Thinking of becoming a stripper... Help?

ShellyBelly started this discussion · 8/4/2011

Hello everyone!!! I just moved in with my boyfriend and we are very low on money. I absolutely LOVE pole dancing but unfortunately our place isn't big enough for my pole 🙁 I've considered becoming a stripper on so many occasions. I'm scared to do it though because I just want to pole dance! I don't want to do private shows or fully undress myself. I'm fine undressing down to my bra and panties or bikini but I don't want to fully show the goods. I'm a very shy, good girl. Are there any strip clubs that don't require this? Also, can any strippers out there tell me about their jobs? Thanks everyone :D

23 replies

solsticedark · 8/5/2011
As an exotic dancer myself I can give you some input. First off if your thinking about it or end up doing it. Dont call yourself a stripper. Yes there is nothing wrong with the word itself but with they way it is used now, it is. So just don't do it. You degrade yourself calling yourself one. (And yes I have had managers get VERY angry when one of the girls refered to herself as a stripper or a customer said the word. But on topic. From what you are telling me, honestly it will not be a good fit for you. For one a good 99% of clubs REQUIRE you to be at least topless, you dont, you get fired. End of story. And theres no panties, you will be shoving a string up your but everynight, and the heels you love so much to pole in will become the bane of your existance until you get used to walking and dancing in them for 8+hrs a day. (to this day I still moan in happiness everytime I take them off at the end of the night.) As far as you being shy, thats something you would HAVE to get over if you want to make any money. Sense you have to approach the coustomer, flirt, make him think you like him (or her) and then try to get as many dances as possible out of him. Further, you will have to be outspoken enough to not allow coustomers to do things they WILL try. Without causing a scene, and still being able to put a smile on your face and go on to the next coustomer afterwords. You dont make the good money on stage, fair warning. Thats your advertizement basically saying "Hey look how hot I am and look what I can do!" Most clubs also require you to pay tip out. It varies club to club and is usually based on what time you get there. (the earlier into your shift the better.) Its good money, but if you just want to do it for the pole I wouldnt recomend it. Its hard hard work. I come home physically and mentaly drained everynight from working. It requires the patience of dealing with a teenager mixed with them in their terrible twos. Not trying to scare you off just being as blunt and open as possible. Also one more thing to consider, if you really like to drink I would stay away from it. I see too many girls drink way to much every night and thus loose money, let guys get away with more, ect. Its just bad. If you have to drink, do so in great moderation.
ShellyBelly · 8/5/2011
Thank you so much for your input. Didn't mean to offend by using the S word :) I just wanted veeners to know Exactly what I meant. I know it's not my thing... I don't drink, do drugs, party... I'm a really good girl lol, who loves to pole dance! I just wish I could dance on stage in sexy outfits and men would "ooooooh" and "aaahhhhhh" over my inverts and tricks lol. Unfortunately I know that's not how it works. I think I eventually will try it, or at least an amateur night just to get a feel. Thank you :D
poleprincess89 · 8/5/2011
Well, if you just want to pole dance, that's not enough reason to become an exotic dancer but you do sound like you would be doing it for the attention. as an exotic dancer myself, I would say you should try it. You might like it. I never knew I would like it until I did an amateur contest. It was such an adrenaline rush for me. You should look up some local clubs and see when you can come in and audition. some clubs do do just topless and even some just do bikini. I know in New Jersey, some clubs are bikini clubs... but you will still have to do lap dances and everything else that comes with being a dancer, so it's really not much different. To me, I don't really care if i'm fully nude or not and a lot of times, i even forget to take my bottoms off when i'm on stage. some clubs aren't as strict about it but some are. the club i work at is full nude but some girls choose not to take their bottoms off and management doesn't care... but to be honest, it's really not that much different. you're nearly naked already anyway.... however, i will warn you that it's not for everyone so if you ever start feeling down on yourself because of dancing, you should quit right away. some girls turn to drugs or alcohol or bad friendships. I would say you should try to ease into it. start working just one night a week to get a feel for it and then you can start adding on days. it is so hard to get burnt out so be very careful or you'll start to hate it. the worst thing is coming into work on a night when you just don't want to be there because you won't make any money and it'll make you miserable... don't tell yourself that you need the money, just that you want to make more than you have because when you start telling yourself that you need it (even if you really do), you're gonna start to hate the job itself and you may start to try to do things you wouldn't normally do, in hopes of making your quota.
HollySatine · 8/5/2011
fyi, stripperweb.com has a TON of threads about just about everything related to the industry, including resources and tips for new dancers...
Curtis Mercury · 8/5/2011
Maybe burlesque could work better for you? The best time I had as a customer at a strip/burlesque club was at a place that didn't do lap dances and the girls wore pasties. Those clubs are out there but hard to find. Good luck.
MrsNaughtywed · 8/5/2011
What about 'pole'go dancing' ? Like go go dancing but pole? I feel the same way Harlett. I wanna be a stripper but I don't want to touch men or do hard core shows. I'd just wanna sexy pole dance! Unfortunatly I don't live in an area where they have clubs where girls don't get nude or do contact shows. They are mainly lap dancing bars. And the strippers must get naked. So it would never work for me here. I've been looking into pole go dancing because I thought that would be fun except there isn't much here for that also. :( Good luck! Maybe you will find something that suits you. And never do anything your uncomfortable with. :)
solsticedark · 8/5/2011
