It was a string of interesting encounters that made me want to pull out my hair by the end of the night! I forgot to leave my feelings at the door tonight, occupational hazard big time. I give up the right to be human to an extent every time I walk through club doors. Tonight, I could not shake human to save my wallet.
First, I thought I had a customer hook line and sinker, but I was wrong. He was a big fish and could have made my night, or at least got it started on the right track. Now that was a tough one to swallow. I gambled with time, energy, and a piece of my soul with no return. But I did good front talk for the future if I see him again.
Still though, every time I walk away from a customer(who I actually took the time to get to know and have a conversation with, aka entertain) without money I clench my jaw in anger. Of course there are always exceptions to the rule. However, some days I feel like a professional greeter, but worse. Strip club customers want to know about my personal life too! Isn't seeing me dance naked enough? Why must we shout over the loud electronic music? If you want to have a meaningful conversation come on a week night or take me in the champagne room. Do not torture me and make me talk to you with hopes of return on my effort!
Guaranteed money equals guaranteed effort on my part!
Nights when I just work the crowd and do not have visits from regulars are rough sometimes because they require a lot of patience. I get stuck in the position where if I want a random customer's money I have to be like minded, and put up with their rude remarks and opinions I do not agree with.
An example, from tonight would be this guy in a wheel chair on the smoking deck. He was complaining about not being able to smoke inside the club and kept going on and on. I could not help myself and spoke up. I told him that some people in the world did not get to eat today. So, if that was his worse complaint of the day, it was a good day. I knew he did not have money because I have seen him before and taken the time to get his story, but still it is not good public relations to speak one's mind/opinions at work.
Also tonight, I found a cell phone, passport, car keys, and two dollars in the vip room. I picked it up and gave it to the bouncer minus the two bucks and told him where I found it. Another dancer ran after me when I was trying to get a customer of my own to sit down for a lap dance. She was freaking out and not grateful at all that I turned her customer's things in, which rarely happens in a bar of any sort! Then to top it off she said I had to give back the two dollars I was beyond appalled! I had just turned in the keys to some one's life and I did not even deserve a two dollar tip. Wow!... Not to mention the fact this other dancer freaked out the customer I was going to dance for with her panic.
Then the young drunk weekend crowd that have yet to realize that appearance is far from everything. A younger customer tonight asked if I would give a guy that was hot and I thought he was my dream guy at work free dances. I laughed and quickly told him, " No." My dream guy would not be in a strip club, especially in Salem Oregon. Pretty much a guarantee! I tried to explain, but the youngster could not understand that this was work for me and not play time like it was for him.
There is only so much a person can handle before their hopes are beyond crushed. Tonight was one of those nights, because I did not notice myself smile when I was dancing on stage. I had that empty and hollow stripper look in my eyes as I went through the motions on stage unenthusiastically.
Some nights are just too much!
~Zi-Fi
Don't get mad, get even.
Kennedy, Robert F.
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