Josie McCulley

Ever think being the strip club DJ might be the sweetest gig? Naked girls, fun music, free booze... Not to crush your dreams of playing music while watching girls get naked, but consider all the other hats the DJ wears every night.  Coach - Any good strip club DJ knows he only makes money if the dancers make money (DJs count on dancer tips). So it's up to him to encourage us, keep us motivated, and yes, know when to put in his star players and when to play the bench. Will putting Diamond on stage now make them more money, or should he let her keep hustling lap dances? Will putting the brand-new, awkward dancer on stage kill a crowd that's making it rain? Try to keep up... Therapist - Happy strippers make money. Sad/mad girls don't. Girls who are fighting with their spouse, whose dog just died, who just got upset by a shitty customer, who are feeling fat or menstrual come to the booth to find solace and advice. Can you play counselor while mixing a Led Zeppelin track into the latest Bruno Mars single? Cat Herder - The DJ keeps the rotation of dancers on stage going. People leave when the stage is dead, which means the money leaves. Still, many strippers try to avoid the stage. Some strippers will pester you to dance as often as possible. Others may require you to do your best to subtly skip because they're embarrassing up there. All of them will complain that other dancers perform more or less often than they do (remember, happy dancers make money). Can you run and find Merced

Go ahead. Get the daddy issues jokes out of your system. I'll wait...   In five years of dancing on poles and laps, I've met a wide variety of women in LA's exotic dancing world. However, the reasons for why they enter this world doesn't seem to vary all that much. Here are my findings.   1. Money for school   No big shock—school dominates the answers I get. What other job allows you to work nights, part-time and still make a full-time wage? Seems obvious that smart girls would do the job that maximizes their return with minimal time away from studying. And, many of them continue to supplement their income after graduation, or decide that the degree isn't worth it when they already have a lucrative job they enjoy.   2. Money for shelter   Several dancers I asked either were homeless or on the verge when they started dancing. The economy sucks! Strip clubs will often hire with no experience or resume. All you need is reasonably good looks or enough personality to compensate and a valid ID, and many clubs will have you start that same night. Twerk away that eviction notice!   3. Money for headshots   Yup. Many girls strip between auditions, waiting to get famous. Plenty of flexibility in stripping for the struggling artist. This is especially common here in LA.   4. Money for drugs   Sad but true. I actually didn't get this answer and it's not rampant, but I know it's out there. Strip clubs don't care about criminal records, or lack of job history. Usually, these girls don't la