a lech, a pimp and my rage
These two random memories surfaced a few weeks ago. They both happened while I was stripping, though the incidents were separated by a year or more. What I find interesting in revisiting the memories is my angry non-reaction. I think it’s a woman-thing more than a stripper-thing. You be the judge.
taxing texas strip clubs
(Thanks to Amber Rhea for sending me the link this morning.)
This is a special $5 tax to be added to the door charge for all Texas strip clubs. The money collected will go to rape victims and shelters. This is the brain-child of Texas Association Against Sexual Assault.
Though the tax seems based on liquor sales, strip clubs are not the only places in Texas that sell drinks. I’ve heard rumors there are many liquor-only stores in Texas, as well as places that serve both food and booze (some of these places bill themselves as “family” restaurants). And I swear I’ve seen bottles of alcoholic beverages in grocery stores and other mundane retail outlets.
A $5 door fee isn’t much (unless you’re a guy who can’t even bother to spend $100 in an upscale club). But why strip clubs?
As we all know — strip clubs cause rape. Men don’t cause rape, naked women do. And damnit, women should have to pay for it, one way or another. You would think strippers would be thrilled to help out their sister-victims; because according to studies all sex workers are rape victims anyway. Why wouldn’t a stripper want to be forced by the state to support a program for members of her sex? It’s a great way of scrubbing that scarlet letter off her chest!
My solution? Raise the tax to several thousand per person and collect it from all men arrested for rape — even if they blame strip clubs for inspiring the violence.
strip clubs and economy (again)
Due to the falling US dollar and the rising Canadian dollar, strip clubs on the border are seeing some migration. US strippers are working up north and Canadian customers are heading south for fun.
So strip clubs make the WSJ again. (And this isn’t the first time in major media for Robert Katzman. I need to make him my publicist.)
update: strip clubs and the $2 bill
I wrote about strip clubs using the $2 bill and its effect on the US Bureau of Engraving and Printing (the Mint).
According to a Newsweek article this week about the declining use of actual currency, notes that in 2006, all US currency totaled $784 billion with an estimated $400 billion in actual circulation. This article also stated that in 2007, the government will print about 9.1 billion individual bills, 95% to replace worn currency.
According to the article referenced in my previous post, in 2005 the orders for $2 bills totaled $122 million (and the number is expected to rise). That’s not a significant percentage of the amount of currency in circulation, but I’m betting it’s a significant percentage of the bills to be printed. I wish I had access to all the numbers and information I want to be able to accurately determine the effect of the adult industry on the US Mint, but that probably won’t happen.
It’s fun to speculate, though.
after the fact (stripping)
People often want to know how stripping and escorting affected me. I think I have enough distance from both to be able to begin to answer the question. Since stripping came first, this post is first.
The immediate effects of stripping were obvious: crippling knee problems, back aches, secondhand smoke, plenty of firsthand smoking, too much drinking, constant colds and coughs. And because I was never a good hustler, the constant rejection ruined my self-confidence. I was just too real in the clubs, too much myself. I never built the armor some other girls seemed to have. Of course, I also met plenty of girls who had the same problems I had. Stripping is not a job for everyone. (In escort work, my realness was an asset, not a liability.)
On the plus side, I was in great shape without having to work out and my skin was perfect all the time because of my constant care. I was the master of small talk, could out-dance anyone in a regular nightclub and learned a lot about music and rhythm. I loved having my daytime free.
I went right from stripping into escort work. Still, some things from stripping stay with me.
-
New visitors:
This is the personal site/blog of Amanda Brooks, author of The Internet Escort's Handbook series. If you're over here because you heard of the books and are interested, just click here to go to the book's site and blog.
TexasGoldenGirl doesn't really deal with the books -- it's my personal site. To continue exploring here, use the menu above.
-
Search?
The Search bar is at the bottom of the page. It's not far to scroll.
-
Copyright Notice
Notice of copyright: The After Hours blog is copyrighted (c) 2002-2008 by Amanda Brooks. All rights reserved.
-
Personal Update (7/2/08)
Book #2 is on its way. Slowly. But getting there.
I'm finally ready to rejoin life. Slowly, too.
-
Geeky
I've discovered the pleasure of working with Brian Gardner's WP themes. His free stuff is nearly flawless and his more expensive stuff is mind-blowing. Although his work is easy to use right out of the box, there's infinite fun to be had by customizing (i.e., destroying) it. As you can see here.
