Gratitude is the Attitude!

No job is perfect every single day; dancing is no exception. You’re going to have fantastic days and nights, but there will also be those that test you in every possible way. As you experience those less-than-stellar shifts at the club, remember to not only take time for self-care, but to stay grateful as well. Being a dancer brings new challenges, sure, but it also brings many unique opportunities that most other jobs don’t.

Some key things to remember:

• Bad days will happen, but how you respond is important. Try to use those shifts as an opportunity to learn something. For example, is there a new approach you’d like to try and use next time? Were there a lot of customers you didn’t speak to for some reason – and if so, what steps could you take to attempt to approach more people next time? Is there something you saw another dancer doing that looked like it was working for her? If there was, what’s a way you may be able to try something similar? If you’re not loving your stage sets, what could you try to incorporate into them to make them more fun for you and enticing to customers? Using these days as a tool to learn rather than a reason to be angry or beat yourself up will help make them somewhat less of an upset and help you to keep improving your craft at the club!
• Be nice to yourself! Nobody has $1k shifts every single day that they work. Every dollar adds up, and even slower shifts or nights you’re not feeling on your best game still contribute to your overall earnings!
• Just because you didn’t have a great day yesterday doesn't mean that your next shift won’t be incredible. Day-to-day things can be very different in the industry. Don’t go in angry, sad or scared just because you’ve not had the best shift or best week… it only takes one, and you never know who is going to walk in next!
• When you present a happy, fun and excited attitude on the floor, you automatically become more enjoyable for customers to be around. Keep smiling and interacting with as many customers as you can. The more people you talk to, the more sales you’re potentially securing for yourself!

When I’m feeling a little irritated or worried about a bad shift/week at the club, here are some of my favorite things to remind myself that I’m thankful for:

• Dancing allows me an uncapped earning potential
• I have freedom of schedule – I don’t have to beg for PTO, work when I’m in need of a mental health break, or miss out on important events because I’m stuck at work
• I have much more freedom of expression in my hair, makeup, outfits and accessories than I’d have at any previous job I’ve worked
• I can try dancing at different clubs without having to go through a lengthy interview process. If one club isn’t doing it for me, trying another one is much quicker than trying to get a new civilian job
• I get to work out, look and feel sexy, make people smile, and make money doing it!
• I love to travel, and I can dance in different states – I can go on trips through the country and work whilst I travel so I’m not running low on cash during my time on the road.
• I get to meet lots of people from all different backgrounds and there’s so many wonderful things I’ve learned from customers as well as other dancers
• Dancing has helped me pay off my debt quickly and I can finally start investing and saving again

Energy is very real and can affect us at work and at home. Working in a club, you’ll encounter tons of varying energies every day. Dancing requires us to give off an aura of seductive and sensual energy all while being upbeat and positive (for the most part, some customers will love being humiliated and degraded, but you usually find that out after you’ve chatted for a little bit). Protecting your energy is a key part of being successful at the club. Not everyone will provide you with a positive interaction, and you must be able to take that in stride. Some customers, dancers and even club staff will be downright mean and unpleasant for no reason. Knowing how to bounce back from encountering negative energy is an invaluable tool in this industry.

Here are some things to consider when avoiding bad vibes or grounding yourself after a tough interaction:

• Avoid staying in the locker room for long periods of time. Locker room drama is real, and it can be easy to get sucked into it. In addition to drama, dancers will frequently be complaining about their night and uttering phrases such as, “there’s no money out there”, “all these losers are broke”, “I don’t think this shift is going to get better”. Do not take these sayings too much to heart. Their attitude and current perspective of the night does not by any means need to dictate how your night goes. Get out there and do your best – there’s no money to be made sitting in the locker room all evening!
• Rude, creepy, and time-wasting customers are unfortunately a part of this job. And boy oh boy, can they ever take their toll on you! After interacting with a not-so-nice customer, try to give yourself 5-10 minutes to reset and ground yourself. Go to a no customer zone such as a break or locker room or even a manger office if you’re allowed and feel more comfortable there. Relax your muscles from your face down to your toes and do some deep breathing exercises. Pranayama is an excellent breathing technique used in yoga and meditation practices. Look into it and find some go-to exercises that you like and can easily do at the club for a few minutes. Shake off your limbs and visualize the bad energy falling off you and to the ground. Vocalize that you are releasing this energy from you, “I’m letting this bad energy fall off of me, I release it because it is not mine to carry”.
• Carry a good energy item with you. It could be anything from a specific crystal to a sentimental item from a place or person you love. Hold this item and visualize positive things happening to you for the rest of the night! You can also use it to cleanse your energy and aura if you’re using a cleansing crystal/item.
• If there are specific people in the club that you don’t get along with or that seem to always be in a bad mood, do what you can to steer clear of them. Keep interactions minimal and don’t feed into the negativity when you do have to talk to them. Be kind and cordial and then be on your way!

Creating and keeping a positive attitude for your shift takes work. In addition to avoiding negative people, taking breaks when needed, and practicing breath work and grounding, another great way to keep your head level and positive is with affirmations! They can be a great tool to use before, during and after your time at work. When using affirmations, use the present tense, as if the action you’re affirming is already happening to you.

Here are some affirmations I enjoy using:

• I am attracting money from many sources
• I am healthy, wealthy, and thriving
• I am inviting in positivity and abundance
• People love being around me and giving me big tips
• I am an excellent dancer and am doing my best
• I am aways learning and improving
• I am thankful for my job and my life
• I love myself and others love me, too
• I am always increasing my income
• Customers love to get multiple dances/VIPs
• Everyone loves to tip me on stage
• I am a magnet for wealth and positivity

All in all, it is very important to remember to practice gratitude in every area of our lives, including at work! Every day won't be perfect and sometimes it will be hard to feel like we can keep pushing through. It is in those moments that we must step back and remember why we're doing what we're doing. Everyone in this industry has goals and dreams they're trying to achieve, and we chose to dance to help us get to those things. Root yourself firmly in those goals, thank the universe for the ability to chase your dreams by dancing, recenter yourself after a rough shift and go get what's yours.