The changing face of strip shows
This is a little blog about the changing face of strip shows. What has changed? Why have they changed and is this for the better?
During the 90s lap dancing became all the rage, another US craze which caught on. Due to the media attention and subsequent popularity of these clubs lap dancing clubs could afford larger more plush premises outside the usual Soho type back streets and “improved” the public perception of these clubs significantly. It also had a knock on effect on old fashioned strip joints who had to compete with US chains offering fully nude close lap dances.
The days of descending into the bowels of Soho and being charged £50 for coke, with the threat of 2 giant bouncers hanging over you are long gone-strip had gone corporate! The changing face of strip shows was never more evident than the fact that strip clubs these days are more like casinos or cinemas than a grubby back street private member club.
The result of all this was that patrons end up paying more for a more standardised perfomance but end up in a nicer environment which would not scare off anyone.
Is this good or bad? This depends on the club, but this is like asking whether Burger King is better than a burger stall outside a nightclub…certainly getting a lap dance is better than watching a pole dance on stage.
Strip pubs are more traditonal lad entertainment and are anti-corporate at the same time. Localised mainly around a few centers in England they offer a more value-for-money alternative to chain strip joints. Not everyone has £200 to blow a few hours in Spearmint Rhino!!
Everyone will have their own opinion about the changing face of strip shows, and I hope a few people will leave comments to let us know!!
The person who wrote this article really doesn’t know much about the strip scene! The so-called “strip clubs” in Soho where you are charged £50 for a coke were NEVER strip clubs in the first place… they were clip joints, and some still exist to this day. The only other clubs in Soho are well established venues such as The Sunset Strip, and, while admittedly somewhat dark and dingy, could never be accused of being a rip-off.
In London in the 80s there were probably close to 150 pubs that had strippers at least one day/night of the week. The girls changed costumes for each 2 song spot, and danced to different music each time. In an amateurish way they “choreographed” their shows.
Many of the girls working in clubs these days wander disinterestedly around a pole, chewing gum, throwing “I’m bored” glances at their friends in the corner, and generally doing anything but being entertaining. Why should they? After all they’re not getting paid to do it… all the money comes from private dances which, with a bouncer or house mother watching your every move, are hardly “private”.
The growth in the number of clubs has seen a huge rise in the number of girls wanting to become strippers (or “lap dancers” as they now prefer to be called!). Sadly the rise in numbers has seen a decline in standards. 20 years ago a “Stringfellows dancer” was beautiful, elegant, sexy and poised. Nowdays most are rather plain, anything but stylish and elegant… indeed many should keep their clothes on… but so long as they are willing to pay extortionate house fees, the clubs will employ them!
The story outside London is even more depressing. Dull, plain looking girls who would otherwise be consigned to checkout duties at Aldi or Asda believe that by becoming a lapdancer their life will overnight become glamourous, and so are willing to pay £50 a night to a local club to show off their tattoos and stretch marks to any poor sod who happens to wander in in a drunken stupor… after all, he could be the Holy Grail they promise themselves… a footballer!!!
The rise of the clubs has seen the decline in genuine strip-tease, which explains the current rise of burlesque, an art form that provides titillation and entertainment in equal measure, much as strip-tease did before lap and pole dancing.
Comment by Bob Singleton — 30 July 2007 @ 9:56 am
(*grinning like a cheshire cat) That is quite possibly the most wittiest but true comment i have read! 8 years ago i used to make a small fortune each night, now it’s a slog trying to make £200! Saying that it’s probably more to do with the fact i’m 30years old amongst 19 year olds! Anyway… Bob, well said!
Comment by Sasha — 1 September 2007 @ 3:41 pm