A stripper, also known as an ‘exotic dancer,’ is an entertainer who is hired to perform stripteases and other adult/erotic entertainment, either at a strip club or during special parties, etc. People categorize exotic dancing in a wide variety of different ways… with some calling it ‘sex work,’ and some calling it ‘entertainment.’
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But can you really make money as a stripper? And if so, what do you need to know?
In this article, we are going to talk about it!Â
Making Money As A Stripper
Contrary to popular belief, being a stripper can be a much more lucrative side-hustle than a lot of people realize… even in smaller cities. It is far more common for ladies to become dancers, but men can also do it as well. There are also a lot of legal issues to be aware of if you are thinking about going into this business.Â
But at the end of the day, ‘smart’ strippers usually make quite a bit of money. Some people do this just to make cash in their spare time, working nights to supplement their day-job… while others make a career out of it.Â
What Does It Take To Become A Stripper?
This really depends on the context and the location. As a general rule, you need to be at least somewhat subjectively attractive to get a job at a club or with an agency. You also need to be comfortable with the idea of performing a ‘striptease’ as entertainment and be reasonably physically fit.
This obviously rules out a lot of people, as there is a decent percentage of the population who would likely never consider doing a job like this. But… there are also people who not only make good money doing it, but who also find it empowering and enjoyable.Â
The rules for how the job is regulated vary by country and state. In some locations, it is legal to be ‘fully nude,’ while in others, it is actually illegal to take everything off. There are also different rules about what is and is not allowed in clubs.
Some locations make physical contact illegal, while in other locations, limited contact with customers (such as what may occur during a lap dance) is perfectly legal.Â
The main question a person should ask themselves before deciding to explore this possibility is definitely this…Â
Do you feel completely comfortable with the idea of stripping in public?
If not, then this is not going to be the side-hustle idea for you!Â
But if so, then you may be in the minority… and you can potentially make some pretty awesome money while you’re at it!
How To Get Started
The best way to get started in this side-hustle (and the safest way) is usually to get a job at a local ‘strip club.’ Clubs operate in a number of different ways, but dancers are usually considered private contractors who do not get paid by the hour. Instead, they get permission to work within the club and sell their entertainment services to the clientele for cash, tips, and sometimes commissions on drinks.
They may also have to pay a small fee to the club, or a percentage of their earnings, so that the club also makes money off of their services. In some cases, they may also be expected to tip the DJ, if that particular club employs one.Â
Working at a club is definitely a job that blends sales and entertainment. On one hand, the dancer needs to know how to please a crowd. The better they are at doing this, the more they can expect to make from tips.
But at the same time, they also need to know how to interact with clients on a more personal level. This helps them to sell lap dances and make extra tips. Some dancers build up a more ‘select’ following of regulars who come in to regularly support them by giving them tips, buying dances, and purchasing drinks for them. It is also not uncommon for some dancers to just get paid for conversation!Â
At any rate, there is certainly a skillset to stripping that exceeds the ‘dancing’ done on stage. And the more the dancer knows about how to work their client base, the more money they can expect to make as a result.Â
How Much Money Can You Make As A Stripper?
There are some girls, in high end clubs, who earn earn money insanely fast – 3 to 4 thousand dollars on busy nights! But, there are also girls in smaller clubs, on slower nights, who struggle to bring in $100 for 8 hours of work. There is a wide gap between these two numbers, which just goes to show that the better a dancer is at their craft and sales skills, the better they will probably do in the long-run.Â
A lot of people do not believe that dancing should be seen as a ‘full time career choice,’ mostly because of how physically demanding it is.
A young person may be able to leverage their energy, extra time, and youthful beauty to do really well as a dancer for a period of time… but that same dancer may find that a few years in the industry is more than enough. Some examples of people who use stripping as a temporary side-hustle include…Â
- Men or women who are in college who need extra money
- People who have a job during the day, but want to make extra cash at night
- People who are trying to break into some kind of other industry, who need to find something profitable to support them in the interim
- People who are trying to make it ‘big’ on a social media platform like Instagram or Twitter, as dancing is both publicity and a way to supplement their income as they try to establish themselvesÂ
A lot of the ‘smarter’ dancers will also leverage social media to help them earn more while dancing… which is a very savvy move nowadays. I have even heard social media experts say that dancers should get tattoos (either permanent or temporary) of their social media scan codes on them so that clients can easily follow their sites online!Â
A viral social media post could turn your $50 nights into $500 pretty fast!
There are also private parties, bachelor parties, bachelorette parties, and other similar types of opportunities for dancers to earn extra money.Â
Is Stripping Actually A Good Idea?
This is a very good question to ask, because the job itself comes with a range of upsides and downsides. Obviously, you will need to remove some clothing to entertain your clients… and you may not feel comfortable with that. But at the same time, stripping can give you the flexibility to earn on your own terms without requiring you to show up to strict daytime shifts for lower hourly wages.Â
There are a lot of excellent resources available online for people who think that they might want to try earning more money while stripping. This article, published on Forbes.com, talks about a stripper coach who helps to coach strippers to help them earn more and turn their stripping job into a powerful, profitable career.Â
There are some social stigmas about stripping that might be hard to overcome for some people. But at the same time, more and more people are considering work in this type of an industry to be not only profitable, but something to take pride in… so if you suspect that you may actually feel empowered in a job like this, it could be an excellent way to bring in extra money on your own terms.Â
But… it is also true that stripping is more like high-level athletics than something like freelance writing. In the stripping industry, you have the potential to earn a LOT of money, but usually only for a short amount of time.
It is also kind of scary, because you are never guaranteed a super-successful night. Starting a different type of freelance gig (like writing or graphic design, for example) may provide you with more security in the future, while stripping does not necessarily do that.Â
But then again, for a summer, a year, or for even a couple of years, it can also serve as a powerful launch-point for creating an influx of cash that you could save and use to grow your own offshoot business one day.Â
So it really all depends on the context, your situation, and your personality.Â
My Personal Feelings About This Side Hustle
Do I think that this is a good side hustle for everyone?Â
Definitely not. But if you have an interest in it, and need to start some kind of extra side hustle to either get ahead, pay your way through college, or save-up and pay down debt, then it is well worth taking a look at.Â
It may not be a long-term career option… but it does offer the right kind of person the opportunity to make some pretty decent side-hustle cash in a short amount of time.Â
Our Final Opinion Of Becoming A Stripper
Should you become a stripper and try to make some extra money working at a club?
There are a lot of ways to make money online. Some are good, some not, but ALL of them are still just trading hours for dollars.
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Nathaniell
What's up ladies and dudes! Great to finally meet you, and I hope you enjoyed this post. My name is Nathaniell and I'm the owner of One More Cup of Coffee. I started my first online business in 2010 promoting computer software and now I help newbies start their own businesses. Sign up for my #1 recommended training course and learn how to start your business for FREE!
Angelina
I want to become a stripper and make money to buy myself a new house and some new clothes.