Would you take your girlfriend to a lapdancing club?

I think lots of London women would go to a lapdancing club like Platinum Lace.  Its sexy, naughty, fun - and you know that the loitering women with hungry eyes want your man - and can't have him.... as he's with you, and you control his wallet, ha ha ha...

I laughed as I read the Evening Standard article today

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/lifestyle/article-23922147-would-you-ever-take-your-girlfriend-to-watch-a-lapdancer.do

In a full two page spread - accompanied with some slightly surreal shots of some dancer pals of mine, one of my favourite journalists, Simon English, grilled Simon Warr, another old pal of mine, on how he wanted to change the lapdancing industry in the UK for good - and for the better...

(God, I'm sorry if I sound totally nepotistic in the above paragraph, but really - the London lapdancing scene is fairly small and I do like reading a good newspaper article)

It worried me that in these recessionistic times the average earn of '£300-£500' a night was plastered all over the place - I usually come home with £100-150, after costs, but of course can and do earn more than that, especially on busy nights.  I feel sorry for my pals at Platinum Lace - the doors will be swinging with many an auditionee over the next week, although I'm sure the publicity will bring the customers in too.

I remember the 2003 police raids on Spearmint Rhino - it was when I was just starting as a dancer, and I thought it was normal.  It was petrifying - girl after girl disappearing with no warning, sacked for misdemeanours or soliciting or prostitution - this is what we were told by the grumpy 'little Hitler' staff, but I remember thinking, 'really? her?'  Now there have been so many faces, and so many shock stories, I don't blink an eyelid - but it whilst I understand the scare tactics used to prevent the remaining dancers to behave, its a shame that some many girls names are now tainted in my mind.  Girls who may have lent me a helping hand as I started out on my first few nights as a lapdancer....

Still though, I admire Simon Warr, who has now left Spearmint Rhino to set up his own chain of super-brand strip clubs, 'Platinum Lace'.  I've worked in his latest Piccadilly Circus flagship, and its gorgeous - I would have stayed if there had been a more regular stream of punters.

Maybe in the future, I'll go back - Simon Warr, like the journalist said, I wish you luck....