Nudie bars are popping up, closing down and getting ever more popular in Bloomington. The gentlemen's clubs, or strip bars, are a place where people can relax, see some friendly faces and other body parts. Most popular during the school year, these clubs also heat things up on summer nights. You can find anyone from locals to students and professors. Not only are they an escape for the males of Bloomington, but many women frequent these bars, and most are wilder than the men. The laid back atmosphere of the clubs, and the eagerness of the women, is more than gratifying for someone looking to have a good time and see some fine looking ladies.\nThe strip club scene isn't for just anybody. If you are shy, be warned, the ambiance isn't for the modest. Girls walk around in thongs -- or in stripper lingo, t-bars -- looking for a way to be in your company. Most of the bars encourage interaction with customers. \nStar, a stripper in the Legends Class Act Room, says she enjoys getting to know the clientele. \n"I like talking to the customers, because on stage you are exposed," she says. \nIt is hard to imagine that any conversation goes on at all, with sparkly thongs and titties flying around poles, but conversation is an important part of the job. \nCamilla, an IU student and dancer in the Class Act Room, says she enjoys talking with the more educated guys. \n"I like grad students, because I can have more intellectual conversations," she says.\nCamilla also says a lot of the guys she meets are stereotypically lonely, so of course conversation is an important tool to use. The benefit for the customer is that they are conversing while wearing just a thong. \nByron Fine, the manager at Night Moves, thinks the role the women play makes it easier for the patrons. \n"It is somewhat of a fantasy. It is easier for guys to talk to girls here. The girls approach them, not like at regular bars where they have to approach the girls," Fine says.\nAt Night Moves the women are a little more aggressive, and they walk around freely in sparkling thongs, approaching guys for lap dances.\n"I would like it to be fun without the guys being afraid of the girls," Fine says.
The Scene
On any given night the clubs are open, but some nights draw bigger crowds than others. The clubs busiest nights are usually on the weekends, but Shannon Miller, manager of Legends, says Mondays are busy. IU students also get in for free on Thursday nights, which gives the club a boost. \n"Most people come because it is cheaper than the other gentlemen's clubs," Miller says.\nShe also says their amateur night on Tuesdays doesn't interest many females, but surprisingly a lot of guys want to test their talent. \n"We get a lot of business on Mondays during male amateur night, because the females judge the contest ... We get a lot of guys that want to strip, and they come in and ask when they can do it," Miller says.\nAlthough many believe strip clubs are geared more toward men, it is the female customers that tend to get loose.\n"The guys are more subdued, but the women usually get more wild," Fine says.\nYou can find women in the audience at both Night Moves and Legends, paying for dollar dances from the girls, and having breasts rubbed in their faces. \nDJ Riggs, the announcer at Legends Class Act Room, likes to see female patrons in the crowd. \n"On the weekends a lot of girls come in here and pretty much have a good time ... I think the place is geared towards everybody," Riggs says.\nEverybody is right, because along with single women, married couples frequent the clubs.\n"We get a lot of married couples, and we usually don't have any problems," Miller says. \nDellielish, a dancer at Legends, feels the wedded pairs are very sociable, and they buy drinks. \nWomen may be the wilder customers, but it is common knowledge that when people have something to celebrate it can get over the top. \n"If a friend tells us it's a bachelor party or birthday, the guy/girl gets on stage with their hands tied behind their back and the girls give a strip tease," Riggs says. \nThey also bring out the kiddie pool and let the girls grease each other up. The pole tricks get more complex at celebrations. The girls will put a customer up against the pole, climb on and do see-saws around a customer's neck, among other daring acrobatics.\nLegends is known for the talented dancers and their use of the pole. \n"The strippers at Legends are better with the pole," says Mike McKinney, a Ball State senior and strip club aficionado. "I do appreciate good pole work." \nAt any given moment you can find strippers at Legends twirling around the pole and hanging upside down as they dance to '80s pop and Jennifer Lopez. \nDespite frequent pole use at Legends, many customers prefer Night Moves. Some say it is because the women are prettier, others say it is because of the hip hop and R&B music the women prefer to dance to. \n"I like Night Moves because there is more of a variety of strippers," McKinney says.\nNight Moves gets about 200 women that audition in the course of a year; Compared to Legends whose turnover rate isn't as high. \nMcKinney also compared Bloomington clubs to other strip joints in Bedford, but feels Night Moves is better because they have a bigger stage and better women.
