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DJ
DJ Booth
by Tony Batman
Industry jocks come together for
first-ever “Strip Club DJ Summit”
Tootsie’s Cabaret’s DJ Platypus gathered jocks from across the country
for an informal gathering. Not surprisingly, DJ-related chaos ensued.
T
he first ever “Strip Club DJ Ego Summit” was
held Sunday night, June 17, at the Knockers
Sports Bar inside the world famous Tootsie’s
Cabaret in N. Miami. The event, promoted primarily
through Facebook through the Strip Club Industry
(SCI) group, was touted as a gathering strictly for
the industry’s strip club DJs, all coming together to
discuss trade secrets, music and do what they do
best—party like wild animals.
“We invited all of the industry DJs to Tootsie’s for
this one-night party, and it was great to see over 40
DJs showed up from the Florida Keys to San Francisco,” says DJ Platypus, head DJ at Tootsie’s, who
helped organize and run the event. “The party was a
success and a huge springboard to further organizing
the industry’s DJs.”
The summit, which was also set up by Tootsie’s
marketing coordinator, Joannie “Daisy” Yeargin, featured several stand-up comedians performing for the
room full of DJs, including Mike Panzeca, Richy Lala,
Erik Rodriguez and Kolin Bohannon. But the funniest
and probably the most entertaining part of the night
was watching all the club DJs get drunk and start telling epic stories, such as, “What’s the craziest thing a
dancer has ever told you so to avoid tipping you” and
“What’s the craziest thing a customer has come up
to the booth and said.” For my part, I told the story of
how an old man in a wheelchair, with two thugs at his
side, pulled a gun out on us because he felt “disrespected.”
DJ Johnny Walker of Solid Gold Fort Lauderdale
(winner of the 2012 ED’s “Employee of the Year”
Award) provided the photo op of the night. It was
Walker’s birthday, and he was brought up on stage
for a birthday cake. As soon as Walker blew out the
candles, the cake—not surprisingly—was planted
firmly in his face. Walker, the good sport that he is,
posed for photos for all takers, providing a memorable cap to the evening.
Tony Batman, Ryan Algaze, Joannie “Daisy” Yeargin,
DJ Platypus and Pete Maverick
DJ Platypus gets the
party started!
Happy birthday
Johnny Walker!
Photos by Richard Kent of Xcitement Magazine
Tony Batman operates the TonyBatman.com blog site,
which includes his A! Entertainment news coverage.
Tony also emcees at several major dance contests and
events at clubs across the country. Contact Tony at [email protected].
96 Club Bulletin November 2012
The entire “Strip Club DJ Summit” crew!
www.EDpublications.com
DJ
DJ Booth
by DJ Platypus
Industry DJs turn out in record
number at EXPO 2012
Facebook page launches meeting of the minds of industry’s top DJs, which
elicits huge DJ turnout at the 20th Anniversary EXPO.
W
hat started as a Facebook group page for the
strip club industry developed into a meeting
of the minds in Miami and, eventually, into the
biggest show of DJ support at the 20th Annual Gentlemen’s Club Owners EXPO. When the private “Strip Club
Industry” (SCI) group was created on Facebook earlier
this year, hundreds of industry DJs flooded the group.
The group functioned as a forum to vent, network, trade
secrets and various mixes of music, and allowed the ability
to hold the first-ever DJ Ego Summit in June 2012 (see accompanying aticle).
Just a few of the industry DJs who attended EXPO 2012
(photo was taken directly following the EXPO DJ Workshop)
Following the Ego Summit, Solid Gold of Ft. Lauderdale
DJ Johnny Walker started a DJs-only forum in which only
active DJs can participate. This club is so exclusive, in fact,
that even industry legend David Bohem (a longtime industry DJ, now a manager of Thee New Dollhouse in Myrtle
Beach, SC, and the owner/operator of Club Consultant Pro)
was not allowed in because he no longer an active DJ. This
new DJ forum has opened up a lot of employment opportunities, as everyone is quick to help each other out. Imagine that—for years the DJs have gotten a bad rap in this
industry, but now that we’ve finally gotten together, there
has been nothing but overwhelming support.
With this camaraderie established, we knew we had to
show up at EXPO in force—and the DJs did just that. The
20-year anniversary of EXPO was, in my opinion, the best
EXPO experience yet and easily the best time I’ve ever
had in Vegas. Over 75 DJs showed up (almost double the
www.ExoticDancer.com
Ego Summit) and helped make this year’s parties, EXPO
Tradeshow Mainstage and DJ Workshop the best we have
ever seen.
When the DJs got home after EXPO and hit the message boards, we received the ultimate pat on the back.
