The first thing to do is pick two preferred dates if possible in case the studio is booked. Once you narrow down a date decide if you want morning, evening, or afternoon.  An earlier class is a great way to start the day, unless everyone is planning on clubs & drinking the night before. If so, look at mid-day to give everyone time for coffee, water, and some aspirin. Do NOT plan to come in within an hour of your flight because sometimes baggage claim can take that long. If you want to come after the airport give yourself at least two hours. Evening is good if you are having a relaxing day at the pool then you can grab dinner right after and go out.

Once you have decided when organize your girls. Send out a mass email or text to have everyone book online. If your group is part of a group class tell the girls to do it the same day as space is limited. If you are having a private class there is more leeway but everyone should book at least 48 hours in advance.

Dress cute. You are going to want to take photos. Shorts are best on the pole. Bring heels but you do not have to wear them if you aren’t comfortable in them. If you are going to do lunch or something before or after a cute dress over your pole shorts works.

Think about transportation. We can help you with this. If you need a limo let us know. Smaller groups can arrange a taxi but normally there is a 4 or 5 person limit.

Try to have your skin clean and free of lotion.

Be ready to have fun!

1. Pole dancing with your mother in law & great grandma.  This may work depending on the brides relationship with her family & future family but think about it. Can you imagine learning how to do a stripper grind for mommys favorite son while shes there? Or even worse, while she’s there learning the same trick for your father in law/ future grandfather to your children? It may work it may not. Don’t exclude anyone, offer brunch or shopping at the same time.
2. Pole dancing with a hangover. One bachelorette party I taught the girls were ADORABLE & had flown in the night before. They partied all night and had a lesson planned for 10:30 am. They were late, the bride had been bought drinks by horny Las Vegas guys all night and was looking really green. I ended up holding her hair and a trash can for her and I myself was unable to eat greek yogurt for a month. I love greek yogurt! The bride was pressured to drink a lot after a work day and a long flight and her friends were able to enjoy the lesson but she wasn’t. Make sure you think about sleep, hangovers, activities, etc as you schedule.
3. The tour guide from hell.  I always feel bad for those girls that come in after having done a pool party, mani/pedis, marathon shopping, the titanic exhibit at the luxor, the roller coaster at the stratosphere, brunch, lunch and then a pole dance lesson at 3pm. Pick a few highlights of the trip and let everyone enjoy themselves. You may want to schedule downtime where the ladies can take a nap and make quick calls back to kids & assure husbands they havent run off with one of those sexy blue bald bastards from the blue man group.
4. Nothing to do. The flip side of this is having nothing to do. If you pick out your “must do” things and any activity that has a scheduled time like a show, dinner reservations, etc make a list of things that can be done anytime. Pool time, a trip to a local bar, shopping, sightseeing or taking a drive or a taxi to a local destination.
5. Pissy spouses and privacy. Make sure either all activities are okayed with everyones significant other and/or decide what you and your girls are going to do about uploading twitters, facebook checkins, fb photos, etc. Get everyones permission first and decide as a group what your social media strategy will be. Ask before you tag. Be cool
6. Be sensitive. Someone may back out of drinking, matching hoochie mama outfits, or an activity for different reasons. Some girls don’t want to be groped by a strange half naked man because it makes them anxious, some ladies have religious restrictions on clothing or tarot card readings. Women are all so different and you may have a group with a Mormon girl wearing her “garments”, a new mommy who just gave birth and is nursing and pumping, a single mom who was able to afford the trip but not a bunch of shopping, whatever. Allow ladies to bow out gracefully if needed and plan to meet up with them in a few hours. Be classy & dont talk about them when you are all off.
7. Get the lay of the land & ask questions. Be cool to your bartenders, service staff and entertainers. These people see a hundred assholes a weekend. Just because its your special weekend doesn’t make you a special asshole. You’re special when you are able to come in, display some class and some cash and let the professionals do the rest. Normally just because a group has a bachelorette doesn’t mean the bachelorette gets something free. Let the staff know what your group is and if you are cool and classy they will offer any comps they are allowed to.
   If your group is larger and you are in a bar make sure you’re not in the way and everyone is of age, with id.  Also double check with the bartender if there is a specific area where you guys need to be. Ask if they have specialty shots. Find out about tipping & photo policies. As a pole instructor AND bartender I want you to enjoy your party but as soon as you start making my day hard its not going to happen.  This girls that come in, get their tickets and drink orders organized, are smiling and having fun are going to get a free shot for the special lady & advice on how to get half price tickets. I had one group I especially enjoyed doing the pole dance party for and they happened to be seeing american storm where I was bartending that evening. I made sure to point out the group & the ladies had a memorable time for sure! You don’t have to spend a lot, just use the golden rule.

Most of all have fun! Support your friend by helping things run smooth and enjoying yourself and helping be a peacemaker if you need to.
Get a pole for your party

Bachelorette Party decorations & accessories

In this post I would like to focus on some ways to save money on your party night and weekend.

