I probably wouldn’t have thought about getting one if I hadn’t danced. But seeing yourself naked all of the time lets you figure out your exact (perceived) flaws. I thought my hips and butt were big and wanted boobs to match. Now I am slimmer in the bottom half, but the boobs still look pretty good. I was lucky, I had the best surgeon in town.
You said in a previous post that you are likely going to quit stripping in a few years.
Why, in particular, are you leaving?
Also, how much do you enjoy it? Do you enjoy it more or less now than you did when you started?
Were you nervous the first time you were on stage?
Thanks for this thread Indygrrl. Lot’s of fascinating stuff, here. (And sorry this is kinda long, it didn’t start out to be.)
I know the laws vary in different places concerning things like how much nudity is allowed, how much contact is legal, how much (and even if) alcohol can be served.
As best I remember, in Oklahoma a club has to be so many feet away from a school or a church, alcohol may be served, and full frontal nudity is illegal. Some kind of panty must be worn (a translucent g-string is fine(some of them are damn fine)) and even nipples must be covered, but apparentley a clear and very tiny bandage is good enough for the latter.) Contact is very much discouraged. Table dances are accepted, lap dances, not so much. What you called a “friction dance” is not to be found (although there are rumors). I seem to recall that the club owner and the dancer can be ticketed (and maybe even arrested) for “inappropriate contact”. The last time I was in a SC was many years ago, so it may be better by now. (My money, though would be on “even more draconian”).
What I heard while in Michigan in late 70’s (no first-hand experience) was even worse. No full nudity anywhere at any time, topless only, and even that with restrictions. I also never heard a strip club called anything but a “titty bar”.
In Arizona maybe a decade or so ago, there were two sets of rules, therefore two types of SC.
In the first type, dancers were allowed to be “fully nude”. Age limit was eighteen, but no alcohol was served. Table (lap) dances were available at small one-person tables in the back of the room, but topless, only. Touching was allowed but only at the discretion of the dancer. Grabbing or groping would end your dance right now!, and if you were too aggressive or disrespectful you would be tossed out and ridiculed on the way.
In the second type, the age limit was 21, alcohol was served and dancers were topless only. As I was with a group of 21-year-olds having a bachelor party, I didn’t stay long enough to find out much about what types of dances were offered.
It’s my understanding that all the Arizona laws have changed (repressively) since then. (Damn Republicans! 
)
All of this is by way of asking; how are Indiana guidelines different from these? Have you ever worked under different constraints than the ones you now work under? If so, how did different rules affect your income, attitude and work satisfaction? If not, how do you think you would you feel about having to work under some of the restrictions above?
And on preview, I just want to say ('cause I’m a guy and it’s what we do) that if your pics were taken in the last five years, dancing will be a viable option for you for a long time to come. You also seem to be the kind of person who always made my evening a lot more pleasant back in my strip-club-going days.
And I thought that was just me. 
I’m jealous! That sounds like such a cool job.
I wish I could point you toward the stripper website I go on so you could see just how many of us defy that stereotype. I know a former dancer who got an MBA from Johns Hopkins, another who is a successful financial planner, one who has a stock portfolio that would shock and amaze you, and all kinds of other smart women in-between. There are lots of reasons why an intelligent woman would decide to dance. It is simply an awesome way to make a lot of cash in a relatively small amount of time.
I avoid men with foul looks on their faces, cheap shoes, sweaty and/or smelly guys (who you can spot). But overall I give everyone a chance because you never know who your big money guy is going to be.
I have never played the dumb card, it’s just not possible for me, but I do try to match whoever I’m talking to. For instance, if it’s a hometown country boy I will speak differently than if it is a businessman in an expensive suit. If a man feels he can relate to you in some way that is good for business. I have had many men comment on how smart I am, it seems to impress, but I don’t care for the ones who tell me I’m too good for the job or I should be doing something else. I don’t like being judged anymore than anyone else does.
Well, you did say it gave them a place to objectify women. Do you think that is a net positive? I’m not talking about how it makes you money here, understand.
Well, for one, I’m 33 and have been at it for a long time. I know I have some good years left in me for dancing, but all good things must come to an end. Eventually I will want to go back to “normal” work, especially if and when I start feeling like my looks and earnings are on the decline. I do not want to be the delusional 40-year-old stripper who is hanging onto scraps of her youth.
