If you haven’t been checking out the Fun Stuff Page, or following my Facebook or Twitter…you have been missing the proliferation of mainstream newsmedia articles regarding the influx of desperate cash-strapped women to the industry.

As a result, I have gotten a lot of emails from women who want to know, “What is the absolute WORST thing that could happen to me if I decide to become a stripper?”  I usually send them to this blogpost that I wrote way back in the earliest days of my blog, entitled The Weirdest Thing That Ever Happened to Me at a Strip Club.  For all you newcomers, my original blog is located on Myspace. I didn’t transfer the comments when I republished the blog here at StripandGrowRich, but you can search for it using the date in the myspace sidebar if you want to read the comments.

This is the Second Weirdest Thing that Ever Happened to Me at a Strip Club:

It was 2002 and summertime in San Francisco.  I was working at the Hustler Club just off Broadway Avenue.  My partner in crime at the time was a petite dirty blonde (the hair color) stage-named Alicia.  We actually met at a Gold Club audition when I first moved to San Fran.  She got hired, I didn’t (back then you HAD to have fake boobs or be a size 4 to get hired most places)  But, we were both from Philly, exchanged phone numbers, and kept in touch since we had both just moved to the city and neither of us had any friends.  I got hired at Boys Toys, now known as Broadway Showgirls and she worked at The Gold Club for a few months.  When Hustler had it’s Grand Opening in February 2002, we teamed up and made a lot of money together selling champagne rooms.   This was before I took the original DancerWealth course in Las Vegas, and she was a good mentor to me.

Getting back to the story: we sold a half-hour champagne room to two old buddies Ed and Ned.  If you’ve never been to the Hustler Club, the VIP area is adjacent to the bar and enclosed in glass.  It is an open room, with several couches.  The first odd thing was that our two guys sat down on the same couch next to each other, even though the room was empty.  Alicia and I just shrugged and accomodated them…the customer is always right, eh?  Ed and Ned were very well behaved as we double-danced for them.  Again, for newbies: the double dance is when (usually) two girls dance for one guy to fulfill his fantasy of a threesome.  Ironically, due to space constraints and the outnumbering 2 to 1 ratio, double dances usually have less contact.  In this case it was the two of us dancing on the same couch for two guys, and every few songs we would just switch off.

About 3 songs into the half-hour, Alicia and I turned around and realized that Ed and Ned were totally making out with each other!  They blushed when they realized we were staring…the shocked look on our faces must have been a sight to see!

“Oh we grew up here in the 60′s…we are comfortable with our sexuality,” Ned said.

“And so are our wives,” Ed added.

So, after nine and a half years of stripping…those are the two weirdest situations I can recall.  Anyone want to share theirs?

Cue the music:

My evening started with the  guys from West Virginia at the bar.  I was sipping my Diet Coke when one of the middle aged white guys in a golf shirt stumbled over his own foot and plowed into the barstool next to me.  “I’ve been drinkin’ since noon…” he mumbles.  I have been actively working on my bar-hustle because  I usually  gravitate towards the guys sitting at a table before the guys sitting at the bar.  After a bit of chit-chat I begin to set up my test-close, “The only problem with hanging out here at the bar is that you don’t have a lap!”  The test close is NOT asking directly for a dance, but rather leading the conversation in that direction to gauge how ready he  is to be closed.  West Virginia was ready, he basically sold himself  “Yeah, I need a lap for you to give me a lapdance.  Lets go over there.”

During the first wave of the rush, Cami and I did a double dance  for an Amish kid from Pennsylvania.  He totally played it up “We don’t have nothin like this out on the farm!”  So in turn I had to ask,  “So did you ride your horse and buggy all the way out here to Arizona?”

It must still be REALLY cold in Canada.  I think every other table was from Saskatchewan or Ontario.  There was also a large group of about twenty five German pilots.  I was pleasantly surprised since tourist season is winding down here in the desert as the temperatures begin to approach the mid-90s.  Locals were in attendance as well, I gave my new favorite godaddy.com rep a few dances…great contact when you are launching an online business

Party crowd, high energy, cat calls, and lots of singles flowing through the air.  I knew what DJ Billy was going to play for my Power Hour Stage Set before the first chord of the Beastie Boys pumped through the speakers.  It’s nights like this that I will always remember fondly, and commemorate in this blog.

