Suvery of exotic dancers and education

darling dearest started this discussion · 11/6/2012

Hi! I'm writing a paper in my English class and I thought it would be fun to write about strippers and explore the myth that claims strippers are uneducated. I would really appreciate it if any of my lovely Veeners who are (or have) worked in this industry to help me gather some information so I can write a bangin' paper on strippers that gets me an A. -What is your profession? -What is your level of education? (Are you still in school?) -Why have you chosen to work as an exotic dancer? Any other information you can provide for me to include in my research paper would be much appreciated! If you can point me to any valuable resources I would be over the moon. <3 Thanks so much! 🌸

18 replies

Lyme Lyte · 11/6/2012
There is a HUGE thread on here about that: Search, "What do you do for a living". I bet there are close to 300 responses. You could get great data from it!
darling dearest · 11/6/2012
I don't see lots of responses I can use in my paper. I need strippers!!
Lyme Lyte · 11/6/2012
Oh, bummer.....so just strippers/exotic dancers huh? Well I only know one and she is working on her Masters Degree for Nursing to become a Nurse Practitioner. So there's your first one! :)
CapFeb · 11/7/2012
So, studio veena ate my super lengthy post. Given that it took me half an hour to type on my phone, I'm not going to re-type it. I'll just give you bullet points -My only job is dancing. I have two side jobs that I'm starting, but they are both only "maybe" jobs. -One of my side jobs is egg donation. I do not have any degrees as I gave up my education for my future spouse to finish his. But according to the company I am going to start being placed under, my IQ was high enough to overwrite the fact that I do not have an associates or a bachelors. -I continue to dance because it is much harder for someone my age to get a job. The people in my age group (16-20) have a 19% unemployment rate. I would much rather work the door at walmart, but there's no reason to hire a liability when a 30 year old with two kids is on paper much more reliable. You almost have to know someone to get a job these days. -I started dancing not by choice. I had been watching competitive pole leisurely for about nine months before I got forced into dancing by my manager. I did gogo-ing for him as a favor so we wouldn't lose customers. A customer talked me into taking my shirt off in VIP for $100 a song. I made $800 that night, my manager took HALF and I walked out with $400. When I cam back he told me that I made the club no money as a waitress, and it was either dance or GTFO. -You should check out what Gaga had to say about dancing and also look up...I think it was Rachel Aimee? There was a dancer in NY who wrote a book about dancing and then unionized stripping in that state. Was pretty epic. And not at all sterotypical. -There are definitely stereotypical strippers out there. But considering the amount of people we meet in a day, I think people should give us more credit. One of my regulars is a rocket scientist for a soft spot in theoretical physics. Yeah, we talk about black holes when we get tired of dancing. I get more amused when people perceive me as dumb because of my job, and less insulted.
darling dearest · 11/7/2012
Thanks Lyme! CFeb, I was totally looking forward to you responding! Thanks so much. I really appreciate the time you took to respond (twice!) I'll look into getting that book, I haven't heard of it before so this is super helpful. ❤️
CapFeb · 11/7/2012
I wanted to read her book, as one of the girls I work with is going to school to be a lawyer and brought it up. But I forgot the name! I am interested in what other women have to say as well as I am writing my own book on the subject of pole dance vs exotic dance and it will be interesting to compare lifestyles. My book will be Eat Pray Love but better prose and with more pole dancing. And probably no falling in cliche romance love @_@ More like Eat Pole Tendinitis. I'll definitely double check when I am done being sick.
kasanya · 11/7/2012
You should look on StripperWeb. I browse over there on occasion and remember reading a thread once about university degrees and careers. It was very interesting.
Polewalker916 · 11/7/2012
I worked as an exotic dancer for 6.5 years. It gave me the money and flexibility I needed to be able to go to school. A few years into dancing I had my first baby and continued going to school. I earned my A.S. and continued dancing and school. I quit dancing shortly before transferring to U.C. Davis to earn my B.S. in animal science & management. My goal was to to be a veterinarian and have my bachelors as a back up. I quit dancing because my boyfriend (now husband) wanted me to stop and told me that he would take on the responsibility of paying for my schooling so I didn't have to work, I could take care of my son and school. Things change and I decided I didn't want to be a veterinarian. So after earning my B.S. I worked as a veterinary technician for almost 4 years, until I had my daughter. Now I am a stay at home mom. Never thought back in 1998-2004 I would be taking my clothes of for money to get me through school and here I am 2012 a happy stay at home mom about to open a company with my husband. I am using my schooling (the management portion anyhow) and hope to go back to animals part time when my youngest gets into school. A lot of girls in the industry went to school...some made it and some got caught up in the lifestyle. Interesting life indeed!!! No regrets!! I learned sooo much about myself and other people. I would love to write a book about it one day!! Another interesting point I'm learning is that u don't have to b educated to be successful!! Like I said before I have a bachelors and I don't use it to its full potential...my husband got kicked out of school in 7th grade and never went back and he is starting his own company and makes over $100k a year. Hard work, confidence, determination, and a vision is all you really need to be successful...it doesn't matter what educational background u came from or what job you used to get there. It's kind of like pole!! Thx, sorry so long!!
