Skip navigation! Story from Work and Money. Last Updated 3March, , am. The misconceptions out there are wild , along with the deplorable social stigma of working as a stripper or in the wider sex industry. So, in an attempt to dispel the stigma, here are some of the questions I've often been asked as a stripper, along with the various myths swirling around about what we do.
Why did you become a stripper? My logic was that I could work a minimum wage hour week in hospitality, or three nights a week in a strip club for substantially more. What are the working conditions like? In Australia, there are pretty strict rules and regulations in place to keep dancers safe and in control. If a customer is being inappropriate, you can terminate a dance at any time β no refund, no questions asked. Essentially though, as a dancer, you work for yourself β like a contractor β and pay a 'door fee' to work.
Some clubs will pressure you to come in five nights a week; others are cool with less. Just like any job, it varies depending on your workplace. What are the associated costs? With the need for various shoes, outfits and pole classes, it can get expensive fast. You can try and do it on the cheap, but you need a good rotation of lingerie and bikinis. Add into that rideshares if you choose to drink, and your expenses can rack up pretty quickly.
The mental health cost also can't be ignored. Late nights, alcohol and drug culture, and the brain-chemistry-altering emphasis placed on your body and appearance in the long term can definitely start to leave its mark. How much money would you make on an average night?
Common myths about strippers. For real, dancing is nothing like the movies. Stripping is our only option. Just remember that dancers are choosing to be there. Sometimes I enjoyed it, sometimes it was mind-numbingly boring β just like any other job.
