Breakdown of Fees and Fines

74 comments

• wiffle shwaffle

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  5 years ago

  Oh, also there is a separate entrance for dancers. Dancers enter and exit through the back of the building. There is also a separate valet for dancers that is a little further up in the parking lot. I love that Flight Club does this. I hate being harassed while waiting for my car at other clubs I've worked at. There was another sign on locker room that said they have a zero-tolerance of harassment and bullying from other dancers, too. There were several other postings throughout the locker room, but the only other one that had a fine attached to it was no weed pens. Girls are allowed to vape, but no weed or weed pens at all. (I don't vape or smoke anything, so I didn't care much about that.)
• doctorevil

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  5 years ago

  What is a “freelance” fee?
• jackslash

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  5 years ago

  Thanks for your breakdown of the Flight Club costs for dancers. The club has always charged dancers high fees, but they seem to have gone up significantly in the last year. The fines are higher and cover more behavior. I think dancers should have a free skip when they are in VIP because that's where they make all their money. (Table dances are unknown at the Flight Club.) In past years dancers told me about having $90 to $120 tip outs and they did not pay so many fines. It must be frustrating for a dancer to work all day and go home with less money than she had when she arrived. It's been 4 years since my ATF worked there, but even she (a very beautiful girl) used to complain about sometimes being in the red when she went home. The Flight Club's business model is to make more profit from the dancers than the customers. Customers pay for drinks, valet parking, entrance fee (free during the day), coat check, booth seating, and VIP bouncer fee. For me, this adds up to less than the dancers' tip out (as long as I don't buy too many drinks for dancers). The closing of the Penthouse and the general crack down in clubs within the City of Detroit has given FC the opportunity to jack up its prices.
• wiffle shwaffle

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  5 years ago

  The freelance fee is given to those who do not commit to a three shift per week schedule. The manager literally told me they consider themselves the best and classiest in the state. And to stay that way, they only want the best and classiest entertainers. The DJ said a few fines could be waived if for obvious reasons (emergency in the bathroom with girl problems, waiting on a customer at the atm, etc.), but the fines are there to essentially produce a scare tactic in a way so that we do behave while on shift. Hopefully that makes sense.
• wiffle shwaffle

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  5 years ago

  The $20 vip fee is there because the bouncer goes through and thoroughly sanitizes the booth before someone else goes in. It's basically paying him to keep it clean.
• wiffle shwaffle

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  5 years ago

  Oooh, I also took pictures of the contract. I didn't have time to read it thoroughly, so I figured I'd snap pics of it instead. I'm interested in seeing what it says actually.
• EastCoaster

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  5 years ago

  Excellent post, Waffle. Thanks for sharing this info, as it gives me insight into an aspect of clubbing I never see.
• wiffle shwaffle

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  5 years ago

  Hopefully it helps stop all of the "GPS" whining, because it really isn't that or some stupid stripper union price setting. The girls just want to pay the club and take money home, too. And $300 FS once in VIP might leave someone with less than $100 still if they were late and a freelancer. 7:01 p.m. is late.
• mark94

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  5 years ago

  In the real world, when an industry is facing a decline, prices are reduced and the focus is on giving customers service and value. In the Strip World, the answer to decline is to raise prices and regulate employees in a heavy handed way.
• skibum609

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  5 years ago

  Management would be more fair and decent if they just cut out the bullshit and stuck a gun in the dancers' faces.
• Papi_Chulo

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  5 years ago

  I don't think club fines should be being passed down to the custies nor should be used as a justification for the high dancer charges to custies since those costs/fees can be avoided and are not part of the dancers'costs every time she works as long as she follows the rules (which do seem a bit draconian)
• Papi_Chulo

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  5 years ago

  Seems to me the dancers' costs can be minimized to $140 per shift which is high but IMO not high enough to justify $500+ VIP charges - my 2-cents
• 48-Cowboy

