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Thread: What's your price elasticity?

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    Default What's your price elasticity?

    Within a fairly small radius of my club there are clubs charging anywhere from $15 to $30 for essentially the same private dance. And it seems to me that the girls in the cheaper places sell a whole lot more dances than the girls in the expensive places, except where there is a ton of contact. I know that I personally will stay a lot longer and will generally spend a lot more in the cheaper places. It's always been my opinion that a lot of clubs and the girls who work there would make more money if they lowered their prices, especially with so many places not doing well. Does anyone know of a club that has tried this? I know of one club that raised prices and lost a lot of business. And I know of another that has lower dance prices on Tuesdays and the girls there say that's the day they make the most money.
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    Default Re:What's your price elasticity?

    I'm not surprised those Tuesdays are busier. Strip-club patrons are bringing the Wal-Mart mentality with them wherever they go now.

    I'm at the Great Alaskan Bush Company in Anchorage for the next few weeks and I was very pleasantly surprised to discover that dancers can actually set their own dance prices when I read my contract! The going rate is $20, but I've been charging $25 and only one guy in the last 7 shifts I've worked there has scoffed at the price. It's only 5 more dollars, but I get to keep it all and it adds up in the long run!

    BTW, we are required to tell a guy the dance price if it's more than $20 and I do that every single time. So I'm NOT springing the $25 AFTER it's done, and yes I've been quite good at getting many repeat/multiple dances. Also, the Bush Company is a table dance club with minimal contact. I'm not an "ambush dancer" who jumps on a guy for 10 songs and charges him $500 or whatever variation on that crap some girls pull.

    It's been a slow summer at the Bush Company and I really haven't seen a lot of the $20 girls selling tons of dances. I've seen one girl try to sell dances for $40 each there, but she hasn't had much success with that.

    Basically, I always try to get the most money I can within reason when it's allowed. If I can make the same amount of money doing 4 dances as another dancer doing 5 in the same club, why shouldn't I?

    BTW, FONLD, are you trying to get us to tell you how to lowball us?
    "She has written so well, and marvellously well, that I was completely ashamed of myself as a writer...But this girl, who is to my knowledge very unpleasant and we might even say a high-grade bitch, can write rings around all of us who consider ourselves as writers"

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    Default Re:What's your price elasticity?

    Hey, Nina, how do we lowball dancers?

    us:

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    God/dess NinaDaisy's Avatar
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    Default Re:What's your price elasticity?

    Did I say you lowballed dancers? No...

    I just think that typically if someone's interested in our "price range" they might try to cut deals with us and that's a pain in the ass.

    Also, some club's have fixed dance/VIP prices or they take such a huge chunk that we'd be left with little if we were "elastic".

    Are we clear now?
    "She has written so well, and marvellously well, that I was completely ashamed of myself as a writer...But this girl, who is to my knowledge very unpleasant and we might even say a high-grade bitch, can write rings around all of us who consider ourselves as writers"

    Ernest Hemingway on writer, aviation pioneer and horse trainer Beryl Markham


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    Default Re:What's your price elasticity?

    LMAO, i was just teasing you Nina.

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    God/dess NinaDaisy's Avatar
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    Default Re:What's your price elasticity?

    Well you should have told me your balls hang low then!
    "She has written so well, and marvellously well, that I was completely ashamed of myself as a writer...But this girl, who is to my knowledge very unpleasant and we might even say a high-grade bitch, can write rings around all of us who consider ourselves as writers"

    Ernest Hemingway on writer, aviation pioneer and horse trainer Beryl Markham


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    Banned Madcap's Avatar
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    Default Re:What's your price elasticity?

    hey, they wobble to and fro' too!

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    Veteran Member goldclubbing's Avatar
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    Default Re:What's your price elasticity?

    Dancers should be in charge of what they charge, but like any business should expect negotiation for service.

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    Default Re:What's your price elasticity?

    Can you tie em in a knot can you tie em in a bow..

    Can you throw em o'er your shoulder like a continental solider ....

    EVERYONE!


    [/URL]
    [/URL]



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    Default Re:What's your price elasticity?

