I’ve danced for men who couldn’t look me in the eyes, but paid to see my naked body control their very existence. They thought they were buying a good time — they didn’t know they were witnessing a ritual. 

I didn’t strip for approval.

Sure—the money was fast. The limelight seductive.

But that wasn’t the full story. I wanted to remind myself I could turn desire into currency, shame into stagecraft, pain into performance.. A true alchemist if you ask me. 

I always knew I wasn’t the type of bitch to be taking somebody’s order, scanning groceries or sitting at a fucking desk for 8 hours. The streets were appealing to me. I paid attention to all the hustlers growing up & I found out that it takes real courage to make it out there in that world. I had just that.

 I got in the game early. Lucky for me I had a madam show me the ropes before I even entered a club. I knew what I wanted but I didn’t know how to get it and I didn’t know how to do it the right way—I heard the unfortunate stories & I did not want to be one of those. I was 19 when I was introduced to her. The first time a woman actually taught me anything valuable. 

“So you wanna be apart of the dark world huh?” She looked me up and down. I had a blonde pixie cut, barely any makeup on, if any. I had some shorts and tank top on. Nothing to really double take at. 

I simply replied “mhmm” I didn’t wanna come off too eager. 

All she said was “Cool”.
she let me have it. 

“The bitches in the club is cut throat so you gotta know what you gettin yaself into. Can’t be naive and friendly because they’ll eat you up and spit you out.”

She paused. I think she wanted to see how I’d respond but I didn’t.

“Dont trust a single hoe or nigga you come across in the club. They all snakes until proven otherwise & you not there to find out. Put your guard up and never lower it.”

She stopped for a minute.

“Oh! And If a bitch say she got a brother who wants you, don’t fall for it. 9/10 they not related and she got paid to reel you in.”

I sat there taking mental notes.

“Never count ya money on the floor. Fingers and toes must stay neat at all times. Pussy stays squeaky clean & you better always smell good. Judging by ya face, you don’t wear makeup; start.”

I was gagged. 

“You’re there to sell a fantasy. You’re a pretty girl, use it wisely.”

I simply nodded my head in agreement.

“A stage name is one thing, but create a fake real name. It makes the customer feel special to know your “real” name. Only take a drink you seen be poured. You wanna take drugs? That’s on you but be smart about it.”

I nodded again.

She had been stern the whole time.

But now? She got real serious.

She looked me in the eyes and said—

“Don’t make this shit a forever thing; have fun, get ya money and get the fuck out the game. You’ll see, it’s hoes still in the club long after their prime because they got caught up. Dont let that be you.”

“By any means, get ya money but decide right now the reputation you wanna leave with. There are lines, and once they’re crossed, that’s it. You plan on selling pussy?” 

“Heck no!” I was appalled she even asked me that. 

“Don’t frown up your face—you’ll get offers.”

She locked eyes with me.

“Stand on your integrity. If you ever do change your mind, don’t be a $40 hoe.”

She continued on and on. & I listened. For someone who didn’t personally know me, she sure guided me through with love.

By the end of my lecture, I felt empowered. I looked at the world in a different light. Though I can’t remember her name, the words she poured into me that day helped shaped me into the woman I’ve grown to become. 

By the time I went to my first club, I felt like a professional. Only thing was— I didn’t know how to dance like them. I wasn’t prepared for that part. 

I walked in a lil small spot in Miami.. right on Biscayne Ave. It was early in the afternoon so I didn’t expect many people to be there but to my surprise, there were. 

Security stopped me. 

“You here to work?” 

“No, I just like carrying a duffle bag to random clubs” I thought to myself. But I simply replied “Yeah”.

It was clear I never been there before, I guess. I can tell by his look that he was confused on who I was. 

He pointed me to the back—

I saw strippers walking around and customers throwing a few ones on stage. 

On my way to the managers office, I seen one girl with a big, fat ass and large tits. She was naked as she walked to what I assumed was the dressing room. I knew she had immense amount of work done to her body but I still immediately got self conscious about my natural small frame. 

“You here to work?” The guy in the office asked as I walked through the door.

“Yeah. What I gotta do?”

“You danced before?” He questioned.

“Twice before” I lied 

“ight well it’s a 40 dollar tip out and I need to see you dance before I let you go on.” He said to me as he stared me down.

That kinda made me nervous but it wasn’t my first encounter with no man and I came this far so I wasn’t gonna bitch out. 

My dress was already skin tight and up my ass, plus I had heels on so I had no need to change to my dance outfit. 

He sat back in his chair. The DJ changed the song that was playing and it was fitting for exactly what I wanted to hear. Something slow and seductive. That was all I had up my sleeve at the time. 

I moved my body around real sexy, trying to not be in my head. I bent over to show a little ass, just to let him know I wasn’t afraid. He stopped me about a minutes in. 

“We open at 12. There’s a day shift and night shift. Night shift starts at 8pm”

He gave me the run down, I filled out some papers, then showed me around the club. 

“Here’s the dressing room. Get changed then come out and give the DJ your name.”

I ended up staying there for about 4-5 hours. I made a little over $300 and got a nice lil buzz from drinking on the customers dime. If I wasn’t sure about it before, I was by the end of the day.