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Has stripping been worth it...?
Well...last night I told my mother i was going to become a stripper... she went berserk and we went at it for an hour...she said it was like prostitution and i argued that it'll probably be the best decision i'll ever make(bein that the money seems to be great). I'm 18 and I'm payin school off nothing but loans so i'm guessin i'm about 10,000 deep so far....so i figured i could avoid all the debt, get an education, and even afford a few luxuries, plus save somethin.She incists that i don't go thru with it and says that she rather grind glass with her ass for extra money than have me doin that...i see where she's comein from since she had a kid when she was 15 and has only worked hard in honest jobs that never even came close to crossing moral confines...I admire that, but i must say that it didn't work cuz we just get by(pay check to pay check sort of thing)and it sux...I wanna try to convinse her that it's a good idea...what do ya'll think i should say to her to get her thinkin like me??..i need some good points...And is the money really worth it??...There's alot of hype about stripper money, but i need some reasurance before my shy ass starts flashin cooch...I think strippin is a great job for me cuz i love to dance and to be admired,but i don't wanna go thru the family dramma just to come out empty handed and proven wrong.... :-\
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Re: Has stripping been worth it...?
Always been worth it to me. The money is what you make it, but I have had mostly great (a few bad) experiences in my eight years of stripping. I wouldn't want any other job. Except maybe like, getting paid to sit at home doing nothing.
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Re: Has stripping been worth it...?
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Originally Posted by Helle Hairpin
Always been worth it to me. The money is what you make it, but I have had mostly great (a few bad) experiences in my eight years of stripping. I wouldn't want any other job. Except maybe like, getting paid to sit at home doing nothing.
Yup, that's pretty much my stance too. Also, you've gotta make your own decisions. It wouldn't have worked for your mother, but it might be great for you.
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Re: Has stripping been worth it...?
I would hate to have a job sitting home doing nothing. I can't live life feeling like I'm a complete waste of space.
It's been worth it for me. I can get up and go out there and work and SEE my hard work RIGHT THEN. I can tell you how hard I've worked by how many Mitchel's* I have in my garter belt. Plus the fame. The glory! The attention! I can be center of attention and CHEERED for it, not insulted!
*Mitchel is on the $100 note in Aus.
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Re: Has stripping been worth it...?
Do your best to reassure her that you're not being stupid about any of it. Tell her that you're not going to waste all your money on drugs or whatever, tell her that your education is your priority, that you've done a shitload of research (which hopefully you have on here. :) ), and just try to be as mature about it as possible. Don't scream, don't be bratty or anything. Adult women work in SC's, not little girls. I'm not saying that you are but don't start, lol. :D Make promises AND keep them!! Maybe if you have siblings that support you in your decision or a close female family friend, have them check out the club you are wanting to work at and have them relay their impression of the place. Be willing to compromise! By telling your mother that you're doing this, you've sent out an unspoken message that her opinion is important to you so don't blow it off. Other than that, just know that you're mom just wants the best for you in every way and that no amount of money is worth losing the only woman who would give her everything just for you to be happy. ;) Good luck!!
Love,
Mandy
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Re: Has stripping been worth it...?
Stripping is only worth it if you know how to save. Dont get caught up in the BS that comes with the industry.. stay away from the drugs, dont drink at work and treat it like a JOB not a party. One of my biggest pet peeves is the girls coming into work acting like they are there to party and then bitch the end of the nite that the guy they sat with all night drinking with didnt spend any money on them.
I have saved a lot of money since I started dancing... Due to the fact I keep myself sober at work and dont get caught into the shit I have managed to develope a strong base of regulars and no longer need to hustle the club. This has helped me enjoy going into work.
There are downfalls with dancing.. you do have to deal with assholes from day to day.. some drunk and falling over themselves and shouting rude things to you. Constantly being propositioned for sexual favours etc...
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Re: Has stripping been worth it...?
I have found it to be very worth it, but don't expect to bank every night. Depending on your club, neighborhood, and hustle you could very well go home with less than minimum wage on a weeknight. I suggest you go into it without expectation of striking it big and just try your hardest. Don't think you will make the same as an old pro in New York if you live in a little city in the Midwest.
