Readers Write

Issue Mid-July 1997

Dear Sophie,

1992-1994. I had two small children to support. I had a college degree and at the time, there were no jobs in my area of expertise. I was a divorced mother of two, merely wanting to survive and meet my children’s needs. My ex-husband was physically abusive to me, and after trying several reconciliations, and even therapy with him, it didn’t work out.
At the time the money was fabulous. Dancers were paid for their hard work, almost $25 per set, at the upscale clubs, and the lowest I was ever paid was $16 per set. Also, I didn’t have to compete with three other dancers on stage at the same time. Mainly, one or two dancers were on stage.

As far as bookings concerned, when you were booked to work, you worked. You worked where you were assigned to work that day, and if someone canceled, the management would call other dancers to take the place of the dancer who canceled.

I have recently re-entered the “industry”. What a change from three years-ago! I am presently working at several clubs owned by the same people. I am asked to work, without getting paid. If I am paid, I get $5-$7 per set. How insulting! I can make this at Wawa slicing cold cuts! And I wouldn’t have to wear a thong!

The other day, I showed up for work, on time, actually early, and I was sent to another club due to a cancellation there. I had to travel another 40 minutes to get to the other club. I worked all day with three other dancers, there were hardly any customers, and I did not get paid because I had to cancel a previous booking due to my child being ill. What type of work ethics are these? I am not a migrant worker from Ethiopia! Since when can an employer withhold your pay if you call in the previous day, because of an illness? This sounds not only unethical, but quite illegal.

Here’s another one: the first time you work for these people, you are not allowed to get paid because it is considered your “First Booking”. Hello! What type of employment ethics are these?

My friend who is a dancer told me that she worked on Memorial Day, one dancer went home drunk and the manager had sent home another dancer because it was so slow. This dancer danced alone until relief came. Come to find out, the dancer was not paid for working on the 4th since it was her “First” booking at this particular club, though she had worked already for their other clubs.

I believe that all dancers should stand up for their constitutional rights and stand up to their employers! If all of the dancers got together and created a list of rules to abide by and they presented this list to their employer and said, “This is the way we want to be treated, or else”, what would the employer do? If there is a walk-out, the owners would basically lose their business. What is the point in a go-go club without dancers? I think it is high time that these owners and managers started treating these dancers with respect. Without the dancers, there is no go-go business. Here is a list of what I believe is MUSTS for any dancer in any club...

1. Paid bookings. Period. No working “just for tips”. Pay should be at least $20/per set.

2. If a dancer cancels a booking, the dancer will not be “punished” by not getting paid the next time she is scheduled to work.

3. Clubs should limit the number of girls onstage at the same time. No more than two at a time!

4. Dancers should not be expected to drive all over to satisfy the manager’s needs, meaning, if a dancer cancels at one club, then find someone to fill the position without taking a dancer out of one club and sending her to another club.

5. Whether it is a dancer’s first or last booking, dancers work hard and should get paid at all bookings.

6. All dancers should be escorted to their cars after work. This should be mandatory.

I could go on, but I think that a lot of these dancers are not privy to the labor laws. I know that a lot of dancers are moms and need the money and are scared to speak up, for fear of losing their jobs. I don’t mean to sound like “Norma Rae”, but it is time we, as dancers, take a stand against the bureaucratic bullshit that these club owners and managers are getting away with!

If a club gets busted for prostitution, do you think your boss will defend you and back you up? I doubt it, they just cover their own asses and you are just another pretty face, and a number to them.

Take a stand now...let’s make go-go what it should be, AGAIN.

Jenny



Dear Jenny,

I get a few calls every day from abused dancers. A dancer was touched by a patron, the bouncer saw it and threw her off stage, in a way that she ended up falling on the top of customers and hurting herself. Later the manager threw her out, only half dressed, and threw her bag after her. I know the girls. She is a sweet girl, with large following, wouldn't do anything improper or disrespectful. The manager, irate, yelled after her to tell her friends that their bookings are cancelled too.

Another girl told me that a long-time, in fact childhood friend of her was visiting the club she worked at. She went to say good-bye at the end of her shift to this customer, and was told to leave without saying good-bye. No explanation. When she insisted, she was fired. I asked her, "Had they told you that it doesn't look good to talk to a customer with all your clothes on, it looks like you are setting up a date, would you have found another way to say good bye?" "Well, of course", she answered to me.

Stories like these abound, and there is not much I can do about it. You, dancers, forming an alliance may work. Get in touch with someone who has done anything like this before, otherwise you are just venting, and spinning your wheels.

