For months now I've had thoughts spinning in my head of what I'd like all of you to know about me and the world of exotic dancing. By "all of you" I mean specifically, any single one of you who has stepped foot in a strip bar. Whether I've spent hours in a V.I.P room with you, been rejected for a $10 lap dance from you, or seen you in passing that one single time your buddy dragged you in; I have a lot to say to you.
We, us dancers, have so many shared opinions regarding our profession and regarding you. In the dressing rooms we tend to share the same stories through different examples time and time again. If we had the spare time, we may actually voice them out loud to you, but since we're forever running from dance to dance, we often don't have the time. Not to mention, the lack of substance you tend to receive from us is no mistake; to most the more absent minded we are the better. If our brains are blank you can mold them into your fantasy. If we're always the party girl we'll never bore you. and always, always, always, we have to be happy to see you and assure that you never get the feeling that we're just going through the motions and counting the hours until our shifts are over.
Well some of the time I'm doing all of the above. More of the time I forget those tricks of the trade and sit down and bitch to ya'll about how slow things are and how I'd rather be catching up on housekeeping. *Note: I'm passionate about home organization.
But that's veering from the over all message I'd like to convey here. I love my job. No really, I actually do, and if I thought this profession didn't have an expiration date I'd do it forever. Maybe it won't always be my day job (in fact only a couple of my dancing years it was), but I'd love to keep picking it up from time to time. Each time I take a break from dancing and return, I enjoy the experience more than the last time. We're sorta' blessed to have the chance to earn a living by dancing around half naked and traveling as we please.
One more note: I am a Stripper. You need not correct me and tell me I'm too classy to be a stripper, I'm an Exotic Dancer, not a stripper. No; I'm an Exotic Stripper. Whatever you call us, dancers, entertainers, showgirls, strippers, exotic dancers, waitresses (little dancer humor. That's what we tell our parents we are), it's all equally good. There's no shame in stripping in a dive club where the money is pouring in, nor is there shame in starring as a feature performer with costumes and props out the hu ha.
This post is just the very beginning. You might not want to hear the rest actually. This might burst your bubble just a little. But these are the things I think about when retreating to the change room for a few minutes of peace.
And if you're reading this right now... I probably just gave you a lap dance.
Yours truly,
Victoria Peel
(or Jenine if you're at the K.O.D. since another Victoria got there first)
