peachyyy -

I was wondering what it's like moving from just doing pole to becoming an exotic dancer. I am fairly new at pole fitness, and I was just wondering how much you need to know before becoming a dancer and any other useful tips. Also, how much can you realistically expect to make? Any answers or insight would be greatly appreciated :)

mspretty1414 -

You really only need to know what you're comfortable with, most dancers don't do any tricks at all.  How much you'll make depends, a lot of it is getting customers who come specifically for you, that's where the money is.  Tampa is the strip club capital of the US (45+clubs), and girls around here make from a couple hundred up to thousands a night, it just depends on who comes in and how many regulars you have that spend (I've seen a girl make $10k in one night off a sports agent).  Most of the money comes from private dances, very little from the stage.  Also, you have to pay the club a fee (no more than $40) and tip out your DJ and house mom, oh and if you're on day shift you'll be lucky to leave with $50 :(  Good luck, keep us informed!!!

mrscdaley -

i actually went from exotic dancing to pole dancing. id say to be an exotic dancer you really dont need to learn any tricks. ive been back to my home club a couple times when cash was low and i felt like my pole tricks werent appreciated (if that makes sense). we had 3 song sets so if i got bored while on stage or if it was a really good song, then id bust some moves! its mostly getting customers to buy dances and developing a customer base and getting them to come back. what you make depends on where you go i guess.. i live in central texas where everyone is mostly military.

peachyyy - Do you need to have a killer body? I wouldn't describe myself as flabby but I am working towards a better body

peachyyy - Do you need to have a killer body? I wouldn't describe myself as flabby but I am working towards a better body

mspretty1414 - No, all types of girls work in clubs, evrybody has their type and there's a lot of patrons who aren't looking for a barbie, however, you may be put on day shift because of it, but if you work it and have a good personality that goes a long way. Go to a club in your area and talk to the dancers, they shouldn't have a prob giving you the scoop on what its like in their club :) p.s. corsets do wonders to hide belly fat.

peachyyy - Thank you!

mspretty1414 - No prob, and if your not sure if you want to dance try cocktailing in a club, believe it or not the waitresses can make as much if not more than the dancers!

ninjachic - Exotic dancing is less about pole than pole, lol. Although it helps to be a good poler, a well placed trick in your set can set you apart from the other girls. The Money isn't about dancing at all but your sales pitch. Do you have any background in sales? If not get with those you know that do it read some books on it, its a big hustle, know how to do it with your own style! Always have fun, don't try to be like all the other girls and try to be genuinely interested in your customers, have a positive mindset that you will succeed. It's really fun, but its business too. No funny business....

Oh, and actually Portland is the actual strip club capital of the US, there are over a hundred clubs, and more per capita than any other city ;) I <3 Portland, and I miss being cute and sexy all the time and being paid fabulously for it! Lol

darcit -

In my experience their are many clubs where the stage money is great and pole tricks are very well appreciated by the customers.  Ususally these are smaller clubs in medium sized cities or clubs in small towns that draw a lot of tourist traffic.  I actually got into pole from exotic dancing (although, to be fair, when I started dancing in 1998 pole was still pretty much relegated to the strip club).  Several of the clubs that I worked in had quite a group of girls that were anywhere from good to fabulous on the pole and, on a slow night, we would hang out on stage just trying new tricks and playing.                                                                                                                      

I totally agree with ninjachic - have a positive mindset and have fun with it but don't forget that it's a business! 

mspretty1414 - I didn't think it was possible to out-do Tampa, theres one on every corner, rock on Portland!

ninjachic - I know! It's amazing, they are every where in every type you could possibly imagine! It is the land of naked ladies =D Bahahaha! Ahh... Good times ( -.-)

RM2012 -

As the ladies have said, exotic dancers don't need pole skills but it can give confidence and make your dancing interesting. It's more about entertainment skills and personality, and different looks and figures find different areas of the market. I would just advise that you be really sure it's the route you want to go. The money sure can be good, but often (at least here) it's a few dancers who make great money, most dancers have an average cash flow. I had a great time working when I started, but I have found it is has greatly impacted on my private life (eg being out with friends or family and people calling out my stage name etc) A lot of our clients were not shy in approaching us outside of work (although some were very discreet) and that can have ramifications especially in a small city like mine. I am a married young mum of 3 little kids and there have been times that my work as an exotic dancer have been inappropriately brought up by others, even though I chose to keep it quite private. That really took the control out of my hands. For me personally, I felt by the end as though I was compromising myself by the dancing. Everyone is different but I LOVE the pole, I love dance, I just don't have any desire to work in the industry now and there are regrets about the years I spent doing it. That would be my only words of caution hun.

ninjachic - A ridiculously invaluable resource on this matter is stripperweb.com. And like above mentioned, think carefully. Also, really ask yourself WHY you are thinking of this. The are a lot of times when people go into it for the wrong reasons... And end up berry dissapointed =(