With regards to salaries, the Supreme Court has made a decision, about two years ago, that dancers are not independent contractors, and therefor eentitled to wages, the same wages asa waitress whose main source of income is tips. The minimum wage is about half of what is for other workers, but it is a salary. I also think I've heard that charging dancers to work in a club, a.k.a. house-fees, is illegal. Consult an attorney. There are several in the advisory board of the 5th Annual Gentlemen's Club Expo. The Expo will be held September 2–4 in Las Vegas, and there is more information about it somewhere else in this issue, and on our web-site, http://www.mentertainment.com/misc/expo.htm

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Sophie:

Is there a web site or location on the Internet that talks about the dancers in Houston and where they are located? There is a dancer who has a stage name of Amber that used to work at the XTC Club on the south side of town. She has changed clubs and I don’t know how to find out which club she works in now. Can you help me? Please e-mail me at cjones@computron.net.

Thank you

Chris



Dear Chris,

I have no knowledge of a web site for Houston, TX. There is a usenet newsgroup for people who go to strip-clubs, alt.sex.strip-clubs (assc) that could be a good place to ask the newsgroup members, from time to time. Check if your ISP subscribes to assc, and then visit from time to time. You may ask in your posting that the answer comes to you personally. Good luck and let me know how you made out.

Sophie

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Dear Sophie

I am the booking manager of V.I.P. CLUB placed in Thessaloniki, Greece.

V.I.P. is the biggest club in Greece and the best organized. To keep our high level, we are constantly in research for sexy boys.

I would appreciate if you could give me your business offer for booking boys in V.I.P.

Sincerely PANOS



Dear Mr. Panos,

this is a two-part answer:

1. I am not an agent of any sort

2. I deal with the adult entertainment of the “straight” kind, though I may add gay later on. Good luck finding an supplier of boys.

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Sophie

I GOT ANOTHER!!! JIGGLES is brand new-

Opened it’s doors on May 30th in Middletown, NY One of the better “after-hours” clubs I’ve been to. Something different to me, anyway: private couch -15 minutes for $50 30 minutes with champagne $100 (ATM is right down the street) Had to check out the featured dancer last Saturday Night> Jana is her name and WOW wata dame! JIGGLES IS located on 12 Carpenter Avenue, Middletown, NY

Sorry, don’t know the area code, but the number is 342-8643

gota go - boss is reading over my shoulder

bye...

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Dear Sophie,

I am a soldier in the U.S. Army, I am currently stationed in GA, which unfortunately puts me far from my home, in the Northeast. However I found your page and was delighted because it had my favorite club in it. Elan’s of Danbury, I have been around the world with the service, and you can tell the owners of Elan’s they are still my favorite club. I am also glad to see that they have lured Piper away from Dream Girls, as she is a beautiful and classy lady, and you can tell her I said that. One thing I was wondering is if a girl named Andrea is still working for them as she was fabulous. Well the next time I’m home on Leave, you can bet where I’ll be. Thank you for cheering up a homesick soldier.

Love. Justin

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Dear Readers,

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Sophie

I am sure you have more e-mail to answer than you have time in the day but I just wanted to take a moment to THANK YOU for your site. I have been looking for a site like yours and it is the perfect compliment to the rest of my bookmarks. Like many other men I would love to make entertaining videos and continue my quest to find a way to break in but in the meantime I will spend time at your site.

Best regards— Greg

PS: I just wrote once and I have to tell you that I could not stop until I got through your entire web site and there are still so many other items that I want to look at but it is time to call it a day. I very much look forward to surfing you again. THANKS!!

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Wow! What an excellent web site it is great! Love the magazine also. I didn’t know there were that many clubs in NJ. By the way I was wondering if you have a picture or a club schedule of a girl I saw at Virgo’s once Jennifer H. They are closed now and I liked her style! Thanks good luck and keep up the good work,

Tommy V.

Dear Tommy,

I don't know. But maybe she reads it, or someone will tell her she is liked and missed. Sophie

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Dear Sophie,

In my go-go bar hopping days, up to about ’91, I became friendly with a beautiful dancer nicknamed Kelly ‘L’. She was a regular down the shore (what is the name of that place in Neptune?), and at Bourbon St. on Rt 9. Her real name was Elizabeth (Liz, hence the ‘L’) Zuilick (I believe). I know this because she showed me a picture of her in an issue of Playboy featuring girls of the Big 10 (I think) when she was in college. She had very long red hair and was not only very attractive, but very sweet and personable. I was just wondering if you knew what happened to her and if she’s still dancing.

Speaking of Where Are They Now, back in the early 80s I had the pleasure of being acquainted with a very talented dancer named Jody Goldberg. She would often dance with a partner named Dana. She must be in her 40s now and I’m sure not dancing any more. Any idea what she’s up to now? Hey, that might be a good regular feature for your mag: Where are they now?

