Answer: No.
This is perhaps one of the most common questions that we are asked, ironically usually by other customers whilst we’re at work. It’s a paradox. Each client likes to distance themselves from what they perceive to be the ‘stripper client canon’ (see left). However, the vast majority of our clients are well… you. Young lads and lasses on a night out that at some point got a little to liberal with the tequila in the karaoke bar. Got fed up with the hen do singing loudly to Celion Dion and scattering luminous pink feathers everywhere and one person decided that you would definitely go to the strip club because that would be so wild. It’s curiosity mixed with titillation and vodka that draws people to strip clubs. The truly fun loving fetishists and perceived perverts and going much more hardcore than the tame lights and commercial atmosphere of our genteel establishments. Trust me.
So, how about a quick character analysis/critique of our average clients?
There are five lads on a night out. Circa age 23-25. They all work together in farming in a small village on the outskirts of the city. They’ve come into town for a ‘Big Saturday Night Out’ and wound up under the glare of the blacked out windows of the local gentleman’s club. One lad, about twenty minutes ago, decided that this would be a good idea and his right hand man agreed, following a treacherous drunken ramble from the local Spoons, they are now handing ID to a bouncer and have lost some of the steam and vigor with which they set out.
Lad 1 leaves with the first dancer to approach as he, having instigated the trip, must now make a point. He perks up some bravado to say, ‘See you later then, boys, don’t wait up.’
Lad 2, the right hand man, is left with an astronomical drinks bill as the other three sit down as close to the pole as they can without physically forcing their nose in the gorgeous buxom lady currently being kind enough to entertain the club. Lad 2 sits down just as the dancer steps down and joins them. Lad 2 disappears.
Lad 3 is incredible nervous and can hardly hide the sweat patches as a woman with long curled perfumed hair places a manicured hand on his shoulder and asks him how is night is with a big smile of white teeth. Lad 3 tries to mumble that he doesn’t want a dance and doesn’t have any money but Lad 1, having arrived back, pays for him because he thinks it’s funny and they go.
Now we’re left with two young men. One is on a never ending quest to please his girlfriend and perhaps finally get the BJ he was promised in 2012; and therefore with an air of pompous gallantry refuses every advance from any and all women. Proudly asserting things like, ‘I love my girlfriend.’, ‘I could never do it to her.’ and ‘I get it for free at home, love.’ The other is the Reluctant Bystander. The Reluctant Bystander once dated a feminist at university and was forced to read many confused and vague articles from Upworthy and Buzzfeed that state misinformed but well meaning observations about the sex industry and the women who work in it. He will spend the entire night upsetting and insulting every women he converses with. Not necessarily intentionally but he will refuse to accept any controversial information (despite this being his first opportunity to actually interview a true dancer) regarding his ‘moral objection’ to the industry. However, he will watch every woman on the pole with fervor and as soon as he is home fire up PornHub- thus taking from women for free what he so objects to pay for.
Perhaps I am being harsh. In the minority, we see all sorts from rich business men entertaining clients to lonely elderly gentlemen who just want to speak to a pretty woman for an evening. However, i will say that over archingly the problems in strip clubs are caused by otherwise pleasant young men that had too much to drink and are fuelled by the ego of having semi naked women hanging off of them and they start to behave like jerks. Remember that next time you’re visiting us. Be polite, don’t touch and tip if a woman has been courteous enough to allow you the pleasure of gazing at her naked form.
emikusami 