Reprint from GC Magazine, November 2003 by George Gagliardi

The Exotic Entertainer's Bible
By Melody Obourn


     "I'm dedicated to helping entertainers maximize profits and create happier customers at the same time." So says Melody Obourn, author of The Exotic Entertainer's Bible.
     If you're interested in being successful as either a house dancer or a feature performer you owe it to yourself to get this book and read it, cover to cover. I say this because I have a couple of friends who are former dancers and the struggles, conflicts, concerns they wrestled with and spoke to me about are the very things this particular guide addresses. The subjects are given a thorough going over and are dealt with in a straightforward and informative manner. The author speaks with the authority of one who "has been there" and then some. Her savvy regarding the business is evident from the get-go and her attitude about treating exotic dancing as a business, first and foremost, is a refrain echoed time and time again throughout the book.
     Having been in the exotic dancer business for over twenty years, as a performer, booking agent and even a club manager, Ms. Obourn obviously has been able to draw from a wealth of hard earned knowledge in writing this book - and it shows.
     She offers sage advice on everything from "lazy-ass" boyfriends (I'm sure none of you dancers out there have ever had to worry about that - Right!) to cosmetic surgery to health and beauty tips. There is an entire section on how to actually get guys to spend more money on you as an exotic entertainer. There is a whole host of topics that are directed to those currently working as exotic dancers, as well as those who are just starting out. It's not a book for the timid or for any girls that have any illusions about what the business is and isn't. She puts high emphasis on being reliable, being on time, being sober and making the most of one's stage presentation - as well as the time spent afterward on the "floor". She offers specific ideas on how to get the maximum value out of "prowling" - aka checking out which tables in the club are likely to be spending money on private dances.
     Here a word of caution for any males interested in reading this - if you have any illusions about why the girls are there and what you represent, you may not feel all that cheered after reading this book. Perhaps this book should come with a big red warning sign "for women only" or at least "for grown-ups only". What I mean by the latter is this, Ms. Obourn makes no bones about who's in charge in the clubs. It may appear tho be the guys because they are being catered to but make no mistake, the women are the ones who are really calling the shots, they are the ones in control. They are the ones who have convinced you to part with your "long green" in order to indulge your momentary sexual fantasy. If you want to continue to harbor the idea that the main reason these clubs exists is to stroke your ego or better yet to have women fawn over you, don't read this book. It will blow all that to hell and back. Then again, this wasn't written for the male patron but for the ones doing the entertaining, the ones who are "working the room".
     Fortunately for me, I lost those illusions about dancers and gentlemen's clubs (along with the typical stereotypes about dancers) some time ago. Hence, I found this to be a pretty damn refreshing book. This book spells it out -- If you chose a career as a dancer in a gentleman's club you need to know that it's about making money. That is the reason you're there, that's your number one goal. Any thing beyond that is, at best, a distraction and at worst, a self-defeating path. The author is very clear and forthright about this. One might even go so far as to call this the author's own personal "mantra". It certainly can be said that this theme lies at the heart of Ms. Obourn's 234 pages.
     A nice touch is the various interviews with three successful features -- Leslie Wells, Nakita Kash , and Lauren Kain. Each one has made a name for themselves and discovered their own particular path to get to where they are right now. Each one has learned how to make the most out of the business and have become successful businesswomen. They are ideal models for those interested in seeing examples of what can be accomplished if one is willing to put in the necessary effort as an exotic entertainer.
     To sum it up, this book is an honest treatment of how to have a successful career as an exotic dancer. It sets out to provide a well-written guide for the woman who wants to make the most out of her years as an exotic entertainer and it does just that. It probably should be required reading for any girl considering getting up on those high heels and strutting her stuff, whether topless or nude. Especially if she wants to go home with the most money - money she's earned from shaking her "moneymaker".
     The book is The Exotic Entertainer's Bible, by Melody Obourn and published by Cabaret D Entertainment Group. The website for more information is www.entertainersbilble.com. The book sells for $24.95 + 4.95 S&H. If you don't have access to Internet here's the mailing address

The Entertainer's Bible
PO Box 330
Grosse Ile, ME 48138-8330