Other than one's family, the reactions from everyone else you meet can be quite varied and sometimes, quite prejudice. People start to treat you differently. I have had friends who refused to accept gifts from me because of the manner in which I earned the funds with which to buy it. Sometimes being a sex worker can feel like being the butt of a joke. I suppose there are lawyers out there who might encounter this, as well. It is by it's very nature, a provocative occupation. I will expand more on how to deal with relationships, as I would like to give it more thought. It is very important what attitude you take on approaching this kind of work. That can be the deciding factor of your success. You also have to decide what you want out of it.
Since you are just starting out, I would advise you make a one, two...five year plan, whatever suits your needs, and create goals for yourself. Those could be financial, but also you could have spiritual, mental, or emotional goals or challenges you would like to confront and overcome. This will give you focus, and I suspect that being questioned a little by your fellow 'lithers will help you to come to these decisions. That is a good thing, as there is much to distract a person in the sex industry from their purpose. If you are a practitioner, or spiritual, or religious, you may want to use some protection, as the energies in a club can be extreme. If you can always be centered and focused when you go in the club, you will do fabulous.
Specifically on stripping, or (as I prefer), erotic dancing or adult entertainer, (Exotic? I feel like an endangered species from a tropical forest! Or a fruit beverage! UGH!), I would like to quote from a book I just read about one woman, Sarah Katherine Lewis, and her experience in the sex industry:
"Stripping is pretty much like having a compulsive gambling problem. The hope of payoff always keeps you coming back, no matter how many times you play and lose to the house. Because we don't make an hourly wage or salary, every shift we work is a game of chance: You could come in, get in costume and makeup, and sit there all day without doing any business at all. But when you're hot, you're hot-and a good hit keeps you coming back the next day, hoping to turn your one shot success into a roll of good fortune." - from "Indecent - How I Make it and Fake it as a Girl for Hire" by: Sarah Katherine Lewis, page 186.
I believe Lewis is from Seattle and also has worked in New Orleans, according to the bio.
That paragraph hit home for me.
There is more support now for sex workers, because the working environment can be very harsh, as is the case in all sex work.
As a sex worker, our society and the industry itself tells us we are bad, and expendable. (Gee, I could have been the 50th.) Not everyone, of course, feels that way; certainly not overtly, but realise that as a sex worker you represent something pretty powerful, and many people have issues with their sexuality. That is reflected in our society by the lack of consideration given to the working conditions and dignity of sex work and the workers. If you choose to be open to people about it, be prepared for the variety of responses you will get. Some are pretty cool, others are quite negative, and some people just get plain nervous. Try not to personalize it because it is always more about them than you, and keep your eye on your goals.  |
