A bouncer in front of a strip club.

A strip club is a nightclub or bar where striptease is regularly performed, and possibly other related acts such as lap dancing. While usually considered much less objectionable than more explicit adult entertainment such as sex shows, they are often the focus of morality campaigns and restrictive legislation.

High-end establishments tend to be known as "Gentlemen's Clubs". More down-market competitors may be referred to as titty/tittie bars, rippers, nipple derbies, skin bars, girly bars, nudie bars, or go-go bars. Sometimes, they are referred to as men's clubs (not to be confused with working men's clubs). In a bikini bar, dancers typically do not disrobe completely.

[edit] Clubs

Men are the primary consumers of this form of entertainment,^{[citation needed]} at straight clubs and gay clubs, but at least one chain, Chippendales, caters mainly to straight women. Since the main attraction of a strip club is the stage show, almost all clubs have a cover charge.

Gentlemen's and strip clubs are a $5-billion industry in the US, and generate approximately 22% of the gross revenue in US adult entertainment.^{[citation needed]} In the U.S. more money is spent in strip clubs than is spent on theatre, opera, ballet, jazz and classical music concerts combined.^[1] Some clubs have hundreds of entertainers appear on stage within a single year.^[2]

[edit] Specific clubs

Sapphire Gentlemen's Club in Las Vegas has been billed as the world's largest strip club; in 2006 it was sold at auction for $80 million. Tampa, Florida is well known for its strip clubs including the famous Mons Venus. Howard Stern, a radio host and television personality, makes frequent mention of 'Rick's Cabaret' which operates in several cities.

Bangkok and Pattaya are world famous for their go go bars offering a variety of extra services (but no legal strip-tease). Amsterdam is famous for its live sex shows in De Wallen.

One of the most famous clubs is on Route 17 in Lodi, New Jersey featured on the television show The Sopranos. The club is actually a go go bar, serving alcohol with dancers but does not offer nudity. It is called "Satin Dolls" in real life, but is known more universally around the world and in the show as "The Bada Bing".

The Gold Club was an Atlanta adult entertainment club receiving national attention for the indictment of several of its owners, managers, and employees. The Gold Club trial also received significant attention because numerous significant professional athletes were called to testify.^[3]. The club was closed after the convictions of its owner, managers, and employees.

[edit] Top clubs

Based on a 2008 article by the AskMen.com portal, the top 10 strip clubs in the world ^[4] are:

1. Hot Lap Dance Club, New York City
2. Night Flight (night club), Moscow, Russia
3. Larry Flynt's Hustler Club, New York, New York
4. 4 Play Gentlemen's Club, Los Angeles, California
5. Spearmint Rhino, Las Vegas, Nevada
6. Le Crazy Horse (cabaret), Paris, France
7. Seventh Heaven, Tokyo, Japan
8. Mons Venus, Tampa, Florida
9. Wanda's, Montreal Quebec
10. K5 Relax, Prague, Czech Republic

[edit] Champagne room

A champagne room (also called a champagne lounge, or champagne court) is a specialized service offered by gentleman's clubs where a customer can purchase time (usually in half-hour increments) with an exotic dancer in a private room on the premises. Depending on the quality of the club, the room, which is away from the hustle and bustle of the main club, is well decorated and usually has its own bar. Clubs sell champagne by the glass or by the bottle for both the dancer and the customer. Some clubs also offer a food and/or cigar service.

Comedian Chris Rock pokes fun at the champagne room in his hit single, "No Sex (In the Champagne Room)." Wyclef Jean later noted Rock's comment in his own reflection on exotic dancers, Perfect Gentleman.

[edit] Performers

Strippers at the door of the Pussycat Cabaret in Minnesota.

Performers are called strippers, exotic dancers or just dancers, or entertainers. House dancers work for a particular club or franchise. Feature dancers tend to have their own celebrity, touring a club circuit making appearances. Porn stars will often become feature dancers to earn extra income and build their fan base.

Dancers collect tips from customers either while on stage or after the dancer has finished a stage show and is mingling with the audience. A typical tip is a dollar bill folded lengthwise and placed in the dancer's garter. Where legal (or legal restrictions are ignored), dancers may offer additional services such as lap dances or a trip to the champagne room, for a set fee rather than a tip. This fee will typically include a set fee for the room, for a set amount of time.

[edit] Legal issues

In several regions of the US, primarily due to the local legal restrictions, strip clubs often fall into one of two categories: topless and all/fully nude. Dancers in topless clubs are allowed to expose their breasts, but they are prohibited from exposing their genitals. Topless dancers typically perform in a G-string and, depending on local laws, may be required to wear pasties covering their nipples.

[edit] See also

• Bar fine
• Burlesque
• Clip joint
• Dance bar
• Discothèque
• Go-Go dancing

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Debate over strip clubs