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  5 years ago

  Sounds like Detroit is gassed up
• Uprightcitizen

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  5 years ago

  Thanks Waffle that's helpful information to know as a customer. Sometimes it's hard to know what's hustle and what's legit on these fees. While the fees sound exorbitant it's just supply and demand. 8 mile clubs get repressed by the city and the other clubs reap the profit. Landing Strip is nearby as well as the Dearborn clubs and I understand the tip outs are much more reasonable there. If things lighten up again on 8 mile I would think pressure to compete would drive $ down.
• twentyfive

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  5 years ago

  It strikes me as a bit odd that the girls would be getting fined, for rules infractions if there wasn't some problem that led to the rules being enforced, I don't get what's so difficult about being on time, in my business, if you're late the crew leaves without you and you don't get paid, and not sitting on counter tops, is just common courtesy, why the fuck should the company not have a legit concern about abuse of corporate property. Seems to me bitching about being punished for following the rules is a form of GPS in itself, I mean when you agreed to work there, the rules should have been right there in plain sight, if that's the case you should have objected at that point, or not agreed to work there.
• twentyfive

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  5 years ago

  ^ punished for *not* following
• nicespice

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  5 years ago

  Seems they love to micromanage 🤮 Does the club provide any value for their high fees and rules? Feeling like staff has your back against jerks? How is the dancer-to-customer ratio? Otherwise, Idk why not just escort.
• Nidan111

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  5 years ago

  I want to be the DJ at that club. $$$$
• Papi_Chulo

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  5 years ago

  ^ that's what I'm thinking - seems the DJ gets his $$$ no matter what (even if custies aren't spending, etc) - and if there are 50 dancers on shift that fucker gets out with $1000 for doing something which can easily be automated and not really a need IMO
• nicespice

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  5 years ago

  It’s pretty typical for DJs to get $10-$20 per shift. Or in some clubs they get a cut of dances or total earnings. Or at Palazio, I’ve heard of DJs coming after dancers for money after they close cabanas. I think DJs exist to keep us dancers in line more so than as an actual service. Just like house moms...
• Papi_Chulo

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  5 years ago

  "... Or at Palazio, I’ve heard of DJs coming after dancers for money after they close cabanas ..." To get their normal $10 or $20 tipout for the shift or to get additional $ beyond the normal tipout?
• nicespice

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  5 years ago

  ^ Additional $ beyond.
• Papi_Chulo

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  5 years ago

  ^ WTF - why does he deserves $ for a dancer selling a cabana - that's crazy
• twentyfive

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  5 years ago

  That makes the DJ a pimp
• MackTruck

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  5 years ago

  I will come dump a load in Flight Clubs basement for cheaper than that. I can help put them in line Waffles
• wiffle shwaffle

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  5 years ago

  Upright Citizen, this wasn't 8 Mile.
• wiffle shwaffle

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  5 years ago

  Twenty-five, are you in a bad mood? Everything that has a fee or a fine is what's expected at every club, but that FC inflates the prices. Skip fees at one of the other clubs I work at, for example, is $20. I agreed to work here to check it out for a night and gather this intel. My fees were waived on the first night, so I only had to pay the DJ and house mom. I reported all of this hoping to better clear up why prices are so high. Don't go if you can't afford to get sucked off at their rates. It's that simple.
• twentyfive

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  5 years ago

  I’m not in a bad mood @Waffle I’m just the type of guy who doesn’t get sucked off in strip clubs regularly I can afford a motel or even a nice upscale hotel, but I think if you agree to abide by certain rules than that should be your guidelines if you feel the fees are unreasonable than don’t work for them, but it’s not reasonable to sign their contract and then complain about it, when I sign a contract I make sure that it is a win-win, if I’m not satisfied with the arrangement I refuse to sign, it’s not like there is no other options in the area and no one is holding a gun to force you to work for them.
• wiffle shwaffle

