[Neke]

What kind of place do you work at? Are you a professional dancer?

I work in a club, although I’m probably not that professional

[Neke]

I think you just get used to it, although I don’t think the pole I use is as fast as normal ones because It’s so old. Every once and a while they readjust the screws and oil it, and I nearly go flying! I think learning on spinny is a lot easier than than learning on static and trying to swap to spin mode, because you just slowly get better and slowly start going faster, so it’s not a sudden thing. I love going fast!I only ever get dizzy when I twirl in little circles (kind of like pirouttes) around the outside of the pole. Maybe it’s because I’m dancing in a huge room instead of in a small one – I think if the walls were closer it would be worse.

[Neke]

I’ll throw in some visuals https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

Most of you have seen the stage at my club -if you haven’t, it’s a spinning platform with a main pole in the middle and 5 poles around the outside. There’s a metal bar connecting the outside poles in a circle around the top – the whole thing looks kind of like a birdcage (they even used to have a ring in the middle!). I’ve seen so many accidents on that thing, almost all of which involved alcohol. Some of the girls like to do stupid things like climb up on top of the connecting circle at the top and do tricks off it… not a good idea especially in summer when it’s slippery, but you can’t really stop them. One incident that sticks in my mind was when a girl was hanging upside down off the connecting bar, doing something acrobatic like she usually does in her stage show, but she’d had a few too many to drink. She slipped off the bar, went SMACK on the stage, and then SMACK on the ground. There was blood and ambulances… She wasn’t back at work for a while, but when she did return she had a massive scar running from her lip across her face towards her eye. It’s the first thing you notice when you look at her, and it’s there forever.

Other serious injuries involve mostly broken bones, with the occasional bone snapping and cutting through the skin, twisted ankles… lots of ankle injuries and more broken toes than you would expect, especially when stupid girls are drunk and stumbling in heels. Let me tell you from a lot of hand on experience of people crying to me, that a broken toe isn’t pleasant. You can’t wear shoes, it takes ages to heal and there’s nothing they can do to help it – they don’t make tiny toe casts.
There was also a broken hip bone from one of our more athletic dancers, and a lot of buggered up knees. Our pole is pretty short, but it still doesn’t end well when you come crashing down and land awkwardly – in an inebriated state, your brain isn’t functioning well enough to tell your body how to land in a way that causes minimal pain. It goes ‘whoops’ then BANG (and then the sound of sirens in the background).

Hopefully that will help to get the idea across that alcohol and poles don’t mix https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

[Neke]

Frida, I was actually just looking for Fleur’s vid as well – I wanted to watch it again. There was one bit where she slowly lifted herself from lying flat on the floor into an elbow stand without actually appearing to use any muscles… it just kind of happened. That has stuck in my mind since I saw it… and I love the way she slinks all over the floor.
Fleur! What gives? Put it back missy! I wanted to gape in awe at you again.

[Neke]

I don’t know if this will help or not, but I’ve got 9 hours of classes left before I finish my degree – 3 weeks and two assignments until it’s over. I’m trying not to get excited until I’m done… I’m terrified though – don’t be in a hurry to get it over and done with, because I hear growing up and getting a real job is overrated.

In the 3 years I have spent at uni, I have gone out drinking and partying maybe… 8 times? That includes New years eve and all the other festive times when you’re supposed to have fun. This year I have been intoxicated a total of 1 time – that was on my birthday, and it was while I was working. I figured if i had to work on my birthday I may as well act like an idiot.

So you’re not alone, don’t worry. When you’ve finished and you have that piece of paper, at least you’ll be able to say that you did your best – you studied your ass off and you got good grades. That guy has it good now, but if he gets used to cruising through life without having to put in any effort then he will start to expect everything to be easy and one day that will bite him on the ass. Don’t worry, the time will fly by and when you’re rich and successful with your dream job it will all be worth it. The horrible stress and the all-nighters and the fingernail biting and that feeling of panic when you realise you’re nearly out of time and you’re not finished… sprinting across campus to hand something in 1 minute before it’s due… screaming at a slow internet connection when you’re trying to submit something electronically and it’s not working and the time is running out… passing out on your keyboard … it all builds character, and it’s a part of the whole uni experience https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

Also, whereabouts in oz are you? Pole jam anyone?

[Neke]

I’m excited about this one – I don’t usually post videos publicly because they’re always too sexy and skimpy rather than fitness orientated. But if everybody else is going to do it then I won’t worry https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif I’ve done a few already but they’re all sloppy because I’m tired when I do them… I’ll try again tonight though https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif I’m looking forward to seeing everybody else’s!

[Neke]

Not that it needs to be said again, but congrats glitter! I knew you’d be awesome https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif

Unfortunately, that’s how it usually is – the poles are slippery, the music is bad and the shoes are annoying. As for the poles, I always wipe them down with a cloth and spray bottle first – It looks silly, but at least I don’t fall down. After 2 songs they usually get slippery again, and I have a list of moves I can do without needing great grip – it’s handy to figure out which tricks still work on a slippery pole because sometimes you don’t have an option. Especially when some of the girls are stupid and wear moisturisers, it just messes the poles up for the whole night.

