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Thread: ? for student dancers

  1. #1
    Veteran Member Theresa's Avatar
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    Default ? for student dancers

    I know that many of the members of this site are in the process of getting an education, while using dancing as a stepping stone on their journey towards a college degree, including myself. However, sometimes I really feel that school is a waste of time and think about quitting so I can be a dancer full time. I know many girls get sucked into the lifestyle and find that dancing is more lucrative than any job they can get with a degree. Do any of you ever feel the same way? And what do you do to get yourself back on track?
    I am in a professional program at my school, so I know once I finally graduate it will be worth it but it is SO hard to think long term when I am used to quick money. I even had to start an internship recently, I am only in my third week and I am sick of it already. Even tho it is a paid internship it is still a LOT less than what I am used to making---last week I worked 39 hours and my check was for $218...i make more than that in a few hours at my club. [eek] AND for my degree I need at least 750 intern hours...do you know how much more money I could be getting by dancing all those hours!?!

    So if anyone has any tips about concentrating on school work and not getting sidetracked, PLEASE share b/c this girl is very frustrated! [frustrated]

  2. #2
    Banned Melonie's Avatar
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    Default Re: ? for student dancers

    Theresa, you have to think like a "professional athlete" would. Dancers and athletes both have short career windows during which they have the ability to earn large amounts of money. However, after that window closes (late 20's typically - perhaps early 30's if you're lucky and take care of yourself well - 40 virtually for certain no matter what you do), you're still faced with the fact that you'll have another 25-40 years left before the government will allow you to collect Social Security.

    If you truly have the discipline to budget and save and invest your dancer's earnings, then you might dare to think along the lines of first year college athletes who decide to turn pro. Their line of thinking is that "my highest earnings potential window is open RIGHT NOW, and I'm better off putting aside extra earnings from 3 years worth of large paychecks which I have the ability to earn RIGHT NOW instead of finishing college, then return to college to finish my degree after that high earnings potential window starts to close in 10 or 15 or 20 years".

    The pitfall of this theory is that if they/you don't actually have the discipline to budget and save and invest, they/you can wind up in a situation of being too old/tired/burned out to earn the big bucks anymore as an athlete/dancer having blown the vast majority of those big bucks. This results in a situation where they/you are 30-40 years old, they/you have no college degree or other credentials for getting a straight job with decent earnings potential, and also they/you have no money in the bank to finance taking 3 years off to return to college and finish their degree. This situation has resulted in more than a few tragic endings, both for former professional athletes and for former dancers.

    If there's any question in your mind that you don't have the iron clad discipline necessary to avoid a tragic ending, I would highly recommend sticking with your college degree program and internship until it's finished and you have your degree. At that point you can evaluate your options in regard to "straight jobs" in your field versus a full time dancing career, or some part time combination of the two. But with a degree in hand, if you're committed to dancing and you have the misfortune of a new anti-dance club law being passed which cuts earning potential in half, if you break a leg and can't dance for several months etc. at least you WILL have the qualifications to immediately switch back to a "straight job" with decent working conditions and earnings potential.

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    Default Re: ? for student dancers

    agree with Melonie 100% . I am a student dancer. I'm 19 yrs old and enjoy going to school and studying my future career. Although it is easy money, I too get thoughts of dancing and forgettiing school. But im not going to have my 19 yr old perky tits forever. And dancing as a "career" is kinda silly if you can make more money with your clothes on if you have a good education. Honestly..what really makes me stay in school..is because I really want to be a firefighter!!

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    Senior Member m's Avatar
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    Default Re: ? for student dancers

    fire fighter? that's awesome....not that i know from any kind of expierence dancing but melonies advise makes sense in the rest of the world as well. any cash/commission job takes a ton of discpline and a degree is a necessity these days. I dont use any of my degrees but i have them and that got me in the door...from there is what you can do on your own. Awesome anology mealonie...ever watch the vh1 show where are they now?

  5. #5
    Banned Melonie's Avatar
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    Default Re: ? for student dancers

    I sure have watched that show, m, as well as having watched the real life saga of many dancers over the past 10+ years. For example, a beautiful tall thin leggy 'showgirl' blonde who was the most popular dancer in a popular local club (so hot that she'd just sit and guys would line up to ask for private dances) when I first started in this business is now a check out clerk at a local 'Dollar' store. She earned a ton of money over the years but partied away 1/2 and spent the other half on clothes, a fancy car etc. which are now worthless. She still looks great for being 35+, but it just doesn't sell anymore in the local clubs without major contact (which she never did and won't do now). Unfortunately, she has a heart of gold but also a mind of mush, and no degree or other training to qualify for a better job, so it looks like she's going to spend the next 30 years working for $6.50 an hour.

    I completed my degree in Respiratory Therapy and worked in the field for a couple of years before I decided to quit and try dancing full time. It is reassuring to know that I can walk back into a hospital at any time with a reasonable assurance that I can be working as an RT again the next day. However, it's actually a bit depressing to know that if I do go back to RT that I'll be paid less than half as much after taxes, that I'll be forced to work every other weekend and holiday, that I'll be exposed to AIDS patients, SARS patients, and 100 other wonderful microbes (Aids patient exposure was the main reason I quit originally).