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  5 years ago

  "Does the club provide any value for their high fees and rules? Feeling like staff has your back against jerks? How is the dancer-to-customer ratio?" Yes! The staff was pleasant and respectful. All of the bouncers were friendly (opposed to Legends where they seem all pissed off and grumpy). We were provided a buffet in the locker room. The club itself was really clean and it's beautiful inside. The VIP attendant talked to us about what to do if we get aggressive or disrespectful customers or customers that refuse to pay. The bar staff didn't ignore us (opposed to Legends). The DJ was super helpful in answering any questions we had. I actually felt respected there. And the customers were well behaved and acted like gentlemen. When my friend and I were put on the list at 9 p.m., there was 37 girls. More came in after us. But we went up three times last night and it's a five song rotation. It was the Christmas party and the club was decently full until around 1 a.m. Many of the entertainers left early. There was still spending customers and VIP had a line at least twice throughout the night. One girl told me last weekend was better. It's the weekend before Christmas, so I considered that when the club had open booths around 1:30 am. I'm going to check it out again, but not for another few weeks.
• wiffle shwaffle

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  5 years ago

  Twenty-five, I'm not complaining. None of that is complaining. I was informing everyone and reporting back. I didn't make this an actual review because I want girls who aren't verified to be able to see this so they know what to expect if they choose to try it out, too. Complaining is when guys piss and moan about prices or girls not acting as expected, thus almost every review is more of a complaint than this report.
• SirLapdancealot

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  5 years ago

  @Waffle I see GPS as a relative thing, so if house payouts make all the dancers charge high rates, it's not GPS to me.
• DenimChicken

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  5 years ago

  These fees seem insane to me. I'm used to Texas prices where girls seem to not get nickled and dimed by the club (at least from my understanding). Clubs in Texas focus on making money from barsales, cover, vip etc. Since I've moved away it seems that clubs rely on getting a percentage of a girl's money.
• twentyfive

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  5 years ago

  Ah gotcha, but you never heard me complain about any pricing, like I said I’ll negotiate then live with what I agree to, but the part that rubbed me the wrong way was the fine complaint, no one needed to incur a fine if they have a copy of the rules, abide by them or don’t but complaining about rules you agreed to is useless and a loser argument.
• DrStab

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  5 years ago

  Incredible breakdown of costs! Thanks, Waffle. I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a lot of turnover at FC, unless the girls were clearing a lot of bread. I would assume that they would take their talents elsewhere that don’t have the high fees and micromanagement.
• wiffle shwaffle

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  5 years ago

  Ummm actually we signed and were THEN told all of that shit. Even then, none of it was in writing. None of it was on the two page contract. We were lead to the DJ booth and he told us how all of that goes down. Stop assuming. 🙄 Tell you what... Next time, I'll audio record and just post everything if that helps. Seriously, chill the fuck out. I'm only trying to help you pervs understand better and help future interested girls.
• twentyfive

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  5 years ago

  I’m not assuming anything I’m just responding to what you posted, if you’re not clear, than of course you’ll say I’m assuming but truthfully you were unclear and I posted as per my understanding of what you wrote.
• WinningdaChumpsGame

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  5 years ago

  That bouncer that cleans up the VIP juices deserves some extra tips this Christmas WCG
• Electronman

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  5 years ago

  Very helpful post Waffle. As one of the FC customers who has complained about the prices, it is helpful to know where to focus those complaints--- squarely on greedy management, although I'm not giving a pass to some of the dancers who quote exorbitant rates. So, what's the "solution?" Should the overcharged dancers seek employment elsewhere; Landing Strip and Criket are pretty close? Should the customers seek entertainment elsewhere? Or is there a niche for a high end club for high rollers?
• doctorevil

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  5 years ago

  I checked my last review of FC. It was September of 2018, a little over a year ago. At that time, I was quoted, after a little discussion, from $150 (BBBJ) to $200-$250 (FS). I think that was just before they implemented the $20 VIP fee. Have fees gone up that much since then?
• jackslash

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  5 years ago

  Waffle, I would be interested in reports of dancer costs at other clubs you check out. Other dancers, I think, would be even more interested in such info.
• TheElmerFudd

