STARTING NEW: HOW TO GET STARTED STRIPPING and SWITCHING SEX WORK
Hi, Boho’s, I am up early and it’s because of y’all! I had a reader reach out to me about wanting to know how to get started and switching from one type of sex work to another in the industry. Also, I thought it might be helpful to talk about the challenges that come from your first few shifts, how to overcome nerves, and the similarities and differences between the different types of sex work and why stripping can be complementary.
That felt super wordy, and I apologize but what a great idea from one of our readers. Thank you all for supporting and reading. This blog will always be free of ads or spam. I don’t accept payments of any kind. This work is for your eyes only and I hope it helps.
HOW TO GET STARTED STRIPPING & SWITCHING SEX WORK
Baby strippers listen up! Or want to be dancers or aspiring entertainers, today we are going to talk about finally making the switch. That’s right to go into the club and fill out that application. Not just nailing the audition which I have another post about. But what it’s like to work there for the first few days and weeks and how to keep a positive mental attitude while staying somewhat in reality.
Let’s say you’ve nailed your audition thanks to this sweet blog here and you’re ready for your first real shift. The first shift after the audition NEVER counts, you don’t know the club, the drinks, the clients, or the girls. The first shift doesn’t plan on making anything and being happy with what you do end up with. The first night is all about research – don’t get drunk, be super observant of everything you see, and don’t expect to make much. (My first night I made $340, and I’ll never forget it).
The second shift (after your hired shift) might feel awkward. There isn’t the anxiety or excitement that might be there from the first night. However, use this to your advantage! I’m dead serious. The first 6 months of your stripping career the money will come the easiest and the fastest. Now you might not make the most because you don’t know the ways to hustle but it will be easy money. There are several reasons for this.
1. You are fresh meat. The club and the clients see this and will respond accordingly.
2. You are not a hardened veteran and that vulnerability in the club is only seen with baby strippers.
3. You might not have firm boundaries. This is different per person but the longer I danced, the less I put up with.
4. People don’t mind if you tell them, you are new. They like it and it’s a great icebreaker.
The other great way to start on a good foot is to tip all the staff. Tip your door girl, manager (if they are allowed to take tips), DJ, Bartender, and favorite waitress or VIP girl. DO NOT spend your money tipping other dancers. I have another post on why dancers are not your friends. Invest wisely in the people who will let you know when the club is hot or slow, who to go sit with, or who is looking for a dancer. They will be most likely your biggest allies especially if they know you tip them. I would always give like my extra $20 to the door changing out funny money and tipping out the DJ so I don’t have to go on stage etc.
Locker Room Dynamics
This one like in gym class can be SO hard to figure out at a new club. Unless your club assigns lockers (and some do) you will have to pick your own. This means making sure you are not stealing someone else’s normal spot. This might be one person, or it might be a clique of dancers in the top corner. Whatever the reason find a locker on the bottom somewhere discreet until you get the lay of the land.
Do not spend time in the locker room when you are new. This is an easy way to psyche yourself out and get hazed. Come ready to work (full makeup and everything) and just change out quickly in the dressing room. In and out quickly. Once you figure out the girls and personalities you can start to get ready in there or do more things but at first keep to yourself and thank me later.
Cell Phone & Purse
It’s standard now to carry a bag around with you to put your money, lip gloss, phone, mirror, and whatever else. What is not standard is sitting at the bar on your phone because you are too scared to approach people. Whatever you do, do not get out your phone. It’s a HUGE turn-off to anyone coming in or looking over at you. If you are looking at your phone, you will miss huge signs that someone is into you or someone worthwhile just walked in. Clients will not come up to you if you are on your phone. The only time you should get your phone out is to accept Venmo etc. and get their contact info but never GIVE out your real number. Get a burner number app like Text Now.