Ask the bachelorette what her “must haves” are. It’s her party, after all. Maybe she has always dreamed of riding a roller coaster with her friends on her night, pole dancing, doing a scavenger hunt in Vegas (or San Diego, whatever). But find out what she REALLY wants & plan around that. Maybe you won’t even need to leave town. Maybe she wants to combine the bachelor/ette parties?

Go over the guest list. Take a hard look at the guest list with the bachelorette and compare it with her must haves. If she has her heart set on a makeup lesson/application, cocktails & night out for example do you have some guests who may not be attending all of it? Great Aunt Edith may enjoy the pedicure party but not the male strippers later. Of course, leave the option to Edith but if you have multiple activities planned ask the guests what if all they will be attending. Also, be sensitive that some  gals’ husbands or boyfriends may cause drama if you are headed out to get down with some oiled up muscle heads. No use in buying tickets and having the married mommies parting ways with the party at 9pm.

What can you do yourself?

• Does the bachelorette want a beauty day? Give each other pedicures, hire one beauty specialist to give a “lesson” where she does the bride and you each perform the service on each other. http://taylormadeink.com/index.html

• Does someone have a house you can have a pool party or BBQ at in the afternoon?  Also great for the coed events.
• DIY photo session in everyones outfits. Stage an area by removing clutter and adding a cute backdrop & lights. Get hot photos of everyone.
• If you are combining the bachelorette & bachelor party (not everyone thinks their future spouse getting rubbed on by naked strangers right before their wedding is cool) you can promote fidelity AND sexiness by getting a pole for the party. The ladies can have fun trying it out while their guys look on and everyone saves money in cover charges.  Check out youtube for some how to videos.

Save money on events & professionals

• Check out special promotions at local places. Ladies night dollar drinks, ladies get in free, a bar with a free band, etc.  As soon as you let everyone know you are a bachelorette party they will want to upcharge you. Just show up OR call the week ahead and ask if you can get a free table if you are bringing say 15 ladies.  (Count Aunt Edith if you need to!).
• Pregame. Have a few drinks BEFORE you head out as long as you have a driver. Don’t skimp on this. And don’t ask one of the ladies to do it, thats bad manners unless someone already doesn’t drink and is asking for trouble. Have dinner as a potluck or buffet at someones house before you go.
• Does anyone in the party have a skill or talent you can “volunteer”? A yoga instructor, pastry chef, bartender. Ask for help!
• Find out if the local pole dance instructor will come to the home for a lap or pole dance lesson. I used to do this all the time. I still do sometimes, but I did find it often hard to figure out a suitable place to setup my pole at peoples houses. Now I encourage ladies to stick to lap dance lessons at home which is still super fun. If you do want the pole make sure you are able to clear enough room for setup.

Other tips

• Share hotel rooms or rent a condo for a slumber party style weekend out of town.
• Pick your group souvenirs carefully. I have seen some groups decide they are going to get outfits made up with custom printed booty shorts, tanks, tiaras, etc.  You will likely never again wear a tank top with “Susies Stripper Lesson Bachelorette Weekend” on it. And there is always going to be one or two ladies who are pissed about squeezing into those booty shorts. If you want to match suggest everyone wearing the same color and then getting tiaras,  mardi gras beads, garters, etc.
• Everyone leaves behind the custom pilsner you get for the bachelorette to drink out of.

Whatever you do have fun and take lots of photos. Dont let drama spoil the night and relax!

Lana

Resources~

Get a pole for your party

Bachelorette Party decorations & accessories

Beauty Party Professionals http://yourbeautybash.com/ and http://taylormadeink.com/

But  does that mean she is really in shape enough to go upside down all the time, and pole dance in general? She was in great shape. But if you are just doing tricks and not working on your overall fitness in general you are going to injure yourself.  What do you need to supplement your pole dance fitness routine?

• Stretching~ Yoga or pilates, or just plain old stretching. All over, of course, but especially the back, hamstrings, shoulders, and arms. Any stretch you do should be held for at least 30 seconds.Yoga DVDs and Books
• Strength training~ You don’t have to join a gym, a few minutes a day even is sufficient. If you are working out at home get a small set of weights or bands. Dancing on a pole will build your strength buy you need overall strength as well.  I suggest the 12-Minute Total-Body Workout.
• Cardio~ Not only does cardio keep your heart & lungs healthy but it keeps your weight low, which has obvious benefits if you are dancing on a pole. Cycling or interval training is excellent. Even a fast, hard walk. If you want to add to your exotic movement I suggest belly dance. Belly Dance for Cardio it helps with your transitions & filler movement on the pole and the floor and gets you in excellent shape.

So pole dance fitness is way more involved than just your pole practice. You need a well rounded program to perform on your pole at your best. Good luck!