I don't mean any disrespect here, but lets get one thing straight right here and now. "I don't drink, do drugs, party" That is a MASSIVE stereotype. I've been dancing for 5+ years and I'll tell you what I don't drink. I don't party, and I sure as heck have never touched any drugs. And there are many girls like that, that I have met over the years.
BACE16 · 8/5/2011
Sounds like you should move to Utah lol. Its all pasties, g-strings and stage dances there. I went as a customer to one for a friends birthday and it was pretty boring. I think there's one topless club in the state, but it can't serve alcohol. At pole class some girls would joke about going to one club because it was the only one in the state that did lapdances.
Dancing Paws · 8/5/2011
Are there any burlesque clubs in the area????
Dancing Paws · 8/5/2011
It sounds like you need to find out how to wiggle into this group: http://m.myspace.com/home.wap?bfd=webnext&isredirected=true#friends.list/profile/108979028
Dancing Paws · 8/5/2011
They call themselves OCUBS, "orange county underground burlesque society." if you want to see more about burlesque, watch "a wink and a smile: the art of burlesque." it is on Netflix. It is about your average women learning burlesque and coming up with their own routines that they actually perform. On a slightly different topic, if you want people watching you doing pole tricks, a strip club is not necessarily the place for that. Men go there to see naked women dance. They are not as interested in the moves. What you should do is bachelorette parties, and girl birthday parties... Basically any occasion where girls will be there. Contact your local bars and clubs and tell them you want to be a performer. It can help draw in crowds to their businesses. There are so many ways for you to perform on a pile without being in a strip club. Get creative.
ShellyBelly · 8/6/2011
Thanks everyone. I didn't mean any disrespect. I do know strippers though that have gone down that path unfortunately. I never said every stripper does. I actually just meant it to give an idea of myself. That's all. And burlesque sounds perfect!!! I just need to research it I guess :) I would love stripping down to tassels or pasties and doing fun, sexy dances :) thanks for the help!
solsticedark · 8/6/2011
I knew you probably didnt, and I aplogize for kinda exploding on that one. Its just a HUGE hot button with me sense its something I have to correct coustomers, and other people on, on nearly a daily basis. And its a compleatly unfair sterotype.
ShellyBelly · 8/6/2011
No, I promise I didn't mean it in that way. I know it came out that way but I was just implying that Im not the risk taker type lol. I have total respect for dancers of any sort and know how hard mentally and physically it can be. I never meant to put it down. Thanks for bringing it to my attention, hopefully I didn't offend any one else.
Sparklie · 8/6/2011
Take a look into the regulations for your area. For where I live we have to have a police regulated permit that is renewed every year. That may be different for where you live. The other thing to keep in mind too is it is, above all, a business. You are selling a fantasy in their head. I make most of my money on stage because of my stage presents and how I dance. When I do dances I do no contact because customers want what they can't have (and its the law here). If you have your heart set on it do amuture night and see what you think about it. I got into it for the dancing not the money. If you do decide to do it, I agree with the previouse advice of, start slowly and work your way up. Also, find a really comfortable pair of heels the will be your friend and enemy all at the same time.
ivygirl726 · 8/7/2011
At the club I work at they let you keep on bikini bottoms and you can get pasties that cover most of your boobs... That will help you build up the confidence to get topless if need be.. Talk to the manager or the owner of the club.. They are usually pretty understanding for new girls that have skills! If you know how to work a pole then they will hire you. Tell them you want to build up your confidence and work with an older girl that has been dancing for a while.
Rin Rin · 8/8/2011
If your only reason for wanting to strip is to be on the pole, don't bother. The majority of your night will be spent on the floor, trying to convince customers to buy lapdances. And, unless you can find a bikini club in your area, you will have to be at least topless with just pasties covering your nipples and there will be some contact in the dances. And bikini bar workers generally don't make too much anyway. You'll only be on the pole about 1/8 of the night. I don't even turn tricks on our poles at the club because they are always nasty and greasy and it doesn't really increase stage tips anyway... Stripping is way more than dancing on a pole - it's mostly about sales and interacting with customers who will drain the life out of you every night. If you're shy and only want to dance - not grind half-naked/fully naked on random idiots, then try to find someplace else to do your dancing. The rigors of stripping aren't worth it just for a few songs a night on stage.
kaygee10 · 8/7/2013
You could find bikini clubs with poles. I found this really cool place Im about to audition for
kaygee10 · 8/7/2013
You could find bikini clubs with poles. I found this really cool place Im about to audition for
Onga01 · 8/7/2013
Have you spoken to any nightclubs around your area? I pole dance on a bar in a club purely as trick intertainment for the crowd. No taking my clothes, dont have to talk to men and i keep my tips. Unfortunetly theres not many of these kind of gigs around and the money is no where near as good. but never hurts to ask and also check out craigslist :)
Burgosarleen8347 · 4/29/2016
New Jersey only really has gogo bars where you don't take your top off. You do lapdances if you want but you make your money on stage. This is also true for most hood clubs but most you go at least topless.
Sarah Bennett · 4/29/2016
I danced in a bar off and on for 20 years. More on than off. Its a waste of a pole dancer's talent as the art was rarely appreciated. Its all about sex, nudity and lap dances. There is nothing wrong with those things, but if you want to pole for money, try to get into feature dancing.
Sarah Bennett · 4/29/2016
Rin Rin, good point. I have to say that Deja Vu was great though. They are a chain. They have pageants and contests and they fly you to compete. Thats what I did in my prime. Most are nude but very strict so you dont get gropped. These clubs expect dramatic shows. Still the money is made in selling dances but the MCs really bust butt to help you.