    Quote Originally Posted by NinaDaisy link=board=8;threadid=11884;start=msg152362#msg152 362 date=1092012428
    I'm not surprised those Tuesdays are busier. Strip-club patrons are bringing the Wal-Mart mentality with them wherever they go now.



    are you trying to get us to tell you how to lowball us?
    No just tell us when you roll back your prices. :smiley:
    "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

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    Featured Member FONDL's Avatar
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    Default Re:What's your price elasticity?

    Nina, there's only one club I've ever tried to negotiate prices and that's because the girls there almost always offer discounts for multiple dances. I simply don't go to places that I think are too expensive. I was merely trying to point out that the places that have lower prices seem to sell a lot more dances than the high priced places except where they offer tons of contact along with the high price. Wouldn't most of you rather sell 50 private dances at $20 than 5 at $30 during your shift? I also don't go to places where the club gets into the act: in well-managed clubs the girls keep whatever they get for private dances and nobody counts how many or how long they dance. Any other system such as buying dances from the dj or the bouncer is annoying and I avoid those places.
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    God/dess Bridgette's Avatar
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    Default Re:What's your price elasticity?

    When you charge lower prices, you HAVE to do alot more dances to make the same money as if you charged a higher price.

    Here's an example. In most places, the going rate is STILL, after 9+ years, $20. As most people know, I danced in Phoenix for 6 months of this year, and I made good money there, but no more than I've made anywhere else. Dances are $10 there. Yes, the guys tended to buy alot more dances there. Yes, they probably tended to stay longer there. Yes, I sold alot more dances there on average than in most other places. BUT BUT BUT! I basically had to do double the work for the same money. Dances were easier to sell there, so I had to invest way less down time to sell them, but I had to do twice the PHYSICAL work to bring home the same amount of bacon as I would in a $20 dance environment.

    On a typical night in Phoenix, I would sell 40-50 dances in a 3-4 hour shift. That's $400-500 BEFORE payouts. (Didn't go on stage much and didn't make much on stage or in extra tips there) On a typical night at my current club, I might do 15 or so dances in a 3-4 hour shift, at $25 each. Guys most often wind up paying me $30 per dance here, plus they tip alot more on stage, so I wind up making about the same money here, doing alot less work. On busy nights, I sell more dances in the same amount of time so I make more. On busy nights at my club in Phoenix, I didn't really sell more dances there because I was already pretty much maxed out even on slower nights - there's only so many dances you can sell in an hour! So the extra customers on busier nights there didn't really equate to extra money. Here it does.

    On a regular night here I make about the same as or slightly more than I made in Phoenix, in the same amount of time and doing way less physical work. The potential is here to occasionally make MUCH more on a regular night than I ever could have made in Phoenix. On a busier night here, I've had varied experience. I could work the same hours I did in Phoenix and make about $200 MORE, or I could work fewer hours and make about the same as on a comparable night busy-ness-wise in Phoenix.

    From what I've seen after 9 years in this business, the vast majority of guys will spend about the same amount of money in any club they visit, whether the dance price is $10 or $50. They'll just get more or fewer dances depending on the individual price. So the girls who charge less, have to work HARDER, while the girls who charge more have to work SMARTER.

    Point is this: All other things being equal, we make more money when we charge more!

    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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    Banned Katrine's Avatar
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    Default Re:What's your price elasticity?

    Price elasticity is only a small factor. If a dancer modulates her price and other dancer's find out about it, there can be a very nasty run-in or a concerted effort to blackball said dancer, which negatively affects her earnings if she stays at the club.

    Also, customers who want to haggle on prices tend to be cheapskates anyway. Sure, they may convince a stupid girl for a couple of 2 for 1's, but the patron we all seek looks for value proposition: product, service, pricing and delivery system. A girl who undervalues herself will be looked at as low value, and her customer base will soon reflect that.

    Overall, the other ladies have stated it perfectly.

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    Default Re:What's your price elasticity?

    Sometimes, on slow shifts, I've jokingly told guys who've asked about specials that if they buy five dances, the sixth is free. But as far as undercutting prices for individual dances, no way. They are cheap enough as it is. If a guy is really interested in a bulk deal that benefits us both, I'll entertain a reasonable offer, but if he's trying to haggle down from a measly $20, I'm gone.

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    Default Re:What's your price elasticity?

    I agree with much of Katrine's comments .

    I always charged the clubs set prices and was offended by hagglers. When I cam across them I would warn other dancers about the "cheepskate" so they didn't have to waste their time on someone looking for bargin basement strippers


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    Default Re:What's your price elasticity?