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  5 years ago

  Firstly, thanks Waffle for sharing. While people may have their own opinions about the club rules and how the dancers handle them, ultimately your post was factual and informative. I spoke with dancers and staff about this topic quite a bit over the last couple years, and I’m aware of most the fees. Some colors: the rules are definitely strictly enforced, but for specific dancers for specific rules exceptions can be worked out beforehand if there are good reasons. Eg one of the dancers I see OTC regularly is in school, so she can be 2 hr (but only 2hr) late for her shifts. Also, if a dancer basically never break rules and is friendly with the manager, then rare infractions are more likely to be forgiven. My take is they see themselves as an “high end establishment” and they seem to take that and thus running the club very seriously. It’s pretty unusual for a strip club, especially for an extras club. But if you look past the nature of the business, and if you compare it to say a nice/fancy restaurant, then the rules are not really that egregious. I.e. in all high end service industries there are very strict rules meant to create a specific experience. I personally appreciate they run a tight ship and the experience that results from it. Just my own take; to each his own.
• wiffle shwaffle

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  5 years ago

  @Fuds thank you!! @jackslash I've worked at numerous clubs in the area and in Florida. Should I just do this for those clubs, too? Like Silver Criket's prices are low because they have a lower tip out. My intel would be over a year old. I'll write up similar things, but would it still be acceptable if the info is that old?
• Papi_Chulo

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  5 years ago

  Most PLs do not know the inner-workings of strip clubs - if the Articles section was up it would make an interesting article for you to detail your experiences at various clubs (would be kinda educational to get info on a cross-section of clubs even if it may be a bit dated)
• dancewdcpa

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  5 years ago

  Appreciate your valuable insight Waffle...and yes, more intel about other clubs you can share should be of interest to many PLs and dancers as well!
• jackslash

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  5 years ago

  Waffle, I think info about any club would be of interest. A year or so would not be too old.
• Uprightcitizen

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  5 years ago

  Re "Upright Citizen, this wasn't 8 Mile". Oh I get it. Penthouse and Colosseum I used to consider as roughly equivalent clubs with similar fees and options with the dancers. Penthouse is now closed, Colli has lost its curtains (as well as the rest of those clubs I understand). They are also under regular police harrassment. This has played out well for Flight Club and they know it. Again, appreciate your contribution here. Excellent thread 👍
• wiffle shwaffle

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  5 years ago

  One more thing to add that made me uncomfortable: the lockers in the locker room are very worn and several were broken (wouldn't open). The house mom put my bag, my friend's bag, and bags from other girls in a backroom that she had a key to. I like to change, fix my makeup, and freshen up with perfume and deodorant in the middle of the night and couldn't. Also, at the end of the night, the house mom put all of those bags in the middle of the floor in the dressing room, so anyone could grab anyone's bag. The locker room is pretty big. It's basically two rooms. Walking in, it's mirrors and counter tops and a desk for the Mom. Then to the left is a bathroom with shower and all of the lockers. So, like a locker room and dressing room in one. Last night, I found out lockers are only available to girls on schedule (told to me by a day shifter who was working downtown).
• blahblahblah23

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  5 years ago

  Wow that is nuts. I'd never work somewhere like that. Is this normal for Detroit? I've found in certain areas a lot of clubs run in a similar manner and have similar fees lol.
• blahblahblah23

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  5 years ago

  I'd personally never work a club with strict scheduling unless they started providing me with healthcare and 401k match lmfao. Or if it was like a 5k a week club every week. Idk there's so many clubs with a lot of money and either no schedule or a halfassed attempt at scheduling that there is no reason to work at clubs w schedules and fines trying to bully you etc. Fuck off outta here. Wanna treat me like a real employee then give me real employee benefits asswipes.
• bobsuncle

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  5 years ago

  Thank you for the post! This explains why a few of the dancers I know are working a few days at FC and suggesting that I visit them when they're at the Criket.
• Lovelyeast

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  5 years ago

  Waffle did you make money tho. Detroit area is on my list of places to dance at
• wiffle shwaffle

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  5 years ago

  @Bharlem I went to VIP once. A friend came in to see me, so I got lucky. There was a line for the VIP at least twice that night though, so people were definitely buying. Stage tipping isn't really a thing there though.
• DrStab

