"M.E.N. for Men": how a gay strip show is organized, where bachelorette parties are prohibited

In London, the project "M.E.N. for Men" is gaining popularity - a male striptease show created by gays specifically for a gay audience. Its creators and participants argue that the market has long lacked a "gay version of Magic Mike", where artists can be themselves, and viewers can not be afraid of judgment or unwanted touches. We will tell you how the technical side of such performances works, how the male audience differs from the female audience and why power tools are needed on stage.

Why is regular striptease not enough?

Idea of creation «M.E.N. for Men» was born out of the realization that classic male strip shows are aimed almost exclusively at women. The organizers of the project spent more than a year studying why this gap exists in the industry. According to them, the perception of male nudity by gay men and heterosexual women is very different: what may frighten or seem "disgusting" to a woman looks "hot" to a gay audience.

Many of the show's dancers used to work in traditional strip clubs or even participated in castings for the famous "Magic Mike". However, according to the artists, in such places, they often had to create a "false sense of fantasy for women", hiding their true identity. As part of M.E.N. for Men, they were given the opportunity to be completely open about their sexuality.

Consent bracelets and "no phones"

One of the key features of the show is the strict system of rules aimed at ensuring the comfort of both the audience and the artists. Before the start of the performance, guests are given bracelets of different colors:

• Green means the readiness of the viewer to actively participate and interact with artists.
• Red signals that a person prefers to just observe and does not want to be touched.

The host of the show (host) always announces two main rules before the start: the prohibition of the use of mobile phones and the priority of consent. The slogan of the show is "Consent is sexy".

Gay men often show more respect for strippers than women at bachelorette parties, organizers say. The latter often behave as if they "have the right" to touch the dancers without any consent.

The technical side: how it works

Performances in "M.E.N. for Men" are distinguished by a high level of frankness. While most dancers prefer to stay in jocks or see-through lingerie, some artists opt for complete nudity.

Keeping fit on stage is not only training, but also knowing specific professional secrets. To maintain an erection while dancing, artists use the "tying off" method. To do this, industrial elastic bands or special vacuum pumps are used, which allow you to keep blood in the penis for several minutes of performance. The artists admit that during the dance, due to adrenaline, the blood is distributed throughout the body, so it can be difficult to prepare the "right state" for going on stage.

"Daddy Bear" and extreme numbers

The show seeks to surprise the audience not only with bodies, but also with complex performances. One of the brightest participants of the project performs under the stage name Papa Bear (Daddy Bear). His number goes far beyond the usual undressing: the artist uses power tools in his performance, for example, a drill with a special nozzle, and is also engaged in a fire show (blowing fire).

According to "Daddy Bear", in ordinary life, he can be an anxious or nervous person, but on stage he feels confident to "shock, excite or simply confuse" the entire audience.

Casting and atmosphere

Finding a team for such a project was not easy. In addition to visual attractiveness and dance skills, artists are required to have charisma and belong to the community (gay and pansexual people participate in the show).

The energy of the show is fundamentally different from traditional performances in front of a female audience. If women tend to shout loudly and show a violent reaction, then male viewers behave more restrained and "tough" at first, since for many of them this format is a novelty. However, the organizers note that over time, the audience relaxes, and the show turns into a space of "endless sports of debauchery" in the best sense of the word.