Sorry to hear that. I guess there's always porno to fall back on...

I gotta agree: was just at Sassy's with some out of towners and they even commented on 1. how rad and inexpensive strip clubs were in Portland (cover, drinks, etc.) and 2. how cheap the dudes in the audience were. Pretty lame.

People who often are the most deserving of tips, often don't get tipped. I empathize with you.

I have not been able to eat tacos at a stripclub ever yet.

I just can't get into the idea of going to strip clubs. I feel so fucking bad for the girls up there doing that. Reminds me of that Chris Rock bit, "if you're a parent you only have ONE goal in life: KEEP HER OFF THE POLE!"

When I used to go, I always made damn sure I tipped per song.
Now I just find it a sleazy way to try to con some money out of drunk men.
As for your health concerns, quit your damn whining.

You should unionize or pass a living wage law or something like that. Maybe a ballot measure that requires every citizen to pay $35 / yr to support the Stripping Arts

Good Grief, bursistis of the knee,chronic back pain, rotator cuff and concussion. Just this year, and the future holds staph infections, laying on broken glass, broken ribs,and on an on. You will be in a nursing home soon if you aren't careful.

^nursing home? Fuck that, shes headed for hospice.

Bitch, bitch, bitch... some dudes tip, some don't... just shut up and get naked, or get a normal job.

If you get a concussion taking off your clothes you might be doing it wrong. Calm it down a bit this isn't the summer olympics.

I would, but, damn, I forgot to break a twenty earlier. Next time...

Bleah this place is a hive of misogyny anon. Sorry some dudes can't be like basically decent. (See: commenters here.) If I take newbies to strip bars they're well fucking informed to tip per song and if they don't, I make sure they double up. Hope your days ahead are full of less asshole.

But do I have to tip with nugs?

Being a sex worker is a legitimate job. It's also unfortunately in the service industry, hence the utter entitled douchery that goes with working in said industry.

Much like the backwards sexist douchery going on in the majority of this thread.

In the esteemed words of Missy Elliot "Girls girls get that cash, whether it's 9 to 5 or shaking your ass."

"Laid down in broken glass"

Is there a comma missing?

and?

I am a student who secretly exotic danced for 5months. Although the whole concept was to make a lot of money (secretly) while going to school. I don't drink/go to bars or even drink coffee. I am an advanced yogi/trained dancer/actress who had never been to an exotic dance club (before or since). They are toxic environments & women can easily get trapped in the exploitive scene. It is horrible. I felt most comfortable in the businessman/sports club bars on the west side (although not really ever comfortable at any of them).
I totally agree with the authors perspective. But the men who go to dance clubs, in general, really don't respect women a great deal/or have healthy ideas of what is appropriate in regards to interacting with women. I urge any man who feels the need to exploit women, feed each other's egos in a bizarre situation to at least pay. It is so tacky when they do not & it is really gross when staff support or allow this. People have no concept what the scene is really like & how dancers are exploited/treated & how hard the dancers work as well as how doing such a job effects them.
Hey Portland & men who love exotic dancers, get a progressive clue.
Treat all women with respect & thank your lucky stars they interact with you at all;
In all areas of life, especially exotic dance clubs.

Ridiculous! Some people tip others don't. I am in the service industry. Some people aren't. It's not rocket science. Life isn't fair. GET OVER IT!

she says "I get it, we chose the job," but I don't think she actually gets it. it's not inherently anyone's "job." you can quit. you can make the same amount of money doing a number of other things that don't involve tips. every service industry employee has that option. will it be hard? probably. but it beats tacitly supporting an industry whose compensation standards are fucked.

Some people need to leave their shit comments to themselves. Homegirl didn't ask for a lecture on her life choices, she made a totally valid statement where she (correctly) says that it is not only cheap but in really poor taste to go into a strip club and not tip the dancers. Maybe people should be evaluating the individuals who expect a show but feel they are above paying for it. It's really that simple. If you want to criticize strippers, there are so many forums for that because to me it just sounds like a bunch of assholes vomiting entitlement out of their stupid faces.

i wouldn't defend men doing any of the fucked up things she says she's put up with, nor would i defend someone intentionally taking advantage of a free show. it sounds like the risks far outweigh the reward, and she chose the portland mercury's audience, so the confusing logic to keep her job, or not take measures to change the situation, might result in shit comments. kind of like having a tip-based job might result in shitty tips. risk/reward. personally, as an ex-service industry worker, i'd love if tipped positions were abolished. it's turned into an employer's way to subsidize wages by placing the responsibility on the customer, which can all see is a pretty unreliable way to make a living.