As for the music, I hate techno. Some clubs have dj’s and you get to choose the music – I worked in one where they had everything on a computer and each girl had her own folder. When she went on stage the dj would just pull up her folder and put on the songs she likes to dance to. In clubs like that you have to pay a dj fee though, to pay for the service. In mine, its just a computer with a heap of songs on random.. if you’re nice to the boss sometimes they’ll put music on but not always. In 4 years, I have had to dance to some shockers… included are mmbop – hanson, yellow submarine (three times now, not cool), the nutbush, the macarena, bat out of hell (it goes for like 10 minutes and we have to do 4 songs)… and the bob the builder song. You just get used to dancing to crappy music after a while.

As for the shoes, plastic tops (for grip) with ankle straps are the best on stage – i’ve seen so many shoes go flying, ankle straps are important! If I don’t have ankle straps, I get a pretty ribbon and wrap it around the top of the heel and then my ankle, so at least they don’t go flying.

Pole twista – i’m not sure how it is in the US, but here every club is different. Some clubs have a varying percentage – if you work 2 days in a week, the next week you only keep 40%. if you work 5 days, the next week you keep 90%. A lot of clubs have a door fee – you pay a certain amount to work for the night. Some clubs change it depending on the time you start – so if you don’t want to pay a door fee you just start really early. The later you rock up, the more you pay. It’s usually higher for busier clubs, and also higher on weekends. In some clubs they sell tipping money to the guys, so you have to hand it in to the club to get the money back, and you only get a percentage. In some they just trust you to hand your tips in and you keep half…

Most clubs here have a bond as well, in case you’re interested. You have to pay a certain amount when you start – usually a few hundred. If you do something wrong or have to leave in bad circumstances – like not showing up for a shift, punching a customer and having to be forcefully removed, getting too drunk to stand and being sent home or fired – they keep the bond. It kind of keeps the girls in check, they don’t misbehave because they lose their cash.

In mine, there is no door fee, but the percentage is only 55%. We keep our tips and the girls are friendly. The bond is the pay you make – they give it to you on your next shift instead of on the same day. If you make $300 one night, and just don’t show up for your shift, you lose that money. If you’re late or do something wrong, they can fine you and take that out of your pay. There’s much more to it than just giving them money, but usually if you do the right thing you don’t lose anything.

[Neke]

I just wanted to say that I knew straight away who had posted this thread as soon as I read the title… who else but Sascha? https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif

And you are all laughing about this, but it is NOT funny when there is a club full of people and the stupid music skips and turns itself off, leaving no other noises but a ringing in your ears and a very unladylike sound. That is all I have to say about that.

And as for "tightness" (giggle) I don’t know whether it’s me exercising without realising it or pole dancing in general, but since I started dancing EVERY muscle in my body has become stronger.

[Neke]

Oh that sucks, I’m so sorry!

I don’t know much about ceilings or x poles, but can you just put it up between the ceiling beams, without having the whole ceiling there? They’re the important part aren’t they? Maybe Veena will have a solution https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif Don’t despair, I’m sure it will happen eventually!

[Neke]

Hey guys, thanks!

Is there any way to check that it’s a genuine x pole? This seller says they’re a certified x pole stockist – is there any way to check that?

This is the one I’m looking at – Have to buy it before tomorrow though! What do you guys think?

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/NEW-X-POLE-DANCE-POLE-SPINNING-STATIC_W0QQitemZ320360803327QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_15?hash=item320360803327&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A1|39%3A1|240%3A1318" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Neke]

We should consider ourselves lucky! A girl started at my club a few weeks ago with some kind of disorder.. I can’t remember what it’s called, but her skin is really sensitive and she bruises really easily. She came back the next day for her second night and her knees were swollen to twice their size and they were bright purple. Her legs had BLACK (like… BLACK) bruises all over them, each one about as big as a whole hand, and the backs of her knees were black as well. I thought mine were bad… I’d never seen anything like this, I was stunned. I should have taken pictures. I had bruises almost that big when I started skiing, but they weren’t even comparable to these. They even sent her home for a few days because it was just that bad she could hardly walk (I made her take my bottle of arnica!) A week later they were all still there, just a lot lighter. So no matter how annoying the bruising can be, at least I know it can be worse!

[Neke]

I probably won’t be able to help, but I’ll try https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif
I like to get into the superman from a hip hold – my hands are free, so I brace on the bottom with my right while bringing my legs closer together, and bend my body out and reach up to grab the pole with my left. Superman!