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  5 years ago

  Hi, Waffle. I’ve been wondering about the DJ fee, which seems like it happens at most places, although I’m no expert at club management. Why do they get a cut from all the ladies? Is the role of DJ more of an events manager than just a guy that plays the music? It sounds like a good gig!
• wiffle shwaffle

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  5 years ago

  @DrStab great question! So, the thing is DJs may or may not be club employees. I've worked at clubs where they are and are not. For this club, that DJ is most likely an independent contractor and NOT a club employee, thus why we had to pay him separate of the house fee. In contrast, the DJ at the Deja Vu I worked for was an employee and we were not obligated to give him any money (but could tip him otherwise). When I worked at one club in Detroit, the club paid that dj if a select number of girls did NOT show up to work his shift. However, if they reached or exceeded that number, the DJ was paid by the girls and not the club. Hopefully that all makes sense. It depends on if the DJ is an employee or independent contractor.
• FishHawk

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  4 years ago

  Waffle this is a good thread. I think most of us customers are pretty ignorant of the financial structure of Strip Clubs and Strippers. I have a specific question about Eden’s Cabaret, I know you danced there for a bit. There was a three tiered private dance structure. White curtained area where you paid by the dance in a common area with three or so couches, a red curtained timed dance where each booth was a private area with a solid curtain to screen it from view and Champagne Room with a solid wooden door. I normally got white curtain dances which dancers will quote a price of $45 per song. I never paid that I either went of 2 for Tuesdays or negotiated a lower price for multiple dances. The dancers said they had to pay the club $5 per dance. I asked a few of the dancers I liked about the $100 for 15 min. Red Curtain rooms but they said it was not a good deal for them they only got $70 out of the $100. One dancer I liked who often tended bar told me that we would have fun in a Red Curtain dance. She was a lot of fun in the white curtained room so I said the next time I came we would have a red curtain dance. Next time I came she was tending bar and told me she would be a permanent bar tender. I asked her about a red curtain dance and she told me it would cost $200 for 15 min since she would have to pay the manager $100 to tend bar while she danced. I declined. Does this line up with your experience? Oh, I forgot to mention the cost of the Champagne Room was $500 per hour but you get a bottle of Champagne.
• aham5

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  4 years ago

  Thank you for the informative post! First, as a PL , I agree FC is one of the best clubs I've been to across the nation. From a standpoint of fees..... it appears most can be avoided if dancers follow the rules. I know that's alot to ask. That's probably one reason we stillness see a few diamonds in the rough at bogies and cricket. Question...... are fees the same on Saturday as they are for Monday or Tuesday?
• wiffle shwaffle

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  4 years ago

  FishHawk - at that point, she was an employee. She wasn't allowed to do dances as an employee most likely. Aham - it would be completely illogical and stupid if the fees varied by day. Does your salary or hourly wage change depending on the day? Come on.
• ArtCollege

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  4 years ago

  Great contribution, Wiffle. I'm guessing that DJs are independent contractors at many places, and pay for the privilege of being tipped by dancers.
• nicespice

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  4 years ago

  House fees are a different amount during weeknights vs weekends in Austin, and also one particular club in MSP area.
• S7

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  4 years ago

  So basically each shift is about 138 bucks if you play your cards right and have committed to 3 shifts per week, am I right? Just double checking
• nicespice

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  4 years ago

  My guess is being a DJ is a great gig if it’s a busy club with lots of girls and it’s nightshift.
• wiffle shwaffle

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  4 years ago

  Yes, S7, if on time for stage review at Flight and the girl is on schedule and not freelance, the only tip outs and fees are $10 mom, $20 dj, $8 valet (unless Ubering or other), and $100 house fee (if in back for more than three songs). One of the club's I work at has roughly 60 girls on Fridays and Saturdays and the dj gets $20 per girl. Also, I apologise for being pretentious about varying fees by days. If that were a thing at this club, I would have mentioned it in my lengthy and in depth report. There is one club I worked at in downtown Detroit (Bouzouki) where they did that only if there was a home sporting event. The Lions, Red Wings, and Tigers stadiums are all downtown and minutes from that club. If there was a home game, they would tack on an additional $25 or $30 fee (it's been years since, but it was one of those prices) to tip out. Their tip out was paid in one lump sum and the club would then pay the mom and dj after. Tip out still works like that, but I've heard that club stopped charging extra to work home game nights. That is the only club in metro Detroit that has done that that I know of. Criket, Flight, Legends, Traffic Light, BT's, Deja Vu, Trumpps, Coliseum, Players, and Centerfold don't do that. And Centerfold is the least expensive tip out in the area at $30/shift (8pm start time and includes dj and house fee; no house mom there).
• wiffle shwaffle