If only I had the nerve to complain about the profession I chose... As if it's everyone else's fault that ones job is demanding and unsatusfying at times. Welcome to the real world, where the majority of us bust our asses while being under compensated.

No tip, no show. Just stand there and give a half hearted dance.

That's a surprise to me....about paying the House for your stage time. I thought that was one of the things that makes dancing in Portland far better than Seattle, plus you don't have to "dirty dance" in order to make any money? No clubs that serve $5 Pepsi's with 30 girls competing over 1 or 2 paying customers....literally doing $15 table dances! If you are well compensated then the physical difficulties that go with a very physical job make it worthwhile in my opinion. I struggle with ailments from my construction job, but it pays too well for me to switch jobs at this point. I haven't been to a strip club here, but I will be sure to tip the girls when they perform.

After living here off and on for 12 years strip joints are kind of boring. The idea that there are cheap drinks there is ludicrous.

I think the main problem is the amount of chichi bars. The boob market is over-saturated. The free market boob economy determines boob price based on boob supply and demand. The bottom fell out of the boob market with the recession.

Not only does she have to deal with that crap at work she writes about but then people come on here and treat her like some subhuman for her chosen line of work. It's a job people. No need to be ugly to someone who chose it. She's a human being and this type of stuff disgusts me, seeing women treated as if they are worthless and aren't due an ounce of respect.

Yikes, there are a lot of shameful comments here. To speak of relating the service industry to stripping is quite valid, obviously the service here is sexual fantasy. Now we have all seen those statement articles floating around the internet regarding resturants/bars stating "if you can't afford to tip, don't eat out" ..it's the same principle in a strip club (and no, that was not a punny sex joke.) If you don't get the concept that you tip the dancers you're watching, then you will be lucky to not get thrown out by a bouncer or the house mama stripper. It's simple, the show is not free and if you can't afford that, well, porn at home for you. Duh. And to the author: if you haven't learned by now, hussle your private dances. It will give an excellent opportunity to teach those fools how to behave as a club customer. Or a better opportunity to get them kicked out. And really, where are the smart strippers who will actually unionize the industry? Ya'll could be fighting for your rights and banking on it.

One thing not addressed here is, what if the dancer is butt-ugly and out of shape?
Do you really want to encourage her in this line of work?
This is a moral dilemma, is it not?
Because I have seen some nasty, skanky girls that had no place being up there.

As a club GM, I am getting our Staff & Talent to think a little differently. The stage is partitioned off, for one. Fuck the campers. For two, it's $1/song Admission around the stage. Tipping is when you throw down more than $1/song.

When ya go to a restaurant, you don't call paying for the meal tipping, you call it paying the tab. When that meal is damn good, or the service was remarkable, you tip... money above and beyond what is on the bill. Same shit, not rocket science.

In closing, please, you non-paying douchebags need to bring your attitude in a full service adjustment. Failure to pay admission to the stage at my club gets you kicked out of the club. Resistance to leaving can earn you about 2 seconds of 800k volts... and its been too long. And people, someone pissing & shitting their pants for douchebaggery is just plain funny.

Frankie, great question. For those entertainers who really should have stayed at home, just leave the stage. It's harsh, but shit, some just don't get it. I feel ya, though, and it's a game of attrition. Eventually, the nasty girls will go away when the rack continues to empty... by their own choice, or by the club losing revenue.

@frankieb
The main point is (in addition to side tangents/concepts etc)
"No free show".
"Free shows" are not what is happening in the dynamic of an exotic dance club. If you don't care for the look or "vibe" of various women, based on your preferences. Don't watch. Don't engage etc. If you are paying attention & focusing on them.
Guess what, they are entertaining you. Perhaps in a different way, but even those women seem to have affected you enough that you are very clearly in a strong viewpoint about them.
Therefore, they entertained your mind etc.
Pay attention to what you resonate with & pay (with money).
The point is "no free shows", there are many people in various fields we all have options on, for various reasons, why they should be doing something else. Put your money & attention elsewhere if you don't care for it.
You are watching
Pay
Period
If one goes to a film/play/opera/music show/etc, you pay. If you don't care for it, you don't invest your money or time/focus there again.
It isn't really rocket science.
You clearly seem to have dehumanized certain women & think that because of different perspectives you seem to have, that they don't deserve appropriate boundaries.
Which makes you seem incredibly ignorant & unintelligent.
I hope you aren't:)
I wonder what the people at your employment
Whatever you do
Think of you
& why you think you should be doing what you are doing.
There is a different resonance for everyone in everything
To think your tastes are the only valid perspective in an ideal
(Even if it flows with certain percentages of the population)
Clearly identifies your lack of intelligence
But hey
You are a guy
That goes to exotic dance clubs
& posts poorly articulated
Low intelligible comments
On the topic
What do you look like Frankie?
Get a clue

