Just kidding to that previous comment.
There are lots of things to love and lots of things to hate, but above all I hate this dichotomy that seems to exist: powerful sexual women taking charge of their lives, physically, financially, and emotionally, while at the same time being exploited physically, financially, and emotionally. How is this possible, you ask. Well, I will do my best to explain. But first let me tell you about my situation.
I began dancing after college. I wanted to continue performing and pursuing artistic endeavors, while having enough cash to comfortably support myself. I danced part-time, off and on. I took a break for a while, then started dancing again when I decided to apply for graduate school. I mean plane tickets to visit schools, taking the GRE, interview clothes--these things are costly--not to mention paying for graduate school itself. So, dance I did (and still do)!
For me, the flip-side to dancing (and making money) is that, as a dancer, YOU HAVE TO PAY TO WORK. It's called a "lease fee". I've heard it compared to having a booth as a hairstylist but, really, as a dancer, you have nothing in the club that pertains to you. Maybe you can get a locker in the dressing room, but that's about it, and I've heard girls go ape-shit in the back after the management decided to forcibly break open and clean out lockers. C'mon, man, those thongs cost money! On top of the lease fee, a portion of your money from dances must be paid to the club, and you must tip the dj and bouncers and even valet. Mostly the reason being that the club does not pay them much at all. So who pays? The dancers, of course!
When I work at strip clubs, I can, on average, expect to walk out with 60-70% of the money I make. So, the club is collecting a large portion of my wages. AND I pay taxes on top of that.
Considering dancers pay so much, you would assume that dancers would be able to lobby on their behalf for necessary or desired changes within the establishment. Nun-uh. That is unlikely, but also depends on your rapport and the attitude of club owners and managers. The overarching belief is that dancers are expendable because, well, they kinda are. Pretty girls that can make men swoon are a dime-a-dozen. And they go just as quickly as they come.
Of course, business is business and clubs are just trying to make money. But where is that $20 cover charge at the door, plus sales at the bar, or any food sales actually going? In times of dryness I have seen clubs go after the dancers, rather than go after new clientele, to make their money.
As a professional entertainer, who works at nightclubs, private events, large city-wide shows, street performances, bars, raves, and events of all sorts, I've never heard of a club that not only gets free entertainment, but entertainment that pays THEM so they can perform, but somehow strip clubs get away with this.
On top of that, dancers are not protected by workman's comp, and more often than not must sign a looong waiver saying "If I break my neck entertaining YOUR customers and paying to work at YOUR club, I am fully responsible and cannot sue you."
This long discourse I have in my head boiled down to an idea one day when I was flying home from a trip to Las Vegas. I went there to work and play, and I worked one night at a club there. It quite frankly sucked, and I decided working in Las Vegas would not be a sustainable source of income or happiness for me. You see, I found myself in a dilemma, moving to California for grad school, and wanting to continue dancing, but not wanting to work at the clubs out there (I haven't heard good things). My focus being on grad school, this old dog did not want to have to learn any new tricks in order to be able to pay the rent and keep the lights on. "You should be a professional dominatrix!" One friend remarked. "Bartending is very lucrative out there," my sister-in-law said. I honestly don't have the energy or interest to learn any new things apart from school, so I've got to work with what I have.
Strip clubs pay features--porn stars, pole stars, midgets, or some crowd-drawing alternative adult entertainment--thousand of dollars to perform at their clubs. My new goal: to be a feature. Fuck the crumbs, I want the steak dinner! But really, I have the talent, the experience, and the connections to make this happen (at least I hope so).
So, I worked out a little something with the current club I work at, and I'll be doing my first big fire feature at a strip club, with the particular goal to get more gigs like this. It's going to be HOT! (ok, hott too). I'm not getting paid thousands of dollars but I'm getting photos, video, and hopefully a good recommendation to clubs that will pay me to perform.
So, we'll see. Maybe I can heat up this sometimes frigid industry with my passion for powerful women, fire, and art!
Details for the event Cirque Du Freak can be found on Facebook. It is this Friday, July 26, at Pure Gold Cary.
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