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Thread: Dancers' rights

  1. #1
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    Default Dancers' rights

    My nothern CA club has always been a decent place for dancers to work. There was a healthy sort of balance between management's inevitable pimp mentality and the dancers' freedom. Now, however, management has suddenly decided to severely restrict the movements of the dancers.

    I've been in this club for 8 years (4 as dancer, 4 as DJ), and it's a little bit like home to me. It's a small club, we all know each other, and I care about my girls very much.

    This is why I'm on a researching rampage trying to find out just what kind of rights dancers actually have, and if enlisting the help of local agencies, as well as SF's dancer's union, would help us in any way.

    Do any of you have suggestions for me?

    DJ C

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    Banned Melonie's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dancers' rights

    California has a 'new' statute in effect which dictates that all 'house dancers' working in the state are to be considered 'employees'. Obviously, most California clubs do not actually treat dancers as 'employees', because doing so would require the clubowner to do away with stage fees and tipouts, because doing so would require the clubonwer to pay CA State comp and disability insurance premiums to cover each dancer, because doing so would require the clubowner to start paying dancers a minimum wage weekly paycheck etc.

    On the other hand, clubowners treating dancers as 'employees' would also mean that the club must run every customer dollar through the club's cash register, would mean that the club could keep 100% of all customer money spent on private dances/VIP (with no difference in pay for dancers whether they do 3 private dances or 30), would mean that the club could mandate that particular dancers must only work certain hours on certain days, would mean that clubs must record dancer earnings, report them to the IRS, and withhold income taxes from dancers' paychecks etc.

    All kidding aside, my suggestion to you is to not open 'Pandora's Box'.

  3. #3
    smartcookie
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    Default Re: Dancers' rights

    Quote Originally Posted by DJ Capricious
    Now, however, management has suddenly decided to severely restrict the movements of the dancers.
    What do you mean by "restrict the movements of the dancers?"

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    Default Re: Dancers' rights

    Are you talking about laws or rights?

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    Default Re: Dancers' rights

    But that's just the thing. I am not ok with a club treating dancers as employees when they are actually contractors. There must be one or the other. They're trying to have their cake and eat it, too by avoiding all labor and tax laws but still pushing the dancers around. At another local club where dancers get minimum wage, their private dance money doesn't go through any registers before it gets to the dancers. I don't necessarily want employee status for most of the reasons Melonie mentioned, but that won't stop me from contacting OSHA and the health department and suggest a little random check. What I want most of all is a renegotiated contract.

    DJ C

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    Default Re: Dancers' rights

    Follow-ups

    smartcookie: I mean management has suddenly decided that dancers can't have the freedom to take breaks (as long as they don't miss their stage) anymore. My issue is that management keeps changing the rules without amending the contract.

    loganlaken: I'm talking about both, since rights are usually defined by laws.

    Melonie: Do you have a reference to this "new CA law" you speak of? I'd like to read it.

    DJ C

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    Default Re: Dancers' rights

    First step: Actually read word for word the actual contract each dancer is expected to sign upon working within your club ....if they have signed anything. After that I guess it is a 'verbal contract' that the management has with the dancers and hence that's how they can 'update' the contract without actually updating it (re-printing with new club rules and have all the working dancers sign it).

    I know here in Australia that pretty much whatever a club wants to do the dancers do have to abide by as all independant contractors have to work by certain rules anyway regardless of the industry (and/or client) that particular contractor works within (and with)...... ESPECIALLY if the dancer has signed anything!


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