At the end of the night, the sound of cash dominated the locker room.  You know…that brisk sound of paper-on-paper as it is being counted.  Love that sound.

Jobless To Topless
Shana Franklin,
The 33News April 22, 2009

Adult entertainment is a business that has long been considered nearly recession-proof. And today in Dallas, there was more proof in the pole. Hundreds attended a job fair called Jobless to Topless. Applicant David Ward says, “Definitely more of a bonus than a negative.” It’s was the first annual event by Burch Management, which is looking to fill about 200 jobs in its 9 gentlemen’s clubs throughout North Texas. Burch V.P. Steve Craft says, “We do a lot of advertising we do a lot for the community and I think you’re really starting to see that. And people are getting more comfortable coming out.” The turnout ranged from college students to those in investment banking. Men and women applying not just for entertainer openings, but chefs, bartenders, hair, makeup and nail techs and clerical staff. Applicant Jessica Waggoner says, “I need some experience and administrativApril 22, 2009 Adult entertainment is a business that has long been considered nearly recession-proof.

And today in Dallas, there was more proof in the pole. Hundreds attended a job fair called Jobless to Topless. Applicant David Ward says, “Definitely more of a bonus than a negative.” It’s was the first annual event by Burch Management, which is looking to fill about 200 jobs in its 9 gentlemen’s clubs throughout North Texas. Burch V.P. Steve Craft says, “We do a lot of advertising we do a lot for the community and I think you’re really starting to see that. And people are getting more comfortable coming out.” The turnout ranged from college students to those in investment banking. Men and women applying not just for entertainer openings, but chefs, bartenders, hair, makeup and nail techs and clerical staff.

Applicant Jessica Waggoner says, “I need some experience and administrative and clerical work to help further my education while I’m in school, and to open my own business.” Some, like Tasha Ross, have worked in the business before. She was offered a dancing job on the spot. She says, “With me going to school and all, I think it’s a good opportunity because I get out at like 4:30, and I could come here and work and then go home.” Bartender and hostess Quintessa Chavez thinks people would be surprised to know how normal it is. Quintessa Chavez says, “The employees are more normal than people think, the customers are more normal than you think.” No one we talked to had any hesitation with the industry, saying in these economic times, a job is a job. Cody Sharp says, “It doesn’t really faze me at all.” Apparently a lot of people felt the same way. Jobless to Topless got about 300 applicants today, and more could be coming in.e and clerical work to help further my education while I’m in school, and to open my own business.”

Some, like Tasha Ross, have worked in the business before. She was offered a dancing job on the spot. She says, “With me going to school and all, I think it’s a good opportunity because I get out at like 4:30, and I could come here and work and then go home.” Bartender and hostess Quintessa Chavez thinks people would be surprised to know how normal it is. Quintessa Chavez says, “The employees are more normal than people think, the customers are more normal than you think.” No one we talked to had any hesitation with the industry, saying in these economic times, a job is a job. Cody Sharp says, “It doesn’t really faze me at all.” Apparently a lot of people felt the same way. Jobless to Topless got about 300 applicants today, and more could be coming in.

I didn’t even realize it….but today marks TWO YEARS of Blogging.  My very first post was on 4/8/07 entitled I’m a Bad Girl with Good Morals!

Myspace unfortunately has axed my oldest posts.  Good thing it is archived at our new location www.stripandgrowrich.com/blog

“Good Morning Avalon!” he says sheepishly from the elevated DJ Booth
I gave him the “huh?” look through the flashing strobe lights.  “I always wanted to say that to you.” he jokes, and then proceeds to coach the crowd to sing “Avalo-on” during the chorus.  The headbanger at the tip rail was loving it, as he thrashed his long brown mane up and down while showering the stage with Washingtons.

I’m not that great on stage, as Makenzie told The Whale last week.  Although Tomica pointed out to me she notices how I do use the stage to set up my lapdance sales.  At a smaller club like Babes where the main stage is a focal point this strategy works.  Instead of being stand offish, not making eye contact, and doing non-rapport building pole tricks; when onstage I make the effort to say hi to every patron who tips me a dollar, ask his name, and flirtily say “You’re having fun, aren’t you?” (straight out of DancerWealth Persuasive Communication: using Tie-Downs) This is a lead in to use a few more Tie-Downs, and then a set up to close a lapdance sale from the tip rail.

