Striptease and the SEIU
As Ricochet's resident San Franciscan, I bring tidings of important news: America's sole unionized strip club, finding itself unable to turn a profit, is on course to shut its doors.
Touted as "the most pro-feminist strip club in the city–and maybe in history," the Lusty Lady joined the SEIU fifteen years ago. Shortly thereafter, the business began to falter (no doubt on account of the effect unionization had on profits) and the club's exotic dancers banded together to purchase it for $400,000, transforming it into a co-op.
From there, the Lusty Lady's business tactics became progressively more San Franciscan. For example, the board of directors prioritized political correctness over profits which led them to employ "diverse body types and ethnically diverse dancers."
And so the business has driven itself to the brink of extinction. But lest you start worrying about the strippers who may find themselves without a dancing gig, take heart — a number of them have useful credentials that should help them line up other prospects:
"Since 2008 my paychecks have been going down, down, down," said Bijou. "I'm making half of what I was making when I started in 2005."
She says she's out of the Pleasure Booth and out in the job market, where she hopes to use the doctorate she says she earned in sociology. [emphasis added]
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Comments:
Jul '10
Re: Striptease and the SEIU
Diane Ellis, Ed.:
From there, the Lusty Lady's business tactics became progressively more San Franciscan. For example, the board of directors prioritized political correctness over profits which led them to employ "diverse body types and ethnically diverse dancers."
· 1 minute ago
Guys? Did they have guys on the pole? It's San Francisco!
And going back to the article, I see S.F. has discovered a new category of oppression, "size-ism." I think everybody in the city by the bay can now claim victimhood under one category or another.
Edited on May 15, 2012 at 3:32amApr '12
Re: Striptease and the SEIU
Liberals never cease to amaze. How could they manage to make a strip club unprofitable? If there's one thing they do right here in Detroit, it's strip clubs. I haven't heard of any of them going out of business due to money problems. Vice raids, yes. Money problems, no.
Re: Striptease and the SEIU
Someone should find a job for Bijou in another strip club. As a sociologist, she is likely to do greater harm to public morals.
Jul '10
Re: Striptease and the SEIU
I am sure that with her credentials, she has a career in any number of faculty lounges.
May '10
Re: Striptease and the SEIU
It's the seniority issue that kills you. When those 58-year-old strippers won't retire for new blood...
Mar '11
Re: Striptease and the SEIU
Yup. Seniority in stripping is like seniority in athletics. Kinda turns the whole union thing into a big joke.
Feb '12
Re: Striptease and the SEIU
"She says she's out of the Pleasure Booth and out in the job market, where she hopes to use the doctorate she says she earned in sociology. "
This must be an example of what Arthur Brooks called on the last podcast 'earned success..' oh the hopelessly learned!
May '10
Re: Striptease and the SEIU
Amazing, unions can even turn strip clubs unprofitable. In Illinios, we have entire left-wing towns propped up by strip club tax revenue. I never thought that could be the healthier fiscal and moral model.
May '11
Re: Striptease and the SEIU
I think Diane nailed the faulty logic of the regulators when she pointed out that the problem of diminishing profits coincided with a politically correct and brain dead policy that welcomed diverse body types and ethnic backgrounds. Fat ethnically diverse sociology doctorates are the new oppressed minority.
Jun '10
Re: Striptease and the SEIU
I recall a strip club in downtown Portland that used to advertise on their sign "20 beautiful girls and 4 ugly ones." Not sure how that worked out.
Oct '10
Re: Striptease and the SEIU
Pat, I live two blocks from the Lusty Lady, and though I've never been inside, judging from seeing the dancers outside on their breaks, "healthy models" have nothing to do with this situation.
Jul '11
Re: Striptease and the SEIU
I bet they all had those coexist bumper stickers tattooed on as tramp stamps as well!
May '11
Re: Striptease and the SEIU
My limited experience with strip clubs leads me to think that in the best situation they are still basically the Ellis Island of modern America. You probably have to be there to know who are the huddled masses.
Jan '11
Re: Striptease and the SEIU
I've done some stripper research.
"Since 2008 my paychecks have been going down, down, down," said Bijou. "I'm making half of what I was making when I started in 2005."
A client will attach to the same waitress or bartender.for a decade but some turnover is needed on the pole. Also exotic entertainers often age faster than other careers, If Bijou started in 2005 she might as well be as old as Carol Doda.
Lots of paychecks have been declining since 2008.
Are these union members more likely to receive unemployment or disability compensation, compared to non union entertainers?
Sep '11
Re: Striptease and the SEIU
I was hoping this article was about Henry Kissinger at LaGuardia.
Jul '10
Re: Striptease and the SEIU
Maybe they couldn't find enough Cherokee dancers.
High cheekbones, y'know.
Jul '10
Re: Striptease and the SEIU
Diane Ellis, Ed.:
Touted as "the most pro-feminist strip club in the city–and maybe in history," the Lusty Lady joined the SEIU fifteen years ago... the board of directors prioritized political correctness over profits which led them to employ "diverse body types and ethnically diverse dancers."
I'm trying to imagine the pitch:
Well yes, it's a service that nobody wants. But it will be crazy expensive to operate, so there's that. If we can find a lower-traffic location with higher rent we'll be good to go.
Jul '11
Re: Striptease and the SEIU
You can't bend over backwards for your employees and make it anymore. I guess they could have used some stimulus cash.
May '10
Re: Striptease and the SEIU
For similar reasons, San Fran area Mr. Hero's are unable to turn profits selling $5 foot-longs to the likes of Ms. Bijou, so her problems compound ever more.
May '10
Re: Striptease and the SEIU
:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D Oh, Diane! I think I just peed my pants.