at one point, when i thought matt didn’t like me, he would play really annoyingly “gay” music only when i got on stage (how many times can he make me dance to “hit me baby one more time” when i’m PAYING him 10% of what i make?).

former dancers will say, “i used to be a richards dancers, so i know what i’m talking about – he’s not really very good.” this despite the fact that they were never richards dancers in the first place.

others will encourage you to drink until you start making bad decisions, and then turn you in for acting out. there was one dancer who got fired for selling viagra. the guy who turned him in was sporting a nice semi-erection that night, i might point out.

i’ve known of several instances where a group of dancers will pick a guy they no longer like competing with, will watch over the walls of v.i.p., and then run and tell management the moment anything even slightly questionable happens (even though they themselves aren’t in a position to throw stones).

theft and vandalism don’t help. if someone takes or ruins your clothing, you can’t perform AND you’re out the money replacing the stuff.

and then there’s just outright manipulation – the people who will pretend to be your friend, but who are pumping you full of poison. they take advantage of a bad night and tell you there’s nothing wrong with you, but maybe you’re just not in the right field. or the ones who are less skillful who simply ridicule you for whatever reason (height, age, endowment, musculature or lack thereof, etc).

you have to pay attention.

Is it just talking shit about you to patrons?

I bet they’re really pouring it on now that you’re going to be in the advertising, too.

it hasn’t happened to me yet (the worst night i’ve had was when i made enough to tip out and left with $0), but dancers who don’t generate enough to tip out have to go the atm ($8 fee), get money out of their accounts, and still have to tip out. if someone gets a vip and they pay for it with a credit card there are additional fees beyond those that are incurred by cash. (example: 15 minute vip = $10 for the wristband for unlimited in-and-out access to the lounge, $40 for the room for 15 minutes, and $100 to the dancer for $15 minutes. with cash, that’s $150. the bar gets $10 + $40. the dancer gets $100 – 10% for the dj. if the patron puts it on a credit card, however, all the fees apply +10% for the transaction fee. the dancer does not get $100 in a check the following week, but $100 – 10% for the dj – a fee for the credit card… the bar gets compensated TWICE for the credit card fee).

we’re getting fucked. but you can make enough despite all that for it to be worth it. however, when there are so many dancers the HEAT IS ON. hence the drama back stage. for those dancers who don’t live in atlanta (eg, me and scotty et al), we have the burden not only of all the tipping out, but also hotel/gas/food. by the time i’m done in atlanta, i may or may not have netted what i would have in columbia (which is 1/3 the distance and close enough to family for me to avoid the hotel/food, but not the gas costs). i go to atlanta for the variety, not b/c it’s the greatest thing that ever happened to my life.

devon, makes me want to retire sooner and start that business venture we discussed…..lol. however, remember, i get to check for stuck tips….roflmfao!!!!

And yeah, the fact that you have to pay to dance at Richard’s . . . it brings out the old Anarchist in me. You should start an erotic dance collective! Owned and run by the dancers with the drink-pouring, security, and numbers maybe done by consultancy, and y’all splitting all the profits.

And the paragraph above the video says it all. Good wisdom there.