MrsNaughtywed · 11/7/2012
I wasn't technically a stripper, but I did work as an adult performer/model for 6 years and a lot of things I did were comparable to stripping. -What is your profession? Special Educational Support Worker, and part time Pole Fitness Instructor. -What is your level of education? (Are you still in school?) I have a diploma in Social Work and Holistic Nutrition -Why have you chosen to work as an exotic dancer? I got into this line of work after College and after I had already landed my career. I was struggling financially (drowning in student and medical debt) and this was the only solution I could think of. I worked in this industry for 6 years. I'm glad I did it because I loved what I did and those were some of the best times of my life. I think a lot of why I chose that line of work was because I was rebelling against misogyny. I lived an oppressive life because I was female and I just wanted to come out of my shell and have fun and I did. Life's too short. I have zero regrets. I never did anything I was uncomfortable with. I worked with some very professional and highly respected people. It doesn't bother me what people think of me if they find out. People are just so judgemental and cruel I don't bother to waste my time with them.
SashaMae · 11/7/2012
MrsNaughty- were you in the porn industry?! I always wondered what that'd be like!!! I have a few girlfriends that were/are strippers that are in it primarily for the flexible hours as they have children or school. The one in particular is VERY intelligent. She is one of the veterans on stripperweb. I would definitely head over there to get more info, too! Stripping is one of those things that I've always wanted to do. I wish I would have done it -even for a short period of time- just to see what it's like. My boyfriend says he'd be cool with it...but I know him well enough to know he soo would not. If roles were reversed I probably wouldn't be! lol So just a dirty little fantasy of mine for now 😉
Katastrophe · 11/7/2012
I was a stripper for a little while! Profession: I work in retail sales. I was working as a receptionist, though, when I first started stripping. Education: I started out as a Biology major, but now I'm a Marketing major. Switching majors added a year and a half to my sentence before I graduate. =/ Why I was a stripper: Curiosity. I looooved pole dancing, and I was curious about being a stripper. So I decided to try it (after discussing it with my then-boyfriend and now husband). After four days of sleep deprivation and smoke-filled lungs, I decided it simply wasn't for me. But it was fun while it lasted! There's something kind of liberating.My inner exhibitionist really wanted to get out. That's what happens after you leave Catholic school, I guess.
megan12 · 11/7/2012
I'm a stripper! There, I said it. :P My profession is: A registered nurse/exotic dancer My level of education: I have a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing and I am currently enrolled in a Masters of Science in Nursing program at a public university. I have one year left before I graduate. Why have I chosen to become a stripper: Money. I'm dancing to pay for my master's degree. I make a decent living as a nurse but because I am single and have no dependents, I pay about 25% of my salary in tax plus social security, health insurance, etc. The more I work as a nurse, the less money I take home. The government gets it all. With dancing, it's all cash and we don't fill out W-2 forms. Probably for someone who stripped fulltime, they wouldn't be able to hide that money from the IRS but because I have another job that I pay tax on, it's very unlikely I'll be audited. Besides the money, I think it's fun. Sure, parts of it suck. Co-workers can be crazy, guys can be asses. But I like getting up on stage and dancing. I like talking to people. It's a low stress job, in my opinion. Others may not feel that way but it's kind of what you make it.
darcit · 11/8/2012
I was a stripper for 13 years. My profession is: Stone tile artist (I run my own business) and pole instructor My level of education: A bachelor's in Technical Theatre and just two classes away from a bachelor's in Fisheries Sciences (which I have no intention of finishing) I started working as a dancer at about the time I started college. At the time it was definitely a money decision. I just couldn't comprehend working at some place like McDonalds for minimum wage when I could be dancing. I loved the schedule, the freedom and the feeling of being in charge of myself. Since college I have taken breaks from dancing (none longer than a few months) to stage manage a professional theatre and to work in the backcountry of Idaho doing fish sampling. I used dancing for the past couple of years to support myself and my husband while he went back to school and I started a business. This year is the first year since I turned 18 that I haven't danced at all. And it's a little wierd. Overall I feel like stripping was the best job I possibly could have had. Many, many, many of the things I learned from dancing have translated directly to running my own business. Before starting my business I allready knew how to navigate government's web of paperwork for doing things like getting a business licence, becoming a sole proprietor, filling out tax forms (because yes, those of us who dance full time do have to pay taxes on it). I also learned a lot of less concrete things dancing that have translated directly to my profession. Things like how to make myself work when I don't want to - because I'm not getting paid by the hour. Or how to deal with the fluctuations in income that happen naturally when what you make depends on the whims of other people. Or how to deal with rejection of what I'm selling without taking it as rejection of my self. And like megan12 said - it's fun. I've met a lot of amazing people and had amazing experiences that I never would have gotten to have without dancing. I honestly might go back to dancing just a couple of weekends a year - just for the fun of it.
