She holds the titles of Miss Nude Wisconsin, and Miss
Nude Northwest ‘91 and ‘92.
She is Alyssa Alps.
Alyssa is a feature dancer who performs coast to coast across the United States and Canada.
Q – Alyssa, the fame and acclaim you receive, is because you take your clothes off for a living. How does that affect the way you relate to people and people relate to you-offstage?
A – Offstage I relate‘ to people pretty well. I don’t tell everyone what I do, because a lot of people don’t approve, understand, or are general jackasses on the issue. And, after so many years doing this I’ve stopped trying to make people understand my job. Either accept me or don’t! It’s the best way to feel to avoid getting upset or angry. My job is my job. But, outside the clubs, I’m a regular person just like everyone else. Once people get past the way I look everything is generally A-OK.
Q – You told Stripper Magazine that you were a House Dancer one week and a Feature Dancer the next, and that all it took to make that jump was one call to an agency. You also said your costumes cost $1,000 each, and you have 25 or 30 of them. And, you don’t remember your first time onstage as a Feature. Alyssa, there’s something missing in that story. One phone call to an agent and you’re a Feature Dancer? Where does a House Dancer get the money to afford thousand dollar costumes? Did you have a financial “backer? Why wouldn’t you remember the first time you featured?
A – I think you read a lot more into the Stripper article than was necessary or true. I summarised my jump to featuring. It’s along, boring story anyway. Basically, girls that want to try featuring like me have ‘some dance experience and they call an agency to learn how to become a feature. Everyone does this differently. I chose to start at the bottom with no magazines or credits, pay my dues along the way and work my way up the feature ladder. In the course of working my Way up I started off on a low salary scale and as my credits, shows, experience, increased, my salary went up as well. As you know, costumes are a main part of our shows and I have many, but I accumulated them along the way. Most girls don’t have $10,000 to start featuring with. I started off small and saved my money to invest in things for work, costumes, promo, and show props. It takes money to make money. The more you make, the more you spend, if done right that is. Like any job you have to know what you’re getting yourself into. One phone call is just a start, not a career.
Q – You spend 40-46 weeks a year on the Dance Circuit. How many years have you been doing that? Aren’t you reaching the point now where you’re thinking enough is enough, I want out?
A – Yes. I spend 40 to 46 weeks a year working. But, this also includes promo work and photo shoots as well as dancing. I’ve been featuring since 1991 and I still love my job. I still have my rough days especially Sundays. The dreaded travel day, when there are airplanes to catch, baggage to locate, finding your new club and meeting everyone you’ll be working with in the next week. But, if you work hard and keep your name strong you can feature for years.
Q – How do you fight the boredom of traveling and living in hotels?
A – I’m very rarely bored on the road. For me, a TV, phone, my AT&T calling card, malls, and plenty of books to read are all I need to keep me busy. Besides, I’m doing four shows a day at various times, so I usually have very full days.
Q – Are there certain parts of the country where you have to tone down your act? If so, what are those places and what is it that they find offensive or objectionable?
A – Most club rules of what you can and cannot do are garnered by the city or county that they are in. But, some states have laws for the entire state, like Texas, Georgia and Virginia. The type of club, bikini, nude, topless, and their variations a lot of times decides what is allowed by law. Sometimes the clubs themselves put restrictions on the dancers at their preferences, because they personally want a certain type of atmosphere. For example, a nude club that when the dancers are nude, they have to stay on
both feet with nothing deliberately showing even though the city doesn’t care. The club just feels it’s more tasteful you just have to go with the flow and follow whatever rules are given to you on Monday.
Q – You say, “This job can lead you in so many different directions. The opportunities are endless.” What opportunities are you talking about here?
A – Being a Feature, you are in the public eye. Magazines, videos, movies, club promotions, agency pro motions, and anything else you do can work for you, to being noticed, to have opportunities to do other things and meet new people. Maybe working with a new photographer for non-nude modeling like postcards, calendars, national advertisements, testing for a major motion picture, working closely with a particular magazine publishing company, representing a particular club on a national or regional level. The opportunities are endless!
Q – You’re quoted as saying, “I got a lot of regular guys that come and see me perform.” Why do you think that is?
A. Almost everyone has their favorite Features. This is usually because of what they have seen in magazines, videos, movies, or what they have seen “live” at the club. Some guys only like busty girls. Some only like adult movie actresses. Some only like Penthouse girls, and some only like you because of what they saw in your recent magazine layout. It’s all a fantasy or I should say we are fantasy figures. But there are those men who just like naked women and they like everybody. Those who have their favorites like to see them and collect materials on them just like sports starts or movie stars.
Q – And finally, “There’s no way I’m the best, but I’m always doing my best.” Alyssa, who is the best in the business then?
A – ‘I love that quote. It’s perfect and it’s true. It all depends on who you are talking to, to find out who’s the best. I think some of the best features in the business are any of us who work hard and have a strong name and shows. There are too many to count. My personal favorites are Niki Knockers, Melissa Wolf, Pandora Peaks, Venus DeLight, Alex Taylor, Blondage, Fire and Ice, Mona Lisa, Heather Hooters, and up and coming Nicole Tyler. But remember we are all some of the best or we wouldn’t be where we are today.
