SO I found this on a local strip club review page oh some people heres a link http://www.dfwnites.com/discthread.asp?p=9400
Sorry to her if is sound kinda bitchy toward her just came out that way
To the girl thinking about it---Don't, To the one doing it--you can get out. - Overit
When I first moved to TX to go to school I was a waitress at a pancake house. I knew a waitress who was 26 and just starting over after getting out of dancing. I was curious about her previous job and I asked her questions. It sounded like fun and so I went to the club she used to work at and applied to be a waitress there. I loved that I made so much money in such a short amount of time and I could still go to school and study. After being at the club awhile I got used to the atmosphere and started realizing that the dancers weren't on their feet all day, some just randomly left after being there for two hours because they were tired and they made an EFF ton more money than I did--and some only came in on weekends. So of course, I thought dancing would be a better choice for me and my busy school schedule at the time. I remember the first time I went back into the dressing room and one of the girls looked and me and said "what are you doing? You're in school right? You can get a normal job, can't you?" I said "yeah." She said "get your clothes back on and go to school. You're going to become irresponsible because things are going to start coming so easily for you, you'll start drinking or doing drugs because everyone else does it and you'll work to support that habbit, you'll spend more money than you can keep track of and get bad credit and you'll have the reputation of a ho. Go home, girl!" That was the best advice I never took. I thought I was different. I Thought "I'm just doing this to get through school and have a better schedule. Once I'm out of school, I'll stop." And I had fun. I didn't know what the hell she was talking about when I started. But as time whent on, I made a lot of money. I had an expensive apartment, large furniture and car payments, phones, everything. The lifestyle I was able to afford allowed me to go out with friends more, take my friends out, buy stupid things and totally skip a few classes here and there because i was tired or hungover from working the night before. Before I danced, I never drank. I was 19 and thought it was wrong to drink before 21. I held out until I was 20. I started having low self esteem from the guys who weren't interested in me and started gaining confidence from what someone was willing to pay to have me dance for them. I was often depressed and didn't know why. I didn't realize that I had started to hate myself. I wanted to get out of it and tried so many times, but the bills I had racked up wouldn't allow me to stop. And since I was young, inexperienced and hadn't finished school, I couldn't get a job that would support the mess that I'd made. I dropped out of school several times to try to pay things off via dancing--"I'll just take a year off, pay all this off and then live a normal life again." But the way the money ebs and flows makes it impossible for someone who is already depressed and newly unstable to save. This went on for years. If I had just stayed living at home until I graduated college, I'd be a lot farther in life than I am now. Dancing was the worst thing I've ever done to myself and my life. If there's any girl who is reading this because they want to know more about it and are thinking of doing it, please know that it doesn't matter who you are or where you came from or how good of a head you have on your shoulders--your goals will be crippled in some way. For anyone who wants to get out of it, I'm proof that you can do it. It's not easy, but with faith and determination and patience, there is a way. I finally graduated when I was 25. It took me 8 years to get through school. Now at 28 I work at a successful production company where I am a script writer and a director. This is the first year that I feel my self-esteem starting to recover and I don't have the "fear" of people and judgement that you end up with, but waste all your energy trying to hide. I'm not trying to preach to anyone about anything. I promise. It just kills me when I know I could've been where I am now so much earlier in life if I'd never stepped foot in those clubs. I wish that someone or something--anything had kept me from doing it. Hopefully I can be that person for someone.
my reply:
so enlightened - WOW
WOW! Now, I know all the secerts HA! SO I guess the fact that I don't waste the money I earn, I only work on nights I do not have school the next day. I DONT do drugs nor will I ever given the fact I used to and quit on my own before dancing. Huh I limit my alchol to the point that when I leave I know I can pass a breathalizer. But I guess we all fall right into it huh. No maybe its called approaching dancing as a J=O=B, nothing more nothing less. It is not a party where you magicly get paid its work. You go, put on the face, do your shit and go home. Dont hang out with anyone you've met in the club (co worker or customer) and you make your friends at school, etc.. Its not that hard to not get caught up all it takes is maturity and the right mind frame at approaching a SOB.