9:15pm It worked.  I had my house fee back in 3 songs.  It also created the illusion that my supply of dances were scarce in supply.  Hence the demand for them increased.  Always look busy! No one wants a dance from the girl who is sitting by herself.

10pm-I approach the guy sitting alone at the corner table who had been watching me sell dances to patrons seated around him
Guy sitting alone in corner: Do you recognize me
Avalon: No
Guy sitting alone in corner: I’m running for mayor
Avalon: I don’t live in Scottsdale, but if I did I’d vote for ya!  Lets go spend some campaign funds on lapdances!
Guy sitting alone in corner: Errr, uhhhh, I’m just networking tonight…my boys will be here soon.

11pm: A group of drunk middle aged guys in golf shirts took over VIP.  They were fun.  Upon crossing the velvet rope, I was handed a Franklin and told to dance til it ran out.  I did, and then some.

12am: Power hour is early.  The energy is high, everyone is catcalling and having a great time.  We danced and drew on the Bachelor in flourescent hi-liter.  I made the mistake of pressing up against him before the flourescent hi-liter dried during YMCA.  The rest of the night I had the inverse of “I (heart) Strippers” on my chest show up in the blacklight.

WiseGuy: Are they real?
Avalon: They’re not imaginary
WiseGuy: (he caught the joke and played along) Good, cuz I hate when you go to touch imaginary boobs and they’re not there
Avalon: It’s the worst
WiseGuy: My girlfriend has imaginary boobs, there’s really nothing there when I touch em…..I’m hoping she’ll get real ones like yours.

1am King David’s in the House.  He always tips me well onstage. While on second stage, a guy standing at the bar walks over and hands me a Jackson.
Guy from the Bar: You’ve been ignoring us all night!
Avalon: No, you just don’t have a chair, which puts you in a quandry
Guy from the Bar: What’s that
Avalon: Without a chair, you lack a lap….which makes it very difficult to give you a lap dance
Guy from the Bar: Oh, I see.  Well, dance for my friend.  He’s been watching you dance for everyone else all night and waiting for you to come over and ask him.

After my stage, I took the tall strapping blonde lad to the couches.  He was very shy and bright red from embarassment.
Avalon: I promise it’s not THAT bad!  You must have done something good for him to buy me for you!
Keiran: That’s my dad!  We’re here from Ireland for golf!

I gave Keiran the gentle topless neck and hand massage while we chatted about golf.  After a song, he relaxed and felt more comfortable.  He ended up staying for the last four couch dances of the night.  I gave him Babe’s VIP Passes to come back in tonight.

2:30am I got a text from Skylar as I was driving home.  I can’t stop singing that song “Avalo-on”

It’s going to be another GREAT NIGHT!!!!

So when she texted me that her flight got in at 9pm from the upper Midwest where she had a booking last week, I immediately told her to high tale it to Treasures to help me entertain The Whale’s group.  So she literally got off the plane, Stripperfied herself, clocked in by 11:30, and was just in time!  The group really ended up only being two guys….and it was hilarious how the vultures were swarming around them when Jacko escorted them from the front door straight to VIP.

This is a prime example of how Social Capital can make or break your night.  I wasn’t sure how many people The Whale was bringing to Treasures.  He didn’t know either until the business dinner was finished.  Nevertheless, Jacko and I were preparing the list before his arrival: me, Jessica Rabbit, Mackenzie, and then Jacko named a few girls I didn’t know….but obviously enough social capital to make his list.  It was a bit disappointing to the list of girls when “the party” turned out to only be two guys, each of whom were already “taken” by Jessica Rabbit and I.

At our SuperStripper Luncheon Summit this afternoon, we were discussing social capital.  I firmly believe that in Vegas you have to play defense in this economy.  Whenever I sell a 3 for $100 I tip the host $10-$20, even though he didn’t do anything.  I admit that it is frustrating to tip out when I find the guy, I close the sale, and I collect my own money….but the VIP host remembers who tips well.  It reaches even further than hoping to get on “their list” of girls that they introduce to high dollar clients.  As I mentioned in February: they can, will, and do send non-list girls on wild goose chases.

