Here the events are few and far between but the fetish events tend to pay $50-100 for a few hours (usually one or two performances).  Quite honestly, fetish/alt/swinger events are probably some of the safest events you can perform at.  They tend to have super tight security and these are people who know and respect boundaries and the meaning of the word no.  I am not really sure how burlesque performers get paid.  

Many of the performers that I know that are out a few weekends a month travel to many different locations.  They are more performance artists than anything else.  You just kind of have to find that niche in your city and start making connections.  Unfortunately though when someone comes into town and is looking for performers the first thing they are going to do is call local studios.