Veterans. Then and now. Changes?

[SexyStella]

Ok. August 8th 2004 I worked my first shift at a stripclub. So today is my 14 year anniversary.
I don’t know why this popped in to my head but last night I started thinking about my baby stripping years and how it was back then compared to how the business is now.

I would love to hear from fellow veterans (8+years) about changes, back in the day etc.

the biggest differences I see is,
- Club rules were actually fallowed. If not, suspension or fired.
- NO extras. Minimal touching.
- VERY rare that girls did OTC. If you got caught you got a nasty reputation.
- Telephonenumbers were strictly forbidden to be exchanged.
- You had to be on time, make up and hair ready.
- No smartphones so slow nights felt like an eternity.
- Actually taking pride in your stage show. I guess kind of like feature dancers today. We had multiple costumes. Usually matching the music we were dancing to. Like military outfit for GnR - civil war etc.
- Ordering your clothes from catalogs.
- I remember when YouTube came along and all the girls would gather around the club computer looking at videos from Bobbie’s pole studio in Australia and we were just in aaaawww...

Oh, I’ll be celebrating my anniversary by working. 😂

[Adrienne7]

Yep I remember one girl was the one who always brought in the old-school printed shoe catalog and we would do a group order. Girls were fired for being late. This was a peep show with hourly pay, so back when Seattle still had a peep show I miss those days.

[Nyla19]

I don't miss the militant rules anymore. Back when money was easy I was fine with strict rules but not anymore. I won't work at places that are really strict about clothing and penalties because I think they don't provide a good working environment for us. And struggling some weeknights to make $200- $400 isn't enough for me to allow them to treat me like an indentured servant. That being said, the business has completely changed in so many ways. Mostly, a fraction of what I used to make, blatant extras and so many OTC. The whole thing is really a shit show.

[Ifyouseekamy]

Lol...I started in 2004 but took a 5 year break-married. So I Danaced before the recession. I was 18 am made at least $400 on Sunday night doing NOTHING- I didn’t even ask for dances.Yeah, the were no extras-at least no one was open about it.

[Nyla19]

Btw Happy Anniversary SexyStella!!! I hope you have a profitable night tonight. May the stripper Gods make it rain on you.

[random stripper]

I don't miss the militant rules anymore. Back when money was easy I was fine with strict rules but not anymore. I won't work at places that are really strict about clothing and penalties because I think they don't provide a good working environment for us. And struggling some weeknights to make $200- $400 isn't enough for me to allow them to treat me like an indentured servant. That being said, the business has completely changed in so many ways. Mostly, a fraction of what I used to make, blatant extras and so many OTC. The whole thing is really a shit show.

That is why I hate schedules. Those #s are really nothing worth working a schedule and putting up with this shit for. Hell there are clubs with even less money than that that try and do schedules. Ridiculous.

Granted I'm no vet and should probably stay off here haha

[jasmine22]

I think it’s great that dancers are finally standing up for themselves with scheduling and overly controlling management. I think a lot of strip clubs have turned into bars/nightclubs with dancers as an afterthought. I think it’s harder sometimes to get the customers attention because they are treating the club as a hangout place. I also notice that girls are not as glammed up or take care of their bodies like they did in the past. But this really varies in diff parts of the country too.

[Ifyouseekamy]

Yep I remember one girl was the one who always brought in the old-school printed shoe catalog and we would do a group order. Girls were fired for being late. This was a peep show with hourly pay, so back when Seattle still had a peep show I miss those days.

That sounds so fun. I get guys want sex-duh, but A peep show sounds so legit entertainment.

[Nyla19]

That is why I hate schedules. Those #s are really nothing worth working a schedule and putting up with this shit for. Hell there are clubs with even less money than that that try and do schedules. Ridiculous.

Granted I'm no vet and should probably stay off here haha

You might not be a vet. But you know what the deal is so you're a vet by default. LOL! And the club I mentioned doesn't have a schedule. Phew!

[Nyla19]

I think it’s great that dancers are finally standing up for themselves with scheduling and overly controlling management. I think a lot of strip clubs have turned into bars/nightclubs with dancers as an afterthought. I think it’s harder sometimes to get the customers attention because they are treating the club as a hangout place. I also notice that girls are not as glammed up or take care of their bodies like they did in the past. But this really varies in diff parts of the country too.

