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Researching for the book I'm Writing

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Contributor: wrecklesswords wrecklesswords
Okay, so I'm starting research for the book I'm writing, Destructo Doll. I started it during NaNoWriMo last year, and I've begun to edit it and I'm very seriously working on it as a piece I'd like to get published one day.

Anyway, one of the main settings is inside of a high-class gentleman's club. You know, the member's only places. The ritz of the ritz. I've only ever personally been to one strip club and it was definitely not the best place to base my personal experience off of.

Since there's a big difference between a strip club and a gentleman's club, that's also an issue when writing it and how the place operates.

What I'm asking is if there are any of you who do have personal experience working at these places. Whether you were an entertainer, cocktail waitress, bartender, or manager. I would LOVE to know your experiences. If you're not comfortable talking about it on this thread, PLEASE PM me.

I will NOT be using anyone's names or anything in the novel as it is a complete work of fiction.

The novel follows our main character Ella through her struggles to make her life better after living near to squalor. She's been working as a hostess at a restaurant that targets business professionals and their business meetings for three years. Recently she has taken a position as a bartender at an upscale gentleman's club. She has been working there for four months at this point and becomes friends with one of the dancers, Delilah, who begins to turn her entire world upside down. Ella has always been reclusive and builds walls around her so others can't get in. Delilah chips away at her walls and before Ella knows it, she seems to be falling head over heels for Delilah.

Though, that seems to be where our heroine's good fortune stops.
10/02/2012
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Contributor: Bignuf Bignuf
Quote:
Originally posted by wrecklesswords
Okay, so I'm starting research for the book I'm writing, Destructo Doll. I started it during NaNoWriMo last year, and I've begun to edit it and I'm very seriously working on it as a piece I'd like to get published one ... more
WOW...good luck writing your book. Bit of advice, however. You cannot write a book that is believable unless you have FIRST HAND knowledge of your topic. In short, getting other peoples observations might be nice, but it is colored by THEIR experience, and what THEY see and feel, might be different from YOUR experience. Thus, take the time, and GO to a few strip clubs, GO to a few HIGH END "gentlemens" clubs. They are not all "high money, members only" Even a one time entry fee to a Playboy Club, would give you some insight. PLUS, the people you meet THERE, might have more worthwhile observations of OTHER clubs they could offer you.

If you want to write a book about flying, it sure helps to have been on a flight!!! Better yet, taking some flight lessons would sure make it MORE real, otherwise, well....the points just get lost. Same with men's clubs,cop culture, political intrigue...you name it. GO LIVE IT A BIT.

Good luck.
10/02/2012
Contributor: travelnurse travelnurse
Good for you keep at it!!
10/02/2012
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by Bignuf
WOW...good luck writing your book. Bit of advice, however. You cannot write a book that is believable unless you have FIRST HAND knowledge of your topic. In short, getting other peoples observations might be nice, but it is colored by THEIR ... more
I completely (and respectfully) disagree with this. I'm pretty sure Stephen King was never attacked by a car, had pig's blood dumped on his head at prom, or had an alien clown kill his little brother and then inspire his teeny-bopper group of friends to deflower the only girl in their group during a gangbang in a sewer.

Almost all infamous writers have done countless hours of research and interviewed people in order to write their characters.
10/02/2012
Contributor: wrecklesswords wrecklesswords
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
I completely (and respectfully) disagree with this. I'm pretty sure Stephen King was never attacked by a car, had pig's blood dumped on his head at prom, or had an alien clown kill his little brother and then inspire his teeny-bopper group of ... more
I agree with the two of you.

I actually just finished reading Water For Elephants (amazing story, read it when you can) and the author did all of her research first hand. She went to modern-day circuses, but obviously could not attend the ones from the Depression era. She did a WONDERFUL job of painting the perfect picture for us.

I do plan on setting aside some funding around the beginning of the next year to go to some places (right now I'm tight for other personal projects and upcoming holidays). Convincing my girlfriend to go might be a little bit of a struggle, but I don't want to go alone, haha! She's a wonderful lady, though, and I'm sure she wouldn't mind seeing some pretty ladies, either.

Anyway. I think that it depends on how good of a story-teller you are. I think there are definitely some things that are MUCH harder to write about without personal experience. But if you are good at it, then you will be able to fill in the gaps and imagine your own story to tell.

I do have some experience with the go-go dancing culture anyway. I used to regular a gay bar in my old hometown almost 6 nights a week and was very in-tune with the dancer's culture there, the way the bar operated (the bar owner was an amazing individual and treated his patrons like family most of the time). One of my friends danced there and at several strip clubs throughout the metroplex. If I can get a hold of her, I might be able to have some good meat on this, too.