JG

Dear JG

That is a very good idea. Anyone knows what has become of these ladies? Sophie

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Hi Sophie

My name is Paul and my fiancee is Kelly and we love your site especially the personals, that’s my comment to you and your staff ( GREAT JOB )!!!!!!!!! And now for the ?.... Are the personals all for real meaning are they real people who can and will be serious in what they say or are they all fakes..... The reason we are asking is because we are thinking of exploring new sex in our lives and we want to be jerked around. Can you help us out please give us some peace of mind and your guidance please....... Thanks

Your fans Kelly and Paul



answer: as far as I know, the ads are placed by people. They are either serious or not. I have gotten a few complaints, but not many. So it seems that it is possible to find what you are looking for. Good luck. Let me know how you make out. Sophie

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AIRDANCING

From: EYE

My studies of Gutterology reached a low point back in April. After the backseat bondage incident in Flatbush and the close encounter with a blunt metal object (inquire for details), I decided to cool my jets just a wee bit. But after reading Sai Baba’s assertion that Harmony rated a #2 on the Stageside Mileage Charts, I decided perhaps I should take another gander. After all, my usual Harmony M.O. had been to kick back in the easy chairs, casually scanning the floor for rule benders, then go in for the goods. I did recall a particularly gratifying episode at stageside several years earlier.....(my resistance is weakening, weakening).... maybe things are improving.... (going, going, gone)......Of course I should have known better, but when that old suspension of disbelief thing kicked in like a last straw for a drowning man, I threw on my lap gear and went out for a night of consensual molestation.

But, alas....... Harmony hasn’t improved. Same old Grope-and-Mope operation as always. Nothing like having your designated fleshbucket whine loudly to the others about whose turn it is to pick up the family size order at Luther’s Fried Chicken, while you’re hopelessly trying to imagine she’s Venus in spandex. A real bone squisher. See ya.

Options:

Warm beer and cold women at the Babydoll to check out the latest in piercing technology? (No.) Wednesday night drag queen jamboree at Angels? (I don’t think so.) The usual Brooklyn perv loop in Sunset Park? (BTDT too many times recently) Uptown? Queens? (too much work)

Man, things are getting tough around here.

So, I figured, stop into New York Dolls on the way home. An airdance club. If it sucks, big deal, it’s only one more overpriced beer out of life. I don’t go there much, since it’s basically an O Factor hangout (inquire for details)..... lots of 7s, 8s, and 9s, if that means anything to you. (It doesn’t mean jack to me. I prefer to make the intangible tangible). A couple of beers later, no more rough edges, time to play Santa Claus.

I sauntered into the airdance lounge, navigating through the maze of cocktail tables, flesh, and gray flannel to reach a cozy spot on the couch, perfectly stationed between the two most promising libido consultants, mid-session on their respective clients. Hmmmm. Vibes. An actual tingle to the air. Copasetic. I could make this work.

I discretely examined the operation to see at what point of contact the airbabes and/or bouncers blew the whistle. These rules always seem subject to change. Grace and I discussed this, when my number finally came up, during the predance banter. I cupped my hands and asked if I could perform this maneuver on her buttcheeks. Fortunately, I only had to ease off about a half inch of concavity to qualify. Okay. How ‘bout nipple nuzzling? One or two minor violations might go unpunished, she whispered in my ear.

But all of this slutcheck talk was academic, as she took the usually anemic art of airdancing, and made something glorious and fulfilling out of it. And I’m not talking about dirty here. I mean seductive.

First, the look. Clearly, she gets the name “Grace” from Ms. Jones. Long, sinewy, with high cheekbones, a flattop ‘do, sporting steel blue contacts and a matching thong.

Next, the moves. Serpentine, trance-like, moving my attention from her eyes to her hands, to her belly (yin-yang navel pin....nice), to an exquisitely presented thigh story. Ooooooo. Did somebody say “worship”? She cradled her hands around my naked scalp (heh-heh.... bald dudes have *all* the fun), performed a quasi Stevie wonder, then coyly backed off, and started focusing in on Mr. Happy. Whoa!!!! I mean WHOA!!!! What have we here? She screened the action out of bouncer view, and allowed me to readjust. Boinggg. Aaaaaahhhh. Better. Then she did the mock French kiss move (or was it a mock 003?). Anyway, it was in my face (well, close.

really really close). Ya. A world of big fun in there. then more seduction.

more satisfaction. more tips. more seduction. more satisfaction. more tips.........and on and on.... till I was down to chump change.

We shook hands. I thanked her for meeting me this way, and I was off into the night, content in the newfound realization that airdancing *could* be a wonderful thing.
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Hey,

I stumbled across your site and, in particular, the picture of Staci Staxxx and her tongue.

I represent a small group of people who happen to have a fetish for women with long tongues. The picture you have of Staci Staxxx is one I have not seen before and one of the better ones at that. Do you happen to have any more actresses with a long tongue? Or at the very least, could you tell me where you found that one?

If there is anything I can do in return, I will.

Thanks for your help! You have an excellent site.

Astro.