    But in fairness, it's worth comparing possible financial situations of working at entry level "straight jobs" for 10 years after getting your degree versus working as a career dancer. Even with a degree, typically the "straight jobs available are going to pay say $40,000 per year. Subtract $10,000 for taxes and $20,000 for basic living expenses like rent and a car and a very disciplined girl might be able to bank $10,000 a year. After 10 years, if that money is untouched, it might be worth $110,000 with interest and would pay maybe $4,000 a year in interest forever (which really ain't a lot - $70 a week after taxes).

    Now consider the same girl working as a career dancer earning $100,000 a year. Subtract $25,000 for taxes and the same $20,000 for basic living expenses and the same very disciplined girl would be able to bank $55,000 per year. After 10 years, if that money is untouched, it might be worth $600,000 with interest and would pay maybe $24,000 a year ( = over $400 a week after taxes) in interest forever. This interest income is actually enough to retire on with the same basic standard of living she's been used to for the last 10 years. It's certainly enough of a 'nest egg' to allow her to start her own business, return to college, or work at a $6.50 an hour job for the bennies but still live like a queen.

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    Senior Member BebeBabiez's Avatar
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    Default Re: ? for student dancers

    Im in school studying fashion design.. plan on someday moving to New York or even Tokyo to pursue this occupation.. Im saving my money so I can do this. Designing clothing gives me a thrill that stripping never could

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    God/dess Bridgette's Avatar
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    Default Re: ? for student dancers

    I agree with Melonie 100%. There's nothing wrong with quitting school to dance full time if you're POSITIVE you have the discipline to work full time and save your money instead of spending it all or lazing around not working most of the time. You could save enough in a few years to do pretty much whatever you want - finish school, retire, start / buy a business, buy some property in someplace like Costa Rica and retire like a queen....

    But if you have ANY doubts about your self-discipline, it's best to stay in school and finish now.

    Either way, you'll have to keep thinking about what you'll have once you accomplish your goal. If you stay in school, remind yourself that it's not that much longer, you're young and you have plenty of time to dance later, and you'll have a degree you can ALWAYS use whenever you're ready to stop dancing. If you quit to dance full time, whenever you feel like slacking, taking a night off or spending a wad of money, remind yourself what you're working/saving for, and think how great it will feel when you've saved your cash and can leave the club for the last time to do whatever you want!

    Quote Originally Posted by pheno View Post
    When you lead a nontraditional life don't try to measure it with traditional milestones.

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    Member ashleylost's Avatar
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    Default Re: ? for student dancers

    I know it is really hard to stay focused on school even for non-dancers but it twice as hard for us. The thing that keeps me going is knowing one day I might be able to make just as much if not more in a professional situation. I start to think about the bad sides of dancing and some of the stuff we have to put up with ( stuff we normally just let go, get over, don't think about...like some guy talking trash ect ect ect the inevitables) that also is key on keeping me focus on the real goal and the only reason I started danceing...SCHOOL.. so hang in ther and stick with it. in the end it will all be worth it looking back,,,

    As for my problem I run into the issues of trying to do to much ...working to much and not having enough time to give to my projects OR having enough sleep and either sleeping through class or just not making it at all. Does anyone else have this problem? I've had to change clubs recently...a lil too late for this semester I have to say but I hope it makes the difference for the next.. Where i worked I was required to work pretty much wed-sat and atleast every other sun
    i love my christopher

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    God/dess Emily's Avatar
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    Default Re: ? for student dancers

    One more thing....customers love a great conversation with a well-educated dancer. I'm dancing after having graduated from college and let me tell you that that $30,000/yr education is really paying off! (Dad would be so proud!)

    You know you need to stay in school. You probably posted here knowing that we'd say the same thing. You want reassurance of what you already know. Consider dancing the icing on the cake....a really nice scholarship that the other students aren't getting. Don't look at it as an alternative to the life you planned out for yourself!

  10. #10
    Member LittleOne's Avatar
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    Default Re: ? for student dancers

    Keep in mind....professionals without a college degree top off thier earning potential at $10/hr (maybe) unless you've been at the same company for YEARS.....a college degree starting salary is usually $9-$10, minimum.

    I'm in school, I work as a hostess in a restuarant full-time (good benefits, and an alternate to telling everyone I'm a dancer) I dance Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights and make $600 wk....and if I fell, or got into a car accident, etc and couldn't dance, I'd still be ok!!! If you sole income is dancing, you HAVE to dance. Even if it's hurting you, or if it's hurting people you love Not a good idea! This is not a job you can do forever, mentally or physically.

    Stay in school, get your degree and when you decide your done...quit with no regrets.
    Hottie on the Hood

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    Featured Member susan's Avatar
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    Default Re: ? for student dancers

    I danced in school (a LOT of dancers are in school. Most of the rest WISH they were.) I NEVER viewed dancing as anything more than a temp, part-time gig while I was in school. Never. There are so many other things I want and plan to do with my life and dancing -- while it's VERY profitable and sometimes even fun -- is totally NOT compatable with the rest of the stuff I want to do.