Plenty of civilians have no idea how difficult these movements are, and not to mention dealing with insecurities from drunk strangers on a nightly basis. From one stripper to another, I empathize.

Since I make it rain everytime I go to a strip joint, none of this is really my problem...

Hi, Yes I agree it's not fair to enjoy a lady's performance and not pay for it. I used to work as a stripper and there were a lot of douche bags in attendance, but I'd say there were nice folks too, and I still made fairly good money. I agree with the commentators statements that you will find a-holes in any industry that works with the public. I now work as a car-rental call center associate and I deal with way more rude people there. I can attribute my good experience as a stripper to the excellent service of the bouncers and the DJs there and the help from other strippers. They were genuine people who looked out for us like hawks, so I was lucky. Also, when men just sat back and watched and didn't tip, we didn't strip, it was that easy. If there were a few guys at the stage tipping, we would give them the attention and only them. Don't get discouraged Anonymous, just focus on those good guys (and gals) help your co-workers and put those free-loaders out of your mind.

regarding all the people that can't seem to understand the broken glass - have you never had a cup or bottle break before? Because that happens - and it doesn't always get cleaned up. Then the dancer comes out, is performing, doesn't realize there's still shards or flecks on the stage and ends up with a back full of glass slivers. It fucking sucks. I work p/t as a bar tender and have ended up with knees full of glass the same way. From glass not properly swept up from a previous shift while I was getting into a cabinet and kneeling on the floor. (And the fact that it has happened more than once means I have shitty coworkers.)

Also, it's not just the entertainment industry. PEOPLE IN GENERAL ARE ASSHATS. 15 - 20% MINIMUM. Go ahead and tattoo that into your brain. All service industries. Whether you are at a bar/restaurant, getting your hair or nails done or lawn service etc. If you're not certain if they accept tips, ask! If you can't afford to tip on top of your purchase, then you can't afford the initial purchase. Period.

I've had girlfriends that didn't charge me for a strip show. Then again, I've had a few that did charge. Never can tell.

Comments made above that are COMPLETELY IRRELEVANT to this Anonymous's point:

1) All service industry jobs have assholes/non-tippers (that doesn't excuse it or mean she has no right to complain)

2) You can just get a different job! (maybe she can't or doesn't want to)

3) Just don't do anything until you're getting tipped (Maybe that's not an option. Can waiters just not serve people they know won't tip? Or maybe 50 people are watching her but only 5 are actually tipping, what should she do then?)

4) Maybe she's ugly (that's subjective, and also there's no such rule as "tip $1 minimum unless the girl isn't your type. If you're watching, you are supposed to tip.)

5) I don't like strip clubs (who gives a shit, how boring is your life? go away)

I made a comment about dancing/the service industry, and I would like to clarify in saying I never stated she didn't have a right to "complain."
I don't believe in hating on other ladies, I think it's counterproductive in general.

I think ANON's beef is completely valid. Just wanted to be clear on that.

I am sensing alot of ignorance contained within these comments. Check it out, I have done everything from being a pro dancer, exotic dancer, to being a flight attendant. Portland men really do have it easy with the abundance of strip clubs. It is customary to tip, especially if a girl is taking her clothes off. It is not fair to judge or make fun of another individual because they choose this occupation , although I suppose for the ignorant it is easy to do so. I agree with the writer of this piece . If you are in any establishment where you are on the opposite side of the table of any service industry worker, tip. Otherwise, eat and drink at home . If your lucky perhaps your partner will get naked for you.
Oh and as for the drunk man, money coning comment; those drunk men choose to be in there. It's probably not their first rodeo. Just sayin.

