Q: What do you think of the music played at your current club?

Asia: I think it’s very sexual. You know, the meaning of hip hop and R&B, it’s not the same as it used to be. It’s more about grinding, opposed to the beat and the melody…. the lyrics are very explicit. Very.… I like the music here, but a lot of  songs they play for me, I don’t like. Like when they use the b-word, or call women whores…times they [the lyrics] degrade women.

Susan: Um, I like it. Sometimes I wish they’d switch it up a little bit. I mean, I’ll dance to anything, but I just wish they’d switch it up every once in awhile.

Jordan: Depends on who’s on stage. Um, it’s pretty good. Except they play everything over and over and over again.

Q: Would you date a stripper?

Asia: No. Cuz I did it one time, and it’s bad. She was crazy. Strippers are crazy. You have to be a little bit crazy to be doing this.

Jordan: I definitely would. I wouldn’t mind at all…this is just a profession; this is customer service to me, and for entertainment only. And, as with any job, a person can cheat. I guess it is harder being a dancer: people throw prices out there, and some girls will let that take them You just have to have the courage to stand up and say no. Most dancers won’t cheat…

Susan: Yeah, as long as you don’t carry yourself in a trifling way, and you don’t fuck people for money… but yeah, I’d date a dancer.

Optimism at its best!

Q: Has your significant other ever come in to see you dance?

Asia: Oh yeah, all the time. They say it doesn’t bother them, that they don’t really pay attention, but I see them looking.

Susan: My ex never came in to see me dance. I think his perception of the unknown…it kept him away. Although, I do think it would intimidate him a little bit. But I always wanted him to come in, to be like, “See? It’s not what you think it is!” Come in, sit down, see that it’s all entertainment and alcohol; there’s nothing more to it.

Jordan: Yes, he has. It wasn’t weird. It made me angry, because he gave someone else more money!

Ouch.

Q: Do you think certain clubs attract different types of clientele, and how would you categorize your current club in terms of the crowd it attracts?

Asia: Yes, I think they do attract different types of people, and I’ve danced at multiple clubs myself. I danced at one club that attracts a lot of black, younger males. To me, it was like a hole-in-the-wall type of club, but there was some money there. I danced at another club, a so-called “redneck” bar…. clubs definitely vary. Also, the time of day varies the crowd. During the day, it may be business men and at night it might be the black guys…

Susan: Yeah. You go to one club, and you see the girls fucking and sucking, so then you go to another club and you will sort of expect the same. So some people stick with certain clubs, depending on their character….

As far as the crowd here? Um, I like it….Uh. (Chuckles) I like it, but most of the time… It’ll be busy in here, but people just need to start tipping instead of just watching. I mean, you have to work hard for it.

Summary of crowd? Cheap motherfuckers. Got it.

Jordan: Absolutely. White trash! And ghetto. Since three years ago when I worked here, it is so ghetto.

Q: Do you think guidelines in terms of dancers’ appearances are appropriate?

Asia: No, because guys like all different types of women. Guys have a lot of different types of fetishes…. so I think if you [the club] turn down a woman without giving her a chance, you could be missing out on something. You can’t base your judgment off of what you like; [they need to] kind of think for everybody else.

Susan: No! Men like all different sizes! They don’t really care about things like how much you weigh, or what color you are. It don’t even matter.

Jordan: No. I don’t feel like there should be guidelines, except in terms of fashion… like some girls are just not flattering themselves.

Q: How has dancing affected your view of yourself and others?

Asia: Um, I think it’s given me a lot of courage, because it does take courage to get up there and dance in front of a crowd…. something I don’t like is when females do things to get themselves in a “dancing mood.” If you can’t be sober and do this, then it’s not for you. I’m not knocking anyone for drinking. I’ll have a couple drinks….but if that’s something you have to do, then it’s not for you.

Susan: It changed the way I act. I think, I’m going to be for real, that sometimes I get an attitude. Like I’m stuck-up. Like nobody can come close to me… I don’t know. I’ve changed a lot since I’ve become a dancer. And I’ve been dancing for five years.

Jordan: It has ruined my sex life. Ruined it. I never feel like doing it anymore. My boyfriend will want me to come home and dance for him, and I’m like, “seriously? Gimme money!” I don’t dance for free!