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Thread: "not what it used to be"

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    Featured Member Lizette's Avatar
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    Default "not what it used to be"

    I often hear dancers talk about the industry not being what it used to be and that they had earned $1000+/shift. I'm awfully puzzled as that would amount to at least $150,000/year. I don't know if they are lying or trying to find some excuse for not making any money now. I'm about 30. I remember the dot com boom, which really amounted to a quick blink of time.

    I would love for the dancers who worked during the 90s to share their stories and confirm that there was some crazy spending then, even in Eerie, Indiana.

    I do well as a dancer. I don't make $1000/shift, but I like what I make, which is a lot.

  2. #2
    madmaxine
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    Default Re: "not what it used to be"

    I recall Lily Burana stating in an interview that she claimed $50K a year in the early Nineties dancing at Mitchell Bros. in San Francisco. In her book "Strip City" she stated that $1,000 a shift at Mitchell Bros. was not uncommon, although her average take-home was less.
    I have wondered too, since all these big-money stories I heard as a teen got me into the business now. IMHO, I started working in 2001 and I noticed a big shift in spending habits after Sept. 11th.

  3. #3
    tampafldancer
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    Default Re: "not what it used to be"

    hmmmmm... the money is still out there, you just have to find it IMO!!

  4. #4
    madmaxine
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    Default Re: "not what it used to be"

    It also depends where you live, and your lifestyle. A lot of what I make gets eaten up by travel costs, and there is no where to work right where I live. I have worked in the Midwest and find the take-home just reflects the different cost of living, versus living a touristy, urban or coastal area.
    I've talked to women who were dancing 20 years ago, and THAT was the golden age. Everyone was more innocent then. Sigh.
    This topic had been discussed on SW before, my favorite answer is that managerial greed ruined the business. They'll throw anyone on stage, reward bad behavior, boost stage fees without justification....I'm glad local goverment fleeces the club owners. At least they're paying through the nose for what they do to us!

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    Default Re: "not what it used to be"

    i should be a strippuh!

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    madmaxine
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    Default Re: "not what it used to be"

    ^Naw kid, it's hard hard work. Takes a tough lady to do it. ; P

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    Featured Member Lizette's Avatar
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    Default Re: "not what it used to be"

    Quote Originally Posted by tampafldancer
    hmmmmm... the money is still out there, you just have to find it IMO!!
    That's exactly what I think too. As my hustling skills improve, I'm noticing that not only am I having a great time at work, I'm making more than 90% of the dancers in my club. I don't discuss my income with the other girls. However, the DJ has told me that I am doing way above average.

    I just can't see how an "average" stripper could make $150,000/year. The superb ones, for sure. Average, no.

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    Banned Blade's Avatar
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    Default Re: "not what it used to be"

    When I started bouncing back in the early to mid 90's girls were making 800-1000 a shift easy. The clubs were full of people and they barely had to hustle, it was unreal.
    People who know Johnny from Stagedoor Johnnys can ask him what the scene was like back then, New Haven basically had him and Dennis Dean who ran Club International and both clubs were close to the harbor and highways....money all around and dancers lapping it up.
    Those were the days my friend.......

  9. #9
    tampafldancer
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    Default Re: "not what it used to be"

    Quote Originally Posted by Blade
    When I started bouncing back in the early to mid 90's girls were making 800-1000 a shift easy. The clubs were full of people and they barely had to hustle, it was unreal.
    People who know Johnny from Stagedoor Johnnys can ask him what the scene was like back then, New Haven basically had him and Dennis Dean who ran Club International and both clubs were close to the harbor and highways....money all around and dancers lapping it up.
    Those were the days my friend.......
    That was still the scene at a couple clubs in providence before i left (3-4 years ago)

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    Senior Member shwankie's Avatar
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    Default Re: "not what it used to be"

    I was working at three top clubs in Detroit, MI during the mid- to late-90's, and making cash was much easier back then, at least in this area. It kills me to think of what I could have made at that time if I'd had half the hustling skills I have now...

