Pole work vs. Floorwork

Pole work and Floorwork are both important skills to have when working in the exotic entertainment industry. They can be equally as beautiful and captivating to an audience. One is not necessarily more important than the other, and it's important to remember that not every dancer will be good at the same things! Something to keep in mind when entering the industry or working on a new skill is that we all learn at different rates. We all have different talents and areas of expertise. One may come easier to you than the other - and that is perfectly alright! You can always keep learning, practicing and improving! 

Strip Tip: Before auditioning at a club, check out what other dancers are saying about the club on The Dancer's Resource app! Download it from your app or play store and search your desired club(s). In addition, visiting as a customer, taking a peek at what the vibe of the club is, and chatting with some of the dancers on the floor or stages can give you an idea of what to expect if you decide to try out! Remember to tip any of the ladies you chat with, please!

First off, let's break it down really simple - pole work is any type of dancing involving the pole. From tricks like the genie, brass monkey and shoulder mounts to simple and elegant twirls and spins, that's all considered pole work. Floorwork is any dancing that involves being off the pole and using the stage solely. This can range from twerking to leg waves to crowd interaction. Now that we've got that out of the way, let me say something else which is of paramount importance: yes, you can still make stage money even if you can barely use the pole at all!

When I first started dancing, I'd previously had a background in gymnastics and rock climbing. This gave me a nice advantage of starting in the industry while already having decent upper body strength and experience on various gymnastics equipment. I knew I'd be able to do at least a couple of simple tricks on the pole. What I was not prepared for, however, was my first audition being done on a "floorwork only" stage that had no pole. I was horrified. "How in the hell am I supposed to get a job when I'm not going to be able to do any pole tricks?!" I thought to myself as I waited in the back of my first club for my audition. I was nervous enough as it was, but coupled with knowing I was completely unfamiliar with any floorwork besides some average-at-best twerking... I was sick with anxiety. I tried to watch the other auditions and quickly add a few moves I saw to my repertoire. Well, turned out, floorwork was no joke! It was difficult to make my body and mind get on the same page and do what I wanted it to, and I didn't end up getting the job. If you ever end up in this same situation, let this be a word of encouragement; do not give up on your pursuit of becoming a dancer!

Two years later and I can keep audiences entertained with my sensual and flexible floorwork as well as my elegant and skillful pole work. It didn't come overnight, that's for damn sure. My point is though, it still came. I didn't go to any pole or floorwork classes. I didn't spend hundreds on a trainer or gym membership. If I'm being 100% honest here, I could barely afford the rent on our apartment when I first started dancing. The last thing I had expendable income for was pole dancing classes. So, like many of us in the industry, I learned on the job! Now, let's get into what both type of dancing has to offer you during your time at the club.

Pole work can be a great way to not only build and showcase your strength, but it is impressive and interesting to onlookers. In my experience, when I've worked at clubs that are mainly referred to as "stage money" clubs, some degree of pole work is usually a huge help for earning your coin. Even a few very simple moves like a pole-sit or a back hook spin done with a wave and smile can get patrons looking your way. In all honesty, how much you'll want to be doing on the pole highly depends on the kind of club and shifts you end up working. If you're in more of a big party city and working the night shift, it would definitely be beneficial to make sure you're practicing pole work regularly. A dayshift at a smaller club will be a lot less dependent on killer pole moves and may be a good time to get in some practice and learn from other dancers on shift. While it can be a helpful tool, the pole isn't for everyone for a variety of reasons. Don't feel discouraged if the pole isn't your favorite or if it feels a bit intimidating. Even attempting and putting your best foot forward with pole is something to be admired. I've witnessed new dancers who are trying to learn to pole dance still do well on stage and secure private dances or VIP suites with customers after a stage set that they were nervous to perform. 

