How to become a strip dancer
Exotic Dancer or Stripper - Salary, How to Become, Job Description & Best Schools
How to Become an
The complete career guide to be an Exotic Dancer or Stripper: salary, job growth, employers, best schools, and education you may need to get started.
Why We Love It
Exotic dancers may work in strip clubs, they may perform at private events like bachelor or bachelorette parties, or they may do both. They perform on stage, dancing and performing acrobatic tricks on a pole, or they may also perform lap dances with individual customers in secluded areas.
What is an Exotic Dancer or Stripper?
The following job responsibilities are common for individuals in exotic dancer or stripper roles:
- Earn tips by performing dance and acrobatic routines on stage at a strip club
- Earn money by providing individual lap dances for established fees, or earn money by performing strip teases at private parties
- Mingle with customers and engage in conversations to encourage private sessions and repeat visits
- Put together costumes, hairstyles, and makeup that are attractive and provocative
A Day in the Life
Exotic dancers may work in strip clubs, or they may perform at private parties. Some earn money through both types of engagements. For both roles, exotic dancers perform dance routines, acrobatics on a pole, and other types of entertainment. Some exotic dancers remove all of their clothing during performances, and others are required by law to keep certain pieces of clothing on. However, most strip tease sessions end with the exotic dancer wearing as few clothes as legally possible.
Most exotic dancers are self-employed. They are generally not employed by the clubs they work at and actually pay a fee to rent the stage and space used at strip clubs. Because of this, they do not earn an hourly rate and are dependent on the money they make from dances and tips to earn a living. While exotic dancers make some tips from dances performed on stage, they generally earn most of their money from private lap dance sessions. These are charged for by the song or by a specific time period.
Different states have different rules around what exotic dancers are and aren’t allowed to do.
In some states, private lap dances are prohibited. Some states allow full nudity, some allow topless dancing only, and some require dancers to wear tops and bottoms. Some states prohibit touching between dancers and customers, where others allow minimal touching. Because of this, the day to day responsibilities can vary greatly based on where an exotic dancer works, as well as his/her own personal guidelines.
Typical Work Schedule
Because most exotic dancers are independent contractors and work for themselves, they can work as much or as little as they want. They can also set their own hours, though most tend to work evenings and weekends because those are the times when they can make the most money.
Typical Employers
Most exotic dancers work for themselves and simply rent space and stage time at strip clubs. However, some exotic dancers may work for the clubs they dance at, and some may work for exotic dancer services that provide strippers for private events like bachelor or bachelorette parties.
How To Become an Exotic Dancer or Stripper
No formal higher education is required to become an exotic dancer. In fact, many exotic dancers choose the occupation as a way to earn great money while in college pursuing a degree. The primary requirement for most exotic dancing roles is that you’re of legal age to work as an exotic dancer in your area. Each state has its own laws and regulations over age restrictions, as well as clothing requirements and other laws—so make sure to educate yourself on the legalities of the role before auditioning.
Becoming an exotic dancer is usually a matter of auditioning successfully. Some clubs will have amateur nights where they allow multiple aspiring exotic dancers to audition, and some will allow you to walk in on any night, get up on stage, and start dancing to prove you have the skills required. Physique may or may not be important—different clientele want to see different things—but stage presence and talent are critical. Whether you’re being hired by the club or just renting the space, clubs want exotic dancers who can draw crowds and will get rid of those that don’t have the right talents to appeal to audiences.
Succeeding as an exotic dancer that works for private parties is usually a matter of advertising your services at the club to receive invitations to work at events, or marketing your services in other ways. Some exotic dancers maintain websites and business cards, and others market services through a paid third-party provider that refers clients to the exotic dancer when appropriate. Some marketing and business skills can be helpful in this line of work since you’ll be accountable for generating all of your own income.
Exotic Dancer or Stripper Salary Data
We’ve provided you the following to learn more about this career. The salary and growth data on this page comes from recently published Bureau of Labor Statistics data while the recommendations and editorial content are based on our research.
National Anual Salary
Low Range
---Average
---High Range
---National Hourly Wage
Low Range
$9/hrAverage
$18/hrHigh Range
$33/hrHow do Exotic Dancer or Stripper salaries stack up to other jobs across the country? Based on the latest jobs data nationwide, Exotic Dancer or Stripper's can make an average annual salary of ---, or $18 per hour.
This makes it an Above Average Salary. On the lower end, they can make --- or $9 per hour, perhaps when just starting out or based on the state you live in.
