Nightshift Negatives

Overstimulating & Chaotic:

When the club really gets going, you can expect a lot of people to be entering and roaming around at any given time. People will be crowding the bar, occupying or walking toward stages, going in and out of VIP areas and restrooms and it can feel dizzying to even find an open spot to sit down for a moment. Customers and some dancers will no doubt be in a party mood, drinking and often partaking in the use of other substances as well. This, and the general environment can make people louder and more unpredictable than normal and coupled with booming speakers and crazy lights - it can be overstimulating to the point of becoming upsetting.  

In addition, finding someone to speak to and make sales with can feel impossible due to how many dancers there are on a nightshift. I cannot tell you how many times I've done lap after lap around the club floor, eyes peeled for a lone customer only to find that there's not a single unoccupied potential customer in sight. That can be aggravating, frustrating and also make you feel defeated. This is where patience really comes into play. You may feel pressured to constantly be engaging with and attempting to sell to someone, but we can't all be hitting slam dunks the entire night. Remember that you will have your time to shine regardless of how things are going this exact moment. Strip Tip: try to scope your club out in the slower moments for a space that will likely be less loud and wild during the nights in case you need a moment to yourself to regroup and center yourself on a nightshift!

Higher Number of Dancers on the Floor:

While more dancers can have its pros, it most certainly will have its cons, too. Standing out consistently and being seen by every customer is just not always going to be a possibility when working this shift. While there are definitely ways you can maximize the potential of being noticed, the sheer volume of people in the club will be something you can't win against every time. In addition, stage shows might be far and few between even if you've got all stages open and girls are rotating as they should be. This makes it much more difficult to get the draw of a crowd and connect with multiple people in just a few songs while simultaneously showing off your vibe & dancing style. During nights, these reasons and more are why it is imperative that you focus heavily on hustling the floor. Staying in one spot and sitting on your phone or spending copious amounts of time in the locker room are never going to put you out there in front of the eyes of your customers - so avoid doing those things whenever possible.

Even if there are no available customers, keep walking around the floor and visiting different areas of the club. You never know who is going to see you and decide to come talk to you/invite you to their table/come to your next stage set. When I worked primarily nights, I had a good deal of customers approach me and compliment how hard I was working because I consistently stayed on the floor, walking and approaching whenever possible. Also, remember that you never know if you are or aren't a customer's type - so don't be shy about who you approach and talk to!

Intoxicated People:

At night, you may frequently be interacting with a variety of people who are drinking or using drugs throughout your shift. While this is just a part of the environment at a strip club no matter the time of day, it tends to be much more prevalent during the night. People are letting loose and partying hard, and that can make some of the customers and also some of the dancers you're dealing with more erratic and unpredictable. This can be a cause for concern for more reasons than one. Intoxicated people can often times become rude, belligerent, pushy and violent - even when unprovoked. In an environment where there is a great deal of sexual energy, customers who are drunk or high may feel that it's perfectly okay to touch you or assault you simply because they think they have the right to your body because one, you're "just a stripper" and/or they've paid for the dance or suite and they believe they're entitled to more than just dancing. Be very mindful of who you're interacting with and of how intoxicated they are. I cannot even begin to tell you how many times I've had a drunk customer try to assault me physically or verbally harass me throughout the night for rejecting their sexual advances. 

This is not to say that every single person who is drinking or partying in the club is guaranteed to behave in a malicious, violent or sexually abusive way toward the dancers, but it is something you have got to take into consideration. It does happen, and it's something you need to be aware of in order to keep yourself safe while working. Take note (as much as you possibly can of course) of who is really pounding the drinks or who is partaking in other substance use while at the club, and how they're behaving. When someone is getting way too intoxicated, it is my personal belief that it is in your best interest to stay away in order to remain safe and avoid conflict. Strip Tip: if you notice someone becoming aggravated, belligerent, grabby/handsy or violent, tell a security staff member or manager right away. Don't feel bad for doing so, you may be protecting the safety and wellbeing of many people in the club by putting that customer on the securities radar and/or having them removed entirely. 

Another reason that loads of intoxicated people at work can be a struggle to deal with is your sobriety. Now, I am well aware that not everyone reading this or working in a club is necessarily 100% sober all the time, even at work. There's nothing wrong with having a drink or two and knowing when to cut yourself off, and I won't shame anybody who is not sober. However, for someone like me who has less than a year of sobriety from alcohol, working in an environment where I'm constantly offered drinks can be upsetting and frustrating, not to mention at times very tempting. If you're struggling with your sobriety, newly sober, or simply trying to cut back, nights can be tough because the alcohol flows freely and you're likely going to be offered multiple drinks throughout your shift. As I said in a previous blog, having a support system of bartenders who won't serve you alcohol, other dancers or managers who know you're not allowing yourself to drink and other people outside of the club who you can reach out to for help is of the utmost importance when getting & staying sober. 

Uncommon Operating Hours:

Strip clubs can have hours of operation that you'd almost never see in a typical 9-5 civilian job. While many civilian jobs can offer night shifts, it is definitely something that can be less common than daytime operating hours. There are some strip clubs that never close and offer 24-hour entertainment. While these odd hours can be a huge plus for those of us with lives and other commitments that don't work well with a daytime job schedule, it can also be a real struggle to change your sleep/wake schedule to work nights, especially until close. Stripping is demanding; physically, mentally, emotionally, verbally and energetically. Coping with all of these draining aspects and interrupting your natural circadian rhythm is not something that is doable for every dancer and can therefore cause nightshifts to be that much more difficult to work consistently. Getting up and going can feel like an impossible task when you're not sleeping properly due to the interruption of your normal sleep/wake cycle.  

Even if a nightshift schedule works great with your natural sleep/wake pattern, consistently missing out on daytime events and activities because you're sleeping can be tough. Eventually, it can begin to feel isolating and lonely because you're legitimately only interacting with people you see while working in the club. In the case that you love the schedule; I would like to offer you the suggestion of giving yourself at least a couple of days off where you participate in life during the daytime. We are social creatures, and everyone needs and deserves a life outside of their work, no matter how much they may enjoy their job. Mixing in some early evening shifts is also a good way to ensure you're getting the sleep you need and allowing yourself some daytime hours to spend time with friends or get errands and chores done.

Honorable Mentions for the Cons of Nightshift:

• Feeling socially, emotionally and physically drained from dealing with huge crowds and various energies all night
• Comparison to others due to being around a higher number of beautiful women several times per week/month
• Conversationalist sellers may struggle or feel overwhelmed trying to find their rhythm and keep up with the pace
• Fights among customers and dancers tend to be more common at night
• Ridesharing services can cost a lot more and may not be & feel as safe as they would during the day.

I hope that this and the other three most recent blog posts have given you a good look at some of the pros and cons that you may experience working a day or night shift in the strip club. Remember that no matter when you work in the club, there are going to be good and bad days and that switching up your normal routine is totally okay! Find what works for you, stay as safe as you can, and remember to keep an open mind whenever you're working - especially when trying a shift that may not be your norm or your absolute favorite. Good luck out there!