Club rules and the DJ

Every club has its own rulebook

Rules vary enormously from one club to the next, and what was fine at your last club may get you fined or sent home at this one. Common areas where clubs set rules:

• Dress code on the floor and on stage, including heel height and what has to be covered.
• Stage rotation: how many songs, how you are called, what happens if you miss a set.
• Where you can sit with customers and what the club allows in private areas.
• Fees, fines and whether you can leave early.
• Phones on the floor, drinking on shift, and whether customers can take photos.
• Whether you can promote your own pages and payment links inside the club.

Ask for the rules in writing if they exist. If not, ask the manager and the house mom separately and listen for differences. Then watch what experienced dancers actually do.

Fines exist at some clubs. Whether they are enforceable depends on how you are classified and on local law; if they feel out of proportion, ask a professional who knows dancers.

Why the DJ is your most important colleague

The DJ decides when you go on stage, how long you are up, how you are introduced and what you dance to. A DJ who likes you gives you good slots when the room is full. A DJ who does not can bury you in a dead rotation.

Treat the DJ as a professional relationship from the first shift:

• Introduce yourself with your stage name and tell them your songs before your set, not from the stage.
• Tip according to the club's custom. Ask the house mom what is normal.
• Do not argue with the DJ on the floor. If there is a problem, raise it quietly afterwards.
• Be ready when you are called. Missing a set is the fastest way to lose a DJ's goodwill.
• Say thank you. Most dancers do not.

Management, security and the house mom

The floor manager runs the shift and is who you go to about customers and problems. Security is there for your safety; learn their names and where they stand. The house mom, where there is one, runs the dressing room and is usually the best source of honest information about how things really work.

Being easy to work with does not mean being a pushover. You can follow the rules, be pleasant to staff, and still refuse anything that crosses your boundaries. If a club's rules mean doing things you are not comfortable with, find a different club rather than adjusting yourself.

When rules change

Rules shift with new management or new local regulations. Talk to coworkers and read whatever is posted in the dressing room. If a change affects your money or your safety, ask directly.