Z:
Do you have any hobbies?
L:
Vampire RPG, rennfaires, assembling a vast collection of music. I love to sing, and I'm trying to get back into the local band scene after a less than encouraging experience a year or two ago.

Z:
What's Vampire RPG? Tell me more about it.
L:
Vampire: The Masquerade is a role playing game much like D&D, but with a much easier die system. It's more cerebrally oriented, rather than the hack 'n' slash campaigns of D&D. The latest thing with Vampire gamers is to play the game in a "live action" format, where every one dresses up and actually acts out their character's role. It's a lot of fun, although very draining. Kinda like improv acting without an audience.

Z:
What kind of band and music? Do you want to be signed?
L:
I've been with several bands for short periods over the last few years. I still haven't found one that I clicked with. Sure, I'd love to be signed eventually, but I'm not putting all my eggs in that basket.

Z:
Where did you grow up?
L:
Started out in the big city... moved to the suburbs... been trying to get back towards the city ever since. small, conservative communities have always had a hard time ignoring my insistent presence.

Z:
What do you like about dancing?
L:
Believe it or not, I used to fantasize about being an exotic dancer when I was 12 or so (no ballerina dreams for me, sir). I love being able to throw myself into a performance on stage. I used to do a lot of community theater, and although I know this is a LOT different, it still hold a lot of the same qualities. When I walk into a club, I become the wild/sexy/goth - nymph I have to hold back in "real life". I can choose my own hours, which is great for school and planning MY OWN time. Being a dancer has also been a real lifesaver, since I can pass through any major city and pick up some work for a few nights if I'm broke, which is usually the case. It really lends itself to my (pick-up-and-go on a whim) streak that seems to take over at times.

Z:
Tell me about your favorite foods, and movies.
L:
I'm pretty easy to please when it comes to the types of foods I like, although I'm prone to intense cravings at odd moments. Sometimes I'll go to three different places in a row to get exactly what I want. Italian food comes to mind at the moment. Movies? Heh -- what else? Pulp Fiction. Not just because people think I look like Uma Thurman, though. I loved the dialogue (ooooh...a LITERATE dancer). I get a total kick outta that movie every time I see it.

Z:
Would you like to give out your physical statistics?
L:
I'd say 5'5'' nekid, and nearly six feet with my evil black patent leather hootchie mama platform sandals. Measurements at last inventory were 32D-23-34. My hair is naturally almost blonde, but although blonds in general make more money dancing (at least in California), I like a more gothic, exotic look.

On a thread on ASSC (November 2, 1996) regarding dancers dating customers, Lydia comments:

As a general rule, I do not date customers, and being a customer in the club I'm working at makes you a LOT less likely to ever have a date with me. The likelihood also depends very much on if you are buying lap dances and tipping me. To me (for the most part), there are two categories of men: customers, and everyone else. The more I see you as a "customer", the more I tend to distance myself emotionally in order to protect my humongous ego. Because I know you view me in a strictly sexual/fantasy context, and that is certainly not *my* desired starting point for any kind of real-life relationship. Now for those of you who have met me, please don't take these statements wrong. I have formed many casual friendships with men I met in strip clubs. Even ones that paid my bills. The difference is in the attitude I see the guy having towards me.

<sigh> Now, the "falling for some guy" equation: I have dated several guys I met at work. Two were friends of dancers or waitresses and just hanging out (thus putting them in the everyone else category). One was there with a friend, tipped scantily and it really didn't seem to make a difference to him that I was cute, mostly naked, or anything of that sort.

As for the "never date customers", its really a better idea not to, as all the above "relationships" turned out badly. One guy turned puppydog on me, calling day and night (the absolute WRONG thing to do with me), one just kinda faded into the woodwork, and one was a cocky arrogant bastard who unfortunately was really good in bed so I ended up seeing him even after I deduced that he had an unsavory personality (oh? did i say that out loud?). My hormones get the best of me at the most inopportune moments.

And there is a grain of truth in the dancers being wildly attracted to assholes theory. I think I've digressed into a blabbering heap of emotional baggage. Excuse me--what was the question?