Not knowing the minute details of the rules they were forced to follow is a problem. For a second, let's assume the rules themselves were as the owner stated, and only things he could be fined for by the state.
Then, I think they should be independent contractors. This point:
is incorrect to me. Their "wares," in this case, their bodies, are not homogenous, lest we assume that sexual taste in females is homogenized to certain factors, which it's not. Since every type of folk has a different stroke, each stripper would then have her own "specialties" per se. Then, like a hairstylist, they are not particularly beholden to the overarching establishment, besides simpler factors like cleanliness and business appeal. Wait staff are at the mercy of the food of the establishment, so it makes sense that they should be paid requisite to that risk. Strippers are closer to independent contractors in this case.