her again:
me too... - Overit
That's the point I am trying to make. I did all those things you are doing. I honestly have no idea how it spirled downward. I've still never touched drugs and didn't drink that much--but any was different. I never hung out with anyone after work, I didn't know anyone that I worked with and I was never an "extras" type. I think it's just that you can't control how the act of being paid based on how you look, selling yourself as an "item" and the secret you have to keep from a lot of people in your "real" life affects you psychologically. If it hasn't yet, then hopefully you can stay afloat before it does. But it manifests itself in ways you don't even notice. I was making a lot of money just from regulars who wanted to hang out and maybe get one dance all day and I dreaded going to work. I didn't know why because it was so easy and I only did it a few times a week. I don't think I ever worked a full week's schedule. I think if you are a real person with a real heart and don't use drugs to get through it, just human chemistry and social science says that this job will have an affect on your self-esteem. Perhaps if you are aware that it is a possibility you'll be able to take a step back when you start to see the signs.
? - Overit
It's a matter of chosing what kind of life you want more. Both have intense sacrifices. It seems like you would have to sell the house and move into something smaller for the time being and ask for help with the kids while you get some sort of certificate or degree. Maybe you could wait tables instead? It totally sucks, but I think it would be worth it in the end. One thing you can do is become a personal trainer at a gym. There are a lot of certificates that allow you to study on your own time and then take a test later. I recommend PFIT in Houston. Look it up online. You'd have to make the drive on the weekends for about two months, but if you study hard and pass the test, it's a very strong certification to have. Most gyms in TX will hire you if they have openings. The classes are very good and very helpful. This certificate also allows you to work independantly if you so choose. A lot of times there are people in your class that you can network with. If you can't make the trip to Houston, order the ACE certificate package online. They'll supply you with materials to study and you schedule a date to take the exam. If you can pass that exam, you may only have to make the trip to Houston one weekend to take their review exam and their practical exam and you can get both certifications. You might have to wait tables while you build up your clientele, but once you have steady customers, you should be set in that genre. I know plenty of trainers who take care of all their bills and kids with that kind of work. They also teach aerobics classes a few times a week on top of that. Just a suggestion. There are many other options, I'm sure. That's just the route I know the best. Certifications are great. They're quick and often times you'll be in a networking environment, which a lot of times is much stronger than a degree. Best Wishes!
Once again me:
oh - OH
So you work for this gym in Houston? Did you have emotional issues with your self-esteem when you started? First off... no I dont believe it will effect me now nor ever. 1. Everyone knows this so called "secert" why because family is important to me and they know that I will not let this job effect me. Secondly, yeah I make decent money not anything spectacuilar just enough and Im fine with that when I see those girls making 500+ then I think super they are doing something im not giving themselves up for money (not just sexually but mentally also) Your personal experience is not everyones have you ever been to Stripper Web? Many retired dancers there who didn't end up the way you did. You amaze me don't dicate your personal experience as a rule for every girl to fall into. Yes it might happen to many but not all. Also how old where you when you started? Did you have a child? Had you ever held a "REAL" job aka the military, an office job with a 401K and health, a certified position in anything besides grocery girl, waitress, etc? Theres so many factors in your personal life history that could have effected your outcome. Please before you get all high and mighty with my experience = your experience think about the big picture. Yes, I already have a set quitting date which I know the money will decrease substaniouly but it does not bother me b/c as of right now the money is strictly a bonus which goes into a savings account (O M G a stripper has a real life savings account)!
edit - edit
Not all girls makeing $500 plus are "giving something up" just loved as a person by many or one and thats cool



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I can see where she's coming from. She's not judging strippers, she's just trying to warn others what COULD happen.


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