Born To Be A Badass, Chapter Share

This week I've decided to share Part 1, Chapter 5, called Welcome To My Dark Side. Chapter 5 is my story of working as a bartender in one of New York's most infamous strip clubs for nine years of my life. I hope you guys enjoy it, and as always, any feedback is much appreciated!

"The club was massive compared to any restaurant or cocktail bar I've worked. The lighting was dim, as there were no windows, and the walls had photos of naked women who looked like something from the 1980s. It had high ceilings, and smack dab in the middle was the stage with a large mirror and stripper pole surrounded by tables and brown leather chairs.

Before applying for this job, my experience with strip clubs was minimal. I'd been to one in Atlantic City years ago with an ex-boyfriend. Unfortunately, I was pretty drunk, and I don't recall much. I went partially out of curiosity but more so to please my partner. Other than that, my understanding of strip clubs was based on movies or shows like The Sopranos.

I sat at one of the tables, surrounded by a gathering of girls filling out applications. It was pretty intimidating, even though I had been working in the service industry for years. Then, one by one, girls from the group were called in for the interview. It felt like waiting to be called for police interrogation.

Before I knew it, it was my turn. I was introduced to Becca, and I reached out my clammy hands to shake hers. I was nervous, not knowing what to expect. My first impression of her was one of confidence and professionalism.

I tried to play it cool, even though my insides felt twisted, as Becca carefully scanned my resume. Next, she asked the typical bar-type questions: my availability, name a single malt scotch, and what's in a cosmopolitan. She then gave me a brief overview of working in a strip club and the job description. Lastly, she thanked me for coming in and said she would be in touch; the conversation closed."

Sending love & light

Lauren