




This is exactly it. Although my preference is to have some sort of part time job or internship while dancing to keep my head on straight and remind myself of what "regular" jobs are like, I don't think I'll give up dancing until I've gotten what I want out of it--bachelors degree finished and paid for, and a solid, profitable business. A business has been my goal for the last 3 years, and is the reason I started dancing. Not achieving that goal would be the biggest disappointment, but I don't see why I won't be able to do it. However, I can definitely see myself coming back to dancing after I'm done with it if need be--accident, laid off, surprise expenses, knowing that you have that source of immediate high income until you're older and hopefully more financially secure is nice.








Heh, I guess asking a question about ex-strippers who no longer have anything to do with stripping on a stripping forum isn't going to net a lot of answers, the whole preaching to the choir concept and all.
Anyone on this forum is still going to be involved in the life a little![]()



I dropped out of college after my freshman year. My life took an unexpected turn and I haven't gotten around to finishing my degree. That being said, I have a string of old classmates that have been graduating in the last few years with various degrees and none of them are doing what they intended on doing. One is using her fancy bachelors degree to work at Starbucks...another at Payless.
Education is basically gained for personal satisfaction, IMHO.





^^^ indeed there are many girls who still post but no longer dance in clubs ... like myself ! That does not mean that we're totally out of touch with what's happening in clubs or in the economy in general.
Yes, in principle, a college degree is a 'positive' achievement. However, in today's economy, it is now necessary to compare the cost of obtaining a particular college degree ( both in terms of tuition as well as in terms of 'lost opportunity cost' i.e. studying when you could have been working and earning money ) against the probable return on investment i.e. what sort of job will be available after graduation at what sort of pay rate and working conditions.
While I don't want to 'politicize' this forum or thread in any way, it is a simple statement of fact that many of the career paths that have in the past provided lucrative professional careers for women are becoming increasingly 'troubled'. Among these are health care services, teaching, etc. Much of the total spending in these areas originates with gov't funds ... and as the economy fails to improve those gov't funds become more and more scarce. This is beginning to translate into pink slips for the most recently hired workers, and more workload distributed among the remaining workers. This in turn translates into very few openings for new graduates, plus stiff competition from experienced workers who have been laid off.
To make this point allow me to provide a theoretical example. Two girls graduate high school at the same time. One chooses to become a serious full time dancer. For the next four years she earns at least $ 1500 a week ... and after taxes and costs of living manages to 'save' $ 500 a week. At the end of those four years she has no debt, and $100,000 in savings and investments. The other girl chooses to attend an 'affordable' college full time working toward say a teaching degree, while dancing 2 nights a week to defray expenses. Assuming her dancing earnings exactly equal her college costs, at the end of four years she graduates with zero debt, but also with zero savings and investments ... and in reality, next to zero chance of being hired into a full time teaching position.
Or a different permutation ... where the second girl attends a 'name' college working toward a teaching degree, while dancing 2 nights a week. In this case, her dancing earnings aren't sufficient to cover her college costs thus she graduates 4 years later with perhaps $40,000 in student loan debt. Granted that her 'name' college credentials make it more likely that she will be hired into an entry level full time teaching position ... that pays $40,000 a year. Even if she lives like a hermit to pay down her student loan debt over the course of the next 4 years, this leads to a scenario where she 'breaks even' after a total of 8 years. In the meantime, the first girl has accumulated $200,000+ in savings and investments based on her full time dancing earnings over the course of the same 8 years.
The above is the 'meat' of the principle of 'lost opportunity cost'. Unfortunately, for most people, this very real 'lost opportunity cost' goes unseen and unrecognized.
Obviously the counter-argument can be made that, beyond the 8 year point, the second girl with the 'name' college teaching degree and a full time secure teaching job will eventually surpass the first girl ... who at some point will be forced to quit dancing and thus facing very few straight job employment options in the absence of a college degree. Point 1 is that after say 16 years of full time dancing, while reinvesting interest and dividend earnings, the first girl would have accumulated $500,000+ in savings and investments ... which in and of themselves are capable of passively producing at least $25,000 in annual income 'forever' via interest, dividend and capital gains earnings. Thus to 'break even' versus the second girl's full time teacher's salary, the first girl only needs to work at a job that pays her the 'difference' i.e. $40k - $25k = $15k per year ... which is a no-brainer. Point 2 is that the first girl also has the option open to attend college herself after she retires from dancing ... which in turn would provide her with a very recent degree from a 'name' college without the burden of student loan debt, thus the best opportunity to be hired for whatever entry level positions are available in whatever professional field that is in demand at that point in time.
And at the moment, the worst probable scenario is the second girl who earned a degree from an affordable 'state' college or 'online' college ... which, regardless of actual fact re relative quality of education, will be looked down upon by prospective employers versus 'name' college graduates and/or currently unemployed previous graduates with actual work experience when applicants are evaluated for entry level positions. In today's economy, it would appear that the 'lost opportunity costs' far outweigh the probable future return on investment.
~
Last edited by Melonie; 04-21-2011 at 02:53 AM.