Eric Langan, CEO of Rick’s Cabaret, got on the SCI group’s
page and sent a personal thank you to all the DJs for coming to EXPO this year. His thanks meant more to us then I
think Eric even realized.
There is so much more on the horizon for this group, and
we haven’t even scratched the surface. Soon there will be
“With this camaraderie established,
[the DJs] knew we had to show up at
EXPO in force—and the DJs did just
that. The 20-year anniversary of EXPO
was, in my opinion, the best EXPO experience yet and easily the best time
I’ve ever had in Vegas.”
— DJ Platypus of Tootsie’s in Miami
industry podcasts, and we are fully endorsing and supporting David Bohem’s charity golf tournament in December.
Our next big event will be in Miami at Tootsie’s for the
first-ever New Year’s Eve Party for the industry. This is a
private party for anyone who works in any capacity in our
beloved business. Next year’s EXPO will be the best one
yet, and I can assure you the country’s DJs will be there in
record numbers. I for one can’t wait to see all of you at the
EXPO 2013 Opening Night Party!
D.J. Platypus is the Head DJ of Tootsies Cabaret, and the
Corporate Head DJ for the Ricks Cabaret club chain. He can
be reached at [email protected].
Club Bulletin November 2012 97
DJ
DJ Booth
Tim Rhodes and
Johnny Walker
DJ Spotlight:
Tim Rhodes
T
im Rhodes’ DJ roots were planted in the 1970s,
when his musician father bought the first of his
three nightclubs in Beaufort, SC, in 1976. His dad
would let him spin records during the day when the club
was empty, and eventually Rhodes scored a full-time gig
working for his pop at the age of 16.
In 1985, while
spinning at a
club in Miami,
Rhodes says he
was approached
by “one of the
hottest girls
I’ve ever seen.
I thought she
really was into
me—instead
she asked if I
Rhodes (L)
would ever conand Hagood
sider working in
a strip club”
That’s all it took. Almost three decades later, Rhodes
continues to be one of the most respected adult entertainment emcees in the industry. Working at legendary properties like Solid Gold and Pure Platinum in South Florida, the
Gold Club in Atlanta and Scores in New York, Tim has found
his way to the venue that, he says, will be his last club:
Cheetah Atlanta.
“I love the Cheetah, the staff and especially my owner,
Bill Hagood,” says Rhodes. “He is the best owner I’ve ever
had the privilege to work for.”
And Hagood, not surprisingly, has high praise for his DJ.
“I’ve owned clubs for over 40 years, and Tim is by far the
best emcee I’ve ever had,” Hagood says. “He has a unique
ability to connect with our customers and staff like no one
I’ve ever seen.”
Rhodes made his first EXPO appearance in 2012 as a
panelist on the EXPO’s “Time to Face the Music” DJ workshop. He also took 2nd place at the Opening Night Party’s
Blackjack Tournament, taking home the prize of $2,000
worth of promotional T-shirts from Safari Sun/Gentclubshirts.com.
“I can’t believe I waited 20 years to attend my first
EXPO,” says Rhodes. “It was great to have the opportunity to meet and share experiences with other respected
people in the industry. I’ll definitely be back next year!”
Along with his DJ duties at the Cheetah, you can now
hear Rhodes in his new venture, “Strip Club Radio,” a
weekly podcast about the industry with his co-host, Penthouse Club New Orleans’ veteran emcee Anthony “Binger”
Bellao, at Stripclubradioshow.com.
DJ Johnny Walker reflects on winning the ED’s
“Club Employee of the year” Award at EXPO 2012
This was my
first visit to the
Annual Gentlemen’s Club Owners Expo, after
being in the industry since 1995.
Once I found out
I was nominated
for the ED’s Club
Employee of the
Year Award, I was
shocked! I just
couldn’t believe that I possibly had a chance of winning
the award.
The Expo was fun, informative and a constant party
everyday. I met people I had heard of before but never
98 Club Bulletin November 2012
had the opportunity to see in person. As one of the guest
DJs/emcees for the EXPO Tradeshow Mainstage, the ED
Publications family made me feel very welcome with a
sense that I belonged to something very special.
At the ED Awards Show, I was nervous; no way would
I, as a first-timer newbie, be winning an award. Seeing
my clubs’ owner Michael J. Peter receiving the Club of the
Year/Southeast for our club, Solid Gold in Ft. Lauderdale,
FL, put chills down my spine. As the night went on and I
sat in suspense waiting, I heard my name being called as
the winner of the Employee of the Year Award. All of the
DJs in attendance were going wild, and I couldn’t believe
it! I don’t even remember walking to the stage to receive
my award, but it was truly a remarkable experience, which
I give thanks to ED Publications, Solid Gold, all of those
who voted for me and all of my DJ brothers.