This is true. The club I mentioned in this post has a huge bar. Lots of guys come in to just drink or that's what they say. And everyone there seems to spend a lot of money on their looks. Not that anyone should. But I would say most dancers have some kind of plastic surgery, hair, lash extensions, full makeup, nails. It's pretty sad how much we spend to work in this biz. And the owners and customers take advantage of us trying to make a living. I do think that guys prefer BBL in this part of the country. These seem to be the dancers that get dances very easily lately here. Also, I agree with you. It's great that we are speaking up about being taken advantage of even if it's only on here. It is an open forum and I do know a club owner that seems very familiar with this site. I think he comes on here a lot but would never admit it.




**** I'm def burned out lately! It happens.

[Winged Dinghy]

I started in 2008 but took a six-year break in there. Here are the changes I noticed when I came back. I have mostly danced in the greater New Orleans area.

1. The number of clubs in my area drastically decreased, from 23 to 13. That was partly due to police raids and partly due to lack of business, I think.

2. The political climate was never friendly toward sex workers, but it feels actively hostile now.

3. Social media has become a great tool for strippers to promote themselves, normalize their work and unify/organize to fight for their rights.

4. Outfits have gotten cuter, and there are way more options thanks to sites like Etsy. I love that I can order from house mom seamstresses worldwide.

5. When I started in 2008, there was a sense that the golden days of the 1990s and early 2000s were behind us, and that money would never be as good as it was then. I started dancing during the recession and people thought their money was bad then. It's worse now.

6. Pole dance studios have become way more of a thing, and pole dancers wear stripper shoes now?!?!?! They used to differentiate themselves by going barefoot but now they're happily clacking away while proclaiming #notastripper

7. Stripper makeup (fake lashes, heavy contour, highlight, bronzer, fake nails) is now the mainstream standard.

8. In my area at least, extras have actually become less rampant, thanks to the aforementioned police raids. Lap dances involve less contact.

9. BBLs are the new boob jobs.

10. SESTA/FOSTA took away all the weird gigs I used as side hustles. RIP Craigslist adult section.

11. Exchanging numbers and texting with regulars seems a lot more common. It used to be that you neeever gave out your number.

[chanzep]

I started in August 2004 too not sure what date. back then where I worked London touching was a extra, I saw new girls being fired for only slight touching and you could not be spread eagle or put your foot on chairs but the club was busy with money. clubs were strict on everything esp schedules I remember girls coming in sick ugh. Everyone was hiding their job from loved ones too, no way would we have put it on the internet. Also back then I could tell other strippers because they had a look. Club had higher standards too I remember going on diets to audition at new clubs. also most customers were serious not just going to the club and women were rare too. Now seems like the opposite.

[Angelica21]

Pimps- Pimps- Pimps!!!:

[Luxx78]

Lusty Lady!!! The 1st club I ever worked at. I was in SF though. So much fun!

[SexyStella]

I don't miss the militant rules anymore. Back when money was easy I was fine with strict rules but not anymore. I won't work at places that are really strict about clothing and penalties because I think they don't provide a good working environment for us. And struggling some weeknights to make $200- $400 isn't enough for me to allow them to treat me like an indentured servant. That being said, the business has completely changed in so many ways. Mostly, a fraction of what I used to make, blatant extras and so many OTC. The whole thing is really a shit show.

I sometimes wonder if the militant rules would clean out the trash but I doubt it. I it’s a shit show for sure. The fantasies we used to sell are now being sold as realities for very cheap.

[SexyStella]

Yep I remember one girl was the one who always brought in the old-school printed shoe catalog and we would do a group order. Girls were fired for being late. This was a peep show with hourly pay, so back when Seattle still had a peep show I miss those days.

I think the catalog-group-ordering-thing helped us stay glamorous and in shape. There was no way I would’ve ordered something that wasn’t WOW with a bunch of girls next to me judging my every order. And had I been out of shape and tried to order something I would’ve been told it wouldn’t suit me or “you should work out a little so you can wear it”.
Now girls go online and get comfortable ugly shit without thinking about what a man would think of it.
Our goal back then was to look like fantasies and look as good as possible. Today you can just put on cotton panties and unflattering bra and go sell realities instead of fantasies like before. Different times.

I also worked at a peep show. LOVED it.

[SexyStella]

I started in August 2004 too not sure what date. back then where I worked London touching was a extra, I saw new girls being fired for only slight touching and you could not be spread eagle or put your foot on chairs but the club was busy with money. clubs were strict on everything esp schedules I remember girls coming in sick ugh. Everyone was hiding their job from loved ones too, no way would we have put it on the internet. Also back then I could tell other strippers because they had a look. Club had higher standards too I remember going on diets to audition at new clubs. also most customers were serious not just going to the club and women were rare too. Now seems like the opposite.

������������ This!! Yes!! Exactly!! This is EXACTLY how it was. I miss it so much!

