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Strip club workers shed light on misunderstood industry

sinclair

Strip Club Nation

Upon arriving at a small, dreary-looking club on Bloomington's south side, visitors are greeted by an outdoor sign that reads “one dollar nose warmers.”

At Night Moves, a strip club, women dance to earn money, bouncers protect them and the owners make sure the show runs smoothly every night.

One of the bouncers — a middle-aged man in a plaid button-down shirt who is built like a former body builder, has been working at Night Moves for three years.

Although he said many male patrons tell him, ‘man, you have the best job in the world,' he said his job can be very stressful. He always has to have eyes in the back of his head.

“When police show up, I have to deal with them outside,” he said. “It's bad for business.”

Indiana State Excise Police often enter Night Moves undercover and slap the bar with a 500-dollar fine when the dancers do not cover their nipples.

“It's been in the books for hundreds of years, and no politician will repeal it,” Night Moves co-owner Byron Fine said.

Smirking, he said the law was written so a girl doesn't lactate on the customers.

In 1998, the owner of Third Base Lounge sold his business to Byron and his business partner, Rodney Domer, before the two turned it into Night Moves.

Angel, one of the dancers, leaned onto the bar by Byron — topless.

She graduated from Bloomington High School South in 2008 and has been working at Night Moves for about two years. She currently attends Ivy Tech Community College studying kinesiology.

She said money is the reason why she got into the business.

Angel said she earns up to 500 dollars on a good night and about 60 on a slow night.
She also has a boyfriend, who Angel said puts up with her stripping job, even though it's not uncommon for her to get asked out by the customers.

“There's always this shy guy during the week. He gets drunk, and I feel terrible,” Angel said. “He really wants to take me out.”

Still topless, Angel was comfortable with her body, but she said it took her a month to be completely at ease.

“The first guy I gave a lap dance to, I gave his money back,” Angel said.

Although inappropriate touching of the dancers does occur, Angel said she has only had to walk away from a customer twice.

“I'll give you three warnings. One warning I wiggle off and don't care. The third warning I just say ‘pay',” she said.

Gretchen, a waitress, said she also deals with inappropriate
customers.

“Of course you get perverts, but at a regular bar you do too,” she said.

Gretchen also agreed that money was the primary motivator for working at the strip club.

Angel said despite the money, she would be reluctant to encourage other girls from entering the business.

“I will never wish this on anyone,” she said and left it at that.

Rachel, another dancer, is 24, has three kids and also attends Ivy Tech, studying to be a chef. She mentioned the turnover rate for dancers is high, stating some last just a night.

“Some girls make complete asses of themselves,” Rachel said. “I've seen girls fall off stage and hit their face on the pole.”

She said she thinks there are roughly 50 girls employed by Night Moves between 18 and 25 years of age, but it is hard to be certain because many last such a short time.

“A lot of people come in and don't tip,” Rachel said. “They think we get paid hourly wages, and we don't.”

One of the bouncer's responsibilities is to make sure patrons pay the dancers.

The bar gets a 25 percent cut of the money taken in from each lap dance.

“I do all in my power to get the money,” the bouncer said. “I've had guys try to fight me, but they never get a swing on me.”

As far as the types of girls who are hired, Byron said there are no specific height and weight measurements he uses.

“I let the managers do it. I give them some kind of guidelines,” Byron said.

He said he'll keep girls who aren't traditionally attractive if they're good dancers.

“Last year, 190 girls got on stage,” Byron said. “Some last a day or two. Five to 10 girls leave in a month. A lot of girls think they can do it — then can't.”

Josh, a customer at Night Moves, sat with half a Heineken and a fist full of dollar bills.
He wasn't quite ready to leave yet as two dark, nearly naked young women took the stage, glistening under the pulsating strobe lights hanging from the ceiling.

“One more song, dude,” Josh said to his friend.

After the song was done, Josh had to nearly be dragged out by his friend.
“One more beer, man,” he said.

“Dude, you've had seven and spent a fortune,” his friend said.