Hey, just because we choose (or even end up) dancers doesn't make people treating us with misogyny, or even brutality, okay. It doesn't make us somehow worth less than other humans that don't do this work. It doesn't make our complaints invalid or trite. A lot of us, especially In Portland for some reason, actually find passion, achievement, and meaning I the work we do (particularly surrounding pole acrobatics). Like most other physical disciplines, there can be injuries, set backs, challenges, and failures. Like most other chosen hobbies or professions, we experience joy and setbacks side by side. But unlike most other physical disciplines/ jobs, society is there to devalue what we do and who we are simply because it involves being okay with putting our sexuality on display. And when. I say 'society is there to devalue what we do' , I mean just that. You're all there in the full club, of your own choice, sitting back, enjoying the show, while judging us for free. WTF? So, if we don't want to lay down to be publically shamed by society, then we can just go do something else? I also want to point out that the idea of sex being a thing to shame is a pretty much purely Monotheistic, patriarchal ideal. For such a progressive, liberal, secular town, it would seem from this comment thread that the better part of you haven't wiped enough of that Old Testament stink off yet.

Signed, Berlin from Sassy's. (Yeah, I know it's I, ANONYMOUS, but I don't mind if people know who I am. Shame away.)

Here's an idea...

People should definitely frequent these establishments less often, and the girls should look for more sustainable employment.

There's nothing healthy about frequenting strip clubs and strippers making less money at another job that requires clothing to stay on isn't the end of the world.

Hi up there, RickStevens . I don't know exactly why you think this form of work is unsustainable...I've done it off and on for fourteen years and been ok . Do you have a issue with nudity? Clothes on or off , a jobs a job dear.

A19, dare I posit that you're probably the exception to the rule? Let's be intellectually honest here. 14 years would put you at 32 at the minimum. I'm sure there are quite a few strippers that are 32 or older, I just wonder how many started at the age of 18.

If you're still raking in the bucks after 14 years, good for you. No issues with nudity here. I shower in the nude and I prefer sex with clothes off and not through a hole in the sheets.

Would you argue that the industry exploits parties on both sides of the bar? Clearly the dancers shoulder far more of the exploitation, but doesn't this make the "relationship" unfortunate at best?

And trust me, I'm not here to judge or make someone feel worse about themselves. I've taken jobs that I felt were beneath me and didn't even pay that well. I've also worked in jobs that could be described as taking advantage of people's ignorance. Yes, I took the money anyway. I'm not ashamed, but I'm certainly not proud either. Somewhere in the middle lies the truth.

Yes Rick, 32, and yes still raking the cash in. Not every place is engaging in exploitation, granted it happens, that also is a stereotype. One could be exploited in a office job, or a customer service job, or any job for that matter. In fact I have found I have been more mistreated in the job I went to college for! So lets say this , every job has it's downfalls yes. However I have found that dancing has much more tolerable downfalls than even working in a doctors office. And bonus! It pays more too :) Truth can be very much in the eye of the beholder. Let me ask you, how many dancers do you know? I truly do not believe I am taking atvantage of anyones ignorance. The men in there know what they are doing, they aren't victims, and the grand majority of the dancers are not victims . No more victims there than any other path in life.

A19 - Again, I'm glad the industry has treated you well. The somewhat rosy picture you paint is obviously subjective though. I worked in the mortgage industry during the 2000-06 boom. The prevailing attitude was that if you lowered someone's monthly payment, you were helping them. I think we all know how that turned out.

Strip clubs only provide very empty and transactional relations between customers and dancers. I would be highly surprised to hear either party walk out of the club saying they feel fulfilled in any way. At least in most cases, the women are well compensated.

And no, I don't know any dancers currently. I do know a few former dancers though. And let me assure you that they aren't former dancers because they enjoyed/stayed in the game long enough for an early retirement.

Regardless, I wish you luck, happiness, and safety during your remaining time in the industry.

Wow, there is a lot of hate happening here. She isn't suggesting that people get off of their couches at home, come to the strip club, and give her money. She is saying, if you choose to come to the strip club and you watch the girls dance, you need to be paying for your entertainment. It's like if you were a server at a restaurant and you had a room full of people only ordering waters, and expecting them to be refilled all the time, and at the end of all your hard work, you didnt even get a tip. Most people would consider that rude behavior on the customers part and they wouldn't jump down the server's throat for being in that occupation. Yes, she is choosing to be a dancer, but the people who are choosing to go to the clubs, need to pay for their entertainment. Pretty simple. no need to get rude and judge people on a personal level.