"More sex and cynicism." As usual, the note from my handler was terse. OK, you want more sex and cynicism, I got just the lady to talk to.
Hi, would you care to introduce yourself?
Call me Shandi, that is my working name if this is going to be published. My real name is my business and no one elses.
OK Shandi, so what exactly do you do?
I am an exotic dancer at XXXXXX club (Name removed). Pole dances, lap dances, strip teases, escorting - I do it if the price is right.
What is the worst aspect of your job?
The hours are the worst part. My dance shift starts at 10 in the evening. On a bad evening, it is 8 sets of 20 minute pole dances with a 15 minute break between each set, and two hours trawling for lap dances. I usually finish at 3 AM. That is on a bad night. On a good night, I can be working until 7 AM or later.
What's the pay like?
Escorting is the easiest money. Some money man comes in, likes your looks during a set, and you get a fat fee for sitting with him, doing a little bit of physical contact, and drinking soda. Pole dancing is the worst paid, but gets you noticed. Lap dances, well, we all hope for a bunch of guys from the country in the big city for a stag night and a bit of sin. They always pay well.
A little physical contact?
Hon, I have a price for everything from cuddling to full sex. A lot of the girls in the club don't and I respect them for that, but I need the money too badly to miss any chance at all to earn.
Why?
My man - (and you better describe him like that) - came back from Afghanistan missing both legs. Not many places out there willing to hire a mechanic who is in a wheelchair. So I am it. We have two young children, what else am I supposed to do? Go on welfare? Beg the government to pay up on my man's disability? Grab a 9 to 5 that won't even pay the rent? While I have a decent body, I am gonna use it. My kids are going to have the chances I never did.
Sorry for that. What are the customers like?
Mostly sad losers. When we are dancing, the club has a very strict hands off policy. So they watch but can't touch, except to tuck the money in. Some of them are pretty creepy with that. I have been groped, fondled, and there is one guy, a regular, who tucks the money in then sniffs his fingers and gets off. In public. Luckily, the club is pretty harsh on the talent being mis-handled, so it never goes too far.
Your typical day?
I get up about 11. My man gets the children breakfast and off to school while I sleep. I normally eat something, we talk and cuddle for a bit, then I either go on a 5 mile run or to the gym for a couple of hours. (At this stage, Shandi gets up and twirls around) You don't keep a body in this shape by neglecting it. Then home, a short nap and a light meal with the kids and my man, bath them and read them their bed time story, then off to work again.
What would you say to those who say what you do is demeaning to women?
I'd tell them to F*** Off. If men are willing to pay for it, where is the harm? It is my body, after all. I will do what I wish. And whatever it takes.
Thank you.
Note - I left her a hundred. I did not ask her price list.
Hi, would you care to introduce yourself?
Call me Shandi, that is my working name if this is going to be published. My real name is my business and no one elses.
OK Shandi, so what exactly do you do?
I am an exotic dancer at XXXXXX club (Name removed). Pole dances, lap dances, strip teases, escorting - I do it if the price is right.
What is the worst aspect of your job?
The hours are the worst part. My dance shift starts at 10 in the evening. On a bad evening, it is 8 sets of 20 minute pole dances with a 15 minute break between each set, and two hours trawling for lap dances. I usually finish at 3 AM. That is on a bad night. On a good night, I can be working until 7 AM or later.
What's the pay like?
Escorting is the easiest money. Some money man comes in, likes your looks during a set, and you get a fat fee for sitting with him, doing a little bit of physical contact, and drinking soda. Pole dancing is the worst paid, but gets you noticed. Lap dances, well, we all hope for a bunch of guys from the country in the big city for a stag night and a bit of sin. They always pay well.
A little physical contact?
Hon, I have a price for everything from cuddling to full sex. A lot of the girls in the club don't and I respect them for that, but I need the money too badly to miss any chance at all to earn.
Why?
My man - (and you better describe him like that) - came back from Afghanistan missing both legs. Not many places out there willing to hire a mechanic who is in a wheelchair. So I am it. We have two young children, what else am I supposed to do? Go on welfare? Beg the government to pay up on my man's disability? Grab a 9 to 5 that won't even pay the rent? While I have a decent body, I am gonna use it. My kids are going to have the chances I never did.
Sorry for that. What are the customers like?
Mostly sad losers. When we are dancing, the club has a very strict hands off policy. So they watch but can't touch, except to tuck the money in. Some of them are pretty creepy with that. I have been groped, fondled, and there is one guy, a regular, who tucks the money in then sniffs his fingers and gets off. In public. Luckily, the club is pretty harsh on the talent being mis-handled, so it never goes too far.
Your typical day?
I get up about 11. My man gets the children breakfast and off to school while I sleep. I normally eat something, we talk and cuddle for a bit, then I either go on a 5 mile run or to the gym for a couple of hours. (At this stage, Shandi gets up and twirls around) You don't keep a body in this shape by neglecting it. Then home, a short nap and a light meal with the kids and my man, bath them and read them their bed time story, then off to work again.
What would you say to those who say what you do is demeaning to women?
I'd tell them to F*** Off. If men are willing to pay for it, where is the harm? It is my body, after all. I will do what I wish. And whatever it takes.
Thank you.
Note - I left her a hundred. I did not ask her price list.
Yup, if she can feed her family and offer her kids chances to go far with it, we can't blame her for that.
It's just sad to know that she can't find another to do it.
Thank you for this interview MM, it is sometimes important to settle things back at where they are.
Are you going to school for life past dancing? Life is a chess game.., play it well.
What is sad is that the goverment doesn't give a crap about the vets and don't support them fully. He gave his life, even though he is still living, his life will never be the same and he is not taken care of which he should be.
I agree totally.
We have talked a few times since the interview, which was done the week before last.
One of my older cousins (also a vet - it's a family tradition and most of us - male and female - are either vets or currently actively serving) runs a custom engineering plant where they make one off's and small production runs - usually dies for bigger plants or specialized parts for vintage car restoration.
Her husband has been hired, the necessary plant hours to fit around his family and medical needs, with someone picking him up and dropping him off home again, the rest of the time working from home inputting designs and operation sequences (I didn't even know that was a thing) for the CAD/CAM milling machines.
Shandi is still going to be dancing, but the extras will now be because she wants to - not because she has to.
We'll not see a veteran be kicked by the system if we can help it. No bloody way.
And the first one to call me soft gets a good kick in the teeth. There is a difference between being soft and doing the right thing.
MM, this is exactly why that questioner from earlier has a crush on you, and she isn't the only one. :-)
I think the article makes an interesting point. I think people forget that women who are prostitutes or strippers are making a choice to. There is an argument to be made that if desk jobs, etc paid more the same women might opt for alternative employment. I remember working two jobs just to take care of myself, throw a family in there I don't know what I would have done. Men have been watching women get nudey and paying for sex since biblical times, it is what it is.
My husband is a vet, with far less life altering injuries, but he is still not getting what he is owed from the physical damage the Army caused. Its really a sad and unfortunate thing that needs to be changed. I think I share a resounding frustration with our government on this issue. These men and women give up everything to serve their country and what does Uncle Sam give them?
Another thought, I don't understand how you have a crush on someone you know absolutely nothing about. I mean you can't even see what MM looks like. He is essentially a fictitious internet person.
Anyway, love what you post MM.
Liz - talk to your local VA chapter. They aren't just there for medical help and for guys to get tanked up and relive the old days.
There isn't a single vet I know will turn away a brother in need. We look out for our own.