# In the US, do all topless and bottomless dancers have to wear pasties & G-strings? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 13, 2004, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-us-do-all-topless-and-bottomless-dancers-have-to-wear-pasties-g-strings/250150 "2004-06-13T18:05:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-us-do-all-topless-and-bottomless-dancers-have-to-wear-pasties-g-strings/250150/21 "2004-06-13T23:17:01Z")
And here I was thinking that BushCo was about conservative politics. I guess they’ve loosened up some. ---
**Author:** ![Sylkyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/da6949/32.png) [@Sylkyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylkyn)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-us-do-all-topless-and-bottomless-dancers-have-to-wear-pasties-g-strings/250150/22 "2004-06-13T23:18:57Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > In South Florida, they are totally bare-assed naked, and alcohol is served. At the places my friend worked in Tampa, it was BYOB…no licquor or beer served at all. Just setups. I guess they wanted the patrons to spend money on the girls…not the booze. After all, they _were_ nekkid! ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-us-do-all-topless-and-bottomless-dancers-have-to-wear-pasties-g-strings/250150/23 "2004-06-13T23:20:27Z")
> [@Mr. Excellent](#): > > This is one of those times - lamentably rare of late - that I am genuinely, truly proud to be an American. 😃 I suspect it’s because the guardians of our moral values actually live there, and like a good night out on the town like anyone else. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-us-do-all-topless-and-bottomless-dancers-have-to-wear-pasties-g-strings/250150/24 "2004-06-13T23:36:13Z")
I see the OP is from Decatur, IL. Come on over to Springfield and you can see completely nude dancers at the Deja Vu strip club. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2004, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-us-do-all-topless-and-bottomless-dancers-have-to-wear-pasties-g-strings/250150/25 "2004-06-14T00:08:47Z")
PA is another state desiring to protect the values of the family. If booze is sold, then dancers must wear at minimum little round spot bandaids, and the fur must be under wrap. If you choose to patronize an upstanding establishment which does not dispense demon rum or other intoxicants (but allows you to bring them in), you may view the perfomers wearing naught but a salacious grin. I’m so glad that my moral welfare is being minded by the LCB. **L** itany of **C** ommonwealth **B** ureaucracy? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2004, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-us-do-all-topless-and-bottomless-dancers-have-to-wear-pasties-g-strings/250150/26 "2004-06-14T00:11:54Z")
In St Louis, MO and all surrounding areas onthe MO side, anything beyond dancing in a bikini is 100% verboten. I hear there are a couple of local jurisdictions where topless means just that, but overall it’s all illegal. Directly across the river in Illinois there are several small towns that specialize in all-nude (which means exactly what you hope it means) dancing, with (massive) alchohol sales to boot. So, we drive across the bridge a lot and some other state gets the tax dollars from our liquor purchases. Blue noses are so GD stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2004, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-us-do-all-topless-and-bottomless-dancers-have-to-wear-pasties-g-strings/250150/27 "2004-06-14T00:15:02Z")
> [@Boyo Jim](#): > > And here I was thinking that BushCo was about conservative politics. I guess they’ve loosened up some. The Federal Gummint does not control things like liquor/strip club laws in DC. Think more Marion Berry, the infamous former mayor of DC, and then you’re on the right track to figuring out who passed the current strip club laws. > [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > (Spearmint Rhino) – That would be a great name for a brand of toothpaste. Are you kidding? No way I’d put that in my mouth! Who knows where that toothpaste has been? ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2004, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-us-do-all-topless-and-bottomless-dancers-have-to-wear-pasties-g-strings/250150/28 "2004-06-14T00:33:12Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > Regardinf S. Florida…why do you need bars? Just go to a local beach…the girls are wearing next to nothing anyway! 🙂 Yeah, but most of 'em won’t give you lap dance. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2004, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-us-do-all-topless-and-bottomless-dancers-have-to-wear-pasties-g-strings/250150/29 "2004-06-14T00:35:08Z")
> [@danceswithcats](#): > > I’m so glad that my moral welfare is being minded by the LCB. **L** itany of **C** ommonwealth **B** ureaucracy? :rolleyes: God…Pennsylvania’s LCB would feel quite comfortable wearing brown shirts. The most draconian goddamn liquor laws… ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2004, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-us-do-all-topless-and-bottomless-dancers-have-to-wear-pasties-g-strings/250150/30 "2004-06-14T01:14:34Z")
Two questions: In all nude bars, where do the girls put their tips? and… What about male strip joints? Are there places where the guys just “let it all hang out?” ---
**Author:** ![Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rex_fenestrarum/32/7265_2.png) [@Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rex_Fenestrarum)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2004, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-us-do-all-topless-and-bottomless-dancers-have-to-wear-pasties-g-strings/250150/31 "2004-06-14T01:17:18Z")
In Atlanta, it’s all-nude, but there are still certain restrictions, like male & female dancers cannot occupy the stage at the same time. However, there is at least one alcohol-free strip club (couldn’t get a liquor license) where those restrictions don’t apply. Men and women dance together and have “simulated” sex on stage all the time. In North Carolina, AFAIK it’s “topless only”. My girl (from Charlotte) wigged out when we went to a strip club once in my former hometown, 'cos the girls got completely naked (except for shoes, which is also a law. Hygeine? Safety?) ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2004, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-us-do-all-topless-and-bottomless-dancers-have-to-wear-pasties-g-strings/250150/32 "2004-06-14T01:17:25Z")
