In the wake of the now-declared COVID-19 pandemic, TeamClearHeels413, a collective of current and former strippers, founded by veteran actress/producer Bella Vendetta, who are living and working within the Western Massachusetts area, has put together a guide to best practices for strip club managers, owners, dancers and employees to follow while the pandemic continues to grow within the United States.
"I took writing this very seriously, drawing upon my own training with bloodborne Pathogens, cross contamination, disinfection and emergency trauma," Vendetta stated, "and also got input from friends and colleagues who are major players in our local government and medical field."
Vendetta is personally cancelling all large events this month, including her birthday party burlesque show previously scheduled for March 27, and any and all strip club appearances this month, though she realizes most dancers do not have the ability to simply stop working.
TeamClearHeels413 has also cancelled its March 30 in-person meeting and will be moving to an online platform to check in with local dancers.
The full article can be found here.
As TeamClearHeels413 has put it, as we reach the level of pandemic with the coronavirus aka COVID19, there has been so much talk about limiting social interaction and best practices to stay safe. Many industries have developed new protocols and protective measures to keep their workers and customers safe. We believe the strip club industry should be no different.
Clubs out west have already changed the way they do things a bit, and with many documented cases in and around Western MA, we believe clubs here should adopt some heightened security around public health as well.
Of course the best thing we can all do is wash our hands, for 20 seconds at least, in hot water, with soap. We have heard reports from clubs that are not even providing basic things like soap for dancers in the restrooms/dressing rooms. (There are some clubs that have been reported to not even have toilet paper!)
We know many clubs limit and frown upon giving dancers hand towels, and there’ve been lots of mishaps reported regarding dancers stuffing up the plumbing.
But during this time of cold/flu season and uncertainty of this new virus, let’s go out of our way to make sure dancers have access to basic toiletries like soap, hot water, hand towels/paper towels, toilet paper, and functioning plumbing in clean restrooms.
Some major health safety recommendations are as follows:
- Put up signs, encourage your employees to wash their hands often, and have staff monitor these activities to be sure dancers are complying.
- Clubs are advised to regularly clean and disinfect all shared spaces such as stages, poles, rails, dressing rooms and bathrooms. Clean with germ-killing disinfectants such as bleach solution, or a cleanser with cavacide or madacide. However, when/if cleaning the stage with chemicals, be aware that chemicals can negatively affect and irritate dancers' skin, so rinse those surfaces with a wash of just water afterwards.
- We have seen clubs who use the same mop on the men’s room floor as on stage. However, the best practice is to have a dedicated stage mop for stage use only. It should be properly labeled and used by a competent cleaning crew who understands cross-contamination.
Ask your cleaning crew to go harder than usual. And clean/disinfect mirrors, walls, barstools, as well as doorknobs and handles, toilets and sinks.
- Leave alcohol or disinfectant wipes on stage so dancers may clean the pole in between sets, and leave some in the dressing room so dancers can clean lockers, door handles etc.
- Give everyone access to hand sanitizer: On stage, at the bar, in the lapdance rooms, in the dressing room, in the bathrooms.
- Hang signage encouraging customers to wash and sanitize their hands as well.
- Properly interview your employees and understand who may have traveled overseas and to where, and if they are someone at high risk or who may have been exposed, do not let them work.
- Send home workers who are sick! We have been shocked by the number of sneezing, runny nosed, coughing dancers, bartenders and security staff we have seen.
We can have a broader argument at a later date about the fact that dancers deserve healthcare and many do not have it, and that losing shifts can be financially devastating, and maybe if they were treated as real employees, they would receive sick pay But that’s for another time. At this time, sick folks need to stay at home to heal.
Some things dancers can do:
- Bring a lapcloth, a scarf or other piece of fabric and use that to sit on stage/chairs, and lay on laps before giving dances. Bring several of them. Take them home and wash in hot water after your shift.
- Bring your own hand sanitizer in your stripper purse. They make cute mini ones that smell good. Use after stage sets, after dances or anytime your hands are touching something that could potentially be covered in germs. An excellent one that is recommended is HANDZ. This has been used to be sprayed on hands, thighs, butts, anything that’s touching the stage, and can also be a great protector for dancers who are prone to “stage rash.”
The company that makes it makes a lot of other great “persistent protection” products that can be used to safely disinfect hard surfaces like stages, poles, and dressing room counters, to products which can be sprayed on soft surfaces like couches, carpets and chairs to disinfect.
- Make sure you shower with hot water and soap and clean yourself thoroughly after shifts.
- Wash your hands often during shifts and in between stage sets.
- If you feel sick, STAY HOME!
- Get your flu shot! Even if it doesn’t prevent this particular virus strain, it can help keep you, your family and your co-workers safe, especially those living with children, elderly or immune-compromised folks. Flu shots are available for free or at low cost. Feel free to reach out to us for help finding a location.
We hope everyone stays safe! If you feel you want training in any of these areas, we have certified instructors willing to come in to the clubs and give informational trainings for free! Please do not hesitate to utilize this service! We are here for you and want to see strip clubs and strippers thrive!
This is a scary time for people who are living shift to shift, may not have health insurance, and a scary time for club owners as they may see a decrease in business as people self-isolate.
Let’s work together to keep each other safe and healthy.
Dancers, if you need help obtaining health insurance please contact us. Our outreach worker can help you through the process and answer questions you may have.
Some other things to consider:
- At this time, with as many confirmed cases as we have in the state of MA, it might be a time to consider all-plastic one-time-use cups at the bar.
- Consider what it would mean to actually become no-contact clubs. I know that’s a scary thought, but let’s assume the CDC knows what they are talking about. It’s not a personal vendetta for strippers to not make money, it’s science.
Additional resources:
Here is an article about the porn industry response to COVID19, and the FSC guidelines for filming adult content amid COVID19.
Here is a good article with factual information about COVID19 and why it’s important to take it seriously.
It’s also worth noting that many dancers are engaged in sex work in part by their status as chronically ill. For folks who are chronically ill, please read this great article on how this pandemic may affect you.
And here is the article where Governor Baker declares a state of emergency in the entire state of Massachusetts.