I enjoy it immensely. I have loved it from the beginning, but it is only this time around that I really appreciate my role. I earn more than I ever have, and I have more confidence than I ever have. It has only gotten better for me as far as dancing goes. The beginning years were rough because I was at a little neighborhood bar and let myself get into relationships with people and that wasn’t the greatest thing to do.
I was nervous that first time, but never again after that.
Did you work the weekend of the Indy 500? What was it like?
I know I’m not the only one ready to make a road trip, right?
Can you tell me more about this? I am curious/fascinated to know how men act when women aren’t around. Pig stuff I’m familiar with, but I would love to have a woman’s perspective on mens’ behavior. What do they do? How do they act? I would love to be a fly on the wall in a club, because of course a lot of women would judge, but I just want to understand the gender differences.
Oh, and BTW, I am also the kind of feminist that completely supports your right to do with your body what you want. If you’re lucky enough to make big money dancing, then more power to you.
We only do topless in Indy, but I think there are nude clubs elsewhere in the state, not sure. The Indiana laws are very weird. They state that you have to have a nipple covering, which is usually a tiny piece of band-aid, if we even bother at all with it. It says you can’t dance with intent to arouse (uh, hello?). But every club I’ve worked at has gotten around these laws. Without disclosing too much we’ll just say that arrangements are made and leniency is given.
I would be upset if they made stricter laws around here. It would hurt our money. And I think adults are adults and should be allowed to do as they please, within reason. Ohio is facing some serious legislation and the girls are up in arms about it. It is going to essentially shut down the adult entertainment business and a lot of people are going to lose their livelihood as a result.
Thank you for the compliment on the pic. I would post one I took for eBay, but I would be afraid I would get in trouble on here. I’m not sure what is inappropriate. But I do want to brag that my bod looks better than it does in those pics. They are not an accurate representation!
I don’t think it is as harmful as it sounds. If everyone agrees and no one is there against their will, it’s good, right? And it is impossible for me to think about these things without factoring in money. I am 100% ok with being objectified in the club. Now, do it to me in the grocery and I’m going to tell you where to stick it, but in the club it is ok.
They like to smoke cigars and stare unashamed. And they like to get multiple dances (like 5-10 or more) and tip well to look like big shots. They also like to pay for their friend to have fun. It’s not uncommon for a guy to hand me a $100 and tell me to take his friend to the back. They just don’t do that as freely around women. They also stay longer, drink more, and again, tip more to look like big shots around their group.
I prefer the alternative of giving the dancer a $100 to take the girl in the back for a good time. But I suppose that’s just me!
Well, that’s male fantasy for ya. If I got handed money to take a woman back, of course I would do it, but I would feel very awkward and so would she unless she commonly gets dances like that. Women don’t enjoy it as much as men want them to, as a general rule.
Well, generally I’d know the female friend is going to be enthusiastic about it or else that’s $100 better spent on myself.
Yeah, I think with the freedom to objectify women in a consensual arena there should also come a very strong social stigma of doing it anywhere they haven’t already agreed to it. You see this kind of thing in Europe where drinking laws are much more relaxed but the societal norms against drunk driving are so strong it isn’t really an issue.
Since virtually all the money you make is in cash, what do you do with it between dances? Do you have a personal safe to put it into, or can you just leave it in the back and trust your fellow dancers and other staffers at the club to leave it alone?
How many “regulars” do you have? i remember watching “G-String Divas” on HBO or Showtime or whatever (What did you think of that show, if you saw it?) and there was one woman who really worked her regular connections. She would actually call them and ask them if they were coming, why she hadn’t seen them in a while, etc.
…and that of women not? I find it weird that feminists denouce the exploitation of women (e.g. all sex is rape); and ignore the exploitation of men (via the same means)!
Take that, Betty Friedan!
I put my big bills on my garter. Picture this, a stack of $20’s folded in half over the garter and then a rubber band wrapped around the folded stack. They stay put until I can put them in my locker. And for my ones and fives I have a little purse I carry with me. I unload it whenever I go to the locker.
We have a “house mom” who is there to try to make sure no one steals or does anything they aren’t supposed to do, but she can’t be everywhere all the time. I haven’t had a problem keeping large amounts of cash in my locker.