Salary Rankings And Facts
Highest Education Among Exotic Dancer or Strippers
- 0.5% Doctorate
- 4.3% Masters
- 17% Bachelors
- 10.6% Associates
- 29% College
- 26.7% High School
- 11.9% Less than High School
Job Growth Projections and Forecast
2014 Total Jobs
13,0002024 Est. Jobs
13,600Job Growth Rate
4.
6% Est. New Jobs
600How does Exotic Dancer or Stripper job growth stack up to other jobs across the country? By 2024, there will be a change of 600 jobs for a total of 13,600 people employed in the career nationwide. This is a 4.6% change in growth over the next ten years, giving the career a growth rate nationwide of Below Average.
Growth Rankings And Facts
What Companies Employ The Most Exotic Dancer or Strippers
| Industry | Current Jobs | New Jobs Needed | % Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-employed workers | 2,000 | 100 | 0% |
| Drinking places (alcoholic beverages) | 1,700 | --- | --- |
| Other schools and instruction; private | 900 | 200 | 0% |
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How to Become a Stripper & Quit Your Day Job
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- Sex + Dating
By Elle Stanger
Published on 10/27/2016 at 12:01 AM
Steven Clouse/Thrillist
It takes more than pole-dance classes and locker-room selfies to become a stripper.
Stripping -- and the hustle of selling your time and company -- is a competitive sales job in a highly stigmatized atmosphere.
As a stripper of seven years, I know that my chosen work is not for everyone. I formerly worked in retail and healthcare, and I also know that those jobs are some of the most exploitative and depressing ways to make minimum wage. And so, when the times get tough, the tough get stripping! Here's to supporting adult entertainment in a consensual, informed manner.
Learn how to dance
Strippers need to be able to dance -- so if you want a gig in this industry, you'll need at least a couple basic stage moves. YouTube hosts hundreds of videos, especially if you do a "beginning pole dance move" search. Eye contact, smiles, and body awareness will go much further than back-breaking Cirque du Soleil maneuvers, at least at first.
Always remember to point your toes when you dance so you don't look like a naked adult tromping on a playground.
And no matter what, under no circumstance are you to lick the pole a la Showgirls.
Find a club you feel comfortable in
Go online and read reviews. Visit TUSCL.net (the ultimate strip club list) for a comprehensive list of venues. Yelp can be valuable -- but please read all reviews with a grain of glitter, since negative reviews are often left by bitter ex-patrons who were ejected for poor behavior.
Visit clubs during various hours so you can get a feel for the vibe and crowd. Staff -- and especially patrons! -- can vary wildly by just a few hours. A day crowd might be blue-collar workers on lunch break, while Friday nights will feature millennials doing Jell-O shots.
What are the house/club rules? Do you agree with them? If doing a full-contact nude dance for $10 sounds too low (it is), keep looking for a place that encourages the workers to be able to financially support themselves.
We're all here to make some money.
Are the strippers at the club protected? Does a bouncer walk them safely to their cars after shifts are done? Are there rules regarding touching and drug use? Find out. Also, ask about the hiring practices.
Most clubs will have you fill out a form, hopefully make a copy of your ID, and will require an audition of at least one song on stage. Yes, you will have to get naked on your audition! That's what you'll be doing hundreds of times over if you get hired -- so let's make sure you can at least walk a few steps without falling down.
Figure out your brand
Congratulations, you're hired! Now you're tasked with figuring out how you wish to portray yourself in order to encourage the most revenue.
What kind of fantasy are you selling? Are you a nerdy gamer-girl nymph? Punk-rock Barbie? Burlesque siren? Runway model? Girl next door? To a large degree, the way you style and carry yourself will define your customer base.
If you dress like a pro dominatrix, you will attract men who expect you to act domineering. If you wear little makeup, have hardly any tattoos, and keep your hair one color, you'll attract a wider audience that probably views you as less assertive.
Before picking out your attire, find out what the club requires. Do you need to change outfits every hour? Can you wear the same outfit for years until it falls apart? How tall do your heels need to be? Ellie and Pleasers are two go-to, stripper-friendly shoe brands strippers rely on for footwear.
Whatever your attire, ensure ensembles are resistant to Jack Daniel's stains... and can be removed easily. I avoid complex strappy contraptions; because the time it takes me to untangle a pentagram harness literally takes ticks off the clock when I could be hustling to do lap dances. Find what works for you.
Steven Clouse/ThrillistBecome a good talker
For many, this is the hardest part of the job.
You will hear a lot of the same questions. What’s your real name? Why do you do this job? Are your boobs real? What do your parents think? Do you have a boyfriend? Were you abused?
To which you can certainly respond: My real name is Sapphire but you can call me Diamond when I meet your mother. Because I have a great work ethic. Is that a real question? My parents know that I’m an adult so it doesn’t matter. Yes, a few actually. Only by this conversation.
