From his Expo 2025 presentation, security expert Robert Smith offers practical strategies and highlights cultural shifts to protect, empower and retain your club’s most valuable asset.
• Written by Robert Smith
I’ve worked with more than 100 adult entertainment venues over 27 years as a security and liability consultant. In all that time, I can count on one hand the owners and managers who truly trusted me to help them create a safer, better experience for their entertainers.
Let’s face it, entertainers make your club what it is. Not the carpet, the sound system, the lighting, or the menu. Without entertainers, you’re just another bar with fancy décor. Many of you have invested heavily in state-of-the-art lighting and pristine sound, yet overlook your most valuable investment — your entertainers.
Most operators want entertainers to feel safe, but many don’t know how to create a culture of safety or don’t seek proper legal or professional guidance. For those who missed my session at the ED Show in August, here’s an overview of the key points I presented on creating safer clubs — both physically and culturally.
Physical steps toward a safer club
Let’s start with cameras. I always say: “When you think you have enough cameras, add ten more.” Every inch of your property — inside and out — should be covered: parking lots, entrances, exits, VIP areas, private dance rooms, dressing rooms, and anywhere entertainers may be active.
Parking lots deserve special attention. Don’t rely on a single camera mounted at the corner of your building. Add enough to cover every angle with clear, close-up views. Capturing a stalker’s license plate could literally save a life.
And don’t cut corners — invest in 4K HD color cameras. Consider adding sound recording in dressing rooms and offices (where legally permissible). You can control retention settings per camera to avoid unnecessary storage — but if something happens, you’ll have the footage you need.
Now comes lighting. Lighting is one of the simplest, most effective deterrents to crime. Studies show that well-lit parking lots experience dramatically fewer incidents. Someone intending harm is far less likely to act in a bright, visible space. Keep every corner of your parking lot and exterior paths illuminated.
What about the human approach? Require security to escort every entertainer to her vehicle — no exceptions. Too often, escorts are reserved for entertainers who “tip well.” If entertainers are club assets, protect all of them equally. Make this part of every guard’s job description.
Lastly lets consider the entertainers’ dressing room. “Entertainer-on-entertainer” theft does happen. Providing individual, secure lockers — like school or theme park styles — sends a clear message: you respect your entertainers and their property. Small gestures matter. Post discreet flyers or notices listing private hotlines for mental health, human trafficking, addiction recovery, and domestic violence. Most organizations provide these resources free of charge. It’s a small act that can make a big difference.
Cultural shifts: Building trust and structure
Physical measures help, but culture defines safety. That starts with policies, management behavior, and communication.
Don’t let VIPs or “whales” control your entertainers. Big spenders can sometimes cross boundaries — touching without consent, offering cash for illegal acts, or inviting entertainers to “party” afterward. If you ignore these situations, you’re inviting legal and reputational disaster.
Use clear, legal, and enforceable contracts. Include an Entertainer Code of Conduct, discuss it point by point, and have entertainers initial each clause. Consistency matters: if someone violates terms, follow the rules — even if it means sending her home. When management stands firm, behavior improves across the board.
Onboarding that builds confidence
The way you onboard new entertainers sets the tone for their entire relationship with your club. It should take longer than ten minutes — you’re not just filling out paperwork, you’re building trust.
Here are several best practices I shared during my Expo session:
1. Have new entertainers arrive early
This signals that your club operates differently and professionally.
2. Walk through the contract line by line
Explain every point clearly and encourage questions. Understanding expectations upfront prevents confusion later.
3. Share your club’s history and culture
Tell them why your club is run the way it is and what makes it unique.
4. Explain management expectations
Discuss not only performance and professionalism, but what to do if a guest crosses a line or offers drugs.
5. Give a full property tour
Show exits, cameras, dressing rooms, and parking lot paths. Use this time to build rapport and show genuine concern for their safety.
6. Introduce them to key staff
The DJ, house mom, and security should all be familiar faces before her first shift. This simple step can prevent isolation and anxiety.
When onboarding is treated like a welcome, not a transaction, entertainers feel part of a team, not disposable labor. That mindset strengthens loyalty, safety, and performance.
Coaching and continuing education
One of the most powerful, yet most overlooked, tools for building a safe, professional culture is voluntary coaching.
Many operators fear that offering workshops or guidance might blur the line between employee and independent contractor. In reality, if done correctly, it can strengthen both safety and professionalism without crossing that boundary.
Imagine posters in your dressing room offering non-mandatory, free, one-hour sessions on:
• Sales techniques and upselling skills
• Understanding legal pitfalls and liability
• Self-improvement or financial literacy
These sessions should be completely voluntary — no sign-in sheets, no attendance tracking, no pressure. Make it clear that they’re simply an opportunity for personal growth and safety education. Most entertainers appreciate the investment in their success, and it builds goodwill between them and management.
Why this matters
Everything discussed here, from cameras to coaching, serves a single goal: to make entertainers feel valued and safe.
A club that prioritizes safety doesn’t just reduce liability; it builds stronger loyalty, better morale, and a better show for customers. When entertainers feel respected, they perform better, stay longer, and speak highly of your venue. That reputation becomes your most powerful marketing tool.
Creating a culture of safety and respect takes time, money and consistency, but it pays dividends far beyond what any lighting rig or sound system can deliver. A safe club isn’t just compliant; it’s competitive.
If your entertainers feel wanted, welcomed and included as part of your team, the results will speak for themselves — in morale, in reputation, and in revenue.
Robert C. Smith is the President and CEO of NIghtlife Security Consultants (NSC), Inc. His company has trained over 10,000 hospitality employees and worked with over 1,500 alcohol service venues nationwide. The training created and offered by NSC covers topics such as conflict resolution, legal use of force, premise liability, ID recognition, active shooter awareness and more. Based on his successful training solutions, Smith has been called upon to provide expert guidance for attorneys, insurance companies, law enforcement officials and industry trade associations.
For more information, visit nightlifesecurity.com or email rsmith@nightlifesecurity.com