phedre · 11/8/2012
I was a gogo dancer for about a year. I currently fix electronics for a living. I had an AA when I started, but I've been working on a BS in physics slowly. My current job is too demanding to really take more than a couple classes. I'll probably end up dancing again for a little while.
Aviva · 11/8/2012
I am a fitness specialist. I taught pole for 5 years and would love to be teaching again. I have a BS in exercise science/personal fitness After getting my degree and being at a fulltime corporate fitness job my car engine blew the head gasket. I couldn’t afford to fix it or buy a new car as my full time job was paying me little more enough to pay the rent and my student loan bill. I knew someone who was a dancer and she supported me through my initial break-in phase when I couldn’t even touch my toes. I felt like my choices at the time were to marry a man I didn’t love (he made plenty of money for us both) move back in with my parents (never!) or strip for money. I kept jobs in the health facility on and off until I started teaching pole over six years ago. For the first time fitness made sense and being that I was a stripper and had an extensive education in fitness this was the perfect job for me. I loved it. I regret not being better at managing money. I regret allowing myself to live on credit. I miss teaching terribly and really wish I had another gig. Until something shifts I am continuing to train and hoping for a better future. And writing a business plan. @MrsNaughtywed, nice to “meet” you. I thought I was the only one in the world who started stripping after they got a Bachelor’s. 😀 @darlingdearest, there are way more details I don't necessarily think are appropriate for a public forum but if you have questions feel free to PM me.
Desiree Lust · 11/8/2012
Hello! I currently work as a dancer/stripper-technically we're called entertainers. Right now I have only been dancing about a year, but prior to that I worked for 7 years as a medical assistant. I'm also a full time student and that is why I chose to start dancing. The flexible schedule allows me to go to school 5 days a week and still have my bills paid. I graduate next semester with my AA in nursing and will continue on to get my BSN, masters, and finally my PhD so that I may one day open my own practice as a paychiatric nurse practitioner. I'd be lying if I said it wasn't the best job ever-I get to dance(something I love to do) and I get paid for it-cash, in my pocket that night. No waiting for a paycheck,etc. I normally only work fri and sat nights and make anywhere between 300-500 per night. My only complaint would be I don't like how we have to be "hustlers". It sometimes takes me a minute to work up the courage to approach these men whom are old enough to be my dad, and flirt with them in hopes they'll take you back to the VIP and buy lap dances. We don't make much money on stage-that's just for show. We make our money giving lap dances. Some men will try to touch you in places you don't want to be touched, but despite the pros and cons that go with the job, at the end of the day, I don't have any regrets because I genuinely do enjoy the job otherwise :) hope this helps, and yes, stripperweb is probably your best resource.
CapFeb · 11/8/2012
In the Phoenix area, there is a huge difference between strippers, dancers, and entertainer.Every club I've been to has explained it to me this way: Strippers are stereotypical strippers. It's pretty much an insult around to. Dancers are girls who are neither stereotypical strippers or entertainers. Entertainers are girls who go all out. Costumes, wigs, routines, tricks. Everything. As cirq as you can get in the industry. How much money you make on stage also depends on the club. It wasn't uncommon for me to make $20-$70 a stage at the last club I was at. I make like, nothing at this one :p
ph0enixxx · 11/17/2012
I've been working as an exotic dancer since June. I started out because I lost my job (cause the business shut down) and I needed to pay rent. I was always curious about becoming a stripper, so I walked into a Gentleman's Club one night and was offered the job after dancing to one song. The industry grew onto me. It was the best and easiest money that I have ever made. I could make more than a bi weekly paycheck in one night! The only down side is having to deal with a lot of grimy people. I always feel so uncomfortable giving lap dances and VIP rooms to the creepy people there. They often try to touch places on my body that shouldn't be touched. Other than that downside, it really is a lot of fun. In a way, it's kind of a confidence booster. I currently work as a receptionist and I am going to school to become a teacher as well. There are some exotic dancers who fit the stereotype of a stripper. There are the ones who will do everything for money or put their money toward drugs. But not all exotic dancers are like that.