This is exactly why I dont feel a tinge of regret for not going to college after high school. A couple of years ago, my best friend and I were talking about whatnot and she mentioned how much she has left to pay off on her student loans. I was like...say what?! I really have no concept of student loans or how all that works, or even typical jobs and pay/insurance/etc... and yeah, it blew me away that here she was in her 30's and still has a 5 figure debt to pay off (and there I was stressing over my measly 2k debt)
Plus like most of my friends, shes not even working in the field she got her degree in, doesnt particularly like her job, and she has to pay for her medical insurance...I always assumed that came with having a full time job but have since learned that comes out of your paycheck too and its expensive! Especially compared to what they are getting paid!
Only three of my friends that Im in touch with got a job in their degree field...two that are teachers and one that is a scientist. And with the exception of the scientist...they all made just about or less than what I did. The only difference between us is they are all either married or in long term relationships, and so have a partner to help share/split costs with which makes for a bigger household income.
And not to be any kind of way, cause I do love my friends dearly, but I think it has made a difference in how we take care of ourselves. Like its always in the back of my mind even when Im not actively in the business that Ill return to it, and I always do. Im not in the best shape or where Id love to be, but Im constantly mindful of what shape Im in and take care not to let myself go. My friends on the other hand...well, Ill just say not so mindful.
Now that is not at all to knock a college degree...they are by all appearances happy with where they are save for the debt they are still paying off and disgruntlement that they dont have the job they set out for when they started college...and I do wonder if I had gone to school, if I would have been so lucky to be married and have the family life I always wanted... But even so I am thankful that I didnt go down that path... I wouldnt be very happy with everything else that comes with it at all.





I don't really have job experience in anything but retail and stripping, so I'd be starting out at the low end of the food chain, even with a bachelor's degree... maybe I haven't been looking hard enough, but I've had a hard time finding a full time, decent paying job that I'm qualified for.
True. Working in a strip club (at least where I work??) is a lot more lenient than other jobs, though -- I don't have someone over my shoulder criticizing what I'm doing, I can come in whenever I want, and I'm not responsible for anyone but myself.Originally Posted by miabella



Some dancers I work with are taking longer than the usual "2 to 4 yrs" to graduate from college- because they're trying to pay their own way by stripping on the side (and in some cases, also working another job and/or maintaining their own small business).
After graduation they intend to shift their focuses onto their small business/side career (massage therapist, clothing designer, etc.) or get into their field of study, and/or find ways to incorporate their degree into their pre-existing career/business (for instance, open their own storefront or office or get a better job in the medical field than the one they have now). I think it's pretty smart to have all those elements working together.
Personally, I've dropped outta school twice because I just can't figure out what the hell I wanna do in the future, and by the time I finish paying off all my pre-existing debt (which is a lot), get a car, take care of some medical stuff, etc. and quit dancing maybe, MAYBE I'll feel like going back to school, or have decided on something to go to school for.





