Letters to the Editor
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Once upon a time...
Once upon a time - as I say to people, "ten years and thirty pounds ago" - I, too, was a stripper, to supplement an insufficient income in an intellectual-sounding field, working in a big city. Before I turned to stripping, I sought out and did some freelance writing...and it turned out to be a poor return of money for time. Stripping was a much better return of money for time. Neither my family, nor anybody with whom I had work or academic connections, found out. (This was before cellphone cameras, mind.) But I did run into a few acquaintances, and yeah, it was awkward.
I was a poor salesstripper. And something about it interfered with my enjoyment of my own sexuality and, literally, how I felt and sensed my own body. It wasn't for me in the long run - but it did whittle down my credit card bill and pay for having my wisdom teeth out.
If I was you, I'd ask myself the following questions:
* Do I have the psychic energy and boundaries to do this and also do my academic work?
* What are the good things I will get out of this?
* What is the social atmosphere at my university? If my colleagues find out I am an ecdysiast, will they say, "How cool!" or will it lead to problems?
* Can I cope with a "worst case" social scenario? You know what your personal "worst case" is.
* It sounds like you have found a particularly good place to dance at and work. Do you want to explore other options in your area, too, as a backup? It might be useful to dance a few nights at your favorite place, and also have a few shifts at another place some distance away. This way, if you have to stop at your favorite, for whatever reason, you'll still have income.
Lastly - if you do have long term concerns - stay off of film/video/the internet! And good luck, whatever you choose.