And to commemorate our fun, profitable SuperStripper Evening:

The drive to Vegas was hot and sunny. I learned a long time ago that long road trips with the convertible top down REALLY tires me out. The drive took 6 hours this time due to the tourist traffic across Hoover Dam. I hope that bridge is completed soon. Took a quick nap and clocked in at Treasures at 7:30 pm. I paid the offstage fee since I walked in the door with a 5 hour deal already closed.

The Whale was waiting.

I got some funny looks from the girls in the locker room as I put on my long cherry red Jessica Rabbit gown. I love that tight stretchy red dress with thigh high slits up the side….I haven’t worn it since I left Christie’s. Despite it’s opulent decor, Treasures is not a gown club…and I would have been very overdressed if I was just working the floor.

I found him by center stage. “You know what…I’ve never seen you dance onstage.” he said to me.

“Oh I suck, you’re not missing much.” I responded.

Makenzie egged me on too, “Yeah…you’re really not, you just walk back and forth.”

We chatted with Makenzie on the main floor for a bit and invited her to eat dinner with us at the Treasures Steakhouse. I was starving, since two Muscle Milk Lite shakes and a Zone bar was all I had eaten. That first glass of white zinfandel went right to my head! The Surf and Turf was excellent, I love lobster and filet!! I was very impressed with the food and the service in The Steakhouse. The Whale was too, and is going to bring his clients there in May instead of Capital Grille. It was a very mellow and relaxed evening, unlike the typical shift in Vegas. We went straight from the steakhouse to the balcony next to the main stage.

He had early meetings, and cut out around 1. The club was filling up with March Madness Fans. I only brought my long Jessica Rabbit gown, and had already made double my average nightly Vegas goal so I decided to call it a night and cash out.

“Wow you had a good night!” the girl in front of me in line at the cage said as she eyed my stack of $100 Treasure Bills “I’m just getting here…is it that good tonite?”

“No, I just had a regular customer who I’ve known for about a year. He tells me when he’s coming and we hang out” I responded.

“Yeah, until you won’t sleep with him….I can never keep someone longer than twice.” she huffed.

“Well, they are few and far between…but some guys really just want genuine attention and a few hours of entertainment where they don’t have to think about the real world” I responded.

I got in my car at 1 am. Daisy Delfina texted me that she was just heading into work at Sapphires. I wished her luck, went back to my room and caught up on some much needed sleep.

It’s FREEZING cold here today. Guess I missed my chance to sit at the pool.

More women going from jobless to topless is the latest mainstream press article about dancing

I spent about four hours this afternoon on conference calls with my design and mastermind team!  I’m really excited about relaunching this program and making it BETTER than it has ever been before.

Back in October 2007, I blogged about how spending $300 on Stripper Sales Training was the absolute BEST thing I did for my stripping career.  Prior to Dancerwealth I was not a top income earner in my clubs.  I was always profitable, I worked hard, but I didn’t have the skill set to be a SuperStripper.

Guess what: skills can be learned, mindsets can be changed.

Stay tuned!

1. As humans, we make life choices that harmonize with our beliefs.  We unconsciously choose to put ourselves in situations and associate with people that fit our preconceptions.  We avoid people and situations that might weaken or challenge what we believe to be true.

2. We practice selective attention or inattention depending on the circumstance.  Our minds tune into phenomena that confirm our beliefs while ignoring, avoiding, deleting, or violently reacting to anything that could weaken that belief.  We selectively remember events that support what we want to believe is true and selectively forget events that show us otherwise.

3. We automatically distort, mold, or exaggerate evidence to reasonable fit our beliefs.

4. As a last ditch effort, we may also rationalize contradictory evidence to uphold a belief.  Often this involves misinterpreting someone’s motives, and/or convincing yourself of a motive that really isn’t there.

Buy it for $7.94

I’m totally digging all this psychological mumbo-jumbo as I create the all new DancerWise program.

1. I gave a dance to a very nice older lady last night.  “That’s it?” she asked when I finished my lame airdance.  “Uh…yep twenty please.”  Apparently she was a Bible-Humper, and held the belief that strip clubs were dens of sin and prostitution.   Kudos to her for challenging her belief.  It’s a good thing she picked Babe’s in Scottsdale and not Mitchell Brother’s in San Francisco to confirm/deny her preconcieved belief.

