How to Rack out this Valentine's Day

Although Valentine's Day may be viewed as a commercialized faux holiday to some, it holds a lot of sentimental value to others. Men who may have previously been married for ten plus years spent every Valentine's Day with their significant other. It's also a very common anniversary. So when heart shaped balloons and chocolates show up in the grocery aisles, it can certainly trigger sad memories. That's where you, the professional entertainer, come in. Don't let your customer sulk in the past, instead create an everlasting memory for him that also rewards your pockets. Create the ultimate VIP experience complete with thoughtful details. The goal is to make your customer feel extra special and have him book back to back hours and tip you generously. Here's a step by step guide into making that happen: 

1. Secure the date by sending out feelers to your existing roster. Each regular was established when a special connection was made, so lean into that when you reach out. What made you want to turn that person into your regular? Was it the uncanny chemistry, shared love of TV/film, similar political values? Or maybe you just feel very comfortable around them? Whatever it is, highlight that in a heartfelt text when asking their availability for Vday and tell them all of the special things you have planned. If you don't have regulars, use this week to pitch a special Valentine's Day VIP and turn him into one!

2. Make him a playlist. Once the date is booked, get him excited by creating your own special soundtrack for VIP consisting of your favorite songs. I don't know about you guys, but music is my love language and I love introducing my friends to new artists. He will love getting to know you better through your musical taste. It also allows the conversation to flow for a really long time because you can discuss your favorite bands, concert experiences, memories associated with songs, etc. I also recommend making an additional playlist of songs that you enjoy dancing sensually to for when the chatter dies down. Don't be shy when adding in songs, you want the jams to continue for hours on end!

3. Another fun way to make the evening more special is to create a special cocktail for the two of you. During a travel dance trip in NYC, I stumbled upon a speakeasy called Attaboy where the bartenders would create a special drink for you based on your favorite liquor and taste preferences. I told him that I love bourbon, cherries, and that I generally have a sweet tooth and he gave me a modified version of The Martinez and added vanilla! It was such a fun experience because it felt like MY special drink. 

Pro tip: tell him that you love adding Chambord (fancy raspberry liqueur) to Champagne as a way to get him to opt for the Champagne Room as opposed to the regular VIP. The Chambord creates a really pretty pink color which is very on theme for the holiday! 

4. Have him buy you lingerie of his choosing. Giving him the power of choice is a great way to enhance the fantasy since he gets to envision all of the options on you and cater to his liking. Our Valentine's day collection contains styles that range from soft and dainty to sexy and dominant. Personally I love to start in a dress like the Scarlett gown  and then slip into something more revealing like the Andrea Lace Garter Set. The Lily babydoll also fits the occasion since it's slinky and very easy to slip on and off. You can choose your ensemble here.  

5. Make prior arrangements with the staff including the manager, floor host and waitress. Find out who is working this Saturday night and inform them that you have a big spender coming so that you can reserve the best room and ensure top customer service from everyone. I like to team up with the waitress with the most bubbly personality. Since you guys are going to be there for hours, it helps to have another girl cracking jokes and making the overall experience more enjoyable. If your club has a kitchen with more upscale entree's such as steak, suggest dinner in the VIP room, because who could resist the chance to wine and dine you? If dessert is not on the menu, bring your own. Chocolate covered strawberries or cheesecake adds a nice touch. Touch base with your customer and let him know that the best of the best will be taking care of you two so that way he knows to reciprocate with a generous tip for all parties. 

6. Since we are on the topic of teamwork, why not make your date night extra spicy by making it a double? This can be done with your work wife or anyone that you think would vibe well with the two of you.  Entertaining a customer for hours can be challenging as the dancing can get monotonous and conversation can dwindle, adding in another girl can keep the momentum going. You can really play into the fantasy by saying you have a crush on one of the girls or that it's something that you'd like to explore. It's important to discuss and agree on boundaries beforehand. Of course, I'd only recommend going this route if it's within your comfort zone as not everyone likes to share and that's ok!

7. Secure the tip! Given that you put in a lot of thought into planning this romantic date, it only makes sense that the energy is matched with a big tip. There's no doubt that he doesn't already want to spoil you financially but it's always best to agree up front. I would suggest saying something along the lines of, "Hey babe, I'm really enjoying planning out all of these special surprises for our date. Since I am putting in 100% into curating this romantic extravaganza, I think this calls for a 100% tip? Of course if you'd like to tip more I won't stop ya! There's no one I'd rather spend the holiday with!" The key is to be direct with your ask and place emphasis on how you are going above and beyond to make him feel special so that a large tip isn't even a question. If he doesn't confirm the tip upfront you can always use similar verbage at the end of the dance. "Hey babe, I had such a lovely time, thank you for letting me plan this romantic extravaganza for us! Since I put in 100% into planning this, I think this calls for a 100% tip. Seriously, this was one for the books! 

It's best to push for the 100% tip because if he has a budget that he wants to work with, it makes more sense to do less time as opposed to doing back to back hours with no tip. It's more work for you and that time could be spent booking another customer that night. 

Good luck and happy Valentine's Day!