About midnight, and I remember this moment as clearly now as if it was yesterday the DJ stopped the music and announced it was show time. The place went wild, lights went down and a single spotlight lit the small stage. Out came a young woman wearing a mini skirt and top, she started to dance and we realised she was a stripper. Some of the girls were shocked and left but about 4 of us stayed on, probably too drunk to move if the truth be known. The girl was ok, but now I look back and realise how amateur she was. It didn't seem to matter to the guys who were cheering and throwing money onto the stage floor there were coins mainly but I did see plenty of notes too. Something clicked inside me then, why was I working my self to the bone every day for a pittance when these girls were making serious money in the time it took me to walk from the bus stop to my bench in the factory.
When she finished her strip she scooped up all the money off the stage and left. Sandie came to our table and asked if we needed any more drinks, when she returned with them she asked if we enjoyed the show, it was not often they had groups of girls in here, had we come because it was amateur night? We all shook our head and she looked at me and said she had been watching me dance and I should give it a go as I had all the right moves. I know I went red with embarrassment, I couldn't see myself up there doing that. Sandie said I didn't have to go all the way, as far as I wanted. The girls all got behind her then and kept on at me to do it, until a combination of them, the alcohol and the thought of the money made me say yes!
20 minutes later I was downing a brandy in the back stage area about to go on and do my very first show. How many I have done since that one I have no idea but I remember everything about it still, even though I was so drunk at the time. My heart was beating so hard as I walked out onto the stage, the DJ put on 'ain't no sunshine' by Michael Jackson and I began to dance to the slow rhythm of the records beginning, trying to be as seductive as I could. After the first minute when the singing starts I began to unbutton my shirt, I couldn't see the girls because of the lights but I could see a few guys near the stage and the money started hitting the floor. By the second verse my shirt was open and I pulled it off. More money was hitting the floor and the cheers were getting louder. When Micheal hit the high note at 3 minutes I started to undo my skirt teasing the audience with my back to them. When the skirt hit the ground I turned round and they could see me in my underwear. The shouts of off off off were deafening and I realised the song was near the end so rather than messing about with the bra clasp I turned back round pulled my tits out over the top of my bra before turning round to the front just as the track faded out at the end. I looked down and couldn't believe the money that was on the floor. There were lots of coins mostly the new 50pence pieces but also some pound notes. I did as the other girl had done and scooped it all up my tits still hanging out of the bra, what a sight that must have been.
Out the back I got dressed again and counted out the money, in 4 minutes I had made £8.50, almost a weeks housekeeping. Sandie was there and flung her arms around me saying she thought I was amazing and not only her, she said that her boss wanted to see me.
She took me to the club office where I met George for the very first time. What a charmer he was bowing to me when I entered his office saying he was unworthy but thanking me for choosing his little club to make my debut. He didn't waste time and said he would give me a permanent spot on his roster if I wanted it. He said I didn't have to decide now, but if I came back anytime he would also want see me. Oh and by the way he said you get £5 a night from me but anything on the stage is yours. I knew I was in no fit state to decide now and I had to find the girls to get a taxi home. Sandie said they had all gone when I finished my strip but her husband Keith would drop me home if I waited till the end of her shift. She added that he had put at least one pound note on the stage when I was performing and he wouldn't mind at all having me in his car.
Before I left George's office he asked "what's your stage name?"
I hadn't thought of that and just came up with "Izzy". It has been my stage name since that night and Izzy has done me proud over the years.