Question 11

Q: I know that most dancers work only for tips, but a dancer was trying to explain to me other fees she has to pay to the club when she works…what does she mean? That doesn’t seem fair…I thought you ladies worked for tips instead of a paycheck (like me) but got to keep all your cash. Please explain. A:

It is true that dancers usually work for tips alone. I’m sure you have seen the signs posted in the clubs indicating this. Dancers are not paid an hourly wage or a flat rate for the work that they do. We depend upon customers tips to make a living.

At the end of the shift (in Portland it’s usually five hours long) each dancer is required by the club to pay tip-outs and stage fees. Most clubs in Portland charge a $10-$30 stage fee for a night shift and a $2-$15 stage fee for a day shift. If there is a DJ, the dancer is asked to tip him/her at least $10. If there is a bouncer (sometimes there are several) the dancer is asked to tip them out $10 each or more.

In some places dancers are also asked tip out bartenders, cooks, and cocktail waitresses if the dancers have ordered drinks or food. In addition to the tip-out and stage fee, many clubs take a cut of what the dancer makes from private/couch/lap dances or VIP/champagne room sales. That means that on average, a PDX dancer pays out $35-$65 per (night) shift and even more if they have to give the club a cut of their private dance sales.

In many people’s opinions, these charges are inflated and/or bogus.

Here’s why: Given that they are paying to be there, some clubs allow as many dancers as possible to appear on any given night, increasing competition among the dancers. The vast majority of clubs will not waive stage fees/tip-outs if the night happens to be slow. As a result, the dancer either leaves her shift paying out of pocket or actually accumulates a debt to the club.

Clubs treat dancers as independent contractors, thereby avoiding the need to pay minimum wages, overtime pay and unemployment benefits. Club employees (who are NOT independent contractors like the dancers) are paid a wage for their work AND tipped out by the dancers. If a particular shift is slow, it is not uncommon for a bartender, cocktail waitress or DJ to go home with more money than a dancer.

The most common reason for this circumstance is when customers come into the club, eat and drink (and tip the waitress, cook and bartender) but don’t spend much or any money on the dancers. This is really a bummer considering that in a “strip club” the dancers are supposed to be the main attraction. This is why many dancers get irritated when customers claim to have “just stopped in for a drink” and not to see the entertainment.

By the way, I do realize that most of you reading this column are members of pdxblackbook because you are fans of the dancers, and as such you treat us with more respect and tip accordingly. We certainly appreciate it!!

When it’s all said and done, many people argue that a dancer’s average pay (with some high $$ and some low $$ shifts thrown into the mix) ends up being decent. Some clubs in Portland do waive stage fees on slow shifts and offer courtesies such a free shift drink or meal. However, some clubs have increased the stage fees and put more dancers on shift due to our current economic situation. This is a way for clubs to make more money off of the dancers. That’s right, the dancers are supposed to be the main attraction of the club, yet they are the ones being punished for the slow economy. This can really hurt a dancers income when business is slow.

Thanks for your question…I hope I shed some light on the subject!