I've got to rant, I'm still furious. I'm so angry I want to break things. Specific things, like legs and arms.
4 years ago I worked at a strip club in Fort Erie. The owner of this clubs also owns about 8 others across Ontario and in the Buffalo area. I've worked at one of their London bars, back when they still paid us a wage.
So there was an article in the Toronto star that summer about lap dancing and in my opinion, the writer didn't have a clue what he was talking about so I fired off a letter which ended up getting published as the letter of the day. I didn't mention my club or the owner (I almost said my boss but how can you be my boss if I pay YOU?) but I did express my opinion. Well, needless to say, the next time I went into work, they told me I wasn't welcome anymore.
Ok, so it's four years later and I've decided to start dancing again after a 2 and a half year hiatus. The only clubs left in town are owned by this family. So I go there in June, wondering if they're going to remember me and I know they do. I can tell. I just don't know if they remember the specifics or if they just remember me as a "troublemaker". ( I should also mention that a google search on my name which is on my licence will show that I am very involved with a dancers's rights org. In fact, I'm the chair, so I always wondered if they checked on me and were just waiting for an opportunity although I doubt they are that bright)
So anyway, the manager immediately tried to make me uncomfortable on my first day with a really stupid "joke". He comes up to me and says some kind of joke about sucking cock and presents me with two choices for his "joke" Well, I didn't pick either option and he kept saying "you HAVE to pick one" and I said "Oh ok, I understand, I have to choose one of these so your little joke will work right?" And then he says "If I washed my cock a hundred times would you suck it?" to which I reply "no" and he comes back with the ever clever "Well you must be a dirty cocksucker then." and he laughs at his clever little joke which I first heard back in, what, 11th grade or so and walks away, chuckling at his wit.
So I basically ignored this guy for the entire time I've worked there (It's not the only club I work at but it's the closest)knowing that the best thing for me is to just stay out of his way.
I have to add that I am the best dancer at the club and the only one people seem to get excited about when on stage. This is not a brag, it's just fact. I'm old school and come from the days where we danced and entertained. I add this because I think it's relevant since you'd think they'd WANT women who draw a crowd and entertain, but I guess they make enough money extorting dancers that it doesn't matter.
Over the summer I have watched them mistreat people harshly, insulting them and on three occasions, I have seen two dancers and a waitress cry. They also have a problem with basic hygiene there, no soap or hand towels in the women's restroom downstairs, I've had to knock on the men's washroom door more than once to ask for some soap to wash my goddamned hands. Tiny dressing room, inadequate locker space, they don't protect us when we need it, christ, I could go on for days.
Anyway, tonight, they charged me extra money to work there because I hadn't paid them by one a.m. yet as I was busy with a customer. It was a really dead night as most holiday weekends are. I decided to leave just before two a.m.. I should add that I hadn't had a drink or anything to smoke all night so I was sober as a judge.
So I'm upstairs in the dressing room, I've gotten dressed and I'm talking to a young lady who works at one of their clubs in Niagara (sundowner). She regularly works at the sundowner and we are talking about it. She tells me that if you work at the Niag club, they MAKE you work one night a week in Fort Erie.
And, they don't provide any transportation to Fort Erie, they expect you to find your own way. This was actually news to me and I expressed my disbelief to her. She says she's lost a lot of money having to work here tonight and is upset obviously. I'm pissed, shaking my head, angry as hell at these fucking parasites who in my informed opinion have contributed significantly to the devolution of the business and the misery of many.
I say to her "You know, I believe in Karma and I really can't WAIT until Karma kicks in with these people. I would LOVE to watch them get theirs!"
At which time (and ya know, I KNEW he was there, listening, I just KNEW it!) he walks into the room and says, "oh yeah, karma for who?"
And I say "Karma for jerks, Danny. Can't wait to see it come around."
and then he says "oh yeah, so who's a jerk?"
and I say "too many folks are jerks Danny, and I believe I was having a private conversation with this young lady"
He starts laughing and says "what makes you think she gives a shit about anything YOU have to say"
and I know I'm getting close to spouting off and I know I've gotta bite my tongue now and you people just have NO idea how difficult this is for me so I just start laughing and say "You know what? I'm outta here."
and I say to the girl, "Have a good night honey" and start to walk past him and he says
"You, don't you come back. You're outta here for good." and so because I know I'm free to say whatever now, I tell him "thanks for the favour asshole. I'm taking you people DOWN. I'm going to the health board, the papers, the cops, you name it."
And thinking back, I probably shouldn't have said anything AND I WISH TO GOD I HAD BROUGHT MY FUCKING TAPE RECORDER TONIGHT but I didn't. I can't begin to express my utter contempt for this awful, cruel family. And I don't like to hate but these people but these people are so good at fucking people, they need a rude awakening.
They have gotten rich off the blood sweat and tears of women for years, I have watched them threaten, extort, hurt, and degrade their "employees". It will be my fucking pleasure to bring them down.
thanks for listening to me bitch.
This family owns sundowner and another club in the falls, Maxine's and Pure Platinum in Fort Erie. solid Gold in Burlington, Solid Gold in London and a few in Buffalo, one by the name of Mademoiselles.
Just thought I"d warn any of you taking a trip to Canada in the near future.



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Anyway, I think the manager there is cool, and yes, it is the same one who fired her. As long as you don't do anything to piss him off he wont bother you. As far as her getting charged more money to work b/c she hadn't paid by one, there are signs ALL over the club (djs booth, dressing room) stating if you dont pay by one it will be $5 more, which isn't even bad because you only pay, at the most, $25 Canadian to work there, which is pretty damn cheap. And if you are on the floor by 6pm you dont have to pay anything to work there. Also, in any other job you would NOT give the manager attitude, so why do it in this business?


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