    Having said that, I've mentioned many times on this forum that we're thinking about moving back to Phoenix. If so, then I'll prolly continue dancing one night a week. (We'll prolly start a family in a couple of years, so even THAT will just be temp). However, I've met TOOOO many dancers who kept with it too long. The ankles go out (I've met PLENTY of bartenders who USED to be dancers but an ankle injury took her down.) The boobs and butt head toward the floor.

    Nope, dancing is great when you're 19. It's nearly impossible at 39. Plan ahead. Get your degree. Save a BUNCH of money. Have fun while you're at it, then retire at the top.

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    God/dess Emily's Avatar
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    Default Re: ? for student dancers

    Susan, I think that's good for any dancer, not just students. You HAVE to have an exit plan.

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    Veteran Member Kittie's Avatar
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    Default Re: ? for student dancers

    Yes. Yes. Yes. Stay in school. Everyone is right. This is not an industry you can make big bucks in your whole life. You DO only have a limited window of opportunity as a dancer (and that's not just topless dancing...ballet, jazz, tap....all kinds of professional dancers). Any job you have that involves the use of your body to perform a task is best done at a young age when your body is at its peak performance. After that it's all downhill and you'll be very happy to have your degree later.

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    Featured Member Devastating Divyne's Avatar
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    Default Re: ? for student dancers

    I am young and hot and smart and all, but I have some raggedy ass knees, bad wrists, and bad shoulders from yrs of cheerleader, majorette and dance team. I don't think I have the body necessary to even do this job for very long. I never thought about dancing full time, but I guess for me its b/c I choose to do college first and then pusue a dancing,choreography for video, movie, etc, career. It seemed like to me that I could knock college out the box and be done by the time I'm 21 since I started at 17, but I can't succeed as a choreographer for say 8 or 9 years and then at age 26 or 27 have to sit in a 4yr college or tech school with a bunch of babies and try to get a degree in something since my moneymaker, my body, is no longer making moneyafter an injury I may not be able to recover from. Anything can happen.
    At the same time, take what I just said for what it was. You are young know so make the best decisions now. If something that can be done now can be done later with no income or lifestyle changes, but something else can only be done now and you feel its worth it, then you decide what can wait and what can't. In another 3 semesters or so, I will be able to completely speak multiple languages and get a job starting above $25/hr at a number of places if I so choose. In another 3 semesters I can lalso, put those two plaques on the wall and be a full time stripper if I choose, to me it just makes sense to have something to fall back on that is NOT dependent upon things out of ur control such as accidental slips, falls, bone breaks, etc and stripping IS dependent on such things. On the same token in a square job you can slip near the damn water cooler and split ur shit, the difference is there you get workers comp, insurance, or both Make whatever is the best choice for you. If I Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda, is more than just a phrase, its some real shit.................... girl its even an old Lou Rawls song!
    "Come what may although I often say realities come from dreams, but approach all lies with open eyes because NOthing in this world is EVER ALL it seems."

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    Default Re: ? for student dancers

    Theresa, STAY IN SCHOOL. Dancing is only a limited time profession unfortunately. Suppose you get seriously injured, what have you got to fall back on? If you're lucky you'll have some insurance to carry you through unless it's a career ending injury.
    Finish your degree ,then you can pursue dancing full time.

  16. #16
    Senior Member m's Avatar
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    Default Re: ? for student dancers

    mel-good points, seems like it just depends on discipline...it is hard for anyone to save 55% of their pay, i know between my wife and i put together we probably don't...i ccouldnt even imagine what our financials would be like if i got paid cash. A fall back like yours would make perfect sense, allowing you to make life worth living along the way, get a nice house, build a little nest egg and not have to worry about living of the interest only for the rest of your life. my job centers around that maximizing safety and income for seniors and trust me they are not having any fun right now....their 400 a week used to be 700 a week and they got used to that and they cant go back to work even if they wanted to...their pills cost 400 a month, the tax man never goes away and so on and so on.

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    Default Re: ? for student dancers



    I did just want to mention:

    The opportunity of finishing your degree and then working full time as a dancer does exist, but then you'll have to come up with a reason as to why you weren't working during those years ('cause exotic dancing usually can't be included within the resume).

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    Default Re: ? for student dancers

    Yes. Yes. Yes. Stay in school. Everyone is right. This is not an industry you can make big bucks in your whole life. You DO only have a limited window of opportunity as a dancer (and that's not just topless dancing...ballet, jazz, tap....all kinds of professional dancers). Any job you have that involves the use of your body to perform a task is best done at a young age when your body is at its peak performance. After that it's all downhill and you'll be very happy to have your degree later.
    Couldn't have said it any better myself. My girl is dancing part time as a second source of income but
    she is totally focused on her schooling and my advice and guidance has been, yes you can make good money dancing but it won't be there forever, you NEED to have that education to fall back on. My advice would definately also be to stay with your courses, it will pay off in the end.

    Faithless





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