    Throwing in an extra dance in a run of 4 + is just customer relationship building though LOL.

    I seriously doubt anyone is gonna give Mr. Gropey Hands a freebie ;0

    "Have you ever been to American wedding? Where is the vodka, where's marinated herring?" - GB
    "And do the cats give a shit? No, they do not. Why? Because they're cats."-from The Onion

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    Default Re:What's your price elasticity?

    Quote Originally Posted by FONDL link=board=8;threadid=11884;start=msg154395#msg154 395 date=1092247472
    I also don't go to places where the club gets into the act: in well-managed clubs the girls keep whatever they get for private dances and nobody counts how many or how long they dance. Any other system such as buying dances from the dj or the bouncer is annoying and I avoid those places.
    You can't always tell if the club is charging per dance or not. I've worked at many that don't let you go home until you pay your table dance fees per what the floor man has recorded throughout the evening. Usually the balance sheet is wrong in my favor, but occasionally it goes the other way.

    About being flexible in my pricing, that really depends on the situation. I have done quickie table dances for $1 to try to get some extra cash. I have also tried giving half price dances on the floor instead of in the table dance area. Normally I will charge more for dances (if it is permitted), and lower the price as the customer buys more dances consecutively (1=$30 2=$50 3=70 5=$100).

    I try to aviod two for one nights if at all possible, because then I have to charge $40, and I just think that is too much for a public dance, even though they are really getting two dances, and the customers may not buy from me in the future even at the $30 price.


    Promote yourself and earn more money! This is a business that is owned by strippers for strippers. Let's make that money!


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    Featured Member FONDL's Avatar
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    Default Re:What's your price elasticity?

    I'm not suggesting that girls should bargain with customers, I never expect that but in some places the girls immediately offer to do so. As far as the house taking a cut, I always ask the dancer how much she makes out of each type of activity because I want to give her as much as possible and the house as little as possible. For example a lot of clubs that don't take a cut out of dances require each dancer to sell a certain number of drinks or buy them herself. In that case buying her a drink is the same as giving her a tip. If the house takes a big cut on private dances I might just sit and talk and give her a big tip instead. But I do think that some clubs are overpriced and that it hurts their business. I've been in clubs that charge $30 for a private dance and sat there for hours and not seen anyone buy any. Wouldn't they be better off to try a lower price?
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    Default Re:What's your price elasticity?

    FONDL - I agree with you. Depending on what the club cut is for certain activities, I'll always try to tip in a way to maximize the dancer's share. At one place I visit, depending on what kinds of dances you get, you might spend $100 but the dancer could walk away with as little as $60 or as much as $100 of that.

    Earlier this year the club increased dance prices from $25 per dance to $30 per dance while increasing their cut from $5 to $10. The dancers saw none of the increase in price, but had to deal with the disappointed customers who now bought fewer dances.

    The stage is the only place where the club doesn't have their hand in the cookie jar (if you consider tip out to be a sunk cost). I routinely go up to the stage and sit with a dancer for an entire 15 min set and will gladly tip $40 to $50 of which she gets to keep it all. (It's kind of my way of saying to the mangagement.) For the dancer she doesn't have to move around to make her money, and I see the $50 as a huge discount compared to the other options at the club (15 min CR = $130 or five 3-minute dances at $30/dance = $150). A couple of sets on stage and she gets to keep the entire $100. I spend less and she makes more.
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    Default Re:What's your price elasticity?

    That's awesome verfolgung! I wish there were more stage tippers! Here stages aren't a big deal so I usually get ignored. Making $20 off a a 3-stage, 6-song rotation is about standard, and that's on a semi-busy weeknight!


    Gentlemen, also don't forget that in addition to house fees (sunk cost for sure), we also have to tipout management, DJs, and sometimes the bar/waitress......you must factor this in to overall profit as well!

    Even if it is not manditory, look at the opportunity cost of not tipping out coworkers. It is to a dancer's benefit to always tip as well as she can. for obvious reasons...

    "Have you ever been to American wedding? Where is the vodka, where's marinated herring?" - GB
    "And do the cats give a shit? No, they do not. Why? Because they're cats."-from The Onion

    Quote Originally Posted by Mia M
    If a cupcake was tossed at me... well, I'd only be upset if it missed my mouth

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    Default Re:What's your price elasticity?