    My average, daytime shift was $800, but $1000 was not uncommon. During Christmas on days, and on weekend nights when I decided to work (rare, but it happened), I expected and usually made $1400+. My best night ever was $2,500, though I only ever came anywhere near that on that one occasion. And I wasn't, by any means, the highest earner in our club because I didn't have very good hussle skills.

    That said, I only worked 2-3 days a week most of the time because I was going to university full-time. Living in Ann Arbor and going to school at U of M is what ate up most of the cash I made. Two clubs I worked at also had 3-outfit-changes a day rules (and they had standards for types of outfits--I didn't own a single outfit that didn't cost over $150), and those didn't include the two evening gowns you had to wear at the beginning and end of shift. Nails, pedicures, perfect hair, etc. ate up much ofthe rest. I did graduate with some savings, fortunately, and school was totally paid for. No debt.

    Now, my average shift has been about $400, and was the top earner in my club. I am changing to a larger, hopefully more lucrative, club; but, I doubt I'll have an average over $500 even there. I do a lot more hussle for a lot less cash, and most of the ladies I know from that time period say the same thing. Club averages for shifts have gone way down since the late '90s, and especially since 9/11, as some DJs in the area have noticed (it's hurt their pay, too, as they usually get about 10% in top out). The economy isn't doing well in this area, obviously, as we have one of the three highest unemployment rates in the country. The pendulum will swing back, I just hope I am around to get in on it!

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    Veteran Member foxee555's Avatar
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    Default Re: "not what it used to be"

    Not only was the $ better 10-15yrs ago, but so were the custys and dancers. There were hardly any hoes working inside the club, and the ones that were didn't last very long. "How much for__", "Can I suck on your___", were not the commonplace conversations like now. Of course dancing was not considered the "cool" thing to do like it is now..
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    Default Re: "not what it used to be"

    Chiming in after a long hiatus: I started dancing in 95 and it's gotten progressively harder to make money ever since. Have to hustle more and more and more. For lower and lower average take-home $$. And it's NOT a problem with age/looks. Most of the younger girls don't do as well as the older, more experienced girls. There's still money out there, it's just harder to find. Owners are greedier than ever, managers are more incompetent (along with overworked and usually underpaid), and customers are more jaded. Corporate custies don't have those fat expense accounts to play with anymore. Guys simply don't walk in and blow hundreds or thousands as easily as they used to. 9/11 really did a number and sped up the decline. Now, instead of clubs being full of guys who couldn't wait to throw some benjamins on a stripper, they're full of strippers (often desperately) trying to convince someone to throw A benjamin on them. There are very few places left where a stripper can even make a living without resorting to prostitution or constantly defending herself from serious unwanted customer advances. I personally average about the same now as I did in my first year. GEEEZ what I wouldn't give to have known then what I know now

    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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    God/dess colleen's Avatar
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    Default Re: "not what it used to be"

    When I was a lingerie model in the late 1990's, I could make in 2 hours what it now takes me all night to make. The show fees were pretty much the same, but the whole way the shows worked was different.

    Basically, this is how it worked: Neighborhood bars would contract with an agency to provide a show at a certain time every week. At that time, one or two girls would arrive and put on lingerie outfits, pantyhose, and heels. We would then proceed to sell raffle tickets to the customers. My pitch was this: "Hi, I'm Colleen. This is my cute little white teddy. It has a bow here on the front and the back looks like this. Isn't it pretty? Tickets cost 3 for $2 or 6 for $3. FOr $5 you can get laid! (wink) How many would you like today?"

    Getting laid meant the girl ripped off about 50 tickets, looped them around the customer's neck, gave a big kiss, and said "Welcome to Hiwaii!"

    Then all the tickets got put into a beer pitcher and the winners would win a lingerie outfit, an adult video, some novelty item, or maybe a free drink.