Don't let anybody pressure you into talking about what is YOUR personal business. If you can counter passive-aggressiveness with polite assertiveness, you'll be successful in weeding out the would-be customers who are more trouble than they're worth
A simple, "Have you been here before?" or "What did you do today?" can go a long way. A stripper's hustle is akin to speed dating: You're trying to gather information and get to know a total stranger in a very short amount of time.
Some folks want to talk, others want to listen to you talk, and many people will be happy to open up once you establish a rapport.
Avoid the soap opera
Avoid the hierarchy. Every competitive industry has back-stabbing co-workers. Be polite to everyone, don’t repeat gossip, and lock up your items. Thieves lurk everywhere!
And PLEASE don’t fall into the trap of dating your co-workers or bosses. This rarely works out well.
Your time and labor come with a price, because that's how transactions work. Practice saying, "No thank you, I'm not going to do that." Clientele will try to haggle you for prices, touch you more than is allowed, or simply refuse to pay you.
Remember that your time is an asset! You as a worker are able to refuse service, especially if someone is indicating that they don't respect the house rules or your personal boundaries. Get the money first if you can.
And if the guy asks (and they will), "You don't trust me?" that's when you smile and bat your lashes twice. "I don't trust anyone, silly."
Practice good hustle habits
Stay off of your cellphone. It's just bad salesmanship. If you went to a comedy show and you could see the headliner scrolling Instagram while waiting to be announced, you'd see him as half-assing his job, yes? If the waitress is texting while taking your coffee order, it's rude, and if the car salesperson is yelling at their boyfriend in the finance office, it's bad sales. Just put your cellphone away for the shift.
And don't take rejection personally. Some nights, people aren't going to be kind to you. Understand that their poor behavior is a reflection of their insecurity or self-internalized issues.
Value your money
Talk about tenuous! I've left a six-hour shift with $30, and earned $200 in a matter of minutes.
Strippers do not make an hourly wage! With such an unreliable income, I tell new strippers to save at least 10% of their tips in a savings account that does not link to a credit or debit card. Buy a fireproof safe, and be the only one with the combination. Talk to your bank or credit union about an IRA account, or some other option to grow and store your savings.
And be sure to save your receipts. If you're filing taxes, you can claim all work-related purchases as write-offs. That means hygiene items, clothing, makeup, and fitness and health purchases that specifically impact or relate to your job.
And DO NOT talk about your money. Ever. There is no reason for anyone to know your income. You might be 24 years old and making $80,000 a year; but boyfriends, girlfriends, family, and so-called friends will find ways to encourage your spending... most especially if it benefits them.
Steven Clouse/ThrillistPractice good health habits
Don't drink too much, and avoid hard drugs.
It's not sustainable. I've let loose more than a few times, to be sure. But hangovers stop being cool when they're part of your daily routine.
In liquor-serving establishments, it's easy to get caught up in a wave of gratuitous drinks. But doing so means losing money, hurting yourself, getting in arguments, or being at a terrible disadvantage should an abusive situation arise.
And holy shit, people are so annoying when they are on cocaine.
If you use substances to escape the stresses of work, you need another job.
Be safe
Be very selective with whom you give your personal information to. I have had stalkers, and I have had privacy concerns. I rarely recommend giving out a phone number. It costs only a few bucks to decode a cell number, and creepers will pay that in order to get your personal information. I am reminded of how much I value my privacy every time my post office box receives fan mail from a correctional facility.
If people want to schedule club visits, create a stripper-specific email account and keep in contact that way.
Understand that this job has a timeline
I would love to be able to strip for another decade. But the truth is, I've seen young entertainers be forced into retirement by things like spinal injuries or torn meniscuses. Your body and mind will endure greater longevity if you take care of them both; so be sure to save money for when you are too stiff or stressed to be able to dance for dollars any longer.
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Elle Stanger is a sex and dating columnist and writes all of her best material while on her back. Follow her on Twitter @ellestanger.
©2022 Group Nine Media Inc. All Rights Reserved.
there are those who work as a stripper and you like it
#1
#3
#4
Guest
I would go to work as a stripper! So what? Oh, where are my 17 years?!
#5
#6
#7
9000 #8
#9
Bibi Blocksberg
Once she worked as a waitress in a cafe, our bartender was a former stripper.