As noted, it varies considerably from place to place. I’ve seen literally al-nude in many places, but others put arbitrary estrictions. One of the most restricted is Salt Lake City, Utah, where you can’t take off the bottom, and you have to keep pasties on the top, if not more. It certainly restricts the dancer’s angling for tips, although one had the rick of picking up the dollar bills with her breasts to encourage repeat business. One time I flew from SLC to New Orleans for a conference – ta;lk about culture shock! Besides the change in weather and liquor laws, I also went from the prudich SLC stripper laws to Bourbon Street, where they not only had all-nude dancers, they also had mirrors set up so you could see them from the street! ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2004, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-us-do-all-topless-and-bottomless-dancers-have-to-wear-pasties-g-strings/250150/33 "2004-06-14T01:19:09Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > In all nude bars, where do the girls put their tips? They wear a single garter for you to put your money in. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2004, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-us-do-all-topless-and-bottomless-dancers-have-to-wear-pasties-g-strings/250150/34 "2004-06-14T01:19:43Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Two questions: > > In all nude bars, where do the girls put their tips? > > and… > > What about male strip joints? Are there places where the guys just “let it all hang out?” I know that DC bars allow full male nudity (though they usually wear socks…where else are they gonna put their tips?) but no touching. I have also been in a male strip club in Minneapolis that was full-on nude. Unfortunately, I was broke, so I couldn’t show my appreciation for the fine dancing… ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2004, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-us-do-all-topless-and-bottomless-dancers-have-to-wear-pasties-g-strings/250150/35 "2004-06-14T01:31:39Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > The Federal Gummint does not control things like liquor/strip club laws in DC. Think more Marion Berry, the infamous former mayor of DC, and then you’re on the right track to figuring out who passed the current strip club laws… I lived in DC for 12 years, and if there is all-nude dancing in DC, I assure you it’s because Congress is ok with it. They mess with anything they like, including cab fares, by threatening the city’s annual Federal buget allocation. But my comment wasn’t really about that, rather a lame play on words from the previous post about the “Great Alaska Bush Company is a gynecology lesson”. For all I know there has been nude dancing there for a long time. I was very poor when I lived in DC, and couldn’t afford to hang out in clubs, strip or otherwise. And BTW, it was well known locally that Merion Barry used to do coke in the bathroom of the 930 Club. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2004, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-us-do-all-topless-and-bottomless-dancers-have-to-wear-pasties-g-strings/250150/36 "2004-06-14T01:33:45Z")
> [@Airman Doors](#): > > They wear a single garter for you to put your money in. Which may be one factor in the resistance to having low-denomination US-dollar banknotes replaced with coins… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2004, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-us-do-all-topless-and-bottomless-dancers-have-to-wear-pasties-g-strings/250150/37 "2004-06-14T01:33:54Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > The Federal Gummint does not control things like liquor/strip club laws in DC. Think more Marion Berry, the infamous former mayor of DC, and then you’re on the right track to figuring out who passed the current strip club laws. **Boyo Jim** was making a pun about the _Bush Company_. However, it should be noted that the District is not sovereign; it’s municipal government was created by Congress, and Congress can and does regularly interfere with their bidness. ---
**Author:** ![beergeek279](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ea924/32.png) [@beergeek279](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beergeek279)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2004, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-us-do-all-topless-and-bottomless-dancers-have-to-wear-pasties-g-strings/250150/38 "2004-06-14T04:42:49Z")
PA allows fully nude dancing in a BYOB bar, and if a bar chooses to sell alcohol then certain bits have to cover up (there’s plenty of loopholes, such as selling a cup and “inadvertently” having a keg handy). West Virginia is another fully nude with alcohol service state (which gets them a lot of out of state business), and I think that there’s not much movement to ban this with all the out-of-state money coming in. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2004, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-us-do-all-topless-and-bottomless-dancers-have-to-wear-pasties-g-strings/250150/39 "2004-06-14T05:01:24Z")
> [@beergeek279](#): > > PA allows fully nude dancing in a BYOB bar, and if a bar chooses to sell alcohol then certain bits have to cover up (there’s plenty of loopholes, such as selling a cup and “inadvertently” having a keg handy). > > West Virginia is another fully nude with alcohol service state (which gets them a lot of out of state business), and I think that there’s not much movement to ban this with all the out-of-state money coming in. When some bluenosed city officials tried that in Minnesota, enterprising bar owners just bought the building next door, and installed the nude dancers there. And tore down the wall between the 2 buildings, and replaced it with large plate glass picture windows. The city tried to interfere, but since the bar with the liquor license was in 101 Payne Ave, and the dancers were in 103 Payne Ave (a business address without any liquor license), there wasn’t much they could do. ---
**Author:** ![umop\_ap\_sdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/dbc845/32.png) [@umop\_ap\_sdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/umop_ap_sdn)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2004, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-us-do-all-topless-and-bottomless-dancers-have-to-wear-pasties-g-strings/250150/40 "2004-06-14T07:11:09Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > In all nude bars, where do the girls put their tips? In some establishments, patrons leave the money on the table and the dancers gather it up when they’re done. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-us-do-all-topless-and-bottomless-dancers-have-to-wear-pasties-g-strings/250150.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-us-do-all-topless-and-bottomless-dancers-have-to-wear-pasties-g-strings/250150.md?page=3)