Z:

Do you remember the very first time you danced on stage?
S:
I was 17. Yes, it was illegal. [Laughs] I was a waitress and my boss at the time was bugging me everyday. He would ask, "When are you going to dance?" I didn't want to because at the time I had a jealous boyfriend that would not have approved. But the day I broke up with him, I walked into work and said, "I'm dancing!" I was so scared. My hands were so sweaty they were slipping up and down on the poll. I wore so much clothes on stage so it would take me longer to get to my top. It was sort of empowering once I did. I just took a deep breath and did it. I thought, "That wasn't so bad." It gets easier everytime.

Z:
Since you're from NY, I assume you worked at clubs on the East Coast. Please tell me more about the clubs out there and compare them to LA.
S:
I think the biggest difference is the size of the clubs. On the average the L.A. clubs are bigger. But I think that going to a club in N.Y. is more of an event. We have hot oil wrestling, and girl-girl shows. Our VIP rooms are really expensive in New York. My last club charged $365 for an hour in the VIP, no sex in anyway shape or form. We only got $100 commission.

Z:
Wow. I've been to a few sleazy clubs in New York but I didn't go to the nice fancy ones like that. As far as dancing goes, what kind of music do you dance to?
S:
East coast stuff. Smooth R&B. I like Hip Hop. I get in my metal moods. It's just harder for me to dance to the fast stuff. I like sexy music.

Z:
Sexy is good. What kind of music do you listen to at home?
S:
I hate to admit it, but I like poppy crap like 'N Sync and Brittany. It's so funny because I used to beat up the kids that listened to that stuff when I was a kid. I used to think, the harder, faster and more evil the better. Now I like happy, bright, cheery stuff. But when I want to feel something, I listen to R&B like Mary J. Blige. That's why I dance to that. I like to feel the music when I dance.

Z:
Well, I guess you're changing. Do you have any horror stories from work?
S:

I had a customer that looked liked Charles Manson. He used to take me in the VIP room and he would want me to pretend I was fainting. When I was so called "out", he would stroke my hair and say, "Poor little stripper. She worked so hard she pasted out." Then he would leave without a word.

Z:
Boy, that is really creepy. You must have some other good stories about weirdo customers. Tell me more.
S:
I had this one guy who used to come in and see me. He was 87 years old, and about 5'2" 300 pounds. He would spend a bit of money on me but nothing to write home about. Then if I would dance for another guy he would get mad. He went so far as to grab me off a lap dance by my arm, and yell at me. He would cry at the tip rail and cross his arms and pout when I would dance in front of another guy on stage. I had him black balled.

Z:
Oh, man. That's the definition of a PL, a pathetic loser. Or maybe more like a psycho. I guess black balled is like 86-ed out here in Los Angeles. Any pet peeves?
S:
I don't like liars, and show-offs. The worst thing is a guy trying to impress me with his war stories or how much weight he can bench press. I had a guy tell me he was a Chippendales dancer. I busted him because I know a guy that has been a Chippendales dancer for 18 years. I would prefer it if a guys was just honest with me and just broke the ice with a joke.

Z:
Do you have any hobbies?
S:
I was an art major in school. So I like to paint. It relaxes me. I went to that school in New York that they made that movie Fame about. But we didn't dance on the table tops.

Z:
Is anything in that movie like the real school or is it all Hollywood crap?
S:
It was a weird school. The dance majors walked around the school in leotards, tights and toe shoes. The drama majors were the worst. They all wore all black, all the time. I dated a drama major. He was in the movie Home Alone. He was the big brother Buzz. I keep seeing people I went to school with on T.V. all the time. Like the guy in that movie Drive Me Crazy. His name is Adrian Granier. I had the biggest crush on him in High School.

Z:
Have you been to any interesting places?
S:

I've been all over the East coast. The most interesting place was Selma Alabama. Coming from New York City, my neighborhood was so culturally diverse. Selma was a culture shock and a half. I learned a lot during my trip. But Puerto Rico was the coolest. My dad was born in Guyama Puerto Rico. I went and visited all my family out there. My grandmother had chickens running through her house, and they had coconut trees right on the beach. It's a beautiful place. I got second degree burn from the sun though.

Z:
Two words: Sun block. Tell me more about Selma and the difference with New York.
S:
I went with a youth group and stayed at Concordia College. What was different was the way everyone was so focused on their race. I had a little boy boyfriend who was bi-racial. Alot of the kids gave us problems.

Z:
Learned some tough lessons early in life, I guess. Speaking of boyfriends, what kind of guys do you like?
S:
I like funny, witty, smart, confident men. There is nothing that turns a girl on, more then confidence. When it comes to looks, I like everything. They just have to have sex appeal.

Z:
Do you have a favorite movie?
S:
My favorite move of all time is Heathers. Me and my best friends have watched that movie over 100 times in the past 10 or 12 years. I never get tired of it.

Z:
That's some kind of record. I've only seen it once. What is it about it that you like so much?
S:
I like black comedies. But the best thing about the movie is Christian Slater.

Z:
Of course. Slater. What was I thinking? [Laughs] Well, thanks for the fun interview.
S:
It was fun.