I did not communicate with her, she did not work very long. But judging by her appearance, I would never have thought in my life ... Skinny, flat, no breasts at all, sorry. The face and the whole appearance of the mouse is gray. There was a time when I had a quirk, I dreamed of dancing in a club, just not undressing, but I was somehow dumb, the girls there are curvy, and although I am slim, I don’t have outstanding forms. That's why I only dreamed)
#10
#11
#11
#11
honestly exhausts the stripper a bit. But a good man can be found there, the probability of
#12
#13
Guest
Author, only you are not mix in one bunch of masseuses in intimate salons, escort models and strippers.
It's all completely different!
#14
#15
Guest
I work stripper, I am 25 and soon buy an apartment in Moscow. By itself, no one helps. Perhaps this will seem shameful to many people, but somehow I don’t care, firstly, I honestly earned and I don’t do prostitution to be ashamed of something, secondly, what kind of work can you earn money for an apartment at 25 years old, you will still have to plow a lot in the office years to become independent. And I'm going to get on my feet first, work in striptease for another year and then I'm going to enter the second higher education, maybe I'll study and work, I don't know yet ..
#16
Guest
Almost all stripper can be removed, so this is one and also
Guest
I work as a stripper, I'm 25 and soon I'm buying an apartment in Moscow.
By itself, no one helps. Perhaps this will seem shameful to many people, but somehow I don’t care, firstly, I honestly earned and I don’t do prostitution to be ashamed of something, secondly, what kind of work can you earn money for an apartment at 25 years old, you will still have to plow a lot in the office years to become independent. And I'm going to get on my feet first, work in striptease for another year and then I'm going to enter the second higher education, maybe I'll study and work, I don't know yet ..
#18
Guest
How much do you get paid? Approximately how much per month and for how many hours of work?
#19
Guest
Almost all stripper can be removed, so this is one and also
, in my opinion, this is a pretty nasty job.
no, well, if you like that vile, sweaty men can slap you, money suits you, then why not. I'm very squeamish, but someone is quite normal.
#21
guest
salary floats, somewhere around $3-5 thousand. officially the schedule is 2 through 2 but I go out much more often, it all depends on you, my goal is to earn a lot, so I work a lot
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#23
Bibi Blocksberg
How about your figure? Or are there no clear restrictions in the parameters?
#24
#25
earned an average of $ 300 per day, the remaining more zeal could earn $ 1000. It was in 2009, I was 20.
I did not like it, I worked maximum 3 times a week
but now with VO in the office I earn much less.
and crawling on the peasants, at most she stood nearby and danced.
I earned an average of $300 a day, other more diligent people could earn $1000 each. It was in 2009, I was 20.
I did not like it, I worked maximum 3 times a week
but now here with VO in the office I earn much less ..
for some reason, for me, going abroad to dance striptease is equivalent to falling into slavery
Uninvented stories
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My husband and his children and grandchildren infuriate me ...
485 answers
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The man immediately warned that all the property was registered to the children
577 answers
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This salary - I don’t want to work
388 responses
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A lie 22 years long. How to destroy?
705 answers
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Husband left, 2 months of depression... How will you cope if you are left all alone?
163 answers
#27
It would never have occurred to me to dance on purpose.
No one forced me, I worked for myself, the club was not bad, the contingent was decent.
#28
#29
Guest
I work stripper, I buy 25 and soon buy an apartment in Moscow. By itself, no one helps. Perhaps this will seem shameful to many people, but somehow I don’t care, firstly, I honestly earned and I don’t do prostitution to be ashamed of something, secondly, what kind of work can you earn money for an apartment at 25 years old, you will still have to plow a lot in the office years to become independent. And I'm going to get on my feet first, work in striptease for another year and then I'm going to enter the second higher education, maybe I'll study and work, I don't know yet ..
#30
Author
The other day I met with a friend whom I had not seen for a long time.
We talked, it turned out that she works as a stripper in a club. I was surprised that she said it so easily. I asked her why, why I went to such a place. To which she replied that she did not see anything shameful in her work, work is work. I like to dance, it's okay. Why should I be ashamed of something or hide it, if everything suits me. She even joked that for some reason our singers are not embarrassed to appear naked on the screens. Are there girls on the forum like that, or maybe you have friends in life who work as masseuses in intimate salons, strippers, escort models and them like it? Are they not ashamed of their work and do not want to change it?
#31
#32
9000 salary floats, somewhere around $3-5 thousand.
officially the schedule is 2 through 2 but I go out much more often, it all depends on you, my goal is to earn a lot, so I work a lot
#35
#36
Guest
I work as a lawyer, I earn 23 $ 2,000, official income. She got married, her husband bought an apartment, a car too ... I'm talking about those who, where else can you earn an apartment at 25 .. Looks like you can arrange your life differently ...
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9047
#37
Well, you know.
.. Your girlfriend would be better off as an accountant and not stick her head out... I don't think I've ever seen such a terrible failed performance in my life.
