How much do dancers make in a good year?

[Irtwo]

In theory, it can really add up.

 

Let's say a "popular" dancer at Adonis or Club 20 in NY:

 

At $20 per song, plus tips, you figure averages to $23 per song. At 3 minutes a song, that's $460 an hour. Now, they won't be working non-stop each hour, but if you figure that in a 5 hour period, from 8pm to 1am, they work at least 3 hours, that's 3 x $460 = approx. $1,400 a night. The place is open 1 day a week, so that's 52 x $1,400 = appox $73,000/yr. If you add in monthly Saturday dances or working at another club at least once an month, add another 12 X $1,400 = approx. $17,000. Total = $90,000.

 

And if they have rentboy income on the side, that's $250 a shot, say 10 times a month, 10 x $250 = $2,500 per month, which comes to 12 x $2,500 = $30,000 per year. $90,000 + $30,000 = $120,000 per year. Tax free. That's equivalent to about $175,000 taxable income per year. Wow!

 

Are we getting lap dances by the one percenters? lol

[gcursor]

nice posting

 

Nice posting Irtwo. I would be interested in seeing how well your number stack up. Personally I think your "work at least 3 hours" at a club is off and should be decreased. However I also think that the escorting portion is WAY under-valued and should be INCREASED substantially. You put in hourly but a lot of people also get overnight, weekends and others during a month...even at 1 or 2 that still is quite an increase.

gc

 

In theory, it can really add up.

 

Let's say a "popular" dancer at Adonis or Club 20 in NY:

 

At $20 per song, plus tips, you figure averages to $23 per song. At 3 minutes a song, that's $460 an hour. Now, they won't be working non-stop each hour, but if you figure that in a 5 hour period, from 8pm to 1am, they work at least 3 hours, that's 3 x $460 = approx. $1,400 a night. The place is open 1 day a week, so that's 52 x $1,400 = appox $73,000/yr. If you add in monthly Saturday dances or working at another club at least once an month, add another 12 X $1,400 = approx. $17,000. Total = $90,000.

 

And if they have rentboy income on the side, that's $250 a shot, say 10 times a month, 10 x $250 = $2,500 per month, which comes to 12 x $2,500 = $30,000 per year. $90,000 + $30,000 = $120,000 per year. Tax free. That's equivalent to about $175,000 taxable income per year. Wow!

 

Are we getting lap dances by the one percenters? lol

[+ glutes]

There was a WSJ article last week stating that female 'pole dancers' in a North Dakota town were making $2,000-3,000 / night in tips!

[+ BOZO T CLOWN]

"That's equivalent to about $175,000 taxable income per year. Wow!"

 

Actually, $175,000 would be their net income, not taxable income. I don't think any of the dancers report Rentboy or lap dance income on their 1040's.

One would have to earn about $275,000 - $300,000 to come home with $175,000.

 

Bozo

[edjames]

You've forgotten a few things in your assessment of a dancers evening.

 

First, they have to pay fees for dancing at the club plus locker and security fees. This can add up to over $100.

 

Second, you are assuming that these guys are busy all night long and those are unfortunately rare evenings, some nights, a dancer might be lucky to break even. A lot of guys come into the clubs in groups and stay for a drink, watch the dancers and leave.

A good night at 20C is around $700 for a dancer but those are rare evenings. A normal night is probably around $300

Dancers only get a percentage of a champagne room fee.

Also you have to include transportation costs, parking fees or taxis.

 

I'm sure there are others on the list who can voice a more experienced opinion.

 

ED

[Samai139]

I thiink it's almost impossible to calculate how much a dancer or dancers earn in a month, much less a year. Too many variables: location of the club/bar where he dances, time of year/season, how long he has been dancing, overhead--including those mentioned above plus others---gym membership, cosmetics, clothes, etc. etc., personality, physical appearance and fitness, repeat customers, and on and on.

I"m basing these observations on my experiences in Montreal, so I may be missing other factors. I think there is probably a wide spread in what dancers earn in a year---from WOW that much? to "Is that all?"

[Epigonos]

The one thing I think you can assume with some certainly is that strippers/pole dancers and porn actors DO NOT earn nearly as much as good escorts who really work it. This is one of the reason that I have always found it amusing that many porn "actors" look down on escorts. They seem to believe that as "actors" they are not selling themselves. Oh well we are all certainly entitled to our delusions. An excellent example of this attitude is Matthew Rush who was always horrified when asked, by an interviewer, if he escorted, even though on occasion he did.

[bmsnyc]

You all are exagerating what the typical dancer makes. Most of their time is spend standing around, talking to customers trying to solicit business. A really hot, young, NEW dancer might make $600-800 his first few nights, but that quickly declines as he gets better known, and the cleints move on in search of new amusements. After expenses ($35 to work at Adonis, $100 at Club 20), the average "experienced" dancer is lucky to make $200-$300 per night, if that.

[Irtwo]

Interesting comments. My original post was a bit tongue-in-cheek, but I did caveat it by saying a "popular" dancer. The post was inspired by some dancers I've seen that seem to be tied up all night giving lap dances and have guys waiting in line to be with them. Still, as pointed out in posts above, such popularity is likely not consistent every week.

[leigh.bess.toad]

And I'm certainly no expert here, but the escorts I have talked with DO pay taxes on their income.

[Cooper]

Income earned.

 

And I'm certainly no expert here, but the escorts I have talked with DO pay taxes on their income.

 

I agree. I always supply my escorts with a W-2 Form at the end of the year.

[Kevin Slater]

I always supply my escorts with a W-2 Form at the end of the year.

 

No, no, no! Your escort is an independent contractor and the appropriate form would be a 1099-Misc.

 

Kevin Slater

[Cooper]

No, no, no! Your escort is an independent contractor and the appropriate form would be a 1099-Misc.

 

Kevin Slater

 

lol... Thanks Kevin for that clarification. I'll make sure to send out those correct Forms.... Q. Should I be deducting for Social Security?

[Kevin Slater]

Q. Should I be deducting for Social Security?

 

No, independent contractors pay both halves (the employee and employer portions) of social security themselves. You just pay the agreed-upon rate, issue the 1099 (to each independent contractor whom you've paid at least $600 in a calendar year), and he and his accountant handle it from there.

 

Kevin Slater

[LurkerSpeaks]

we must all do our part and pay inCUM taxes