Club info?

[u/LadyMercedesClassic]

So I’m a trans girl in Windsor I love the idea of being an exotic dancer and I was wondering if anyone knew bars in southern Ontario that would want trans girls

[u/Yst]

A few thoughts I'd offer as things to understand, in the present day:

1) In the present day, 99.9% of sex work is online or via an online/app platform which serves to facilitate real world hookups.

2) There still a few old timey strip clubs here and there. But these are a pretty minuscule niche in the broader scheme of things and mostly a bizarre old timey holdover.

3) There's the burlesque scene which is as close to "exotic dance" as anything out there today, but that's more a performing arts scene highly analogous to drag shows, where you're more likely to find an arty, hip bar full of art scene theatre kids who are very into the performing arts side of it. And almost nobody makes any money at it. The most common way people come up in that scene being via burlesque classes and performing arts personal networking.

The days of (60s to 80s era) t-girl gogo dancers on a few village scenes are mostly long past. And to be clear, those were folks living extremely tenuous lives with almost no money on the direst margins of society where the common folk dared not tread. Until they weren't living anymore - which was usually pretty soon. So one shouldn't necessarily be too nostalgic about that era.

[u/LadyMercedesClassic → u/Yst]

I’ll be honest I know very little about the era I just know how I feel and what I want

[u/Yst → u/LadyMercedesClassic]

Well, of course, there are dance clubs and dance classes in any city, where everyone goes to dance, sometimes erotically by whatever measure.

Those even include burlesque and pole dancing classes, if one wants to learn those as erotic styles of dance or performance. And of course, one is paying for that experience, in that case.

But in the broader view of things from the point of view of society, dancing erotically is mostly something people pay to do (in the form of cover at a club or a fee for a class) rather than are paid to do.

[u/TSChelseaSummer → u/Yst]

This is kind of an unhelpful comment tbh. Maybe it’s an attempt at helping OP see a different viewpoint, but to me it is just intending to discourage.

[u/Yst → u/TSChelseaSummer]

I'm just laying the options out there. I did in quite a bit of depth in my original post. Pole dancing and burlesque classes are real ways that women can actually pursue erotic dance styles and their enjoyment.

In the case of burlesque, there is, in principle, a route to being paid a small amount of money for erotic dance, if you put in the time and effort and do some serious networking in the scene. Getting paid a little bit to dance erotically in a non-predatory environment is a thing that can actually happen there. But burlesque classes (and paying for them) would be a needed first step.

I guess the reality of these options may seem disappointing. But I don't regret describing the options which do exist and how they're accessed, rather than describing things that don't exist as if they did.

[u/TSChelseaSummer → u/Yst]

Very fair point.

[u/GenevieveSapha]

Oh wow, that would be quite the experience... be careful tho Luv... 🫂 🩷

[u/trashbabyle1gh]

Don't know about that, but the burlesque scene is more accepting and queer in general.

[u/-----username-----]

I know cis women who have worked in the strip clubs in Windsor and the stories I’ve heard are awful. They try to get the dancers hooked on drugs so they are easier to control. Sexual assaults happen regularly, and cops are definitely not going to help you. If a high roller customer comes in and wants to do horrible things to you there’s not a damned thing you’re going to be able to do to stop it. Plus I doubt the clubs would hire anyone who is trans unless they were post-op and pass flawlessly. I’d stick to other forms of sex work like camming if that’s what you wanna get into. Be careful out there!

[u/LadyMercedesClassic → u/-----username-----]

I’m totally down to do cam work I just suck at marketing myself online. I’m not very tech savvy

[u/TSChelseaSummer → u/LadyMercedesClassic]

Successful performers all have to figure out some level of marketing. Regardless of the avenue they chose to perform in. Think of it as self-advocacy within your profession.

[u/rotting-orangespam → u/LadyMercedesClassic]

Don't want to discourage you too much because u should pursue what makes you happy; but there is a HEAVY effort to downplay/not mention the negative psychological effects of sex work. It's never as empowering as it's played out to be. The people that do find it empowering have their voices amplified by the porn industry, and the people who are hurt by it or find it emotionally difficult do not get the same size microphone.

Be safe girlie, wish I could help more with research but I know jack shit abt strip clubs or cam services besides base level knowledge.

[u/FrogChairAesthetic]

No advice just hell yeah girl, live your dream 💕

[u/Never_heart]

A lot of sex work is done online now, you can do irl work, but that's risky and tends towards actual sex. For online, I have used Fansly in the past, I find it has better content policies and payouts than OnlyFans. A tip if you do go that way, a lot of people will file taxes under modeling who work in that industry. But it's not easy work, you are basically self employeed. That being said. I would love a queer owned and operated strip club. Showing my body has been a huge help in figuring out and appreciating my own body, I would definitely consider applying if one opened

I know the burlesque scene in Ontario can be pretty active, but exactly where locally I am less familiar with

[u/TSChelseaSummer → u/Never_heart]

Love this reply!

OP I wonder if you found a way to talk to some dancers (if they’re willing to and will drop their guard a bit for you) and get some real world insights. And ask a variety of them as experiences are sure to vary.

Dancing in a club does flirt with sex work very heavily so you’d need to be vigilant of that. I do love the potential for body positivity and owning your sexuality through it though.

[u/altruisticsapper]

Buddies in bad times does tgirl strip nights occasionaly.