""The stupid stripper shoes are $80 a pair and they break every damn month," she says. "A couple hundred bucks a week goes to makeup, pedicures, tanning, teeth whitening, hair extensions. If you file taxes you can totally write that off—but most strippers don't because they don't file taxes.""

No one is forcing them to not file taxes. And I'm having a hard time feeling sorry for someone who takes home $1,200+ a week (after tipping out the DJ, bartenders, etc.), for three nights of work.

Real estate agents are also independent contractors, who if they work out of a corporate office, have to pay a desk fee, nevertheless, they have to be interviewed and accepted by the company to work with them, and if they don't have the right attire and automobile, that could be problematic. The IRS might audit a club, but they won't audit strippers because they simply don't make enough to bother with.

disastro, business-related grooming and other expenses and lack of benefits take a huge chunk out of that, if you had read the story. Taryn's estimated $18/hour ($36k p.a.) is less than I've made at some shitty office jobs....not counting my benefits.

dread, that is certainly an interesting comparison. It is not true that strippers don't get audited. It's at least a concern: http://wearedancersnyc.com/money/file-taxe…

The average salary for a realtor was about $39k a year in 2012 (bureau of labor stats) - by your logic, what's the big bucks incentive there? That's not much more than Taryn estimates she earns (tho disastro's evidently skeptical). I doubt as many realtors have stalkers, though, or sexual favors demanded by cops or bosses. There's probably more advancement potential too.

I am Portland stripper. My employers have all of my pertinent information. I appreciate not signing a W-9 form. I file my own taxes and I pay 1/3 of what I should. I pay 10-40% of my income to the club and its staff every single shift. I worked full time for three years and made $1600-$2200 a week. I worked my ass off. I do my own hair, nails and teeth whitening. I worked/work in clubs that have no say in regards to my heels, make-up or the tan that I maintain. I save my money, in CDs, an IRA and two savings accounts. I have excellent credit. This job is a tool that can be put to good use. I would love to see an article written by someone with more insight into this industry.

Every time the merc writes a stripper/strip club article it's a total cringefest for those of us who actually work in the industry.

People always assume that dancers make a lot of money, and this article just adds to the assumption. In reality its totally random, has to do with the way you interact with your customers and your style. I've had many nights where I paid out of pocket to work an 8 hour shift (including weekend nights), and rarely do I make over $200 in 8 hours. I know most girls make way more than I do, but I don't want patrons to read this and think they dont need to tip because the girls already have a fortune.

As a stripper, this was sort of a sad read. I know that one girl's experience is not another's and I would hate to be generalize in a lot of statements. She may work at an "upscale club" but some of Portland's most reputable and steady earning clubs are actually home grown with talent and personality, who support their own business and not just trying to make a buck off their dancers, who they know, in fact, do not walk out with what one girl called, "the sky is the limit." I never ask any of the people who I see in their place of employment how much they make, I never ask them about their business expenses, and if at all applicable, I tip and I tip well. We have jobs that move money around, from big pockets to little pockets, but still how much I make is most people's way of justifying how much they dislike my job and "how little" I do. I agree, this can be an extremely shallow industry, and by the interviews, it comes off as extremely naive as well.. But Portland is full of smart, educated women who DO own cars, and DO own homes, and DO pay their taxes.. In fact, a lot of women strip as a SECOND income. If Portland could stop generalizing with simple experiences and the "woe is me" route, and take the time to get a **real story** going, our jobs would seem less of a novelty and more of what it is, women getting paid for their time. I'm not walking home with pockets full of cash when every tom, dick, and harry is only throwing up $1 bill because of the ongoing media stigmatization of my job and industry. I don't need pity, I need to pay my bills like everyone else.

Do female realtors have second jobs?

"Fortunately for Portland, the powers of market capitalism have kept this city's fees affordable."

Thank you for acknowledging this.

How long is the typical stripping career? How old is considered undesirable by owners generally? Seems like in any sport and dancing and exotic dancing your big money career only lasts a decade if you are lucky..or am I wrong?