On to your mom... Like any mom, she is worried about you. You are her baby and thinking that you are going into the adult industry probably keeps her up at night. I think if you explained to her all the club rules and all your personal rules about contact and stuff she would realize that it isn't as much like prostitution as she may have thought. Stereotypes about stripping are oftentimes very exagurated, and explaining all of your personal limits could maybe be reassuring.
Just try it out, if you like it stick with it, if you don't there is no obligation!
Good luck and I hope for you that your mom will understand where you are coming from.
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Re: Has stripping been worth it...?
Definitely worth it for me. I have no debt right now having just graduated with a bachelor of science in chemistry. Going back to school though for a higher education, with very little debt from student loans (already paying them off actually), and a lot of cash saved up, even after purschasing a brand new car very recently (2006 honda civic si).
Just weigh your options... many clubs are extremely safe and in nice areas. You just have to find them.
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Re: Has stripping been worth it...?
let me put it this way ...
Before I ever started dancing I had a college degree and a very decent job as a Respiratory Therapist. But I sat down and figured out that even with a $16-18 an hour paycheck (and this was over 10 years ago) that I really wasn't going to be in a position to buy myself a house, a decent car, pay off my student loans and cover my son's eventual college education. What I was going to be able to do is 'tread water' financially speaking, hopefully staying one step ahead of rent payments, used car payments, student loan payments, saving little or nothing towards my son's eventual college tuition and saving even less toward my own retirement.
Here I am 12 years down the road ... I own a house and two late model cars. My son has completed college without having any student loans. I've saved enough money so that last year I was able to RETIRE from regular live dancing and still have enough passive investment income to live very comfortably and add to my retirement savings to boot.
But Cally really nailed the essential point. As a dancer you will have good nights and bad nights. As a dancer you will have constant temptation to 'blow' the easy money you will be earning because you will be able to afford nice cars, nice clothes etc. There will also be constant temptation to get involved with the 'stereotype' aspects of 'strippers' i.e. boozing, drugs, partying ... which will steal your energy, steal your focus, and steal your health.
Basically, you need to approach dancing in the same way as a professional athlete approaches his career - realize up front that you can't keep dancing forever and that your 'peak earning years' will probably fall between now and when you reach age 25 - save and invest as much money as you possibly can in anticipation of the day that you turn 25 or 30 or whatever and find it's time to leave dancing behind (although some girls can stay at it past age 40).
If it's any consolation, my own mother and I had a very similar conversation when I first started dancing. After a month or so she came to realize that the 'stereotype' stripper stuff she had seen in movies and on TV isn't always true. And after 3 months, when her boiler crapped out and she needed to borrow $1500 on a weekend to replace it, and the only person in the family who could lay their hands on that kind of instant cash was her li'l ol' 'stripper' daughter, we came to an entirely new understanding and mutual respect.
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Re: Has stripping been worth it...?
I am in no way an expert on stripping but here's my advice.
1.Go into this business with CLEAR goals.
2.If you're in school, always put that first.
3.Don't try to compete with the lifestyle of some of the other girls (i.e. feel the need to buy a great new car or new purse or new "insert word here").
4.Know that you will be judged and it will hurt (especially when it's family or close friends) and that sometimes it'll feel like no one understands your perspective (except, of course, the girls here!).
5. No matter how long you decide to stay in the business, don't walk away with nothing to show for it.
6. Be very careful who you trust because when you have money, the evil in people can rear it's ugly face (a "friend" stole A LOT of money from me)
I guess what I'm trying to say in my little list here is this: You work the money and do not let the money work you.
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Re: Has stripping been worth it...?
I have always done very well dancing and I have enjoyed it, but I would never encourage a young woman to do it. Once your eyes are open to certain things you can never close them again, and for me that has been a very powerful thing. I sometimes feel like my mind is obliterated with things I really didn't need to see, hear, or do.
Dancing can be a huge mindfuck, and it can change your life in irreversible ways. Nothing could have prepared me for that. And while I have no regrets, I still think I would have been better served going in a different direction. Money is only one of the things you'll get while dancing, and it's the most transient. For most dancers the money is easy come and easy go. The other stuff will stay with you forever. I can look at it objectively now and I can take the good and leave the bad, but I wasn't able to do that for a very long time.
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Re: Has stripping been worth it...?
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Originally Posted by Miami
...what do ya'll think i should say to her to get her thinkin like me??..i need some good points...
