You're welcome! I just updated it. What's your URL so I can follow and promote you in turn?

Hi... I already do this. You could just link to mine, which I keep updated at least once a month (which is about how fast there are submissions). I'll be adding about seven more blogs this weekend. http://stripperati.tumblr.com

Alright.... so would you be comfortable with her returning to her job? Because then, obviously, you wouldn't always be there watching. Or is this more like you just want to watch it once? Because if it's just watching once, it's possible her old club will let her moonlight for one night's work. And again, there's always the alternative of putting a temporary pole in your home.

Hey August! Surely I can, darling. But... what's the URL? xo

Talk to him about it! Show him articles and the things you've learned. Then make him part of the process. Tell him what you're looking for in a club, the safety check points you should be checking for anyway, and find a place that you're both comfortable with so that once you are working, he'll feel safe, too. :)

It's really only the strappy Bordello Teezes that I can do it in. The frame of the shoe is wide enough in the front so I don't feel cramped in the shoe. The frame of the Teezes change when they're strapless, though, so that asset is lost. Other than that, I stick to open toed shoes, honestly!

Awesome! Looking forward to it. :)

I don't think being a stripper is easy for anyone, just like I don't think being a carpenter is easy for everyone. A job is a job; people come to it for different reasons, like it for different reasons, and dislike it for different reasons.

Most guys don't care that I'm a lesbian. I was pretty open about it. The only ones who were ever douchebaggy about it were young guys who were also the ones who thought they had a shot at taking you home at the end of the night (yeah, right). No big loss.

There are lap dances but not "stuff." No full-nude, no touching. Feel free to ask any questions you want!

Hmm. That's hard. It would depend on why she doesn't want to, you know? You can't just make her do it again. I would discuss with her gently why she's reluctant in the first place. Is it bad memories from the old job? Is it worry that it will change your relationship? Find out the root issue and respond to that.

Secondly, ask yourself a few questions: is this the only way you'd like to see that? It's awesome that you're accepting—don't get me wrong! I loved performing for my girlfriend in a room full of people. That being said, if she's really not into that scenario, would you consider getting a temporary pole for your home so she could perform just for you?

I'd be interested in learning more... email me at ava@avaadore.com

Uh... I hate running, and 'better' is a judgement call, I suppose, unless you're talking fitness levels, in which case... I have no idea. I get my fitness through pole dance.

Darling, you're anonymouse; I don't even know your url to add you! Let me know your name and tumblr.

I have not, so I can't speak to the quality, service, or shipping. Let me know your thoughts if you choose to, though!

Anytime baby! Stay strong, chin up, and do you.

Folks are hard. The fact that you say 'when your older' may actually help you. Rather than trying to educate your mum on stripping outright, try to get her to come around to some more third- and post- wave feminist thinking. Talk about the multiplicity of feminisms, talk about race and gender and sex. Small steps. Changing the background thoughts helps when you choose to bring this topic up again later, like when you actually decide to start.

Stripping and folks also may not get along because protective parents sometimes worry about not just the stigma/etc, but also your safety. There are a lot of safety factors that go into choosing a club. You can't assuage these fears until you're old enough to pick a club, so I wouldn't worry about that yet. Educating yourself now on safety precautions and red flags will help when the time comes and show you put thought into it.

Another concern is that you will 'do nothing with your life.' Stripping is awesome if it's for you, but any stripper will tell you that it's a limited engagement. You only have until your early thirties to make bank, or if you're lucky, your early- to mid-forties. Not all of us are this lucky or can hack all the stripping bullshit long enough for that. So make sure you have a 'next step' for when you're done with working the clubs.

All that being said, this is just step one. Your mum may not favour your job choice. Best to get used to the idea now in case it never changes. Confidence is weapon #1 in your stripper arsenal. Build it now. It will hurt to take flack from your mum, but you'll deal with flack for years from people who don't understand. Strap on your training heels, so to speak, and push your shoulders back. You're in some fierce company. <3

Honestly, just make sure you're buying stripper heels. I can't TELL you the world of difference between ever high quality ladies' heels like Bakers or whatever and legit fucking stripper heels (Pleaser is my favourite brand). They're made differently. They're made for the long haul, hourly speaking. For more on choosing the right shoes, see here:
http://www.avaadore.com/post/845985903/your-shoes-are-the-most-important-thing-you-will

Now, if you're already rocking legit stripper heels that suit the needs of your feet (eg, open toes or ankle straps or proper height, etc), and you've broken them in, then my next answer is to soak your feet in warm water and treat yourself to a foot massage every now and then ;) I used to get really good foot massages on the cheap at my local mall. There was a kiosk that had massages affordable enough to go weekly -and- the masseuses were legit.

