"I have always depended on the kindness of strangers."

avatar for David9999
David9999
quoting Blanche DuBois, from STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, who's entire life was dependant upon her charm and beauty and whats referred to today in that side of the business as "donations", and to a lesser degree the same can be said of strippers.

My best ATF, the most capable and self sufficient dancer I know, who has known poverty in another country and who understands the business, and is not afraid of hard work nor is she afraid of being rejected for dances - THIS season her business is not very good- and sometimes (when upon entering) the club I get a bit sad seeing her sitting alone waiting for the customers, in effect depending upon the kindness of strangers

Her love of her life, her child, is still 1000's of miles away in other country, and other than brothers and sisters in the USA, she is alone - so that makes it a bit sad to see, even though in relative terms she is way ahead of people in her original country.

Yes, I do think dancers are often overpaid but I sometimes feel a bit sad when I see them so dependent upon strangers, especially during the holiday season

After writing this, I think I will make an effort to see her before the holidays and buy extra dances from her

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avatar for Book Guy
Book Guy
17 years ago
Blanche Dubois
Gigi
Holly Golightly
A host of others who would never call themselves prostitutes

Women who rely on a little extra help from their friends ...
avatar for wondergrl5
wondergrl5
17 years ago
Blanche Dobois- Just a southern bell
GiGi- A courtesan or found a suger daddy
Holly golightly- In the novel was a escort her friend a homosexual
avatar for David9999
David9999
17 years ago
Was planning on buying just 2 but just bought 4 which are really VIP type sessions - meaning most customer's equivalent to 20 dances
avatar for FONDL
FONDL
17 years ago
Thanks guys for reminging me of my all-time favorite movie and my favorite movie character - Holly Golightly. The scene where she tosses Cat out of the cab in the rain, then goes back looking for him, is my all-time favorite movie scene. They don't look at all alike but something about my ATF always reminds me of Holly Golightly or maybe it's vice versa. A party girl with a vulnerability a mile wide - gets me every time, I can't resist it.
avatar for Book Guy
Book Guy
17 years ago
I think just about any stripper who looked as good as Audrey Hepburn would probably do very well in her line of work. :)

I had a hottie at the Memphis Platinum Plus club in my lap once. I said, "Ya know, you look like that gal in Breakfast at Tiffany's." She said, "Where's that?" I said, "No, you know, you look like the actress." She said, "Oh yeah, people say I look like, umm, Awfully Heartburn. What a stupid name."

No lie.
avatar for ilbbaicnl
ilbbaicnl
3 years ago
Been a while since I saw the play/movie, but I don't remember Blanche being any sort of sex worker. She was a teacher at a boarding school, accused of hooking up with the (teenage) students I think. She was raped by Stanley. The "kindness of strangers" is the respect and deference that she had enjoyed as the daughter of an upper class family, not compensation for sex work.

Certainly a horrible situation, a parent separated from their child. It's unfortunately not a rare situation for women from very poor backgrounds (https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/sto…).

All sex workers deserve customers who are honest and polite. It's not really kindness, just having some basic human decency.

Coming from a very poor background can make someone very driven to be financially independent. It's a good goal, but you can still enjoy life, even if you don't achieve it. If she's making enough to be comfortable, and fulfill her family obligations, she shouldn't let herself fall into gloom or bitterness. She should perhaps take a page from nicespice's book, call it a good shift if she nets $40 an hour. I think it helps nicespice remain the positive person that she is, that she sets a $ goal that lets her walk away from toxic, unkind customers.
avatar for nicespice
nicespice
3 years ago
^ 🥺 That’s a sweet post from you, i-bai.
avatar for JamesSD
JamesSD
3 years ago
The whole point is strangers aren't kind. That's why the Simpsons musical version is hilarious.
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