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Thread: Does anyone else find amateur nights rough financially and psychologically?

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    Featured Member CuriousSeeker's Avatar
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    Default Does anyone else find amateur nights rough financially and psychologically?

    I struggle with amateur nights terribly. I just went through my second one after working a month at my club. It took a lot out of me. I wind up feeling rattled afterward - I can't easily articulate specifically how, but it's draining. [Clarification: I'm employed there. I'm not talking about doing these contests repeatedly.]

    My hustle didn't work, even when I adapted as much as I could for the younger, drunker, more hyper crowd typical of amateur nights. I had guys flat-out ignore me to the point of turning their backs on me. Each time, they were very young and/or not the type I would approach successfully anyhow, but hey, that's who was in front of me.

    My first month of stripping has taught me that I do consistently well in conversation and financially with men who fit a certain profile:
    • mature, whether they're 35 (which is quite young to me) or 75, as long as they don't have the "party hard, dude, let's get fucking trashed" sensibility; usually they're definitely over 45.
    • usually have their own business or have some position with a lot of independence; they may or may not be loaded as a result, but I noticed this kind of mindset in most of the guys who are most willing to spend on me.
    • have a primary partner with whom the sensuality (not necessarily sex), understanding and appreciation have gone downhill, or the partner is deceased (if any of these stories are true - who knows?).
    • want relaxation and nurturing, not "Hey, baby, SHOW ME YOUR TITS - WOOOO!"


    I've only had one guy who fit that profile skeeve me, and I could have controlled that situation better. Anyhow, these aren't the guys showing up to amateur nights, unless I'm missing something, so I'm at a disadvantage.

    Last night, it was frustrating not to sell even basic $20 topless dances (only three in a six-hour shift, and repeated variations of, "But I came for the show"/"I can't miss my friend on stage"/"I don't buy dances"/"I'm broke") when the place was truly packed. It was draining to notice the jackass behavior level definitely increased (nothing too terrible, but different from the vibes on most other nights), so I had more armor on and hung back more than I normally would on the floor.

    Does anyone have any tips, or can you see where I'm approaching this setting wrong from the start?

    We're required to work on amateur nights, so there are more in my future. I might as well try to make the most of it, especially if there's some way to turn it into a money night.

    I went into last night with lowered expectations as a buffer, but I'm not sure that's such a great approach, since I could be setting myself up for failure by thinking like that.

    The lemonade from lemons portion of this post:
    • Admittedly, I had more success this time than during the first amateur night I worked the floor, so I must have gotten better at my game.
    • I did relatively okay with stage tips. If nothing else, folks came prepared with ones, though it was definitely not a spendy night, even from folks I know by name who normally would buy.
    • I found an "oasis" with a few guys who tipped me for my time sitting with them and watching the show. Even though it made me feel lazy, getting some money while comfortably chatting with someone was better than getting no money while hustling hard (and yes, I tried to sell to the oasis guys more than once with no luck, though maybe I laid the groundwork for a future visit - le sigh). They came (apparently) with money for the stage as much as possible, but nothing one on one. For what it's worth, I noticed they didn't get dances from anyone else (I think).
    • One of the dances I got was from a guy with whom I spent a good chunk of time during the last amateur night, so I guess that finally paid off lol. I don't see him except for those events.
    Last edited by CuriousSeeker; 05-09-2008 at 02:03 PM. Reason: clarification
    "Don't piss off a motivated stripper."


  2. #2
    Senior Member kittytheflamingo's Avatar
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    Default Re: Does anyone else find amateur nights rough financially and psychologically?

    I have noticed this problem with weekends and the pornstar appearances at my club. I have the same customer profile, and its hard to get the young ones. Just remember, it only takes one guy to make your night, and whatever you do walk with, its more than you came in with. If you want to understand this crowd, watch MTV- it all makes sense when you realize our media tells these guys to act like this.

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    Featured Member CuriousSeeker's Avatar
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    Default Re: Does anyone else find amateur nights rough financially and psychologically?

    Thanks, Kitty, it's good to know I'm not alone.

    I'm convinced that there's only so much you can do about your ideal customer profile because there's only so much you can do about *you*: I can fuss with hair, make-up and outfits, but at some point, I'm selling what's me, and the intangibles that make me unique. It's that stuff that gives me my strongest customer profile. The wanna-be ballers and frat boys aren't gonna go for it.

    Interestingly, my second type of customer is a 20-30 something; nerdy or geeky or somewhat hippy-ish (not to be confused with hipsters); prone to the artsy-fartsy, intellectual or academic side of things; extremely single or disconnected from the closeness and laughter they'd get from a girlfriend.

    Porn star nights are just as bad, eh? I suspected as much, but then again, it seems the conventions for porn stars are populated with all age ranges, so I guessed SCs would be too. I'm still going to work that night just to see, and also because I hate admitting defeat entirely on these kinds of nights LOL!