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  4 years ago

  ^^^that $138/shift is also assuming the girl is responsible and doesn't miss stage or skip, etc. Some girls there were drunk, but nobody seemed sloppy enough to where they weren't aware or alert of what was going on.
• SirLapdancealot

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  4 years ago

  As a customer and Portland PL, this thread has made me appreciate the Portland dives during the afternoons even more. No DJs, no bouncers, no managers. Just strippers and one bartender. Thus, low overhead, which translates to lower dance costs.
• wiffle shwaffle

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  4 years ago

  If someone were sloppy drunk (or drugged), I'm most certain they'd be pulled from the floor. The manager said they keep a classy and upscale club. Someone wrote a review of Flight on the same night I was there, too. It's a club I plan to work at again eventually.
• wiffle shwaffle

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  4 years ago

  It's wild to me that this wasn't known information. So, Eden and Babes in Pensacola don't have house moms. But I paid $15 to the house (that included the DJ at Eden) at both and $15 to the DJ at Babes. Eden asked for $5 out of every $40 couch dance (I sold more dances by selling $30 dances though). Babes logged your couch dances and would add an extra amount owed to your final tip out at the end of the night, but would be counted after the first three dances. The VIP at Babes is $130 for 15 mins, but the club takes $30 of that. Also, house moms and djs usually pay tip out to the club (or from what I was told by a house mom). This mom in particular told me she only keeps $7 out of every $10 given to her. I don't know how much the djs keep out of $20. Girls tip moms and djs extra though. Porter's/barbacks are the real money makers. They get hourly and tipped out by waitstaff and bartenders.
• FishHawk

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  4 years ago

  Wiffle-Waffle.thanks again for this thread. Dances in Pensacola are expensive. I am learning how not to pay full price, but I do want the dancers to make money. Happy Dancer=Happy Dance=Happy FishHawk.
• DeclineToState

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  4 years ago

  Interesting thread, Waffle. The fee/fine craziest to me is the $50 to $100 stage skip fee that applies even if the dancer is in VIP with a custy. All clubs I've been to, the floor guys know who's in VIP or not and if the DJ calls that dancer's name for upcoming stage show, the floor guys correct the DJ and the DJ then calls another dancer's name to get ready for stage.
• aham5

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  4 years ago

  I thought it was BS that a girl in VIP would have to pay to miss her stage set. I guess word to the wise at FC is to go to VIP right after a girl's stage set unless you are going to be quick?
• wiffle shwaffle

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  4 years ago

  Correct. Unless you're interested in paying for her $50-$100 skip fee for stage. Otherwise it would be added on to what she owes the club.
• columbiazgirl24

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  4 years ago

  Worked here two years ago and visited again recently. But I noticed, If your not willing to do extras, you wont make it as a dancer here. I was by far too 1% but since I don’t do extras I made no money. A lot of pimps there and til out is extremely high.
• dirtyburt

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  4 years ago

  Been to FC frequently and know a lot of the dancers. As far as Pimps go........ I have never seen any. Girls seem independent as far as I know. They may blow their $$$$ on loser BF’s, but I doubt the BF’s can or do coordinate anything.
• TheElmerFudd

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  4 years ago

  I'd say 3/4 of the regular dancers here do extras. So, no-extras regular dancers are in the minority, but there are definitely a few
• wallanon

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  4 years ago

  "I guess word to the wise at FC is to go to VIP right after a girl's stage set unless you are going to be quick?" I'll try to handle things that way regardless of the club. Helps the vibe if we're not both half listening for a mush mouthed DJ to call her to stage.