Using the floor can also be an excellent advantage! This puts you closer to eye level with the customer, making it easier to introduce yourself and have some chit-chat while you dance. Being friendly, personable, fun and inclusive are all things you'll want to master as a stripper. Putting yourself on the customer's level while performing can be an excellent way to practice and hone those aforementioned skills. Floorwork can also be a great way to take a breather from the pole if you've just done some strenuous and involved tricks. Some of my personal favorite floorwork moves are the splits, putting my legs on the customers shoulders and moving my hips to the music, leg waves, and twerking. Honestly, any combo of these can just about get you through any stage set. As time goes on, your body will get used to the type of movements you're doing on stage, and you'll become comfortable trying new variations to your original moves. Floorwork isn't easy, but it is worth the time to learn some classic moves and tricks. As I said for pole work, don't beat yourself up if floorwork doesn't come to you easily. It took me nearly two whole years to even regularly use a floorwork only stage and force myself to learn what the hell I was doing. I did fine for those first two years mainly using the pole, but now that I've worked both types of stage significantly, I have much higher confidence in the stage sets I am giving throughout my shift. 

Strip Tip: Video yourself performing! One of the best ways I learned what I needed to improve on was by watching video of myself on stage. This also helps you see what moves may not be super flattering for your body type. If you just cannot get a move or trick to look good, just remove it from your sets for the time being and work on improving something else that you already look and feel more confident doing. There is no shame in not being able to do every single thing!

Some other things I'd like to touch on in this post are potential injuries to expect with pole and floorwork. I had no idea as a baby stripper just how many hits I'd take and bruises I'd acquire from dancing. Your knees will hate you. It took my knees almost six months to adapt to the constant rolling around and moving they do while in contact with a stages hard surface. My legs were bruised up to a degree that shocked me. Keep in mind, as you're learning to dance, you will improve your body control. You will learn how to gracefully and softly come out of moves. Your legs won't always look like you had rocks thrown at them - I promise. Your back is another one that will unfortunately take some strain while dancing. From hitting it on stage, to twisting it on the pole, it will get bruised, and it will ache like hell sometimes. Stripping is a full body workout, and it involves use of most every area of your body from your toes to your wrists to your neck. Please, please, please, if you take nothing else from this blog post - do not push yourself to do moves or tricks that you know you aren't physically and mentally ready for. We do not have workman's comp or club provided insurance. A bad injury can put you out of work for a very, very long time. Remember, there is absolutely no rule that you have to pop crazy, dangerous tricks to earn a living as a dancer. Do what you feel comfortable with and what you can do with confidence and sex appeal. Hurting yourself to try and impress a crowd for money is not worth it, trust me. If you want to really elevate your performances on the pole or stage with more intense tricks and moves, please find an experienced teacher in a stripper-friendly pole studio who can coach you in a safe and judgment free environment. YouTube also offers a variety of training exercises that can help you improve skills and strengths for a specific trick. For example, look up "pole dancing shoulder mount training exercises". 

Strip Tip: Keep some Tiger Balm in your work essentials bag for when you are feeling extra achy during a shift. I have a container of it at home and one in my work purse, too. It has come in handy for me and my friends at work multiple times. Tiger Balm is great for pain in joints and muscles that can come from arthritis, strains, sprains and bruises. It should be a staple for every dancer!

To wrap things up, remember that you don't need to be a maniac on stage to get paid. Do your best, move at your own pace, and take your time when learning new moves and tricks. Being able to perform a graceful, sexy and fun set with moves you're comfortable with will take you further than overdoing it when you're not ready. Even if you're mainly relying on pole or floor, you'll still be fine. Let your confidence and personality shine through. Smiling, giving a seductive wink or a friendly wave coupled with a "hey there!" to customers looking from afar or passing by will honestly do you better than all the tricks in the world. Customers want to be noticed and made to feel special. If you can do that and put on a decently entertaining show, I promise you the cash will come, and you'll just continue to improve! 

Good luck to you wherever you are in your journey as a stripper! If you've got any questions about pole or floorwork that I didn't address, please leave me a comment below so I can do my best to give you the information you're seeking! I believe in each and every one of you reading this and I know if you keep at it, you will do great on stage!