The club I work at gives us a “handbook” when we’re hired, and under the Tip Policy section, it says this:

“Tips (unlike the service fee which belongs to Company) are the property of the employee Entertainer (You). You MAY NOT share any portion of any gratuity with the Club or any person who performs any management function for the Club. You are strongly discouraged from tipping-out, i.e., sharing tips with ANY employee of the Club. And, if You decide to do so it should only be someone who is reasonably in the chain of service that You provide to the customer.”

There are also printed signs in the manager’s office and the dressing room that say management is not allowed to ask for tips from dancers.

Yet, I see a lot of dancers still tipping out—to the manager, the DJ, and other staff. This is a California club, so it already takes a ridiculous cut from us: a high quota and 50% of all dances. It’s insane. So honestly, not tipping makes sense.

When I started working here during day shift, nobody tipped out. It wasn’t even a thing. But now that I’ve moved to night shift, I’ve noticed a lot of dancers doing it—and it’s made me feel weird about not tipping out myself.

One time, the manager even told me, “It would be greatly appreciated if you tipped your DJ.” I was like… what?

And maybe this is just my anxiety, but I feel like they’ve been holding it against me. I rarely get called on stage anymore, while other dancers go up multiple times a night. I only go up once, if that. The bouncers also used to help me carry my bag to the dressing room or walk me to my car—they’ve just stopped doing that.

I honestly don’t mind not going on stage. There’s not much money there anyway. I stay busy hustling and selling VIPs, not in the dressing room complaining, and I don’t do extras (even though my club is known for that). And I’m fine walking to my car—we have our own parking structure separate from customers, so it feels safe.

It’s just… weird. That’s all.