Dancing at a strip club is a profession that has frequently been portrayed in movies, on television, and in songs by T-Pain. But almost none of those portrayals give an accurate idea of what it’s like to be a stripper. Dancing at a club is a profession that can be lucrative, but it is rife with the same kind of workplace exploitation you’ll find in many other industries. Here are a few key points to keep in mind:

What It’s Like To Be A Stripper: Four Things To Know

1. You’ve got a short career

You have to be 18 to dance at a club, though top clubs in some cities insist that you be 21. Dancers tend to retire in their late 20s, which doesn’t leave a lot of time to earn money. Many industry experts suggest that you save 30-40% of your income to give yourself a nest egg.

2. You don’t get paid by the club

Dancers are almost universally considered to be independent contractors, as opposed to employees. You earn your money by stage tips, of course, but mostly as a salesperson – selling lap dances, trips to VIP rooms, and the like. The club doesn’t pay you anything. In fact, as you’ll see below, the opposite is the case. And since you’re not an employee, there’s no such thing as health care. You better keep track of how much you spend on those expensive costumes, too – as an independent contractor, you’re going to need to write them off on your taxes.

3. You have to pay to work

There are two separate sorts of fees that dancers have to pay per shift – both hefty enough that workers can sometimes end up losing money while working. There are what are called “house” or “stage” fees – the money you pay for the privilege of dancing at a particular club. These are, shockingly, legal to charge, and vary wildly, from tens to hundreds of dollars per shift.

Then there are “tip outs” – you’re required to tip a variety of club employees. Who exactly, and how much, varies place to place, but the DJ is almost universal. Other employees can include bouncers and maitre d’s of VIP areas.

As if that wasn’t enough, dancers are also frequently required to sell a minimum quota of drinks or dances, and have to make up the difference if they fall short. And there are the fines – for being late, for missing shifts (even with a doctor’s note!), and more. In many places, it’s also common practice to charge dancers for stage time and access to VIP rooms. Altogether, these fees can take up to 20% of your earnings.

4. You can fight for your rights

One of the ways of improving what it’s like to be a stripper is to fight for legal rights. Over the past several decades, the movement for sex workers’ rights has been growing at a steady pace. There have been lawsuits against shady club practices and victorious class-action suits to classify dancers as employees instead of independent contractors. Before you start working – at a strip club or anywhere else –  make sure you know your rights. You can find up-to-date information about sex work and sex workers’ rights at the blog Tits and Sass.