Why not invite your mom to come onto SW? She'll get to meet some of the best and the brightest dancers from all over the world, and see how they share their stories and "best practices" with each other.
Also, by reading the threads, she'll get to meet the women on here. Hopefully she'll get to relate to them on a different level and learn that dancers are more than just a compilation of stylized stereotypes.
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Another suggestion might be to ask your mom for a "trial period". In most cases you'll get hired by a club as an independent contractor with no obligations and free to leave as quickly as you started. Why not offer to test drive the idea for a while. See if you like it, and if it meets your expectations, monetary and/or otherwise. Then if you want to stay with it, hopefully you'll be in a better position to convince your mom that you can make dancing a positive thing for you.
One last thought...I think your mom should be awefully proud of how she raised you, and how you're willing to include her in this decision. Many young dancers would be too afraid to share this decision with their parents. Some hide it, or even lie about it. At least you had the courage to talk with your mom open and honestly. That should at least give your mother some confidence that you'll keep her informed, and that you'll be less likely to let the negative aspects of the industry get to you.
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Re: Has stripping been worth it...?
It was totally worth it for me!! It paid off almost $20,000 in student loans, money put away for the future education of my 14 & 16 yr old. It helped pay for a brand new home, 2 new vehicles...and my piece of mind knowing I do not have to work anymore thanks to a wonderful portfolio!!
But keep in mind, this is done with a great deal of focus. Know your priorities, know the difference between your priorities and your job...and lastly, know your job is not your lifestyle!
Dancing is a means to an end. If you get involved knowing that you are getting out, it makes it that much easier to keep the money you make.
It was stated above, your eyes are opened to many different things in this business, whether you like it or not! In my career, I have witnessed 2 murders, 1 stabbing & 1 shooting, and 1 death by overdose. I cannot recall how many hospitalizations by overdose, or how many needles, or lines, or pills. But my girlfriend can tell you the same thing about her industry...she is a high school teacher.
As you can read...there are many success stories, they just are not announced as much as the unsucessfull ones!! It took me 5 years of showing them to my mother before she understood, and tolerated (not accepted) what I did!
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Re: Has stripping been worth it...?
it was worth it for me, overall. paid off some debt i had, financed part of my education, etc. it would have taken me longer to achieve my goals had i not danced, so i think of it as time well spent....that is after my initial newbie mistakes.
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Re: Has stripping been worth it...?
It helped me out a lot. I started dancing because I desperately needed money and although I had a lot of motivation and good grades, I wasn't able to find a job that paid more than min wage. I went from having like nothing at all, to being able to independently support myself, finish college, and support a MUCH SAFER lifestyle...safer lifestyle meaning that I was able to move into a safer(but more expensive) neighborhood than the ghetto I used to live in, buy a new car(as opposed to my old beater that was prone to breaking down), afford health insurance, afford nutritious food(not just Ramen!), and so on.
I became a dancer to pay for college, however I did NOT go to college to become a dancer; keeping this priority in mind was good motivation for me to put the money towards tuition and to finish school, as opposed to blowing the money on extra luxuries. I kept my college degree and career paths as big priorities. I've been viewing dancing as more of a temporary way to pay bills until I am further along in my career field, so this has helped me to stay focused on my career goals. Plus, having a safer/more secure lifestyle has boosted my self esteem and self confidence a lot, which has helped me during job interviews. I always had horrible success with finding jobs prior to dancing, but as of recently I am finally starting to get hired by decent jobs that will actually lead somewhere. I plan to only dance until I make enough money at my new non-dancing jobs so that I will be able to sufficiently pay bills and build savings, without having to rely on money from dancing. This is what I'm doing, but everyone is different...for example, some people treat dancing as a job/career and are saving up enough money so that they will be able to retire and won't have to work a regular job again. Everyone is different.
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Re: Has stripping been worth it...?
I agree with verf!! Exactly what I was thinking! Invite your mom to the website!!
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Re: Has stripping been worth it...?
I think its worth it %100....
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Re: Has stripping been worth it...?
Very very worth it. For all the annoyance of 'being a stripper', I couldn't ask for a better life. I feel so blessed that I have the time and finances to pursue what I want.
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Re: Has stripping been worth it...?
