Let's Discuss the Pros!

Deciding to enter the industry is ultimately up to you. As with every job, dancing embodies pros and cons that should be considered before you jump into it blindly. There will absolutely be a post in which I outline some of the tougher parts/cons I've found in this line of work as well. However, let us first start out with some of the pros of becoming a dancer! Full disclaimer: all pros and their explanations are personal opinion and experience; they will not all be the same for every dancer. That being said, let's get into it!

• FREEDOM OF SCHEDULE: Most clubs allow you to create your own schedule, and you aren't typically required to work the number of hours you would have to at a civilian job. I've worked clubs where you are scheduled, but even then, I just requested the days and times I wanted to work and was usually approved to work the shifts I'd asked for. This is a huge plus for a variety of reasons. Club hours can range from early afternoon to small hours of the morning, meaning you can make the club work around your other scheduled priorities. The flexibility of working hours can make dancing a great side or main hustle. It can allow you the opportunity to travel and take more vacations without worrying about requesting PTO or having to miss out on time off entirely. You can devote more time to starting or maintaining your own small business or passion project! The work/life balance is much easier to maintain with the schedule flexibility of dancing. 
• FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION: This does vary from club to club, and some places will have a stricter set of dress code rules for the ladies dancing there. However, I've found that most of the clubs I've worked at do allow a decent amount of self-expression. I love this because it gives me a chance to really let my own unique style and personality shine through. Outfits, makeup, hair and accessories are all in your hands and it opens up a world of opportunities to get creative and draw people in the moment you hit the floor! Many clubs are much more accepting of "alternative" looks. Tattoos, piercings, and non-traditionally colored hair are not frowned upon as much in clubs as they are at civilian jobs. Do keep in mind though, some clubs will discriminate based upon the aforementioned things. Do some research before you audition to see what the other dancers are saying about the club and how they look and dress. 
• COMMUNICATION SKILLS: This job requires a lot of talking, listening, and understanding. Being a dancer has helped my active listening and effective communication skills immensely. You will meet different customers with different needs and wants every time you work. Being able to understand what people want and how to respond will do wonders for your sales! It doesn't come overnight, effective communication takes work, but when you keep working at it and evaluating yourself - you will see improvements in your sales and your retention of regulars. Honed communication and selling skills are invaluable tools no matter what kind of career you decide to enter into during or after your time as a dancer! Personally, I've had customers compliment my ability to chat and keep the conversation interesting more than anything else at work! Good communication closes sales!
• CONFIDENCE: Although this one definitely varies from dancer to dancer, I personally have gained confidence and sureness of myself while I've been in the industry. Commanding the attention of a crowd, closing high dollar sales, and retaining regular customers feels amazing. You look incredible, you know how to talk, and you're doing well financially. All of those things can really bring your view of yourself to a better place. This can go the other way though, and I'll talk about that in the "cons" blog, but for the most part, I see and hear many confident, strong and self-sufficient women at work. Dancing is also a workout and can be an excellent way to get and stay fit, which in turn makes you happier and healthier!
• INCOME: Dancing can be a great way to work toward and achieve financial freedom. It provides the possibility for uncapped earning potential, without having much overhead to start. We all know money doesn't buy happiness, but it can sure make life a hell of a lot easier and less stressful. Leveraging the money you make while dancing for your benefit in the future is paramount. I'll be creating more posts on financial literacy and how to be smart with your cash in the future. For now, know that the income provided by dancing can be a huge helpful tool for getting yourself into a better situation and funding future endeavors. Dancing can often provide sums of money in a single shift that would take you days or even weeks to make at a 9-5 job. How you choose to handle this money though, is what ultimately determines if it's a tool or a liability.
• CLUB OPTIONS: Unlike jobs in the civilian world, dancing doesn't require lengthy formal interview processes. Typically, you audition however the club requires, speak with a manager, and either sign a contract or get rejected. Here's the cool thing though, if you do get rejected, you can always try again or try a different club! Often, if you're contracted, you can begin working that very day. No long waits and training days involved! If you're hired somewhere and you're not loving the vibe for whatever reason, you can easily audition at another club and begin working there instead. You always have options as a dancer. You can switch in-state clubs, travel dance, move states and still dance... you get the picture! Dancing doesn't tie you to one place in the way that many traditional jobs often can. You can work multiple clubs at one time without it causing you issues like working 4 different civilian jobs at the same time would. I recommend finding a home club where you spend most of your time and a backup club where you work occasionally but are still contracted just in case you ever need to leave your home club unexpectedly. 
• BUSINESS OWNER: As a dancer, you can open your own LLC and begin claiming your money which can be fantastic for any future financial endeavors. Securing a loan, getting a higher credit card limit, buying a car or home and many more things can be made possible by owning and maintaining your own business. Even without forming an LLC, dancing means you're an independent contractor (most of the time, some clubs will have the option to be an employee) and being an IC means you have the freedom to choose who you do and don't interact with. Gone are the days of having to stand in front of a customer who continues to harass, haggle, or berate you at work. You have complete control over walking away any time you wish, from any customer, for any reason. Now that is one powerful feeling!

As you can see, there are many positive aspects of working in the Exotic Entertainment Industry. This list doesn't cover everything, but these are some of the biggest positives for me that have kept me working and happy with my job over the last two years. I hope this list has given you some valuable insights into the industry and some of the excellent things it provides those who choose to enter it! 

I'd love to hear what some of your favorite things are about dancing in the comment section below!