and I know this however due to being contracted to the club I'm in right now (I'm in Darwin just FYI) I am required to work these nights. I do not go out, I do not drink on the job and try to eat right. I'm still exhausted, cranky and just plain unproductive by Fri/Sat (esp. Fri lunch as I am so used to working nights that I do not become 'sociable' usually until 2-3pm lol).
Any advice, suggestions etc?
Luckily I am not doing this contract that often and only for two weeks at a time. Honestly, I can only work three nights in a row, one night off so that I can work another one-three nights in a row further (if need be).
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Re: How to work a 5-day shift?
It's almost impossible for me to work 5 days in a row. By day four I want to smack my customers not dance for them and I'm tired,cranky,sore .....you name it. You can definitely work five days in a week but just break it up honey.Try three days on then one day off and then another two days .Any combination will work but five days in a row is just too draining physically and mentally. I know some girls that do it but I'm not one of them...Happy strippin'. }:D
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Re: How to work a 5-day shift?
OMG, I love your avatar. Whered you find it?
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Re: How to work a 5-day shift?
I generally have to work 6 night a week bookings when on the road, and I've been doing it for almost 4 years.
Ask yourself this Optimist. How are you able to work an 8-5 job five days a week and not be able to dance the same amount of days?
Why do dancers work less than they do at other jobs? It is a mental issue. Some girls are not really cut out to be salespeople. Some girls don't look at dancing as a "real job" because society doesn't accept it. Anything you get money from is a real job.
The reason many dancers don't accumulate money and have some financial stability in their lives is because they DON'T work enough. I made $80,000 last year plus some other perks amounting to a little more. And I worked about 44 6 night weeks with 8 weeks off. 3 nights a week would be the poorhouse.
You're going to have some $50 nights in this business along with the $450 ones. I HAVE to work from opening to close on bookings, and the other 4-5 girls booked with me do too. We can't leave early if it is slow, or not go in if we're tired.
Most dancers are not REQUIRED to work and that is why they have little or no money accumulated. They are not motivated by money and security, or are uncomfortable using this business to acheive it.
Unless a dancer is a student or has a day job, working less than 18-24 days a month won't yield enough money to accumulate any savings or security.
The more you realize Optimist that it's not what you do but how you do it, the more you will focus on this business just as you did in a mainstream job.
Bridgette hit the nail on the head. EVERYTHING she said is true.
If you can work 40 hours a week in a office or store for $500, then you surely can work 40 hours in a club for $1000+, right? ;)