The Middle Lane


Ever been to a strip club?


I’ve been to strip clubs twice in my life, both times for work.

Once was during the Republican National Convention, and I stared at the club manager bug-eyed and he stared at me bug-eyed, and very little information was exchanged.

Today was different, though both clubs were dark, with lots of mirrors, a stage with poles and young women the age of my daughter walking around with barely any clothes on. And the parts that were supposed to be covered were not.

But back to the manager.

He told me most of the dancers had been abused in their pasts and that many of them were hooked on drugs and/or alcohol. And they were also hooked on the fast lane. If they’re young and pretty, he said, they can get a job in almost any strip club at any time, and they can make anywhere from $50 on a bad night to $700 or $800 on a good one.

With money like that, it’s hard to start at a more conventional job with middling to bad pay and long hours.

This manager said he had a similar problem. He used to be a pharmacy tech in the Texas Medical Center. He worked long shifts and made a good but not great salary. In his current job his salary is also good but not great, but he only works three days a week. The rest of the time he spends with his two teenage daughters, whom he adores.

Thus far, he says, neither daughter shows any inclination to follow him into the family business.

He is holding his breath and hoping against hope that they never will.

He’s newly divorced, by the way. He does not want to date dancers. But, he says, “regular” women walk away when they hear where he works.

Categories: General
Claudia Feldman | Senior Reporter