So, your wondering how to become a stripper at a club, and wondering what it takes to work as an exotic dancer? As a marketing manager at adult clubs for over 15 years at Rachel's Gentlemen's Club Florida, and Scores Chicago, I want to give you the best advice possible on how to get a job.

Over the years, I've seen dozens of women who thought becoming a stripper would be the perfect escape from their everyday, boring, mundane jobs. For whatever, reason, young girls have been given the false impression that exotic dancing will solve all their financial problems, without considering the reality of becoming a stripper.

If you're heart is set on dancing at a club, here is some simple advice on how to get a job at a strip club and keep your sanity.

Before you start calling around for jobs, I would suggest investigating the various strip club's reputations, as well as figuring out what type of dances are performed. Most strip clubs fall into the following categories:

• Nude Dancing
• Topless Dancing
• Bikini Dancing
• Lingerie

If you're comfortable working at a nude or topless strip bar, you will want to check out the rules of the club, and the tip out. Most girls who are thinking of becoming a stripper are shocked to learn how much strip clubs take from the girls on a nightly basis. I'll discuss some common practices which occur at clubs, and inform you about how club's make money off strippers to help you make a decision when picking a club.

 Pole Dancing/Stage Rotation

Most clubs will require their adult entertainers to perform on stage.  Some clubs have poles, and some do not.  It's a myth that you need to be a talented pole dancer to become an exotic dancer.  Traditionally, dancers are not paid to work on the stage, however; they are able to showcase their looks, and make a few tips while performing.

Table Dances

There is a lot of mis-information out there about the differences between table dances and lap dances. At strip clubs, table dances are usually peformed at a cost between $10.00 and $20.00. The song usually lasts about 4 min, and is performed right there at the customers table. Some clubs charge more or less if you dance topless or fully nude. 

Private Dances

Private Dances are nearly always performed by the stripper in a sectioned off, booth-like area in a club.  You will want to find out how much the girls are expected to pay at the club you choose to work at for performing these types of dances.  Be warned! Although most strip bars are clean and safe, the private dance area has given a lot of girls headaches because of unruly guests.  Before you can even think about getting a job, make sure you know how to set some boundaries. If you find yourself giving a private dance, and the customer becomes to touchy, end the dance and walk away. There is no need to put yourself through the mental and physical stress of some jerk who doesn't understand the word no! The good news is that there is usually a bouncer or floor host within voice range.

VIP Rooms

If the club you choose has a VIP room, then there is a good chance you can make a bunch of cash in a very fast amount of time.  While working at Rachel's Steakhouse, I've seen exotic dancers make $500.00 to $600.00 an hour. In the VIP room, you are expected to hang out with the guest (usually on a couch) for an hour. However; under no circumstance are strippers expected to have sex, or should they have sex with a customer in this part of the strip club. Having said this, there are still several places out there which allow their girls to do whatever they want in the VIP room.  My best advice is to pick another club if the culture is sexual contact in the VIP room. It makes it harder for girls who don't do it to make money at the club. As far as I'm concerned, the first rule in stripping is that exotic dancers are performers only! They provide fantasy and entertainment-not sex!

When choosing a club to work as an exotic dancer, find out a little bit about the place before the audition.  

 In my opinion, the second most important factor in determining where you will become a stripper, depends on the tip out and fees of the strip club you choose.  Strip Clubs are NOTORIOUS for over charging exotic dancers, and snatching their earnings.  Whatever you do, please ask about what you are expected to pay.

Tip Out: Tip out is the common term nearly every strip club designates for what girls pay on a nightly basis. Most clubs require the exotic dancer pays a fee to the house for each shift worked. This part of the tip out is known as house fee. You can expect to pay as little as $5.00 if you start an early shift, to $100.00 for later shifts.  Strip clubs are dead serious about collecting house fees from girls because that is where they make a great deal of their income.

Another expected tip out is based upon both the type of dances, and the amount of dances the stripper performs.  For example, if you peformed 15 private dances at $30.00 each, the club may charge you $5.00 for each dance. Some clubs are greedy, and take a whopping HALF of the girl's earnings.  Additionally, you can expect to pay money to the club for table dances, and VIP rooms.  It's not unusual for strip club's to take a percentage of you whatever you earn; so be diligent and find out what fees you are expected to pay. I've seen plenty of exotic dancers go home with just a few bucks in their pockets because the club charged them for every little thing.

FINES: In my mind's eye, exotic dancers are raked over the coals and royally screwed by some of the unethical, and truly unfair fines by strip club management.  Some places with fine the girl as much as $200.00 for missing a shift, and $50.00 for every hour she is late to work. These kinds of practices would neither be legal, or acceptable at any other type of job, and should be BANNED from the strip club industry.  Be that as it may, you will absolutely want to inquire about tip out fees and fines before you think about becoming a stripper at a club.

If you take a look at the photo above, you can see the type of stripper outfit which I believe is perfect for becoming a stripper. This particular photo was captured from Rachel's Steakhouse in Fl.

Call the club you want and schedule your audition. No need to speak to the owner or manager, just get the info you want and that's it!

What to Wear: Just like the woman pictured above, I highly suggest you wear a long dress. Believe me when I tell you that a little mystery can go an awful long way. There are plenty of girls who show up for auditions wearing cute stripper costumes. Go to any department store and purchase a gown which falls past your knees. You want to present a classy, and lady like look for the managers and or owners who are watching you audition. Think about it for a moment. Isn't it more appealing to see a well put together girl on stage wearing a beautiful dress dance, than someone wearing an unflaterring pair of hoochie shorts and heels?

Prepare for your audition: As I've said before in previous articles, it's crucial you prepare for your strip club audition. On the night you try out, make sure you have your hair and nails done at a salon. At the very least, have a friend do your makeup and help you look your best. Exotic Dancers have the potential to make a windfall of cash in just a few hours. I've personally seen girls walk out with 10 grand in one night (although that's rare). Wouldn't you want to improve your chances for getting hired by preparing for the audition. Even if the club does not require you wear a gown, or have your hair and make up done-DO IT ANYWAY. Looking flawless and classy will not only improve your chances of getting hired, it will also increase your earning potential 10 fold! For me, nothing looks worse than an exotic dancer who does not understand her job is to provide fantasy, and wears slutty looking clothing to work.

SHOES: I won't say a lot about shoes, other than to say pick a pair which are comfortable and won't trip you up. Many times I've seen girls blow out an ankle by tripping on stage. Three to four inch heels should be fine.

What to expect at the audition

Basically, when you arrive at the club, you will be escorted to the dressing room by a staff member. Usually, someone known as a house mom will help you get changed and show you where to audition. Stripper auditions usually occur for two songs. This is a chance for the manager and or owner to get a look at you. The first song, you dance fully clothed. The second song, you slowly undress. I won't tell you how to dance on stage, other than to say please don't start jumping around and crawling on the floor. So many girls do this and it looks totally stupid and NOT SEXY! Keep eye-contact with the person auditioning you, and slowly undress. No need to start dancing all fast, or showing them your latest hip hop moves. The point is to show the club that you can appear sensual on stage, and that you have a good body.

These are the basic fundementals of how to become a stripper and what it's like to work as an exotic dancer in a strip club from the persepctive of someone who has both hired entertainers, and worked for a long time in the industry.