Cute Outfits and Makeup
I cannot stress enough that when you look good, you’ll feel good and make more money. At a new club, I would always come in super ready for work, dressed super glam. I looked the same as the day they hired me (v. demure v. mindful). I would do this because it would be a huge confidence boost. I would always plan my outfits and switch halfway through my shifts. It was predictable to know what I was going to look like and wear. Also, find comfy clothes that are easy to get on and off and are durable lol keep those in rotation. In addition, find makeup that doesn’t make your skin break out. The last thing you want to worry about is caked-up makeup on inflamed skin. Keep it the same, simple routine with clothes and makeup.
Hair
This is where I say do whatever you want and that the club allows. Some might have rules even though they shouldn’t.
DAY 5
So now let’s say you’ve done a few shifts and gotten the hang of things, now what? The newness has worn off and it might seem like a job (because it is.) This is when you need to focus on your WHY YOU STARTED. Get that bag and get off your phone (unless you are bringing in regulars). I have a post on landing regular clients, but you should be doing this DAY 1 if not by DAY 5, within two weeks even at a new club I would have regulars. It was that easy. So, schedule your regulars, put your favorite outfit on, don’t get too drunk, and remember why you started – trust me it probably wasn’t to pretend you’re having fun with men twice your age.
STARTING AT A NEW CLUB
Perhaps you are more of a seasoned veteran who is moving to a new city or started working in a different subset of the sex industry and wants to try stripping for the first time. The tips above apply as well but I have some additional insights for switching.
If you are just moving and going from club to club the transition is much easier. Clubs just have different rules in different cities that you must abide by or could get fined. Still, take the first night as a loss and go in the second night ready to hustle. By 1 week you should be comfortable and if not then find a different club that matches your vibe more. I would never stick it out longer than a week if I was unhappy and/or not making $.
The best part about starting as a new club is using it as an opportunity to reinvent yourself. Dye your hair, get a nose job, boobs done, BBL, fillers, who cares. No one from the old club will be there and you can even get a whole new stage name. I don’t suggest this because I would forget my name if it wasn’t the same at every club.
SWITCHING ROLES
But when you are switching from one profession in sex work to another like if you were an escort or OF girl coming to the strip club it will take on a whole different level of reality. For cam girls, or virtual OF workers, sitting in the club with real people that might be able to touch you can be intimidating. For the touching, (if you allow this) you will get used to it and it won’t feel as overwhelming after about a month. I would alleviate some of that sensory overload by taking a shower immediately when I got home.
Cam or virtual girl-to-club will be different because you can only talk to really one patron at a time. You can go back and forth but that is exhausting and can cause jealousy between the patrons or with the other dancers and I don’t recommend it. Unlike online where dozens of people might be tipping or watching the idea here is to go after the one that spends the most. You don’t want to sit with a bunch of people tipping $1 because it’s not as fast as it is online. Find the one who will tip $$$$$$$ and latch onto them the whole night. I would kick other girls out of my section if they came close to my customer.
For escorts, this might be easier depending on the type of arrangement but in my experience, escorting is mostly done in person. This will HELP you in the club in a ton of ways. You are used to meeting strangers and having a conversation at least. You know what kind of banter to have and what rules are expected. However, DO NOT tell anyone you escort. THEY WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOU AT BEST or try and get you fired or arrested at worst. Keep that a big, BIG secret, and don’t go looking for “John’s at the clubs” as the movie The Hangover would lead you to believe. Keep each aspect of the business different as they are not comparable except, they belong to the same industry. Also, keep your boundaries extremely firm. You might be used to escorting and allowing some behaviors for some and not others. In the club, treat them all the same. Don’t make exceptions that will blur lines and make you uncomfortable. Compared to escorting, stripping is just different. Less is expected, you make less but it’s easier work overall. The emotional toll isn’t as high.
Just because you are new doesn’t mean you have to take shit from the dancers or anyone else that works there or the patrons themselves. Know your worth. You can find another club and leave whenever you want. You hold the power. Don’t let anything in that environment tell you otherwise. Also the first 6 months you will make the most money at a new club or as a baby stripper. Take advantage and work as much as possible. After 6 months the newness wears off and you’ll see another new girl getting the attention you first got. Keep going, it’s not about how much you make per shift but being consistent with yourself, your goals and your clients.
Love & Glitter,
BW