• Sexy Stripper Separates ~ These are super popular because when you are pole dancing it adds to the performance if you can take off a piece at a time. Also, you can mix and match your gear that way for a variety of looks.
• Stripper Dresses~ Next popular are sexy pole dancing club wear type outfits. Most pole dance dresses are going to be a bit more daring than what most people would wear to a club, but you never know. (I live in Vegas so I have seen it all)
• Stripper Costumes~ Schoolgirl, naughty nurse, maid, pole dancing police officer. It might be a bit of a cliche from a Motley Crue video but fantasy sells and a costume and a pole go hand in hand.
• Corsets~ While maybe not the most practical pole dance outfit, for lap dance a corset to bust out of is HOT.

Pole Dance Shorts & Practice Wear

• Pole Dance Shorts & Practice wear~ Even when you are practicing you want to look hot, but be able to make contact with the pole. Usually shorts are your best bet, but use layers to stay comfy. Legwarmers, sweaters, etc.

Also, don’t forget the Pole Dance Stripper shoes & boots and when practicing your climbs & inversions I highly suggest Gorilla gold grip enhancer its the only grip enhances I use, but I will write more on that later!

This pole is also my “carry” pole, the pole I use at private parties or to take to friends houses for practice or to mess around

If you are looking to be really serious about your pole investment, this pole is the choice of both pole instructors and students. While its not the cheapest option, it is the most versatile.

Here is some basic info~

All x poles are fully portable. Once you have taken your measurements it only takes 20 minutes to setup.

The poles can be static or spinning. If you are making an “investment” this is a must have. You will find  the versatility is essential when switching from beginner to advanced moves. You can purchase extenders for up to 11 feet.
The x pole has been tested at up to 250 pounds.

X-pole also features a freestanding stage that does not need a ceiling. If you are looking for a high volume professional stage for a club or a dance studio this is a great choice.

Check out their website for all the specifications

X Pole Website~Professional Exercise and Dance Poles

My personal favorite is Poletricks 101 by Pantera.

Even though this video has mostly advanced tricks, it really breaks down many tricks and spins so you can actually figure out how to do them. Now, if you are looking for a pole workout style DVD this isn’t really one of those. There is no warm up or cool down. No routines. There is some pole~style nudity. But as far as really putting together a lot of tricks in one place, this video is it! I know many instructors myself included who have used this video as a go-to. Also, this was one of the first videos ever available for tricks.

If you are looking for actual pole workout DVDs here is a comprehensive list ~
Pole Dance Workouts.

A workout video is going to have more or a warm up and cool down.

There are also more general Pole Dance DVDs available that are kind of more of a cross between a workout and straight instruction here~
General Pole Dance DVDs

Of course, you may not have an actual pole at home but everyone has a lap. If you can’t remember the routine you learned in class or you want new moves here is a list of lap dance DVDs.
Lap Dance Lessons on DVD

The most popular lap dance DVD is Carmen Electras. I have not personally viewed it, but I have heard excellent things about it from other instructors and my students alike.

I hope this helps! Feel free to add your reviews and suggestions in the comments section.

Want to get a body like a stripper? Drink all night, smoke cigarettes, sleep all day and gyrate for dollars. Not really

“You must be in great shape to do this” “I dont have the body for this, but it is fun” “How do you girls stay in shape”

First of all, I am not the skinniest girl in the world but I am far from out of shape. Id say Im on the good side of normal. One thing I did learn working in strip clubs was a larger acceptance of female beauty than you would realize. Personality goes a long way. Often it wasnt the size 4 blonde with the 34dd’s that made a ton of money, but a dancer pushing 40 or a larger size who makes the most money at the club because she has a fun personality. Hey, maybe the size four is just being bitchy because she is hungry .

That being said I am 35, have thankfully worn sunscreen everyday for the past 22 years, and have pretty much been able to eat what I want within reason. However this past year or so I have noticed that I needed to “fine tune” a little bit. I was always one of those girls a few pounds over my “goal” even though I was teaching dance & yoga, and eating 1600 calories a day. Being a fitness instructor I knew how and when to eat, and even though I wasn’t always totally diligent I felt like I was missing something. I felt I could look better. Then I read Master Your Metabolism: The 3 Diet Secrets to Naturally Balancing Your Hormones for a Hot and Healthy Body! by Jillian Michaels. First of all I am NOT a Biggest Loser fan. I really didnt know very much about Jillian Michaels.

An easy synopsis of the book is that chemicals in our food react on a hormonal level in our bodies and make us fat and old The book gets fairly technical in a few chapters but it also breaks it down easily, what to shop for, and even a VERY simple diet plan I was able to follow. In five days I lost four pounds. Not hungry, sleeping well, eating real food four times a day. My clothes were looser around my waistline and legs. After the first few pounds came off I have steadily lost a little every week since and I feel awesome. I highly suggest this book on your way to being in pole dancing shape!