With the knee hold, I just couldn’t let go at first… then eventually I could hold it for a little while until my bottom leg would slip and I’d try to grab myself before getting bashed into the pole. I couldn’t do it when I was slippery or the pole was slippery… eventually it didn’t matter. Then I could hold it a little longer, and now I can get into it while I’m spinning and hold it for ages. I think its just like all the others – eventually you get used to it and the bruises go away. Good luck! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

[Neke]

Ahh poor little glitter! *hugs*

I hope you feel better – sex and the city has gotten me through a few sicknesses and I can vouch for it’s healing powers! Eat lots of cupcakes for me, you’ll be fine https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

And Azriel, I could kiss you!

[Neke]

Lol Trena, thanks!
I’m the exact opposite – if my partner is going to a stripclub I don’t want to be in the know at all – I don’t want to hear about it, I don’t want to have anything to do with it. I don’t think he would ever get a lapdance, but if he did I really really really don’t want to know. I wouldn’t ever want him getting a dance with somebody – I know all the tricks, I know what goes on, and even though there’s nothing X rated or below the belt, the whole thing is designed to put X rated ideas in their brains. It’s not sex, but it’s very sexual and it’s supposed to be an intimate experience, just without touching anything naughty. There are a million little things… like in my club there is no mouth contact. But some of the girls will breathe on the guys necks to simulate mouth contact. There’s no touching below the waist, but you make them think that you’re GOING to touch them below the waist and then not do it, and watch the disappointment all over their faces. Fun! But I don’t want HIM getting excited about the idea of somebody else doing that! He doesn’t want me coming home from work and going ‘Omg I had this awesome dance with a muscly army guy…’ same goes for me. I don’t want to know about ANY hot chicks he was checking out.

I’m insanely hypocritical, but that’s how I feel… I don’t mind him going into clubs with his mates, mostly because he is the kind of guy who wouldn’t normally go in there anyway. I think after being with me so long and meeting so many of my friends from the club he can appreciate women without lusting after them, especially when it comes to pole dancing (when I’m watching pole dancing vids I’ll often see him look up and go WOAH!)… but the whole point of a lapdance is to encourage the lusting. If he went out with his friends and got a private show and I found out I wouldn’t be upset, but to know the details and to see it going on are very different.

And just for the record, I would definitely fly halfway across the world to hit strip clubs with Sascha – I can guarantee that will be much more fun than with your man!

[Neke]

I’m a little late, but I thought I’d throw in my 2 cents.

As most of you know, I work in a club, and as a dancer I wouldn’t recommend taking your partner to a strip club as seedy as that one sounds. My ex got a dance with a girl once – even though they just sat and talked, watching my partner with a pretty, half naked girl on his lap really got to me. If he’s suggesting it, it’s most likely because he wants to look at the girls, which will bug you no matter how much you don’t want it to.

I really, really hate when girls get dragged into the club by their partners. They usually go in thinking ‘it’s ok, they’re probably all crack-whores, I’m hotter than them’ and then they get in there and see that the girls are all decent chicks with smoking bodies, and they start to get irritated with the whole thing. It can become incredibly offensive if girls are hanging around and they clearly don’t want to watch you dance. As a dancer, I never talk to a guy with a girl on his arm. If I want to communicate with the couple, I will sit down with the girl. Guy? What guy? At least that way nobody gets jealous and the girl has fun.

Girls on their own or that actually want to see the dancers are another story – they are much more fun than the male population.
Guys are like ‘Awesome! Girls! Sweet.’
Girls who are actually interested are usually like ‘OMG THIS IS THE BEST NIGHT EVER YAY OMG EVERYTHING IS WONDERFUL WOOOOOOOOO’
I do find that I drop the act a bit with girls as well, and talk to them more casually than I do with guys – maybe it’s because they’re closer to normal people https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif

I don’t like girls – I’m sticking with men for the time being – but we do a lot of double shows with other dancers (nothing raunchy, just an extra set of everything). I also do the occasional dance for girls or couples, and they are incredibly awkward if the girl has been talked into it and isn’t very keen. Like Veena said, I will usually just start talking about clothes or hair… she doesn’t want to see me dance around on her boyfriend, and she doesn’t want me dancing around on her. A few days ago I got booked for a dance with a couple and I’ll admit I screwed up my nose when they told me. But it was with the sweetest, cutest little chick I’d ever seen, and her boyfriend was just watching. She loved every second of it, he loved every second of it and they left hand in hand with giant grins on their faces – you have to want to do it for it to be fun, otherwise you’re just throwing money away. I find that if I’m giving a dance to both people, it’s important for the couple to feel close to each other as well – usually I’ll encourage them to hold hands or for him to put his hand on her leg, so it becomes more intimate between them and more of a shared experience. I’ve had some very uncomfortable and not very pleasant experiences over the years before I figured out how to manage the situation… so be very careful, because it can easily end badly. But it can also be a lot of fun https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

And thanks glitter! You make me blush… but there are a zillion dancers in clubs who are a zillion times better than me, lol. Redke71 is around here isn’t she? She always leaves my jaw on the floor!