My story is not unique, most actresses I know are broke- the way I have chosen to make money on the other hand- is unique. I am a Domi. A domi is a karaoke hostess, you know, a geisha. Someone who gets PAID to sit, drink, and flirt with men.
What I do may seem strange to you but I have convinced myself that I am just playing a role, for 2 nights a week I am not myself anymore, I am no longer the trendy Downtown LA hipster girl with a killer smile and a feisty attitude. There is something so wrong about it, yet for some reason we were drawn to the seedy underworld that is Koreatown. I knew that there was more to it than turning on a jukebox and singing along, NO ONE would pay that much just to hear me sing, I can assure you.
She explained that it was completely safe and told me not to worry. I asked her if i could bring a friend and she said yes- so i got in touch with Autumn. That night we got ready in my apartment, we put on skimpy black dresses, heavy eye make up and perfume and threw on our tallest heels.
We were readyβ¦or so we thought. The man picked us up in the van, asked us if we had ever dealt with drunken customers, told us that if anyone got to touchy or gave us shit about payment to text him immediately. He then drove us to our first karaoke bar, we walked in and the men in the front handed us a sheet of paper with 3 room numbers on it. It felt literally as if we were transported to Thailand. I had so many questions, how is this legal? IS this legal? Do I have to drink with them?
Can I say no if they creep me out? I felt in control. I left feeling for lack of a better word; ugly. I decided to just go home, shower and snap out of it. Next time I would get chosen, next time I would rock those karaoke bars. Until then I carry on, twice a week in the Koreatown Underworld. Sipping sake with men who barely speak English. I am hooked.