But, I think personal stories are really what can make a novel come to life for real. Whether they be from the author's personal point of view or from those they have spoken to.
10/02/2012
Contributor: wrecklesswords wrecklesswords
I've been reading something about a house fee that the dancers are charged and I can't seem to find a definite answer on this and don't understand it. Anyone know anything?
10/02/2012
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by wrecklesswords
I've been reading something about a house fee that the dancers are charged and I can't seem to find a definite answer on this and don't understand it. Anyone know anything?
The best way I can describe it is this: they're dues. Like taxi cab drivers have to pay their dues to drive for the company, strippers have to pay the house to appear.

Women who work in cathouses also have to pay out to the house for taking care of all of their needs, like the liquor and the room service and maid services.
10/02/2012
Contributor: Loriandhubby Loriandhubby
Quote:
Originally posted by wrecklesswords
I've been reading something about a house fee that the dancers are charged and I can't seem to find a definite answer on this and don't understand it. Anyone know anything?
house fees are tips for your bartender and bouncer. usually it is about 10% of you total income for the night. then there is DJ tips and waitress tips.

these are paid for a number of reasons. but mostly because the door man walks you to your car and lets you know when men with money come in. the door man may or may not be your bouncer. you tip the bouncer because he takes care of you in the club. the bartender because he is your boss basicly and he mixes your drinks watered down so you don't get drunk. you tip the waitress because she helps you husssle the man, and looks out for you spit back cup , so the men don't find out you are not drinking. and she pushes your drink sales. the dj because he does your music and if you don't tip him your tracks will not be mixed right and he will throw in long songs to keep you on stage. if you tip well he lets you do 2 min songs and get back on the floor where you can make more money.

some clubs may charge a flat fee for working there. remember the clubs don't pay you. you are an indipendant contractor.

other clubs may keep girls in sort of bondage to them. like a slave, by giving the dancers drugs, alchohole, clothes, hair dressers, make up artist. ect. all of this the club pays for and you have to pay them back. but you never make enough to fully pay them back and the next night you still owe them and the tab goes up because you get more the next night. it is a visouse circle. these clubs are fading out. when i was a stipper i was in bondage to the club for sevral years. i was only allowed to have 50 a night of what i made.

other clubs are very classy and this does not happen, but you pay the house mom, the bartender, the dj, the bouncer, and the hair and make up people.

i hope this helps you understand.
10/02/2012
Contributor: Loriandhubby Loriandhubby
gentelman's clubs vs strip clubs.

well that depends on where you live. in some towns gentelman's clubs reach out to a higher level of consumers. and the strip clubs are the more lower class clubs.

in other towns they may just call a club a gentelman's club because it sounds better and classyier. in other towns it is a low that the clubs be called gentelman's clubs.

but basicly a gentelmans club might offer a buffet lucnch or dinner, they have big tv's for watching sports, the inside decor is a lot nicer, they have nice vip rooms, it is a classy place.

a strip club would be more lower class. no tv's, only the basic decor, vip rooms where it is not a totally private room, the girls will be lower class,

in gentelman's clubs.. the high class ones. you have to audition for a job, in the strip club you just walk in and ask if they need a dancer for the night. they will take just about anyone.

i hope this helps. pm me if you want to know more. i was a stipper in sevral states for 10 years.
10/02/2012
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
The biggest difference between a "gentlemen's club" and a "strip club" is the "no women" rule.

Women (who are not talent) are expected to be escorted at all times, in quite a few they are not allowed at all.

In my humble opinion, that is.

Did I mention my sister used to sell the dancers their clothing?
10/02/2012
Contributor: Loriandhubby Loriandhubby
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
The biggest difference between a "gentlemen's club" and a "strip club" is the "no women" rule.Women (who are not talent) are expected to be escorted at all times, in quite a few they are not allowed at all.In my ... more
I never knew that. the few gentelman's clubs i have worked or been in that was not the norm. but heck, that way years ago. for real. probebly 20 or more. lol now i'm telling my age.

that is nuts though. I use to make more off the female clients at times.

How cool about your sister. I bet she had some stories to tell.
10/02/2012
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by Loriandhubby
I never knew that. the few gentelman's clubs i have worked or been in that was not the norm. but heck, that way years ago. for real. probebly 20 or more. lol now i'm telling my age.

that is nuts though. I use to make more off the ... more
Yeah...there were quite a few I'm not sure I was supposed to actually hear. The dancers doing coke, how they would have sex with each other in the bathrooms...what really goes on in the VIP rooms (nothing unless you have an enormous amount of money)...it was interesting.
10/03/2012
Contributor: wrecklesswords wrecklesswords
Has anyone here ever worked in an upscale club before? Because my club is a members-fee-paid type of place and now I'm wondering if that's just a silly fantasy.
10/08/2012