Strip clubs are on the decline, and many are blaming OnlyFans.
In the United Kingdom, only 103 strip clubs are still in business, down from 155 only three years earlier. And while there are many more strip clubs in the United States, reports show that revenue is down across the country. Some agencies even report bookings at just 50% of pre-pandemic levels.
But is OnlyFans to blame?
Nick Ede, UK pop culture expert, recently said in an interview: “OnlyFans has totally killed the strip club. People are now tipping sex workers and strippers using their phones, rather than slipping a 10 pound note in a thong.”
Ede continued: “It’s also a clear generational thing, too. Strip clubs were seen as sleazy venues, now they are seen as old and out of touch with today’s lifestyles.”
While strip clubs are still prevalent in the United States with somewhere around 3,000 clubs in existence, revenue never recovered after the Covid-19 pandemic. That’s why many strip clubs are adding additional options at the club, with more food and drink options and additional VIP upgrades. With fewer patrons, they want to increase the revenue per patron as much as possible.
That doesn’t help the dancers though.
That’s why many are turning to OnlyFans to supplement their income from the club.
OnlyFans offers more financial incentives for performers than traditional strip clubs. Performers can directly monetize their content and often hold on to a larger percentage of earnings than in a club, not to mention create content from the comfort of their own home.
Plus younger generations seem to prefer online content over in-person connection. Watching a stripper perform online lets the viewer do whatever they want (ahem) without prying eyes or a two-drink minimum.
And the rise of social media has led to the focus on relatability. Even celebrities are trying to be relatable by revealing their exact plastic surgery specifics (Kyle Jenner recently shared the details of her breast implants), so it’s no surprise that strippers are facing the lack of “fantasy” that they used to have.
But some argue that this decline isn’t related to OnlyFans. After all, strip clubs were on the decline even before the pandemic (which coincided with the explosive growth of OnlyFans).
Whether OnlyFans is to blame or not, strip clubs are struggling to adapt to the current world.
While some are trying to incorporate technology into their environment (want to Venmo your stripper instead of cash?) others are adding a social media component to try to promote their dancers and overall experience.
Even if strip clubs are declining, there will always be both performers and patrons who prefer a live, in-person experience. They may just have to drive further to find what they’re looking for.