my best friend and I were talking about whatnot and she mentioned how much she has left to pay off on her student loans. I was like...say what?! I really have no concept of student loans or how all that works, or even typical jobs and pay/insurance/etc... and yeah, it blew me away that here she was in her 30's and still has a 5 figure debt to pay off (and there I was stressing over my measly 2k debt)
Plus like most of my friends, shes not even working in the field she got her degree in, doesnt particularly like her job, and she has to pay for her medical insurance...I always assumed that came with having a full time job but have since learned that comes out of your paycheck too and its expensive! Especially compared to what they are getting paid!
Only three of my friends that Im in touch with got a job in their degree field...two that are teachers and one that is a scientist. And with the exception of the scientist...they all made just about or less than what I did.
I'm not sure this appeared in all editions, but this morning's USA Today had a very poignant article with the headline blurb being that employers are increasing 'white collar' job offers. However, wading through the details, what this really means is that, where there were 41 applicants for every available US 'white collar' job last year, this year there are 'only' 21 applicants for every available US 'white collar' job. Or put another way, today's new college graduates need to convince prospective employers that THEY should be chosen over a mere 20 other applicants.
Another part of the article was discussing the fact that opportunities for PhD grads is even worse. This year only about 37% of PhD's are working in secure full time jobs ... mostly at colleges, gov't institutes, or private industry. New PhD grads were warned that the typical job offer they will receive will amount to $40,000 a year so and will involve a non-tenured position as a research assistant or a community college instructor. That's a very tough bone to swallow given that many of the new PhD grads are carrying 6 years of tuition worth of student loan debt.
Yup, I did it! I danced for 5 years while paying for the end of my undergrad and then my law degree...I'm now a lawyer, working for the government, and quit stripping. With a salary above average compared to many of my classmates, yet i STILL miss dancing so much! (In fact I'll write a thread about this soon...) I had a hard time adjusting financially, although I should, in theory, make enough money to raise two kids on my own and have my own house, car, etc...I had a hard time to "make ends meet" with my new salary compared to the lifestyle I had while dancing.
Also, my "normal" job seems so boring compared to what my life was before...Being a lawyer was everything I ever wanted, and I should't complain since I worked so hard at it but damn.........sometimes I just miss the flexibility and excitement of stripping.
I can't go back to stripping part time though because it could very easily compromise my career...boohoo.





Exactly Melonie...I have heard it a lot lately, even from guys I know with a Phd that its not worth getting one unless youre going into teaching or research, and that those jobs wont pay enough to make it worth it moreless pay off the education you needed to get the job and still be able to live comfortably.
Even as far as saying, all an advanced degree means nowadays is that someone was either too scared to go out into the world and just stayed a student as long as they could, or they do it for personal benefit and just like to learn... But definitely not for the opportunities because beyond getting a bachelors, there really arent any. Even with a masters you wont get the same ops if you just got your bachelors unless you have many years experience in that particular field under your belt already.
I would like to continue on to get my bachelors because there is a job I have always been interested in which requires it, but a part of me wonders if it will ever really happen. And that even if it does, I get disgruntled because of the pay and come back to adult biz anyway.




I did it and I still dance part-time, (this year very part-time maybe one week total this year). I had one degree down before I started dancing because my parents wouldn't let me out of the house until I had one. (They payed for it, it was fashion based). I then transferred to a state college to get my B.A. and that's when I started dancing part-time.
A few years later, I got a 2 year theatrical arts degree at a conservatory. I paid with this w/ my dancing and ironically, it's with this degree that my other career was born. So, yes, I have worked and still do in the industry of my choice (entertainment). My man exec produced a film that is being released on Aug. 5th and I've been traveling to film fests helping with marketing. The film is called "Bellflower" and you can see a mini-trailer on imdb.com. We sold at a profit and through our work we were able to put almost $20K in our IRA this year. So, I've been working mainly in marketing this year, but I usually work in pre-production. I command my own salary, but it is a huge hussle and argument to get it. But I do love dancing and I don't want to fully quit until someone yells to get "the grandma off the stage",![]()
(Formerly known as 'Korina')





