Stripping During a Recession
Hi everyone, I know I always say this, but I am sorry for not updating. Life has really been hitting me hard recently and I’ll probably do a blog about that later. Today’s topic is something I know a ton about and has probably been on your mind recently. With all the talk about recession and even some clubs already feeling a slowdown – you’re probably thinking, “how am I going to last through this recession?”
This is going to age me, but I was dancing my way through college during the 2008 recession, and it was tough, but I got through it and still made it work. This post is going to go over the simplest tips on working during slow shifts and how to keep it up. Trust me recessions don’t last forever, and it won’t be as bad as you think!
- Monitor Your Shifts – I start with this one because it is very important to stick to a schedule when the club slows. Even if it was slow the previous week that doesn’t mean that it will be the next. Clubs start to slow down when girls stop coming in. If you keep coming so will clients. Period. You want to be there when they arrive and scoop up the $$ those other dancers are missing out on. It will also keep you accountable and scheduling helps with overall mental wellbeing.
- Work at Different Clubs – this is imperative. Go apply to every club that you can get into. Rotate them with different shifts and different clients. I would work the day shift at one club and then take a cab (now y’all have Uber) to a night shift at another. Maximum exposure is what you are looking for and options to meet a different clientele. During a recession, it’s not wise to just stick to your home club because you are comfortable there. Get out of your comfort zone and try to get hired by at least three different clubs.
- Keep Up with Regulars – the most you can do is keep up with your local clientele. Even though they might not spend as much they will be your consistent income. Since traveling during a recession is usually put on hold you probably won’t see as many out-of-towners or tourists. That’s okay, that is what regulars are for. If you need help landing regular clients – check out my other pots here.
- Work Different Shifts – as I mentioned above working different types of shifts helps during slower months. Try out a day shift at a new club or work a late, late-night shift. I would advise not to travel to different cities (I tried that a few times during the ’08 recession and it really didn’t make a big difference, I just broke even with expenses and could have made just as much staying at home).
- Don’t Overwork – you should try and get out there, and work in different places and at different times but don’t overdo it. I worked one time for a week straight and it was not pleasant. It also can lead to burning out which isn’t much fun. If you are burned out what you end up doing is complaining to clients and co-workers which is not a vibe.
- Keep Track of Every Penny Earned – After every shift, make sure you calculate exactly how much you earned, how much you tipped out, and how much you spent on house fees. The goal is to take the average of the days at the end of the week or month. Also, it will help you keep track of the better clubs to work at and on which days. So be sure to get a planner or a calendar or even just an app on your phone to keep track of where you are, what time/day, and how much you made.
- Stay Positive – I know It’s hard and maybe you aren’t going to make as much as you used to but stay the course. I worked through the ENTIRE 2008 recession, and it does get better by the end of 2009/early 2010 things were pretty much back on track. Keep an eye on your spending and work as much as you can. Also, try to avoid talking about “how things used to be”, especially to other dancers or clients. Act like everything is the same and you are happy making money.
Now I’m not an economist but I did live through a pandemic and a recession and stripped during both “unprecedented times”. I don’t think that this recession will compare to those events. It doesn’t seem as dire, and people are still in high spirits. As I always mention use this time to improve yourself and look for other types of work too. Work as much as you can and take the opportunity to try new clubs, shifts, and meet new people.
Love & glitter - BW
