Krista Henry, Staff Reporter

A dancer entertains patrons between rounds of Pole-A-Palooza, a competition for pole dancers, at the Light nightclub inside the Bellagio Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada, August 21, 2006. The annual competition awards a US$10,000 first prize.

Adult entertainment, naturally of the raunchy kind, is evolving into a streamlined business that is attracting more and more crowds.

According to www.adultentertainmentexpo.com "Evolving at a rapid pace, the adult entertainment industry breaks new ground daily. Utilising the latest, cutting-edge advancements in technology, coupled with new innovations and a steady stream of releases, adult entertainment has developed as one of the most profitable industries in the world. It's an industry that everyone is watching and the world of adult entertainment is now a segment of the mainstream business."

The offerings vary from film to live entertainment offered in strip and exotic dancing clubs. According to www.albany.edu/scj/jcjpc/vol10is1/bernard.pdf, "An exotic dancer or stripper is one who removes all or most of her clothing in a sexually suggestive fashion to a paying audience in a performative environment."

Expanding business

In Jamaica numerous clubs offer live adult entertainment. Some are expanding their business on a rapid scale, offering a nightclub setting, while others, such as the Gentleman's Club, Taboo, are a part of big entertainment complexes such as The Quad in St. Andrew.

Exotic dancing has been around for years, but of late has enticed more and more patrons. A university student says, "Lots of people I know go to clubs like Caesar's and Palais Royale. When I was in first year I went out of curiosity to know what they do. I know tons of guys and girls that go. It's fun. There is usually music, so you don't have to just watch the girls, you can dance."

The appeal varies from person to person. Shades Nightclub in Ocho Rios has been up and running as a strip club for more than 12 years. Nathanfrom Shades says, "Strip clubs appeal to so many different people; it's so wide and varied in its forms. It's a very creative art form; there are many things that can be done in the context of exotic dancing. It's supported by the public."

"Exotic dancing clubs cater to different tastes, different themed nights, different areas. In Shades there's an area where you can seat and watch TV, a disco section that couples can go and dance. There's a sports bar, VIP section, restaurant to sit and eat and a massage parlour. There's something for pretty much everybody," he said.

Basil Williams Jr., general manager of Platinum Elites in New Kingston, says, "Strip clubs have been around for a very long time. It's a form of entertainment, like drinking or gambling."

Lester Rhooms, owner of Palais Royale Exotic Nightclub on Ripon Road in St. Andrew, says, "People need different forms of entertainment. If a club can provide it, then patrons will come. People need something just beyond the ordinary. What draws people is the live entertainment aspect of it, where there are ladies on stage. Rather than going to a club and sitting down having a drink there is something different for you to do."

Nathan claims, "Exotic dancing is no longer behind closed doors; it is definitely a major part of entertainment scene. There's still a stigma, but people are getting more enlightened." He attributes this to a more liberal mentality and the work of clubs such as his. "Since Shades has come on the scene we have presented it in a much more entertaining fashion. There's an artistic side of it, not just the raunchy. It's adult entertainment," he said.

Exotic dancing

Platinum Elites also claims to offer exotic dancing as part of an expansive entertainment offering. Williams says, "Music, nightlife, dancing are all involved in Platinum. It's not like Caesar's or Palais Royale. It's an upscale gentleman's club; we're on a different level. We have high-end clientele, it's not raunchy. We started off as a gentlemen's club, because a lot of guys don't wanna be in the club and have their wives or girlfriends spying on them. There were times when wives and girlfriends try to sneak in."

"Now Platinum is like Escape or Quad. If you're not paying attention to the girls then you just come in and dance. A lot of women come to do that or look at the dancers. It's tasteful and always pure fun. The girls are in bikinis; the most that may come off is a top. We don't have a herd of girls on stage like at other clubs. It's more of a club thing," he said.

Williams says that at one particular club "they have a night for women and that usually attracts a lot of lesbians. That's just the hang-out spot for them. Over here it's more of a club theme. We've started a new club Mondays, because Quad and Asylum are not open, so its almost like Quad."

Rhooms says that Palais Royale also offers more than just strippers. He says, "We're very multi-purpose; we're a strip club but we have a very disco atmosphere. People come for music, to chill, the environment and the vibes. Sometimes now you see more women than men. It used to be more men, but now it's just about equal."

Men as major supporters

Women are an increasing part of the adult entertainment club clientele. Nathan says "Clientele changes. We tend to have naturally single men as major supporters. After a year or two they settle down, get older and more responsible and drift away. There are also the married men who have itchy feet; sometimes they settle down and we don't see them for a while.

"If you go to the clubs, nowadays women support adult entertainment quite a lot. Majority of patrons that come on a freaky night are female. They are supporting a lot now than before. Not only are they coming, but they are buying their lap dances, massages and other services," he said.

The male clients are still coming as well but not just for the strippers. Williams says, "Sometimes guys want variety, or they just like to hang out. It's not just about the girls. They just want to chill and see what's going on. My girls are lively, they have emotions on stage and it's just fun. Some nights we get like 12-20 people, other times we get a full house of like 100-150 people."

However, Nathan says, "You can't judge patronage by night. Sometimes a small crowd spends more than a larger crowd. Freaky nights are very popular though; that's where there is live sex on stage."

As with all businesses, the adult entertainment industry has its drawbacks and its positives. "The positive side of exotic dancing is that it provides entertainment for a large section of the community. It's a big part of tourist industry, particularly on the west coast. It provides employment for the people on the streets. The exotic dancers provide monetarily for the burden of the family. The women shouldn't be disrespected for what they do, but respected for their work," Nathan said.

Williams says, "If you think of strip clubs you may think, yeah, you can solicit and prostitute, but it's not like that. If the girls do, the managers generally don't know and if we do they are fired." Rhooms concurs that "From time to time people have a phobia in terms of what it offers. Some say it is degrading, others see it as entertainment."

On the Internet adult entertainment is offered as part of tourism. A 'Jamaica Fantasy Getaway' was once presented through info hub's website, offering "a five-day erotic trip including full four days and nights with high-class adult entertainers and showgirls of your choice."

Name changed upon request