Looks just awful, I'm not afraid of that word. Vulgar, kind of fat, HEAVY in itself, not graceful, looks like an elephant on a pole and can't do a single trick, maybe her body pulls her to the floor. This constantly calling "sexy" open mouth and f*cking look does not look seductive, but very cheap. The chair moves under her, she slammed this shirt more than once, and it’s generally not clear what she is doing with it, she doesn’t know what to do with her hands. In general, the impression is stupid. Anywhere (!!!) but NOT on the pole its place. Horror.
#38
#39
9,0006
#47
soso
I worked part-time like that, I danced only when I needed money, on the weekends.
And on weekdays I sat in the office. In two days I earned 1000 € (and I don’t really know how to breed men). My girlfriend could earn 1000€ in a couple of hours, because she knows how to breed men into bottles, so this is really not given to everyone. I like the work, no intimacy, if someone bothers so immediately the guard comes, I don’t know how to dance on a pole, I just move beautifully, undress erotically (only the top), and so a couple of times in the evening. There are girls who stupidly sit out the minimum wage (40 € per evening), they stupidly sit out at the bar all evening. Not all figures are great! age from 20 to 40 (!) There are also over 40, but they look very good. I signed up for striptease courses, I want to learn how to dance beautifully on a pole, I want to leave the office, I will work 4 evenings a week. In short, in this business, everything just depends on you, the more you make an effort to divorce a man, the more you work, and if you just have the strength to wait for the end of the work, you will get your 40 € per evening.
#48
Author
it's probably in striptease you just need to have a perfect figure. It seems to me that in an escort, in intimate massage parlors, this is not necessary. on the principle of "taste and color"...
#49
kriss
Anonim 32.
Well, you know... Your girlfriend would rather be an accountant and not stick her head out. .. I don't think I've ever seen such a terrible failed performance in my life.
Looks just awful, I'm not afraid of that word. Vulgar, kind of fat, HEAVY in itself, not graceful, looks like an elephant on a pole and can't do a single trick, maybe her body pulls her to the floor. This constantly calling "sexy" open mouth and f*cking look does not look seductive, but very cheap. The chair moves under her, she slammed this shirt more than once, and it’s generally not clear what she is doing with it, she doesn’t know what to do with her hands.
In general, the impression is stupid. Anywhere (!!!) but NOT on the pole its place. Horror.
How to become a stripper: features of the profession
5
Becoming a stripper takes more than pole dancing lessons and locker room selfies. Stripping down and lending your time and company is a competitive sales job in a highly stigmatized atmosphere. Some say it is one of the most exploitative ways to get paid. In this short guide, you will learn how to become a stripper and what you need to know to get a job in a strip club.
Interest in the profession
Strippers must be able to dance, so if you want to perform in this industry, you will need at least a few basic stage movements. There are hundreds of videos on YouTube on how to become dancer in the club. Eye contact, smiles, and body awareness will go much further than the grueling maneuvers of Cirque du Soleil, at least for at first.
To choose the right club, you can read reviews and reviews.
Not it is recommended to take them too seriously as positive reviews can be partly screwed up, and the negative ones can be made up by those former workers who were kicked out for bad behavior. Visit clubs in different time to feel the atmosphere and the crowd. Staff and patrons can vary greatly with a difference of several hours.
Find out what the rules of the club are and whether you agree with them. Are the dancers, do the guards escort them to the cars after the end of the shift? Exist the rules about touching and drinking? Find out all you are interested in questions.
Most clubs will ask you to listen to at least one song on stage. Undressing is something you will do hundreds of times if you are taken to work, so make sure you can at least walk a few steps and not fell.
Selection image
What does it take to become a stripper after being accepted? Figure out how you want to portray yourself for maximum profit. What fantasy are you selling? Punk rock barbie? Burlesque siren? To a large extent degree your style and behavior will determine your customer base.
If you dress like a professional dominatrix, you will attract men who expect powerful actions from you. If you have little makeup, almost no tattoos and always the same hair color, you will attract a wider audience, who will probably find you less assertive. Before choosing clothes find out what the club requires. Do you need to change clothes every hour? Can you wear the same set for years until it falls apart? Whatever was clothing, make sure the kits are stain resistant and easy to remove. Costs avoid complex devices with straps because the time required, to unravel the pentagram bandage literally steals your profits.
You will need a name to keep your real identity a secret from clients. Grab a paper and a pen and start making a list of the names you like that come to mind. You can think of spices, cities, expensive cars and flowers. You can ask family, friends, or other women in the industry what they think is the best name for you. The chosen ideal name should arouse attention and interest from customers.
