E-mails Regarding Height

Lately I've been getting a lot of e-mails from male stripper applicants who feel that their height may be an issue. Here's what they have written (all spelling and grammar errors remain intact):

Marcc M. wrote:

Heyy i need help im 5'5 do you think they'll accept me to do stripping

Irvin B wrote:

Well I am 22 about to turn 23, I am a good looking mexican,  I noticed as I am getting a bigger and muscular aesthetic body I am looking better ( facial), I am not a shy guy to dance in front of women ( even thought I never been on stage ), I have move, naturally I love to dance, great personality and many women always told me I look like the type of men to be a flirty one even thought I am not flirting just smiling most of the time.However  I am 5'5 tall ( pretty short) maybe 5'6 with boots lol, I am moving out to tampa. With all the experience you have, I will be grateful to receive an honest reply/opinion from you....do you think I am able to make as a stripper? Side note: for some reason it seems that males get attracted to me since I am always getting compliments from them pretty often lol, which I think it would be the case for women as well... 

 Michael V. wrote:

Hey there, I have been reading your blog for a while (great guide seriously, thanks for putting your experience on the internet) and I am interested to start a stripper career. And I was wondering what is your opinion about my height/weight/physic about a job like that. I am 5'8'' and around 154 lbs . I'm not very muscular and not very tall and I just want an expert opinion. Thank you once more for this blog it is really helpful !Best regards ,Michael

Isaiah W. wrote:

Is there a specific height limit that agency's prefer? Thanks man 

My response:

I'll be honest and blunt with all of you. Height is a very important quality of male strippers, with taller being better. An agency might consider a shorter guy if he is better built and better looking than most of the roster of the incredibly muscular and good-looking guys. Even then, some companies have height requirements with 5'10 (177 cm) usually being the bare minimum. Most companies prefer 6'0 or taller.

Height ranks at number one among the physical traits women complain about when it comes to male strippers. Even a good looking and muscular guy who is 5'5 will get complaints.

You have to take in account that some brides and birthday girls will be exceptionally tall. I've run into some girls who tower well over 6 feet. Many women will want to pose with the male stripper for pictures. Imagine a 5'5 guy standing next to a bride who is 6'2 and wearing high heels. The short guy would resemble a midget in comparison and possibly make the bride feel like an ogre. That's shitty customer service there.

That said, don't let your height get in the way of applying. I have seen short male strippers before. In fact, I met another guy at a male revue who was 5'5, but he was the most muscular one among us. He was far from the most popular, but at least he didn't embarrass himself when he ventured out into the crowd. However, Chippendales and other big name companies would never hire him.

If you're short, you're going to start off with a handicap. Just as it is in basketball, height plays an essential role for male strippers. It sucks. It's not fair. But we cannot all be male strippers, just as we cannot all be rocket scientists or professional basketball players. That's life. Don't let height prevent you from trying, though. Continuously train and better yourself, then apply and see what an agent says. Rejection won't hurt anything except maybe your ego.

And to those who e-mail me seeking help, a little courtesy or gratitude goes a long way when I take time to write you guys an answer. Yes, I'm talking to you Marcc (e-mail #1). You asked me for help without any trace of common courtesy in your e-mail, and then said nothing when I gave you a response. Not even a "thank you" or even the slightest bit of acknowledgement. If that's how your attitude is with everyone, then you're definitely not cut out to work as a male stripper which requires a certain degree of professionalism.

I Wanna Be A Male Stripper! (Part 1)

On average, I get about a dozen e-mails a week from guys who want to get into this industry. Because so many of the e-mails are similar in nature, I decided to share them in an effort to answer any future questions that you aspiring male strippers out there might have.

The first e-mail is by Andres:

Hello Dion,
Thank you for your willingness to help answer questions. I am 25, 5'11, hispanic male, currently 151 lbs, slim body with good definition.
My questions to you are:
What would you recommend would be an ideal body weight?
Is there such thing as skinny male strippers? What is their success rate?
What is some advice you would give to first time strippers?
Where did you resort to for dance moves? Do you have an online link you recommend?
Do you shave or wax?
How many costumes do I need? Do you have a website you would recommend?
What are strip clubs looking for when hiring male strippers?
Is a dick pump necessary?
How was your first stripping experience at a club?
Thanks

Dear Andres: 

I suggest that you gain about twenty pounds of muscle. That alone will not get you work though. I have not taken in other factors such as your looks, charisma, professionalism, common sense, and personality. But being too skinny can be a problem because your competition may be a guy who is 5'11 and 195 lbs. with good definition. He's going to get the work. You're not.

There are skinny male strippers though. Once again, think of the competition. You may get the job, but the girls will most likely pick the guy who looks like he weighs a bit more than the average girl at the party.

I don't really have any recommendations for dance moves. It's all about your own style really. Just as comedians have to make their own jokes, male strippers have to make their own routines.

I shave. Never wax. I did that once and got so many ingrown hairs from it.

As far as costumes are concerned, I wrote a whole section on costumes in the guide section of my site.  

I have never used a dick pump before. But now that you mentioned it, perhaps you can find a muscle suit that comes with a dick pump. Then you would have the ideal weight, the dick pump, and a costume all in one! 

My next story will go into detail about my first stripping experience at a club.

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The next e-mail is from Pieter:

Good day Dion

Can you give me some advice?
Im interested in becoming a male stripper but I dont know the ins and outs or even how to start. Have no experience whatsoever. I could really use some advice.

Looking forward to hear from you

Kind regards
Pieter

Dear Pieter:

I'm interested in becoming an electrical engineer, but I don't know where to start. I have no experience or a degree for the matter. I need advice. I know this is a vague and open-ended question that shows little research and initiative on my part, but requests a long drawn out answer on yours.

In all seriousness, click on the "Guide: Becoming A Male Stripper" tab at the top of the my page. That said, are you going to be too lazy to do all the work and research yourself? Or are you going to ask an agent to do all the work for you?

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And one more from Jake:

Hi, so I was reading your blog and it's really nice all the tips and stuff.

I have a question though, so I know this place that is currently hiring young male strippers with no experience, sounds perfect, only thing is my body is not like Captain America or anything, I've been at the gym for 1 month and there's some definition going on here and there it's all good all pleasant to the eye, I have an athletic figure, I'm real good looking, but I don't have a six pack... So should i apply for the job now? Or wait a few months till I have that amazing body?

Jake

Dear Jake:

I suggest you take yourself over to the place and ask the management to access your body and looks for you. They'll give you an honest opinion.

Here's my opinion though: One month of training ain't shit. I've been training for years before I started stripping, and let me tell you that a few months of training is not going to bring about that crazy transformation.

There is one exception and that is genetics. You may have been blessed with a good body naturally, but even that will only take you so far. Either way, if you think training alone is going to be the answer, then you're wrong.

Like I said, go and apply. See what the management says. You can make it without a six-pack. Yet, there may be a guy working at the club with a six-pack, good looks, and a charming personality, and he's going to get all the money while you're standing there with a dollar bill in your G-string watching him get all the women.

Just because you get the job doesn't mean you'll get the money.

Dion