Navigating Negativity in the Club

I may have only been dancing for five years, but this feels like unprecedented times, and according to the internet, I'm not wrong. Veterans are even saying that it's worse than 2008. Now my home club has never been fast paced and has undergone many slow periods but the last few months have been something else. Unfortunately, less money being distributed can brew a lot of tension and low vibrational energy. When people start panicking about how they are going to pay bills, it cause dancers to be sharkier and staff to pressure for higher tip outs, which you will end up hearing about in the locker room. 

The negativity can be exhausting, which is why we've assembled this tool guide to help you remain cool and collected during this rocky time. 

1. Remove Your Triggers 

While you may not be able to control the external chaos, you can control your role and proximity to it. If the dressing room is a main hub for complaints and drama, then you need to plan to spend as little time as possible in there. This means coming to work with hair and makeup already done and if that isn't an option, then wear headphones and situate yourself away from the gossip. The same thing applies online. Spending hours doomscrolling on social media where your algorithm is fixated on the bad state of the economy or clubs isn't beneficial. Resist temptation by being strategic with your free time, which leads us to our next point...

2. Keep Busy! 

Use the down time for any type of self improvement! Here are just a few ideas: 

Learn a new language - There are a variety of apps, such as Duolingo, Busso and Anki that are completely free to use. Spanish is typically the most common foreign language used in the club so why not learn how to expand your customer base even further. Maybe there's a country you have wanted to visit, knowing the basic can help motivate you to start saving more for that trip! Learning a new language can also help with preventing neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimers. 

Utilize the Stage - Improve your stage routine by practicing new tricks on the pole and stretching to increase flexibility. Make it fun by asking a friend to join you!

Film Content - Are you trying to build your personal or dancer brand online? If so, why not set up at the club and create content?  It can be as simple as cute b-roll of you in the club or a full-blown comedy skit. Of course, be mindful of the other dancers in the building and ensure no one else is in them without their consent!

Build your Future - What are your aspirations outside of the club? Whether that's your career or a second source of income, you should always be building towards something bigger beyond the club. If you are unsure as to what that is, use this time to do your research. Anything sales related is a common pipeline as that is a skill that us dancers master. Look into the requirements for things like tech sales, commercial or residential real estate or any other field that has a promising future. If you are in the creative field, this is the time to double down on making your projects come to fruition. 

3. Stay Grounded

If you haven't already noticed, high tension over a period of time can really explode in the form of drama and even physical fights. Maybe you had an altercation with another dancer or you got sharked and its making your blood boil. Rise above this by being proactive and establish techniques, rituals, mantras etc. to help you remain calm in chaotic scenarios. If a dancer sharks you, take a breather. Once you’ve taken a beat, calmly inform a manager of the situation. Keep it quick and to the point and tell them you would really appreciate it if they can speak to the dancer about it. What you DON'T want to do is raise your voice or lash out at the manager. The calmer and professional you are when bringing something to their attention, the more they are willing to help. 

It also helps to have your own routine when it comes to decompressing and self care. Some of mine include Some of my favorite calming techniques include breathwork, swimming, sauna use and repeating the following mantras:

“I gain nothing by yelling or getting into arguments”

“I don’t stress over money because money always comes my way”

“Work drama is beneath me”

“I’m merely experiencing a down period, it will get better”

You can come up with whatever feels good to you, it just has to be something that you believe! 

4. Take a Break!

Us dancers tend to feel guilty about taking breaks but they are absolutely necessary to avoid burning out! Take an extra night off, make plans with friends or family, anything to take your mind off of the club. If that's not enough, try another club nearby or travel dance to another state! Sometimes merely switching up your routine or being in a new environment can give your mental state the reset you’ve been craving.

5. Don't Stress! 

Relax! It’s going to be ok! Just like the economy, the club experiences highs and lows. It’s totally normal and there’s no use in expending precious energy ruminating over bad nights when better ones are up ahead. One of our greatest strengths as dancers is our resilience! So hang in there! Peak season is just around the corner so let’s manifest those high-earning nights.