I love the girls on here....you guys are so helpful !!! The replys have been very real and honest...I decided to just go for it, because when it comes time to pay those student loans i don't wanna regret not doin it....but before i start the job i want to add a question so i'll really be prepaired....
obviously most if not all the women here enjoy or have no problem with stripping, but at first did u feel like less of a woman in anyway or like u had a tail every1 could step on until u gained that confidence....and did it ever work as a disadvantage like preventing u from geting or doing something u needed to reach a goal??
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Re: Has stripping been worth it...?
For me it has been worth it 100% and I agree with the advice that has already been posted. especially the parts about saving and not getting caught up in the lifestyle that many of the girls you will be working with have.
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Re: Has stripping been worth it...?
It's been worth it for me. I'm a student too and there's no way I could live on my loan, absolutely no way. I make great money, far more than any other 20 year old I know including my friends that do modelling. I've started to save now, that's important, I try and put away a third of what I make. There are pittfals though, I got too up myself when I first started dancing and too into partying and coke, that's sorted now but I don't think I'll ever look at men the same way again, not that I liked them much before I started this job. Financially though it's been totally worth it. Good luck!
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Re: Has stripping been worth it...?
I have to say it has been worth it, too. It has enabled me to live the lifestyle I want without having to worry about not having enough money. I've saved a ton and spent some too of course. I always wanted braces growing up and stripping allowed me to do what my parents wouldn't-get my teeth fixed. (reminds me of the Sopranos episode "some girls want fake tits, some girls want nice teeth") I have a brand new Mustang and a nice townhouse for my daughter and I to live. I also enjoy being able to spend the week with my 11 mth old baby instead of being stuck at a 40 hr/week job. I only work Thur Sat and Sun. I plan on starting school in January since I will be almost out of my ARmy Reserve duty (everytime I planned on going to college I'd get deployed) :P I enjoy dancing, meetig new people and getting paid fairly well for it. It is mentally stressful sometimes but I have learned to block it out or laugh about it later. Who knows how it will effect me years down the road. For now, I'd say yes, definitely worth it. Just be smart with it. I don't drink, do drugs. Save as much as you can and stay away from the bad stuff. I've seen girls stick everything they make up thier nose or in their arm. Remember stripping is still a job, treat it like one. Good luck to you.
Krystal
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Re: Has stripping been worth it...?
Let's see... I have learnt what it is like to be in business for myself so that in itself is an invaluable lesson I can take with me elsewhere.... I have learnt about sales and that is a skill I can take with me elsewhere.... I have learnt alot about myself and humanity esp. the base primal behaviour of males (whilst still being very hetrosexual)....
Whilst I do not have a home (I rent) and alot of investments it is only because I am always re-investing into this business at this stage. Either with business cards, domain name registration, clothes (new and/or repairs), shoes having to be replaced (they don't come cheap here in Australia), fuel and other car related expenses (tho' deductible as I use it purely for work/business) and so on and so forth. It isn't cheap being in this business.
Now that I'm starting to do private party dancing, I'm hoping that I'll be able to have more time and/or money in the end to be able to start investing as such. I will eventually buy my own home however with the market being "not so great" right now and with another interest rate rise most likely on the horizon... I will wait. I would still rather rent right now.
Then again.. I'm only five years into all this... and plan on doing it for until I'm 35... I'm going 28 next month. Granted, I do have one investment however it won't pay out until much much later in my life.
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Re: Has stripping been worth it...?
I started a few months ago for the same reasons you stated too, and so far it's been worthwhile for me. I've been able to pay for school and have gained a lot of self-confidence and independence; I've also blown off my 8ams b/c I decided to work doubles till 3am a few times. What I mean to say is that it is SO worth it, and SO easy to get caught up in.
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Re: Has stripping been worth it...?
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most if not all the women here enjoy or have no problem with stripping, but at first did u feel like less of a woman in anyway or like u had a tail every1 could step on until u gained that confidence....and did it ever work as a disadvantage like preventing u from geting or doing something u needed to reach a goal??
It sounds like your 'puritan ethic' is whispering in your ear ! I'm not going to lie to you ... 'exposing yourself' to 'strange men' does take a psychological toll in one form or another - if you allow it to. I always dealt with this by telling myself that I'm a 'show business performer' ... which is arguably true ... and also that "I'm more woman than they'll ever get !" ... which for 99.99999% of club customers is the literal truth as well LOL !