Where to begin?


I'm Marni in real life but on stage, I'm Delphine.


I'm obsessed with French things and names even though I've never been to France or anything. Maybe someday.


Once I dated a guy from Quebec though. Or at least that's where he said he was from. His name was Steve and I am not entirely sure how French of a name Steve is.


Honestly, I don't like my stage name anymore because I found out it's the name of some racist serial killer from way back in Louisiana but by the time I found out, it was too late to change it. They make you pay a huge fine if you change your name here, and I need every single dollar I get.


I'm literally the only one in my house that works.


My mom is on disability and sits at home all day but she does watch my baby for me so that works.

I have a brother too but he's in jail now. Again.


I've done this kind of work off and on since I was 18 but this is the longest I have ever worked at one place ever.


I was out for four months because I had the baby. And if you did the math there, you'll be able to tell that I worked here up until I was seven months along.


Some dudes think it's hot plus I really still needed the money. Do you know how ridiculously expensive having a baby is?


I have a cousin, Trish, who is a midwife and she took care of me all the way up until they said "Crap, girl. You need a C-section" so off to the hospital in an ambulance we went.


There I was trying to avoid a huge hospital bill and wound up with an even bigger one.


I came back to work at 9 weeks post. I wasn't fully healed yet - mostly, but not entirely. So I took it easy there for a bit and a lot of the girls gave me some of their tips.


That's the thing about this place. We all take care of each other.


For the most part.


We do get girls that come and go or who are major cutthroat bitches, but for those of us who have stuck around, it's kind of like a little sweaty family in g-strings.


Lilith, a friend of mine, just started here a few weeks ago and we have kind of become best friends.


She has a kid too, which is not unusual for this line of work, and she's really been helping me out with the whole motherhood thing.


Her kid is older so she knows a lot.


She's really cool. She actually started stripping because she wanted to, not because she was looking at an eviction notice or medical bills. She wanted to, and I think she is so brave for that.


This kind of work isn't easy.


I mean it can be, but you have to put up with a lot.


Most of the customers are cool but there are some that are pretty gross.


Some will even offer money for a bj.


I'm like, no thank you, although if I get desperate enough I may have to.


Lilith told me "Fuck no, Marni. Don't sell out, you are so much better than that," but I think she is a little more well-off than I am financially.


She made me feel like I'm a queen though, so that was nice.


I am thinking about going to secretary school because I would love to not have to work at night anymore, but I need to save up more money first.


Plus, I would miss it here. At least a little.


And who would help Lilith know which songs to avoid and how to work the pole?


She had no pole experience at all before, so I had to show her.


It helps if you have gorilla-grip thighs like I do.


She's still working on it and she's doing pretty well. She can't go upside down though yet. That takes a while.


Maybe sometime we will do an act together.


Guys really love that kind of thing. They always think we are all lesbians with each other and it's funny to see them lose their shit over two girls all kissing.


I couldn't be a lesbian, I don't think. I mean, I could if I could just lay there, you know?


My cousin Rio told me that's called being a "Pillow Princess."


I have to admit, I like the way that sounds.


Rio is a lesbian and she's kind of boyish so when I go places with her, I feel safe.


We grew up together and when we played with Barbies she was always Ken.


Or plastic green army soldier guys.


Rio doesn't want any kids and that's perfectly fine, I don't blame her.


But she's so good with Angelique. (That's my daughter.)


I had their picture together on my lock screen on my phone once, and someone asked me if that was my dude and our baby.


Like, they couldn't tell? Rio has bigger tits than I do!


Anyway, I don't get homophobia.


Rio is ten times better than the nicest guy I ever met.


Maybe I should be a lesbian after all...


Rio says it's not a choice, but if it was maybe that would be the right one for me.