2. My good friend just got her heart ripped out by some douchebag.  Although they hadn’t been dating long, she only paid attention to the good things about him, and ignored the situations where his true intentions began to show.

3. Strip clubs are a fantasy land.  Most patrons can distinguish between the reality of paying $20 for a few minutes of topless entertainment.  Others will exaggerate an entertainers weekly follow up sales call into something else.

4. Refer back to number 2

I devoured my $0.80 copy of Buyers Renters and Freeloaders yesterday as I sat in the sun.

It was well worth the eighty cents. Dr. Harley’s writing style makes it easy to read and his clear-cut philosophies just make perfect sense to me.

Although the book is designed for people who are dating, there is a lot of good info for ‘ole married broads like myself. I have always been fascinated with psychology. I want to discover why I make the choices that I do, especially if it was an out-of-character choice that is inconsistent with my typical values. Moreover, understanding other people’s motives have helped me keep my head (somewhat) straight in this crazy industry.

As for today’s topic, I was talking to my good friend Priscilla who recently moved back to Texas. For those of you who remember her from Christie’s, she’s doing great! She said she was giving up trying to seriously date someone while she was still dancing because every time she really likes a guy, and everything seems to be working well, 6-9 months into the relationship he pulls the “I can’t commit to you…when you go take your top off for other guys” line. Another friend told me that her boyfriend gave her the “You have one month to stop dancing or I’m breaking up with you” ultimatum.

I’ve never experienced this first hand, but just five minutes in the locker room proves the Madonna/Whore Complex makes it difficult for entertainers to date, marry, and lead “normal” lives. Compounding the problem, is the tendency for people (both male and female) to be what Dr. Harley calls Renters in relationships.

Renters are willing to adjust and care for a person, as long as it is in their best interest to do so. Its like a person who is willing to pay whatever rent is necessary to live in the house of his choice, but reserves the right to leave if it is no longer suitable or if something better can be found. He or she agrees to keep the place clean, but is not willing to make major repairs or improvements. This agreement-to provide short term care as long as it’s worth the effort-is based on the following beliefs:

1. Romantic relationships require a certain amount of give and take, but its only right for me if what I take is worth what I give. Someone who is right for me today can be wrong for me tomorrow. The person may be what I need in one stage of my life, but not what I need in another so my romantic relationships should be considered temporary. If what I take isn’t worth what I give, either my partner should give me more, or I should end the relationship to find someone who can give me what I need.

2. If I am in a romantic relationship with someone who criticizes me, it does not mean that my partner is wrong for me if I can make the necessary changes. But my change should only be made if what I get from my partner is worth the effort.

3. If I am in a romantic relationship and my partner expects me to sacrifice my own happiness to meet my partners needs in return for what my partner has done for me, that is a reasonable expectation. And if I feel I am getting less than I deserve it’s reasonable for me to expect my partner to sacrifice some happiness for my fulfillment.

If you are reading that and shaking your head in agreement, then you are a Relationship Renter. There is nothing “wrong” with being a Renter in a relationship. If you are happy being single for life, or happy with the idea of having two, three, or four different serious relationships and/or marriages for the different stages of your life, then continue to Rent. But if you are truly seeking one lifelong partner, know that all your relationships are ultimately doomed to fail with the Renter mentality. The statistics speak for themselves: 50% of all first marriages fail. 67% of all second marriages fail. The third time is not a charm because 74% of third marriages fail. These statistics come from www.divorcerate.org

Getting back to Priscilla and the quandry most of the single entertainers I know face: the insecure man who gives you a job ultimatum is simply a Relationship Renter. Renters regularly evaluate how fair their relationship is, making sure the levels of effort and sacrifice are even. If Renters feel they are giving more than they are getting, they feel justified in demanding more for themselves to balance the scales. When their demands are unmet, it often leads to fights and ultimatums.

Keep in mind, the Renters’ willingness to sacrifice and expect sacrifice somes from the assumption that the relationship is temporary. They are not thinking about long term solutions to problems but rather about short-term fixes. Thus, the guy who is willing to sacrifice his Madonna/Whore complex to casually or exclusively date a stripper…ultimately expects as much of a sacrifice back in order for the relationship to be fair.

The big question for the SuperStripper: are you willing to sacrifice your income, livelihood, and lifestyle for someone who assumes your relationship is temporary?

Buy it for 80 cents