There's a lot of advice for this because advice differs from situation to situation. I'd love to help more, but at face-value, these are what pops into my mind. If you want to share more, feel free to e-mail me.

At the heart, the most basic advice is to do whatever makes you breathe. If you're bursting at the seams, if it's stressing you out, if you're tired of hiding, if you feel like you can't function—come out... That being said, it's hard at 18 with homophobic folks: do you live at home?

You're technically over age (if you're in the States) so they can choose to throw you out, worst case scenario. You can choose to live like that, but then have a good back-up plan. Do you have a job that can support you? A place to stay while you get your feet under you if it goes that badly? Or if you're in college or planning to attend college, are you relying on them to continue to pay for your attendance?

And even if it doesn't go that badly, there will be repercussions. I came out to folks who were really against it and yesterday they congratulated me because my girlfriend and I are considering marriage. This is ten years later. I have close friends who went through similar things and I can tell you that (mostly) folks come around. It may take many years, but it can happen.

Those first months/years may suck. Make sure you have a good support group—and if you don't, get a therapist you trust, just to have someone to talk to when the guilt and shame people will pile on you gets to you. Hold on to yourself. Remember that you made this choice to be MORE you, so don't let it eat you up.

On the other hand, it may not be as bad as you think. A lot of homophobia first stems from societal expectations (again, if you're in the States... are we talking New England? Bible belt? SoCal? It can make a difference) and then from parenting fears. A lot of fear can express itself as homophobia, when really they're afraid for your health, safety, and future. They may also feel that it's "their fault," that they did something wrong, and that guilt is hard for them, too.

Folks /generally/ want their kids to be happy. Making peace with your folks over it will mean sometimes being the bigger person and assuaging their fears just like you want them to assuage yours.

One of my dad's major concerns (I found out later) was that he'd wanted to walk me down the aisle. He thought that would never be possible. He was afraid I'd die sad and alone. It sounds drastic and dramatic, but fears are often nothing other. Over time, they met my partners and it made more sense. Also the legalization of marriage in my state helped, too, although that was just this year.

Also, before you make the big jump to tell your folks, I notice that you mentioned you've told no one. Consider telling some friends first. If nothing else, it'll be a good practice for dealing with your folks later. And at best, it may help to ease some of the pain you're feeling, making it easier to do daily life without feeling like you're bursting.

Thanks for reaching out. If you need anything more, I'm here.

Uh... sure, this move exists. I've seen it done for bachelor shows.

It's a little hard to describe lap dance moves in writing... Try searching youtube? I could say 'from the front,' 'from behind,' 'on your knees,' 'reverse cowgirl,' but what would that all really mean. Sorry I can't be of more help.

Hey Richie! :) The House does a Halloween party annually the Wednesday before Halloween each year (which makes ours tomorrow!). At the House this year, I'm going to be Lady Gaga. I don't care overmuch for her, but it's become something of a joking nickname of mine there, so it's an inside jab with the clientele.

I'm also working Thursday and Sunday where I'll be slave Princess Leia and a vampire. Last year I was also slave Leia at the House, as well as Cherie Currie from the Runaways, Michael Jackson in Thriller, and Starchild from KISS. Yeah, I tend to go all-out. Halloween night I'll be taking the parade in NYC.

In my day-to-day life, this year I'm a ghost bride and a Gatsby girl; last year I was Lina from a Zenescope comic (yes, I'm at time a comic geek) and punk-rock Marilyn Monroe. That's just the tip of the iceberg though! I do a lot of costuming for events and for modeling, so I've also been a fair amount of other things for a variety of reasons.

My favourite costumes so far have been Zenescope's Queen of Hearts, this year's ghost bride (I should name her something...), Isabella the calavera inspired by Envy on the Coast, and the Greek goddess Persephone. Thanks for asking, this was a fun question.