If you look to the NASDAQ for financial advice, you may be looking in the wrong place. It seems you can tell the status of the economy in the strip clubs. Dancers say the days of customers ‘making it rain’ have halted — and they are pretty upset about the drought.

According to IBIS World, in 2021, the exotic dancing industry was the fastest growing and most profitable business industry. This includes nearly 4,000 topless and nude venues nationwide. Although Houston is one of the leading cities in the industry, it seems the demand is not meeting the supply.

Journalist Isiah Carey of Houston’s FOX 26 News welcomed two exotic dancers, Angel and Sparkle, onto his Isiah Factor Uncensored show, where he spoke with them about the money trends they’re currently seeing in the club.

Carey tweeted a clip of the segment and wrote, “Houston strippers say people aren’t even paying to see that azz because of the economy.”

In the clip, the 51-year-old journalist vet mentioned that “an economic indicator of the economy is the strip clubs.” He then asked the women to give their opinion about how business was.

“How is business for you guys right now?” he asked.

“Slow. It’s unrealistically and unimaginably slow,” Angel answered. “Sometimes we don’t even make $100. Business has not been moving in this side of Houston, at least not for me.”

When asked if this was an unusual occurrence, Angel answered, “Very much so. I am used to making at least $500 or even $600, sometimes $300 on a slow night, that would be better, but barely $100 is crazy.”

Carey then asked Sparkle if she also saw the business slow down at her club.

“Does it feel like a recession to you?” Carey ask Sparkle.

“Yes sir,” Sparkle replied. “I am used to seeing lots and lots of customers at the club, but recently it’s been barely any customers walking through the door. If we get customers, they may just sit there and watch. So it’s been really hard. We’ve been doing what we can and working at several clubs at a time, but we usually shouldn’t have to do that.”

Sparkle commented on how low attendance is a common theme she sees lately, even while club-hopping. The low turnout has undoubtedly affected her pockets.

“You can make anywhere from $0 to $100 on a slow night. Any anywhere up to $300 to $1,000 on a fast night. Maybe even $2,000, it all depends on how good of a dancer you are,” she said.

The ladies agreed that although they aren’t bringing in the money,  the club owners still want their cut at the end of the night.

“You can make $100 in a night and the club would want $80,” Sparkle said. “You barely make enough to fill up your tank, and they aren’t even doing anything to keep the clubs up or looking nice.”

Even with the harsh conditions and unkempt aesthetics of the clubs, Sparkle said that Black dancers are often times trapped.

“We can look for other clubs to dance at that may be nicer or have a different clientele, and we will hear that they aren’t hiring any Black girls at the moment.”

“You would be surprised at how often I hear you are too Black, or you would be better if you were white,” Angel echoed.

Carey was shocked as the women explained how they were also denied because the club’s “Black girl quota” had already been filled.

Carey asked the women how the strip clubs were getting away with blatant racism that wouldn’t fly in any other industry.

Angel sadly replied, “No one cares or speaks up. They look at us like we are sex workers and don’t matter.”

Isiah Factor Uncensored airs weeknights at 10:30 p.m. CST on Fox 26 Houston.

You can view the entire segment featuring Angel and Sparkle below.

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