[SexyStella]

Btw, what ever happened to boob jobs?! Like, what happened to the pornstar look? If you ask men it’s not out of date.
Did they all retire? I’m one of 2 at my current club. The rest is flat chested, big booty brunettes. Most of them out of shape.

The whole bbl instagram Kim K is not always very flattering.

Edit, I do like it on some girls though. Like Lani Blair and Graciii3 on instagram looks absolutely amazing. But they’re bartenders competing with dancers. Another thing that never would’ve been accepted back then.

[SexyStella]

Btw Happy Anniversary SexyStella!!! I hope you have a profitable night tonight. May the stripper Gods make it rain on you.

Thank you! ������

[SexyStella]

I started in 2008 but took a six-year break in there. Here are the changes I noticed when I came back. I have mostly danced in the greater New Orleans area.

2. The political climate was never friendly toward sex workers, but it feels actively hostile now.

4. Outfits have gotten cuter, and there are way more options thanks to sites like Etsy. I love that I can order from house mom seamstresses worldwide.


8. In my area at least, extras have actually become less rampant, thanks to the aforementioned police raids. Lap dances involve less contact.

10. SESTA/FOSTA took away all the weird gigs I used as side hustles. RIP Craigslist adult section..

2, it’s hostile today because back then we were just exotic dancers now we’re “sex workers” with a lot of extras going on both on the inside and outside of clubs. Back then it was just considered immoral.
This whole thing with calling us sex workers. Are we really? And when did that change? I would never call myself a sex worker. I’m an exotic dancer, stripper dancer... Not judging it’s just not what I identify my work as.

4, I’ve only seen the girls smoking outside of clubs in New Orleans but to me their outfits are definitely not cute. Tacky. Tu-tu skirts with leg warmers and neon bikinis. Back in the day we had to rely on catalogs and then with the internet came sites like howcool and snaz75. We had costumes, nurses, military, cats etc. we wore sexy lingerie sets like bodysuits, half cup bras, garters, sexy expensive looking gowns, chemises and sparkling jewelry.
I think when we’re sitting at home alone shopping for work cloths sometimes we get deterred from what men like and what girls find hot, like what’s trending on instagram. I have no idea how you dress though so obviously nothing against you personally.

8, it might sound extremely selfish and cruel but I wouldn’t mind a little cleaning up where I’m located. Get back to selling fantasies.

10, Had you said this out loud back in the day you would’ve gotten a very nasty reputation and having a hard time getting hired at clubs. Different times for sure.


I sound like a bitter old c**t. I’m just reminiscing and talking about the changes I see. I hope no one takes it too personally and feel offended.

[Vyanka]

2, it’s hostile today because back then we were just exotic dancers now we’re “sex workers” with a lot of extras going on both on the inside and outside of clubs. Back then it was just considered immoral.
This whole thing with calling us sex workers. Are we really? And when did that change? I would never call myself a sex worker. I’m an exotic dancer, stripper dancer... Not judging it’s just not what I identify my work as.

I agree. I think it can confuse ppl, but that's just me.

I conversate, dance, tease, flirt... I sell a fantasy. Not a blowjob.

Men like what they can't have....

[SexyStella]

Men like what they can't have....

Exactly. This is how we keep regulars for YEARS and not just a couple months.

[Vyanka]

Btw, what ever happened to boob jobs?! Like, what happened to the pornstar look? If you ask men it’s not out of date.
Did they all retire? I’m one of 2 at my current club. The rest is flat chested, big booty brunettes. Most of them out of shape.

The whole bbl instagram Kim K is not always very flattering.

Edit, I do like it on some girls though. Like Lani Blair and Graciii3 on instagram looks absolutely amazing. But they’re bartenders competing with dancers. Another thing that never would’ve been accepted back then.

Those two chics have well done bbl. Not that horrible over board shit like Kim k and Minaj.

I'm a natural brunette, thin/petite pear shaped body with well done fake tits. Think Vida Guerra. Natural ass and nice fake tits. I stood out back in 2005 among the sea of tall blonds. Makeup, hair, nails on point and not flabby. Toned.

[SexyStella]

I'm a natural brunette, thin/petite pear shaped body with well done fake tits. Think Vida Guerra. Natural ass and nice fake tits. I stood out back in 2005 among the sea of tall blonds. Makeup, hair, nails on point and not flabby. Toned.

Yes, those were the blonde days. I’m 100% you still stand out though

[Nyla19]

The Kardashians do have terrible BBl's. I think they might've gotten them done out of the country. And maybe they're In jections too. The whole family's plastic surgery is bad.