— DJ Johnny Walker
www.EDpublications.com
DJ
DJ Booth
by DJ Platypus
sound check:
Tootsie's in Miami
T
he DJ booth at Tootsie’s Cabaret features state-of-the-art
equipment, but what makes it truly unique is its prime
location in the club. The booth is the backdrop for the main
stage and has three bay windows, making the DJ part of the show. I
never understood why some clubs put the DJ booth in some corner
of the club or behind the crowd or, in some cases, way up high
above the crowd. Tootsie’s is known for its high-energy atmosphere,
and the main reason is simple: If the DJ can see the faces of the
customers, he can tell exactly when its time to change the music up
or enhance the light show. If you can’t see the customers, how do
you know if they are having fun?
The inside of the booth
is the central nerve system
of Tootsie’s. The DJ has
total control of all media inside the club. Every screen
is a touch screen, and
there are four screens that
surround the sound board.
The most frequently asked
question by DJs who visit
Tootsies is, “Where can
Tootsie’s DJ Mike Myers inside
my club buy this system”?
their command central DJ booth
The answer is, you can’t.
The system was created a
decade ago by a computer programmer, and to my knowledge we
are the only club in the country to have this system.
Another touch screen operates our audio/MP3 program. We use
a program called Virtual DJ, which today is pretty standard for adult
club DJs. The next monitor operates our video screen, which is also
a separate Virtual DJ program and allows us to play music videos as
well as our in-club advertising. The fourth monitor sits right next to
the sound board, and is used to operate our Light Jockey club lighting program.
Our sound board is a standard Rane MP44 board and just above
the board is a Dennon double CD deck (which we only use in case
of a computer meltdown). All of the computers we use for each
monitor are custom built to our specs. Most of the DJs use Shure
microphones and Line 6 wireless mics for remote access. There is
also a microphone that has a direct feed to the entertainer dressing
room to communicate with the girls off the floor.
The final part of the booth is our video/media matrix which gives
the DJ the ability to control over 50 TVs throughout the club, including
an awe-inspiring video wall that greets guests as soon as they enter
the club. We also have a few toys to enhance our light show, including two hydraulic panels that come up from the stage floor to release
low line smoke and a standard smoke hazer which runs on a timer.
These two toys keep the light streams visible throughout the night.
The next time you visit Tootsie’s, ask for a tour. I guarantee you
will never see a booth like this anywhere else in the country.
www.ExoticDancer.com
So, who is Pierre, and why is
everyone talking about his mom?
Sometimes a joke can break tension. Sometimes a joke can go too far. But can a joke
change a life?
Pierre Amador, DJ at Stars Cabaret in Portland,
Oregon, became well known almost instantly in
the SCI (Strip Club Industry) Facebook group with
his humorous posts. One day, DJ Johnny Walker
from Solid Gold in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, started in
on Pierre with a mom joke in which Pierre retaliated. The back and forth went on for a few days
until we came to the ultimate running joke which
today is known
simply as “Pierre’s
mom.” None of
us actually know
Pierre’s mom or
have ever seen
her. And yet, there
DJ Platypus with
she was, being
Pierre (R) at EXPO 2012
mentioned from
the ED’s Awards
Show stage in the Orleans Showroom during
Walker’s acceptance speech for the Club Employee of the Year Award.
The phrase “Pierre’s mom” has nothing to do
with her but more of what it represents. In this
business, you have to have thick skin. You have
to be confident, but also be true to yourself.
Pierre embodies the word truth. He just takes life
day by day and does whatever he can to help his
club achieve success. More importantly, he is not
too proud to ask for advice or help from his newfound group of DJ compatriots.
This past summer, when all of the DJs were
excited about EXPO, making plans and getting as
many people to go as possible, Pierre, the most
popular DJ in the SCI group, said that he couldn’t
go. “Sorry guys, money is tight and I have priorities here with my family. I just can’t afford it.”
Right then, a Paypal account was opened and a
handful of DJs donated between $25 and $50
until Pierre’s flight and hotel were covered.
When Pierre got to Vegas for EXPO, he was
greeted by all the DJs with a hero’s welcome.
Now that the group was complete, the jokes
were flying and Pierre’s mom was this year’s
most trending topic. Every time someone would
meet Pierre, the first question inevitably was,
“How is your mom?” And just the same way
he carries himself on a daily basis and for the
same reason we all love this guy, he would just
respond with, “She is proud of her son.”
— DJ Platypus
Club Bulletin November 2012 99