    When I worked alone, I could usually show 6 outfits in about 2 hours. I could make usually about $150-$250 (after show fees) in that time, and I would do 1-3 shows in a day. THere was NO touching, NO lapdancing, NO prostitution, and a tiny, discreet flash of ONE nipple was a favor bestowed only on an extremely good tipper or long-time customer.

    I did bachelor parties on saturday nights, and those were much better then than now, too. THe stripper or Topless Waitress was like the guest of honor. The bachelor's buddies would be throwing $$ all over her to get her to give the best possible show. Now the prices of the party tricks haven't changed, but all the guys bitch "What, that's all she does for $XX? " ANd they usually have a couple of hookers brought in for the end of the party.

    I used to love waitressing, because guys woudl give me $1 to $5 jsut for bringing them a beer. Now it's like pulling teeth to get anything. They even race you to the beer keg and tel you, "If I get my own, I don't have to tip!"

    YEah, I miss the good old days!


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    Default Re: "not what it used to be"

    I was wondering if anyone knows the reason why 9/11 ruined business or made it slower? I keep thinking about it and I can't figure it out and I'm really curious.

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    God/dess fancygirl's Avatar
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    Default Re: "not what it used to be"

    I know at least one reason (since CA has a lot of military bases) is that lonely young men with disposable income (since food and housing is paid for them) are now stuck over in the Middle East without even the benefit of a lousy porno mag. When I've worked the military towns, I thought that the guys left there might occasionally show up, but according to some of the girls--business has definitely been down, and with a lot less ships coming home after the former mandatory six month leave...there's been a lot less celebrating. : (
    I know I'll be glad to see the soldiers back finally (and God, I hope it doesn't take until that ass-wipe Bush is out of office) and not just for their money.

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    God/dess Bridgette's Avatar
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    Default Re: "not what it used to be"

    9/11 basically shifted into overdrive what was already happening in the US economy - decline. Consumer, business / investment spending slowed dramatically; lots of people lost their jobs, lots of college grads couldn't get jobs; personal bankruptcy went to an all-time high, people started losing money on investments and retirement plans...etc etc etc. In short, a whole lot of people suddenly had a alot less money to spend, so our industry was hurt pretty badly because it's expensive entertainment that most people will avoid when they suddenly find themselves struggling to pay the mortgage.

    What happens when strippers suddenly find themselves not only competing for a dramatically smaller customer base, but competing with MORE girls who've entered the business due to job loss? Strippers start getting more aggressive in their sales pitch, and that often means offering higher mileage for same or less money. Customers notice and take advantage. I've seen lots of customer chatter about the increased mileage at their regular clubs since 9/11. Once customers get a taste of that, they aren't too eager to go back to paying for lower mileage once the economy picks up. So we're stuck...

    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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    Featured Member rusdancer's Avatar
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    Default Re: "not what it used to be"

    I agree with what everybody said here so far.Since the 90's the business has dramatically changed.911 turned everything upside down,but it was getting somewhat tougher even before that.It seems that 911 affected the east coast,especially the NYC/DC area, the most,where we saw things happen with our very eyes.

    Now the clubs have much more dancers working than before,and pretty much everybody has to pay house fees and other tip outs,which was rare or non existent before (at least in my experience).I don't really remember having to hustle in the 90's.It's harder work now than before,but to be honest though,I still make the same.It also depends on what area you're in and the club itself.

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    Senior Member TorontoGuy's Avatar
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    Default Re: "not what it used to be"

    At the risk of making a couple of unpopular (and maybe inaccurate) observations - I think the good money was too good to be true. People with too much available cash were looking for a place to spend it, and there has been a market correction.

    The prices around here jumped from $10 to $20 as the .com boom started, but they haven't gone back down because the dancers are accustomed to a $20 dance. One club near me tried to go back, but never had a chance because all the popular dancers moved on to $20 clubs taking customers with them... everyone is more willing to fight for a potential $20 than to earn a more reliable $10.

