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Thread: Earning a living as a dancer

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    Default Earning a living as a dancer

    I had always heard that a dancer makes in the 6-figures if she hustles and is in a good club but I have my doubts. When asked most are not entirely forthcoming about their income exaggerating perhaps or crying poor me.

    So my office buddies started looking at the problem at a white board making guesses. Of course we made some assumptions along the way.

    Boring week!

    The following table would seem to indicate that a dancer would have to net nearly $600 per night average to break into the 6-figure realm.

    After tip-out we are going to guess that the average per night net is $300. (some nights slow, some quite lucrative). Many dancers seem to only work 4 nights per week so that is $1200 avg. We also guess dancers take quite a lot of time off for vacation, travel, sick, etc. and are working, we guessed, 45 weeks a year. That’s, before taxes, $54,000 per year. Quite respectable really especially considering it is primarily cash and will not be reported.

    How much do we think dancers make? What other variables are there?

    Avg. Nightly Net * 4 * 45 = Yearly Before Tax Income from Dancing

    100 = $18000
    200 = $36,000
    300 = $54,000
    400 = $72,000
    500 = $90,000
    600 = $108,000
    700 = $126,000
    800 = $144,000
    900 = $162,000
    1000 = $180,000
    though we have heard of stupid haste in war, cleverness has never been seen associated with long delays

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    Default Re: Earning a living as a dancer

    After tip-out we are going to guess that the average per night net is $300.
    that's a high average these days. i don't believe the AVERAGE dancer is making an average of $300 per night anymore... then again, you'd have to consider hours worked per shift. most dancers don't put in a "straight" job's 8 hour shift. there's many topics on the pink site that show a clearer picture of what the average dancer seems to be making.

    you also didn't take into account that we get no medical or other benefits having to pay for these things out of pocket.

    or the fact that many (if not most) dancers don't file tax returns thereby working "under the table".

    all kinds of variables here... in any case, the average dancer isn't making the gobs of money the general public seems to believe that they do.

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    Default Re: Earning a living as a dancer

    And my girl makes way above that average, but then she's nearly as hot and as much fun as Amber. She'll make less during her first year as a lawyer (not including the signing bonus), and I've seen the offers she has gotten from law firms.

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    Default Re: Earning a living as a dancer

    I don't think 6-figures is for the "average" dancer, but the good ones can get it if they are at a good club. $300 seems low to me for a good dancer. Regulars will drop that amount quite easily in a few hours and the good ones have a lot. Also, almost 2 months off? I'm curious if dancers really do take that many days off...

    We should also take into account the poor sap thats paying her monthly rent....and then the other poor guy thats paying her car payments...and the other poor guy paying.....
    "So I was sitting in my cubicle today, and I realized, ever since I started working, every single day of my life has been worse than the day before it. So that means that every single day that you see me, that's on the worst day of my life."

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    Default Re: Earning a living as a dancer

    I agree, X. $300 seems way low to me for a good dancer at a decent club, but let's do the math on that. Consider 20% for fees and tip-outs and that's $240/night. Work 4 nights a week and that's $920 per week or $3680/month x 12 = $43,440/year. Figuring us others would have to pay at least 25% state and federal taxes on that amount, even the low number of $300 equates to a base salary of $54,300 for us mortals. Not bad for working 4 days a week, and there's more to be made if they want to work more nights. And we have to pay about 50% of our corporate health insurance policy. My girl averages between $1200 and $2000/3 day week, and I know that's true because we're getting married. It's the only strip club around and it's pretty big, so they'll get 100-300 guys per night in there, with lots of high rollers driving in for the weekends. So there is money to be made for good dancers like Amber and my girl.

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    Default Re: Earning a living as a dancer

    My girl averages between $1200 and $2000/3 day week
    Yes I agree it seems low onthe surface but we decided average was the only way to guesstimate to account for the highs and lows of the profession. So it's just a SWAG (silly wild ass guess). We did not want to try and consider the per hour rate as it would be so variable and scary low, like under $40 p/h in our model. BTW, $40 p/h in a 9-5 office job is $83,200 per year for comp purposes.

    On the pink site they seem to say consistently that $200 net is ok money these days during the week and more on the weekend.

    $1200 in 3 days is $400 p/d so we weren't that far off on your low end.

    Also we decided the guess should be net, that is after tip out, the clubs take, fees if there are any, and expenses. Gross is I am sure much higher. If we included clothes, those cool plexi shoes, makeup, transportation (all deductible items should you care to file!), shrink bills (JK ), it comes down a ton. Add medical and you could see it cut in half if you are sick alot and I suspect it's easy to catch a lot of colds at an SC.

    Don't worry Amber, I am not looking to be your financial planner!!! There are other positions I would apply for first Hey, were just chattin' here, right?

    A dancer would have to really hustle in a high-end market and be a top looker to take home six figures. It can't be as common as some dancers would have you believe. Local small town joints it could be slim pickin's indeed. You can see why the competition is so engaged in some places.
    though we have heard of stupid haste in war, cleverness has never been seen associated with long delays

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    Default Re: Earning a living as a dancer

    I know some dancers on a personal /friendship level -meaning I am not one of their customers. I asked them about this and they told me that the fee's they pay total closer to 40% rather than the 20% MD suggested.
    Both these girls travel and work in LV and NY/ NJ areas at high volume clubs. Both girls agreed that the majority of full time dancers work 3 or 4 shifts a week but they also told me that there are lots and lots of part time dancers who may just work 1 weekend a month.
    I asked about tax deducts for clothes etc and they said they weren't as easily had as I thought and that I'd be shocked at the cost of their costumes and shoes.
    These two dancers laughed long and hard at the 6 figure amount as a dancer average income. They said more like 60-70 G's .

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