Hunk-O-Mania runs a two-hour show in Midtown Manhattan Thursday through
Saturday nights, catering to almost exclusively crowds of birthday and
bachelorette parties. Like in Magic Mike, there’s a stage show with
costumes and dancing — more of a cabaret act than what you’d see at a female
strip club.
“It’s become an American tradition to celebrate bachelorette parties with
the same level of importance as bachelor party,” said Armando, the owner of
Hunk-O-Mania. “Most of our customers are not the type of customer that comes
on a weekly basis. These women are celebrating a special milestone in their
lives.”
Around 30 hunks work at the club, including waiters and bartenders. Some
hunks only work the crowd, offering lapdances instead of performing in the
dance numbers onstage. The stage show often involves bringing up a woman
onstage in a "hot seat" — typically a birthday girl or bachelorette whose
friends have paid for the privilege — and the dancers will grind on the
ladies, to the delight of the crowd. There is no full frontal nudity.
The hunks did see similarities to Magic Mike, except for the drug
use and partying that occurs. “I totally don’t agree with what goes on with
the drug abuse and stuff like that, because I don’t see myself doing any of
that,” said Jay, a dancer. “This company that we work for doesn’t just let
things like that slide. You might have a few guys here and there that are
new, and they want to come to this business and just explore and have fun
and do whatever they want, but here that doesn’t apply. If you get a few
strikes, then you’re out.”
Will the popularity of Channing Tatum and company wiggling onscreen make
a difference for Hunk-O-Mania's business? According to a hunk named David,
"the movie will make this more acceptable to people who aren't usually
thinking outside the box."
After I met some of the men of Hunk-O-Mania at a screening of Magic
Mike, they invited me to see their show. I brought along photographer
Jenny Hueston, whom they allowed
backstage access to their dressing room to shoot. Here's what we saw.
Constantine: "My signature look is the white, tall, dark and
handsome male. I can’t say that I have the greatest moves, that’s just
what I represent. White boys can’t dance.
In order for you to have longevity in this industry, you have to be
on top of your game. The work is not here. The work is during the week —
what do you do, what do you eat, how do you train. If you use too many
substances, eventually it will catch on to you and you will alter your
look."