    Of course, when the money was flowing... it was FLOWING, which made a lot of guys shell out major cash for acts of prostitution in the clubs, and since the effects flowed downhill, a simple lap dance isn't so simple anymore, which makes dancers that much less willing to scale back their prices to suit the economy. Nevermind that customers are MUCH less likely to scale back expectations than dancers are to scale back their fees. (Give me a $20 air dance, and I'll be extremely pissed)

    Also, with current youth culture, guys can get pretty much what they want and don't need to pay a stripper to give them much less than what comes pretty easily these days, while the older guys like me are scaling back our stripper budget as we get more financial responsibilities to attend to.

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    Featured Member tootsie's Avatar
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    Default Re: "not what it used to be"

    Quote Originally Posted by tampafldancer
    hmmmmm... the money is still out there, you just have to find it IMO!!

    very true!

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    God/dess Jenny's Avatar
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    Default Re: "not what it used to be"

    See this is a funny thing. I make the same money that I did back in 1996. Yes, I'm old. What's your fucking problem? I wasn't around for a steady decline, because I didn't work at all for like 6 of those years, but although I notice more contact, I don't notice less money. I think that "good old days" are a pipe dream. I read Lily Burana's book and I thought it illustrated pretty well that the business was always kind of grotty and that there were always "whores" etc., even back in the 1970's.
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    Default Re: "not what it used to be"

    I noticed a big change after 9/11. Businessmen and tourists spent less and wanted more and more until I quit in August of 2003. I made money but it was more stressful and longer hours. Which got old so I decided to quit, it wasn't worth it to me. I could make good money without having to put up with all the BS in another job.

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    Default Re: "not what it used to be"

    I'm gonna milk it for all it's worth before my retirement in June.11 years is too long.
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    Veteran Member Nina's Avatar
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    Default Re: "not what it used to be"

    5 years ago I was a newbie who could barely dance and had no sales skills,,, just major attitude and I made an average of $750 nightly...... Of course there were slow days I remember going home in tears one Friday night because I only made like $400, and days when I thought about quitting because I made $200 after tipout..... Of course the clubs were different, the dancers were a totally different breed and the men had more money....... Back then I could rotate 4 or 5 guys weekly who were spending $300 on me each...These days it''s not so easy. I see the younger guys spending $$$ and they aren't used to treating wpmen well so they expect A LOT when they give a girl $200 a week or so....TO them she should be putting out!! And a lot of these silly young girls do it for that kind of chump change.

    As for making over $100 k yearly.....If I hadn't been as frivouloous and lazy as I was I probably could have, but to my 20 something mind IF I made $1300 on Friday and all my bills were paid, that meant I could spend 1 week a t the beach and drag myself back into work in 2 weeks...... If I had $5000 saved that meant it was time to take my family shopping, not buy more stock.
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    Featured Member WiseGuy_TX's Avatar
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    Default Re: "not what it used to be"

    I cannot tell whom above is basing their experiences on several clubs in several states over the last 15 or more years. I can comment on what i've seen in Dallas but that may be an anomalie compared to other clubs in the US.

    It has changed a lot. In the nineties, we did not have as many clubs, we were not exposed to so much flesh/porn/violence on DVD's, the internet, video games, or TV/cable, etc... so over 15 years ago, what a guy could view/see at a club was "appreciated" more. More open sex education has changed views too. Men had corporate accounts where the IRS allowed "entertainment" to be deducted, then the IRS changed that.

    I think one could look at what typical sex/flesh/titilation mainstream movies and TV media have shown each decade and somewhat guage the change in stripping attitudes based on that. Each decade a new generation of people want to push the edge of what they consider the sexual/social norm.

    As far as money, i knew dancers in Dallas who made $2500 per night most nights of the week and no contact dancing. But that was during a hugh local economic bubble in the late 80's that lasted about 7 years before busting. (..and no it was not $2500/night for 7 years, it was at the peak for a few years working about 3 nights/week)

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