    Regarding clubs increasing the lap price in order to get a bigger take for the club ONLY, that is BS in every way. Customers will buy proportionately fewer dances so dancers make less money as a result. Not only do the girls wind up with a lower portion of customer spending, but they have to deal with customers who are pissed off at the price hike and refuse to buy ANY dances as a result.

    Speaking of clubs where the price is higher than average in the area and guys aren't buying dances: the girls simply need to work elsewhere! It's one thing to charge a higher price when customers are paying, it's another to lose business altogether due to a price hike that doesn't reflect the market!

    ************

    I have to agree with Katrine's statement that lowballing actually HURTS the dancer in the long run. When I first started in my Phoenix club, I was told by management that the dance price was $8 but I was "welcome to charge more if I could get it". There's also a huge sign on the front door telling customers the price is $8. My first night, whenever asked how much dances were, I told guys the club's standard was $8, and every single time the guy turned me down for a dance. Most guys didn't ask though, and simply paid $10. I found out that night that $10 was actually the going rate, so the next night I began telling anyone who asked the price was $10, and I ALWAYS got the dances then. Moral: By telling those who asked a lower price than standard, I gave the impression of poor quality and lost the sale, and that changed as soon as I switched to the going rate. Of course this was in a very busy club where MANY dances were bought, but it's a glaring example of what Kat was saying. Giving the customer the right perception is 90% of selling, and if you project a cheap image you cheapen your own worth to the customer. Not a good idea when trying to MAKE MONEY.

    Quote Originally Posted by pheno View Post
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    Default Re:What's your price elasticity?

    Quote Originally Posted by Bridgette link=board=8;threadid=11884;start=msg155285#msg155 285 date=1092351460
    Regarding clubs increasing the lap price in order to get a bigger take for the club ONLY, that is BS in every way. Customers will buy proportionately fewer dances so dancers make less money as a result. Not only do the girls wind up with a lower portion of customer spending, but they have to deal with customers who are pissed off at the price hike and refuse to buy ANY dances as a result.
    My long time ex-club did exactly this and the only reason I'm considering working for them again is because I know there is money there compared to my other options.

    The increased the lap dance prices... and increased their percentage form 40 to 45%. Granted, I get to now keep all tips regardless of how I receive them (yay!). I'm hoping that there will be more than a few stage tippers (customers who want to get around the percentage and give me 100% the money) when I go back.



    enter: E3167322D9 for your 10% discount

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    Featured Member FONDL's Avatar
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    Default Re:What's your price elasticity?

    At the clubs I frequent the girls keep all their lap dance money, the house don't take a cut (other than tip out of course), which I think is the right way to do it. When I'm with a girl I know well, I don't tell her how many dances I want, I tell her how much I'm going to give her and she then dances as long as she wants. I never bother counting, I have more important things on my mind, so I don't know or care whether she's discounting or not. Often times I don't think she bothers counting either. Which is why it's just a lot more fun if managment isn't involved in the transaction, it makes for a much more relaxed session.
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    Default Re:What's your price elasticity?

    I agree with Bridgette. By lowballing, you make yourself seem less in demand or have the connotation that your dances are not worth the full set price. I never undercut and usually find that I recieve tips on top of the standard LD price.

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    Default Re:What's your price elasticity?

    Quote Originally Posted by ladysummer link=board=8;threadid=11884;start=msg158103#msg158 103 date=1092784775
    I agree with Bridgette. By lowballing, you make yourself seem less in demand or have the connotation that your dances are not worth the full set price. I never undercut and usually find that I recieve tips on top of the standard LD price.
    Me too. I just got back from the Great Alaskan Bush Company where the standard dance price (dancers can set their own) is $20. In the 3 weeks that I was there I only had a single customer balk at my rate of $25 per song. And yes, I continued getting customers that got multiple dances AND tipped on top of the price. It wasn't uncommon for me to do 2 dances for a guy and get three $20's to keep or do three dances and get four $20's to keep. Unless they automatically say, "keep it" I always ask if they want the change back. Many don't. Always a nice perk!
    "She has written so well, and marvellously well, that I was completely ashamed of myself as a writer...But this girl, who is to my knowledge very unpleasant and we might even say a high-grade bitch, can write rings around all of us who consider ourselves as writers"

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