The following set of "rules" has been making its way around the IG accounts of some Seattle local dancers:
I grabbed the images, converted to text and have shared them here, apologies if you've seen them before. I felt a few of these were pretty good, and a few seemed like BS to me. I thought you gentlemen would enjoy discussing them. As far as I'm concerned, these rules break out as follows:
Reasonable: 5, 9, 10, 12, 13
No Opinion: 2, 6, 14
Bullshit: 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 11, 15
-
strip clubs are places of luxury. if you can't afford to spend at least $ 200, you shouldn't be going to the club. strippers accept a high degree of stigma and societal exclusion, and in return we expect to get paid the big bucks.
-
do not haggle with strippers. most clubs have set dance prices that are not decided by strippers, and even if your stripper sets their prices, those are their rates for services and it is disrespectful to haggle
-
leave after you've spent your money. we are not dancing for free. most clubs do not pay us an hourly wage, so we have to earn every dollar we get either by selling dances or getting tipped from stage dances. it is rude to sit around and enjoy a "free" show.
-
do not ask us out. do not ask us what we are going to do later. we are working, and like most workers when they are cornered on the job, we are unable to leave. we are obliged to treat you with hospitality or we will face penalties, so don't pressure us into going on a date.
-
don't ask what our real names are. stripper names protect our identities not only from stalkers and other people who wish to harm us. they also protect our families, especially our children in custody disputes. you are not entitled to knowing our personal information.
-
ask what the rules are for lap dances. it will often vary from stripper to stripper, and asking helps you to respect our boundaries. you might even be positively surprised by what people are comfortable with, but you won't know unless you practice consent by asking.
-
tip your dancer at least 20% of the dance price. tips go directly into our pockets, but dances are often split with the club. tips are the backbone of our wages. it is incredibly rude not to tip. it's like going out to eat and not tipping your waiter. again, most strippers do not get paid hourly, so the money you hand us is our only wage.
-
if you're watching the stage, try to tip each dancer a minimum of $5. it's the equivalent of a cup of coffee, but it demonstrates respect for the performance.
-
shower/clean up before coming to the club. brush your teeth, make sure you smell clean. we have to be up in your personal space, and there is nothing worse than dancing on someone who smells like garlic knots.
-
DO NOT RECORD US. stripping is a very stigmatized industry and many of us will face violence if we are outed.
-
if you are throwing a party at the club make sure you educate your friends on proper strip club etiquette. keep your homies in check and bring extra cash if you know your friend is too broke to be there.
-
tip Black strippers. too often i see super dope Black strippers get completely ignored on stage. check your internal bigotry and make sure you're tipping Black dancers as much as the other dancers.
-
"no" means "no!" don't try to push dancers into doing anything they aren't comfortable doing voluntarily. that's super predatory and gross. don't be a predator
-
to the celebrities/rich people who rent out clubs for events/ movies/ etc: can you just not? the only people who benefit from this are the building owners and managers. strippers lose the ability to work, they aren't paid anything for these losses, and being unable to work can have dire consequences. many strippers live paycheck to paycheck and cannot afford to miss work.
-
ladies: do not act like this is your girls gone wild moment. do not try to climb on stage and dance. do not start stripping with us. do not try to rub a single dollar bill on our kitty. bring money and spend all of it. don't act broke. couples: do not fight in the club. take your baggage elsewhere. don't try to lowkey get freaky in a dance booth. we will notice and we will judge you.


Well, the only real rule is the need for consent. Otherwise, lots of things are possible.
For myself I would always be prepared to let go of serious money, and I would not ask about lap dance rules. You don't try to get the girl to agree to things. And if I select a girl it is because I intend to be seeing her outside. I would not so much ask her out, as I would just let it go that way, if she goes along with it.
SJG