Lapdancing Club - Wages

[KBB1990]

I have worked in various clubs over the time I have worked as a lap dancer.

 

 

Most clubs (here and abroad) don't have a contract in place, you just get given your rota, and pay 20-50% (depending on the night) of what you earn, to the club. You are self employed. There has never been much paperwork, but I do mock invoices for my tax return.

 

 

I have started working at a new club in Manchester now I have started back at Uni, and they want to pay me £10 per hour as an employee (including employment contract!) and the cash from stage and private dancers is pooled and allegedly split.

 

 

Obviously I am worried about my earnings etc and how my dance money will be paid. Would it be considered a 'bonus' - and is that taxable? I suppose this way I won't have to do my own books and pay tax?

[unclebulgaria67]

Yes the dance money/tips that is given to you would be taxable income. But if the club does not keep records of how much is collected and divided out, then I am not sure how the tax man would find out. I would think that the club would not keep records because if they kept a percentage they would also have to pay tax on it. You need to ask them.

[KBB1990]

It's just so strange because usually you pay to work for the club - not the other way around.

 

 

It's real money there too; not monopoly style money you hand in at the end of the night for a cash return.

 

 

If I am handed cash at the end of the night in addition to my wages being paid directly into my bank account - then that's just like restaurant waiting staff (only naked!). Do they / should they be completing tax returns for 'tips'? Do they actually do this?!

 

 

I was going to ask the question but it all happened so fast. I've never even been asked for ID before.

[unclebulgaria67]

It's just so strange because usually you pay to work for the club - not the other way around.

 

 

It's real money there too; not monopoly style money you hand in at the end of the night for a cash return.

 

 

If I am handed cash at the end of the night in addition to my wages being paid directly into my bank account - then that's just like restaurant waiting staff (only naked!). Do they / should they be completing tax returns for 'tips'? Do they actually do this?!

 

 

I was going to ask the question but it all happened so fast. I've never even been asked for ID before.

 

Do you expect a lapdancing club to follow all the rules and declare all income ?

 

You will have to ask them, whether they keep records of all tips and add this to your wage slips, with the tax deducted. You may not be handed cash at the end of the night or if they do, they may keep some back in relation to the tax that is due.

 

I suspect that some of the girls may wear knee length boots, so they can hide the tips !

[KBB1990]

Thanks for the advice, I feel clearer on wording things now.

 

 

I have always declared my personal income, and in return I have always claimed my VAT back on items needed for work. I am naturally quite an organised person so I enjoy doing my books!

 

 

Private dances are fixed price so my previous clubs have tracked the wages, you don't get much for stage dancing, probably about a fiver/tenner if you're there for 4 or 5 songs...

[ericsbrother]

I would be very wary of working for this employer, basically you are swapping all of the monies given to you by the customers in exchange for 310 an hour and the possibility of a share of a tronc as per many restaurants. The problem with this system is you are relying on someone else counting the money and then sharing it out equitably. If they suddenly change their monds on how it is divided or resort to under-reporting of the cash taken there is little you can do about it. Getting £10 an hour doesnt give you any more job security either as you will undounbtedly be on a zero hours contract and wont work there for more than 2 years.

The only plus point is that you can receive payments that are charged to people's credit or debit cards but nio dounbt there is an extra cost applied to that and you may not know it has even been paid if a customer pays for their food and drink on the same tab.

It seems to me as though the club owner or management have decided that the best way of maximising their profits is to control everything and abuse the goodwill of the people who are the only reason that the customers set foot in the place. I would personally not take the job as your destiny is not in your own hands. If they want you to do bar or restuarant work when you are not dancing that would be another matter as there would be a semblance of equality of terms with other staff.

[KBB1990]

Thank you.

 

 

Yes you're completely right, it is a 0 hours contract. I don't have any holiday or sickness perks but they get all the perks of me being employed i.e they set the rotas; and they get as high a percentage as they want of 'my' earnings.

 

 

Thanks so much for your comments, food for thought

[juliaholroyd]

I think you should perhaps go elsewhere as you work hard for your money, it should be yours. Like you say - Most clubs take a fee for you to work, and then you earn as much as you are able/ willing to.

 

Stringfellows use "Heaven vouchers" fake money - so you show what you've made and get paid your percentage of that. Minus any fees, fines etc. that seems like a fair way. Then you declare what you like

 

Good luck with everything

[GrahamMcLean]

Tips should be treated as taxable income. You would declare it at the end of the year when you put your tax return in.

[king12345]

Tips should be treated as taxable income. You would declare it at the end of the year when you put your tax return in.

Yes, like everyone else