    Winning exchanges (not offensive or abusive, just frustrating):

    Me, after sitting with him for a couple songs as amateurs twirl by: "Are we going for our dance now?"
    Him (who spends, and whom I know by name): "I'll do the two-for-one with you during the break from the amateurs."
    I wind up on stage during that special. Then I return to him.
    Me: "Sorry I missed you. It was my turn. How about our dance now?"
    Him: "No, I only wanted the 2-for-1."

    Me, after sitting a little bit and chit-chatting: "Ready for a dance?"
    Him (another guy): "I'm forbidden."
    Me: "Forbidden fruit is best."
    Him: "Nah my wife will kill me."

    Me: another hustle
    Him (another guy): "I'm not that kind of guy."

    Me: another hustle
    Him (another guy with his arm around my shoulder): "Here's a tip ($2) for letting me rub your shoulder. Maybe we'll do a dance later."

    Me: another hustle
    Him (another guy with his bud): "I'm too broke, but here's $10 if you'll talk about your Irish Catholic background with us." (They also stage-tipped well, so nun talk it was.)

    Me: another hustle with another guy who gave me my closest experience to a money shower during two separate sets
    Him: "I only have enough for stage tips. That's what I'm here for tonight. We can VIP another time. I'll come back."
    Me: "Not even just a $20 dance that's up close and personal?"
    Him: "Nah, but I'll be the president of your fan club."

    whatever you do walk with, its more than you came in with
    Good point. When I have a crap time with anything - like a bad work-out, a bad consultation or a bad money night for stripping - I tell myself, "Something is better than nothing."
    Last edited by CuriousSeeker; 05-09-2008 at 09:13 PM.
    "Don't piss off a motivated stripper."


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    Featured Member CuriousSeeker's Avatar
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    Default Re: Does anyone else find amateur nights rough financially and psychologically?

    Also, I should have been talking up Amateur Night well in advance to the guys who like me. I should have asked them to come in that night since I would definitely have plenty of time for them lol.
    "Don't piss off a motivated stripper."


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    Default Re: Does anyone else find amateur nights rough financially and psychologically?

    ^ that's probably a good idea.

    if the club makes it mandatory, it's probably because no one wants to work because it's a shitty night. i'd personally go in expecting it to suck, i'd "wanna dance" indifferently (which is completely unnatural to me, but sometimes necessary), and do my best to be whatever awful stereotype the guys expect of us. consider it your lazy night.

    the funny thing is that guys like that go there hoping to see "real girls" go wild, when it's usually just strippers from other clubs and stuff. funny.

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    Featured Member CuriousSeeker's Avatar
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    Default Re: Does anyone else find amateur nights rough financially and psychologically?

    i'd personally go in expecting it to suck, i'd "wanna dance" indifferently (which is completely unnatural to me, but sometimes necessary), and do my best to be whatever awful stereotype the guys expect of us. consider it your lazy night.
    True, I guess some you just have to write off. Thanks for the support.

    the funny thing is that guys like that go there hoping to see "real girls" go wild, when it's usually just strippers from other clubs and stuff. funny.
    And even when the guys are perfectly aware of that, there's still the thrill of the idea and seeing new girls.
    "Don't piss off a motivated stripper."


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    Featured Member noelle's Avatar
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    Default Re: Does anyone else find amateur nights rough financially and psychologically?

    Ugh, that doesn't sound like a fun situation. At my old club, I would never work amateur nights because of all the cheapos that just came to see their friends... but amateur night was usually over by 10, so the rest of the night could be good. Usually all the girls would give up on selling dances and just watch the amateurs.

    So amateur night lasts ALL night? and EVERYONE must work that one night? Ugh! I'd wannadance a little bit but probably spend most of my time with a book in the dressing room
    Quote Originally Posted by lokikola View Post
    If success meant being savage my woes would disappear.

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    Featured Member CuriousSeeker's Avatar
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    Default Re: Does anyone else find amateur nights rough financially and psychologically?

    Quote Originally Posted by noelle View Post
    Ugh, that doesn't sound like a fun situation. At my old club, I would never work amateur nights because of all the cheapos that just came to see their friends... but amateur night was usually over by 10, so the rest of the night could be good. Usually all the girls would give up on selling dances and just watch the amateurs.

    So amateur night lasts ALL night? and EVERYONE must work that one night? Ugh! I'd wannadance a little bit but probably spend most of my time with a book in the dressing room
    I started at 8 pm, when the amateur crowd started arriving. I think there were 8 or more contestants, and things got rolling around 9:30 or soon thereafter, IIRC. There are some breaks in between contestants in which house dancers go on stage and 2-four-1 dances by house dancers are offered, and then the contestants are back on, up until the dance-off between first and second place. That ended by. . . 11:45 or so.

    Still, the crowd remaining until 2 am was still full of the contestants' friends and people who like watching amateurs specifically. Not exactly a night of flowing money. Amateur Night technically doesn't last the entire night, but its effects do.

    I understand the need for the publicity and booze sales, so I hope my club made out incredibly well.
    "Don't piss off a motivated stripper."


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