I dance near my hometown. I've seen about 4 people I knew.
#1 couldn't ascertain that it was for sure me, though he did crane his head and stare a lot, and I kept my distance.
#2 has not recognized me, despite that I taught his dance class several times... he tips me every time he comes in, too.
#3 stared, walked up to my stage and said "Did you used to work for so-and-so's ABC Dance?" I raised an eyebrow, and said "noooooo..." like he was the idiot. He blushed, apologized profusely, but then stared at me all night anyway

#4 was a high school friend, along with some guy I had met once. I walked right up and said hi. HE was uncomfortable and barely looked me in the eye, blamed his friend for wanting to come in. He was sitting next to a satellite stage and by my customer, so he ended up buying dances from my friend seemingly so he didn't have to look at me while I was there. They left promptly afterward.
It's a personal thing how you handle it. I only hide it on job applications and when I don't feel like answering questions. Otherwise I have very little shame, am ballsy as fuck, and am a master at twisting things around on people. If anybody ever tried to 'out' me, I'd be like "Uh YOU were in the club buying dances... you're equally at fault for participating in the industry." The club is MY territory and THEY have to explain to ME what they're doing, is how I see it.
You have to know that you are doing NOTHING wrong, this is a legit job and you can't buy into the slut-shaming thing. "Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent" is applicable here. Anybody who would give you shit is either stuck in the 1950s or just a jealous, miserable person.
Bookmarks