I am one of those. I started stripping to pay for college then when I got a degree in my fields (radio and pr)I went to part time dancing, then completely left club dancing. I still did bachelor parties though on the side. For me it went from a job to pay for college, to a career, to a way to pay bills until I could find a corporate job. I did not want to be the older stripper we all know who have no other options. I also realized that I didn't want to be a "star" like I did a few years earlier.
However now I am not working in the field I went to college for but that is mostly due to the economy.
I will say though that I know a few strippers who got degrees only to return to dancing. They couldn't find jobs in the "real" world so they returned. Others realized that you probably will never make what you did dancing. Even now, as long as I've been working in the corporate world have I made anything close to what I did dancing. However, it was stable money and insurance.
ETA: I was going to post this in another thread but it fits here about this one retired dancer. During her dancing career (90's-2000's I believe) she was a feature performer and a showgirl of the year at the Admiral Theatre. She retired to start her own animal photography business and last year she came back to Admiral to judge a showgirl contest. From what I've found about her she was one of the successful retired dancers.
Last edited by Kellydancer; 04-23-2011 at 04:30 PM.





I know of a few that are doing this. I also know a few who have a career job but still dance a few shifts a week or a month for extra money but, to be honest, I know many dancers in their mid to late 30's who got the degree, tried the real world career path and came back to dancing. The money and the freedom were enough of an incentive to cause them to delay their entry into the 9 to 5 world.
When I first started going to clubs I heard most girls say that they wanted to be done by the time they hit 25. Then it became 30. Nowadays I know women who intend to dance to 40 and beyond. Honestly, as long as they take care of themselves there is no reason why they can't. All of my favs are over 30 and all of them are very solid earners.
I danced while in college and after college for just a bit. I received my BSBA many years ago...decided to get a traditional job. I was in Real Estate for over 15 years and made a decent living. However, I did marry someone who loved to spend money. So in the long run, I only had $100K in the bank by the time the RE bubble burst and my own home over $500k upside down. I lost EVERYTHING!
I've started over again last year working a traditional job that barely paid $80K but I worked my ass off...in the tunes of over 80 hrs a week, traveling away from home with absolutely no days off (not even weekends or most holidays). I wished I had found out about camming much earlier on. I dabbled in camming last year but my work schedule would not give me much time to be on cam because I was literally exhausted from my regular job. My hubby lost his income so I was the only one supporting us and didn't want to lose the security of medical insurance and somewhat of a steady income.
Things are finally turning around for us and I'm able to start looking for other work which is why I'm here...I'm tired of working for jerks who expect you to give up your life to make them rich. I may not get rich camming, but at least I won't be a slave for someone else!
Yes. I was a stripper for just over 14 years and now I'm a litigation attorney. When I retired my three closest friends at the club left shortly after me. One is now a program director in a national non-profit, one is a registered nurse in a neo-natal care unit, and another is a successful stockbroker.
But it is hard to transition. I miss the attention. Check out my introduction in the "coming out" forum and you'll see how I'm dealing with it.




I stripped my way through university, and have a degree (and a postgraduate degree) but went back to stripping as it paid better.
Plus I was pregnant and needed quick cash to buy a house and take a few years off work.
(I was in a club until 6 months(when i couldn't hid my belly), then in a peepshow for the last 8 weeks before I left work altogether)
Theres no sense crying over every mistake,
you just keep on trying till you run out of cake
I was planning on quitting after school when I started dancing. Now that I'm done with one Bachelor's, I've decided I want to pursue another one which I am more likely to want to turn into a career. I'll quit dancing when I don't want to do it anymore, whether that's before or after I'm finished with school.
My stripper mom graduated from art school, danced for about another year, and has since quit dancing to work as an artist at a design company
Another dancer I worked with graduated with her business degree and is now working her way up in a straight job.
One of my friends is finishing up her physical fitness training degree and is saving as much as possible before her graduation so she can quit and fully focus on that once school is over.
Another friend has pretty much quit already even though she's not quite done with school yet, because she saved enough money to support herself while she looks for massage therapy clients.
So I'd say the percentage of people in my life who have finished school and are still stripping is lower than those who have moved on, but the plural of anecdotes isn't data. Just my experience![]()
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