[QUOTE=OpalCat]
Indy, do you mind if I add my experience/answers to this thread from an “ask a former stripper” perspective? If you don’t want me to that’s cool (you can even PM me if you don’t wanna say “get the hell outta my thread” publicly LOL)
I’m gonna make this one post but then I won’t do more unless I get an OK from you, and I am not gonna try to take over and post a million replies even if you say OK–just a little here and there.
I danced (topless, not nude) from about 1991-1995, primarily at TD’s Showclub (East) in Tucson, AZ though I did do a little traveling to TX from time to time, and I did work at Ten’s in Tucson for a couple of months. At TD’s the bouncers and managers were extremely protective of the dancers. Like we were all their sisters or something. I remember one time I was doing a table dance and a guy slapped me really hard on the ass (left a mark for about an hour). Almost before I knew what was happening, his chair flew over backwards and two bouncers dragged him out of the club. They didn’t come back in for a couple of minutes. (I don’t think they beat him up or anything but I think they laid the intimidation and yelling down pretty hard). Another time I had a real asshole of a customer say some mean things to me and made me cry. The manager asked me why I was crying and I told him. He and a bouncer threw the guy out, and then the bouncer came over to me and he was really fired up and pissed off. He said “I can’t believe he said that to you! I wanted to kick his ass so bad!” They were awesome. However, when I danced briefly at Caligula XXI in Houston, TX, the bouncers didn’t seem to care at all, and were far more concerned with the customers. I danced at a couple of places in the Dallas/Ft.Worth area (Lace in Arlington, New Orleans Nights in Ft. Worth) and they barely had any bouncers on the floor at all. So it really varies from place to place.
The place I bounced at sc in phoenix and the all of us bouncers wer like the ones you had in Tuscon.
smhanse: where did you bounce? What club? I remember one of our bouncers went on to dance at a strip club in town called Girls Knight Out. I went there with some friends and he was so nice to me. Gave me a free dance, even. Our bouncers were awesome. I never dated one of them, but I was very close to several of them and my manager was awesome.
You know, I almost wish they had more topless clubs in Atlanta because especially in the summer when my son is gone (and so the restriction on working nights) right now I’d totally consider doing it again while I’m a student. I think I’d be more emotionally capable of handling it now at age 35, and more confident. I don’t quite have the body I had then, though it’s not bad, but on the flip side, I have boobies now which I didn’t have back then. Unfortunately, the only topless place in Atlanta is a half and half club where one side is women dancing topless for men and the other side is men dancing for women… and honestly, since there are so many nude clubs everywhere, the topless side just doesn’t get much business. The weekend I worked there, we sometimes didn’t start dancing until about 10:30 because it took that long for a single customer to come in. (The other side, on the other hand, was packed with screaming women)
So my new girlfriend “LeXXys,” whom I met at the bachelor party— is that her real name, and do you think she really likes me for me, and not just for my money?
I can’t for the life of me figure out a way to word this… Do you do any “real” dancing? Do a lot of strippers have a dance background in some style or other?
And a very personal question, but do you dance for your husband (in private), or is it too much “taking work home with you” and you…um… just do other things with him? Does he, or has he, ever come watch you at work?
Indygrrl is at work so I’ll answer at least for me:
I do real dancing. I have a background in belly dance, as far as training goes. I always rolled my eyes at the strippers who just “wiggled”.
I only danced for my ex-husband once, but I have danced for my boyfriend a lot of times, and man… wow. It’s hot. He joins in (he is a dancer too) and it gets pretty hot. So sometimes we’ll dance interactively, sometimes I’ll dance for him, and sometimes he’ll dance for me. Yow. I love it.
Ever worked the Clermont Lounge? It’s the kind of place that supports dancers at all stages of their career, very bell-curve agewise as well as bosom-appreciative. Don’t know if they support strictly topless though. I haven’t been in a SC in 10 years, but I root for the honest indie joints… I just pick up too much exploitive commercial vibe from places like the Cheetah. Sure, the gals are hot, but something about it just seems commercial, desperate and exploitive to me. Can’t put my finger on it.
Err, no. I worked at primarily one club in Tucson AZ from about 1991-the end of 1994, and during that same time, I traveled to a couple of clubs in Texas for brief visiting stints; then I worked one weekend in 2005 at a club in Atlanta. I haven’t danced at any other club in Altanta*.
And given that I’m moving to Ohio in just under 3 weeks, I think it’s safe to say I never will.
*Hell I’ve only lived in Atlanta for a hair over 2 years.
My club has a no fraternization rule and it is awesome. The male help can’t date the female help, and no hanky panky will be tolerated. Therefore, the guys end up being more like big brother types rather than creepy dudes who want to date us.
Well, in my opinion, stripping is as much “real” dancing as anything else, and maybe even moreso. After all, we get paid for it. I have seen and done some very artful dancing in my day, and it is as professional as anything you’d see a belly dancer (which I never understood why that is accepted and stripping isn’t, it is just as sexy) or other kinds of dancers do. I consider myself a professional dancer.
I have maybe danced for my husband once, but I don’t really care to bring it home with me. It’s not something I find sexy in relation to my fantasies with him. But if he asked me to do it, I would. And no, he doesn’t come and watch me at work. Our SO’s are not allowed to hang out in the club. He’s been in for a few minutes to drop something off for me, but other than that he steers clear.
Sure, I’ve danced to that and almost every other song I can think of. I’ve been at this for a loooong time.
I have answered about the song thing. We do not choose, but the dj tries to play what we like. I am definitely more sensual, it suits my body and style and the guys love it.
I really don’t get it. It’s like buying an expensive steak, but not being allowed to eat it.
Strip club interactions combine empty social facade with ultimately futile sexual stimulation. I mean, you’re not getting the dancer, and it isn’t a date either. You get neither the social interaction of a date (which at least might have the potential of a future sexual interaction), and you’re not getting laid either.
I suppose that if the dancers completely objectify the patrons, and if the patrons completely objectify the dancers, that it sorta evens out.
Dangit, I hate how we only have a minute or two to edit. I wanted to add that along with my opinion that what I do is “real” dancing, I also have the flexibility of a gymnast. It is a skill that not everyone has, and I am very proud of it. I can do the splits all the way to the ground, and I can put my leg behind my head (you would have to see it, it’s not as tacky as it sounds).
I had a pretty good night tonight, great crowd response. I love nights like that. Now I’m off to bed. Thanks for being interested in this stuff.