What Makes A Stripper
One of the most important parts of being a stripper is the body. Jada, a toned, petite, perky-breasted dancer at Night Moves, says, "The real pretty girls make the most money." \nMcKinney, who's favorite dancer at Night Moves is Jada, agrees, "I like the thinner girls, the more attractive you are the better off."\nCamilla, a tan brunette with great legs and a fantastic ass, agrees that looks matter in a business where guys are coming see something nice.\n"The more physically attractive girls make the most money, but it is also knowing how to hustle for money," Camilla says. \nOn a good night a dancer can make up to $400, but they have to give a percentage of that to the DJ, the door man and the manager. \n"It all depends on business. They can make $100 to $300 dollars on weekends, it depends on how busy we are," Miller says.\nHustling or having a nice personality is what Miller and Fine say makes money. \n"The friendlier (you are) the more money you make," Fine says.\nMiller concurs. "Everybody has regular customers, the ones that have good attitudes and good personalities make the most money," she says. "If you come in a bad mood, you're not going to make much money." \nThe package also matters when it comes to giving a good show. In a gentlemen's club you can find the women adorned in zebra prints, cheetah prints and colorful lingerie. The thongs have minimal coverage and expose as much of the booty as possible. Some strippers even walk around with their pants pulled down so you can see their ass.\n"It matters what you wear on stage," Jada says. "The customers like the flashy costumes, the more expensive costumes." \nAlthough the outfits don't stay on for very long, the women make it a point to buy their own costumes. What little amount of clothing they wear is made of colorful sheer lace. They include thongs, a bra, tiny shorts or dresses and knee high white or black leather boots. The girls are encouraged to buy nice outfits by the management. The better looking outfits are $25 to $100 and a pair of shoes are $69 to $100. \nKnowing how to strip is also very important. Night Moves and Legends require the women to audition before they can become employees. \n"It is mostly to see how comfortable they are doing it," Fine says. \nUtilizing the pole is also an important skill.\n"Pole dancing makes you look experienced, like when you hang upside down and slide," Jada says as she commented on Trixie, a more skilled dancer. \nStar admits pole dancing isn't easy and it takes physical strength.\n"It takes a lot of stamina, and when you first start your legs are like Jell-O," she says.\nDellielish, who can climb up to the top of the pole and slide down in full splits, says it's entertaining, but it's physical exercise.
Strip Club Etiquette
Along with encouraging their customers to have fun, both managers and dancers encourage strip club etiquette. Miller emphasizes that she does not tolerate unruly behavior towards the women. \n"A lot of people have bad ideas about dancers, but I am working on a better clientele and trying to get them respect," Miller says.\nCommon respect is what many of the dancers say they appreciate in a customer. Of course, they like the attention they get from being on stage, but some attention they just don't want. \nJada says the women get a lot fans, but asking for sex does not get you in the dancers' good graces. \n"It is not good behavior to ask to take home girls at the clubs," she says.\nGinger, a curvaceous stripper at Night Moves, warns men to keep it clean.\n"Don't say anything lewd or rude to the girls ... Let the girls come to you, sit at the stage and make them feel important." \nThe women are more than happy to approach you in the middle of a song, bend down and let you tuck money into their g-strings, all while wearing welcoming smiles. \nNeither Fine nor Miller tolerates the man-handling of girls. Miller says she does not let anyone mess with the talent. \n"Come in and have as much fun as you can without grabbing the girls," Fine says.\nThe most important rule to remember is to bring money. The money and being able to meet lots of different people is the main motivation for the a lot of the girls to choose this profession. Star says she chose to get into the business for the extra cash. \n"The nice ones are the ones that tip," she says.\nDellielish says her favorite customers are the ones who like to spend money and most dancers agree.\n"My favorite customers, are the regulars who come in and enjoy my company and are willing to spend money," Ginger says. \nThe clubs also encourages customers to bring as much money as a possible -- and don't forget to buy a girl a drink.
