The Sunday night EDI Finals and pre-Expo Industry Party was a Night to Remember
All year we look forward to Expo with high anticipation. This year the wait was much longer than normal. Due to the COVID pandemic the 2020 Expo scheduled to be held at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas was first postponed than canceled. It its place came Expo 2021 in Miami, Floria.
The Exotic Dancer Expo is the biggest event in the strip club industry where we gather for a couple of days and nights for business, education and pleasure. The mornings are for seminars and forums, the afternoon for the big trade show and the nights include welcome parties, industry award show and often other unofficial events. Most years the Expo wraps with a bikini contest,
Expo is going on three decades. Xcitement has attended all but the first and I personally since 1999 with one exception when a hurricane kept me in Florida.
Ricky Rich, my fellow photographer and good friend and I attended this year. Ricky flew in from Wisconsin, we headed out for dinner and on to Tootsie’s where Exotic Dancer was holding for the finals of their Exotic Dancer Invitational which would determine the Entertainer of the Year replacing the normal EDI competitions of 2020 which were also canceled due to COVID.
The four contestants were Janine Jericho, Star Zayne, Natasha Nova and Justice. Each performed a full show on Tootsie’s stage, one each hour. We took out places and behind the judges table to take out photos. The results were not so good as the club DJ went crazy with smoke machine and hazers. Also the stage was dark even though there were club lights going in all directions. To make things worse, above and behind the stage was a video wall where the NBA playoff game was broadcast. Each time a contestant climbed the pole or the silks, she would get lost among players going back and forth across the court.
Most of the industry people were seated in the VIP section and the party was a joyful one, more so as people hadn’t;t seen each other in so long.
After the four hour competition, thePANDA DJs held their annual party and award show in Knockers sports bar. Bobby Mac led led a roast of industry celebrity Doctor Rock.
Sunday night completed, we retired to await the offical opening of EXPO on Monday
The four contestants were Janine Jericho, Shar Zayne, Natasha Nova and Justice. Each performed a full show on Tootsie’s stage, one each hour. We took out places and behind the judges table to take our photos.
For many of the out of state people this was their first time experiencing Tootsie’s,a club like no other Many commented on the immensity of the club, the layout and the interior design.
Most of the industry people were seated in the VIP section and the party was a joyful one, more so as people hadn’t seen each other in so long. Bottles on the tables were downed and the party got livelier with eachempty bottle.
Some decided it was a good night for club hopping as there are numerous clubs near by. A few were tempted by the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, a spectacular sight to see all illuminated.
After the four hour competition, the PANDA DJs held their annual party and award show in Knockers sports bar. Bobby Mac led a roast of industry celebrity Doctor Rock.
Sunday night completed, we retired to await the offical opening of EXPO on Monday
The Expo Comes to Miami!
Monday of Expo was a day where everything went wrong. It was basically a disaster. After Tootsie’s on Sunday we returned to my house and had a late morning ride planned to the InterContintal Hotel where we would be staying for Expo. Our driver called saying the air conditioning repair was late. Then an hour later we got another call saying the AC guy was still not there so he would not be able to go to Expo that day. Phone calls, texts and emails delayed us more and then I couldn’t find the house keys. After a frantic search I found the spares, we called Uber and an hour later Ricky and I were checking in to the hotel. We get to our room and damn, there was one king sized bed. We changed rooms, got our badges and finally headed down to the trade show floor. We crossed paths with Natasha Nova and from there on we started to have fun.;
More Expo Adventure
Expo has many facets. Club owners and managers find the morning panels the most important while others are sleeping off a night of partying. The Monday night Opening Party was billed as a roof top party so we entered the hotel elevator and went to the top floor expecting to see a magnificent panorama of Miami and Biscayne Bay as the sunset. We discovered that the roof tip party was on the second floor pool deck and yes technically it was a rooftop. The showgirls from the Worlds Agents formed welcoming lines. There was a mobile DJ, bar and the spelling bee that Sam Sing wrote about. For many it was a stepping off for a night of partying at the official After party at Tootsie’s and a night of club hopping. I stayed in but Ricky went our returning to th room at 4:00am after devouring a Cuban sandwich at an all night restaurant. Yes Miami is back to normal 24/7.
Tuesday afternoon we devoted to the Trade Show. The show was split among several rooms. First we entered the Showgirl Hall where the Worlds Agents had a huge booth and covered a wall with banners. It was impressive how many showgirl set up their own booths professionally done Now that the Covid pandemic is over,it is time to bring back the showgirls
The main hall had most all off the commercial booths. We welcomed Michael’s Mens Club from Louisiana to Miami. At the front of th room was an awesome stage with exceptional light show where the showgirls got to perform. There was another hall with yet more booths.
The afternoon flew by. It is amazing how many people knew us and said hello. We thank them all.
Bikini Contest
gets Busted!
Oh no! How did this happen? Who called the cops? The Wednesday afternoon $10,000 Bikini Contest was held on the pool deck of the InterContintal Hotel. Music was provided by a mobile DJ. Everyone who had been to a Las Vegas resort pool knows this is common practice. Next to the hotel is an outdoor concert amphitheater where concert nights the sounds are blasted to eleven – But that is OK. At the contest the sound was well withing acceptanle levels. It was the middle of the afternoon! Who sleeps in the middle of the afternoon Contest terminated. Shar Zayn was declared the winner and EXPO concluded.
Dinner Time!
Those of your who follow us on Facebook that elating a meal out is always pat of our traveling experience and Expo was no different. On night one we had so little time between the race show and opening party that we has to eat in the Intercontinental restaurant. The least expensive enter was a half chick for $39! I told Rick, skip that we would get a half chicken and probably much better at Pollo Tropical on Thursday. We settled for a skewer for two at $69 which was quite good and filing.
Tuesday night we has lots of time for dinner so we walked over to Basyside Marketplace and to the Hard Rock Cafe for burgers. We forgot out make and were reissued entry. The hostess toldRicky where to buy masks so off we went. Returning five minutes later with our new masks we refused service again because they die did not have reservations and Hard Rock was closing at 8:00. It was only 7L25 and thee was a sign saying closing at 8:00! Evidently because of Covid the Hard Rock closes early even hough curfew has long ago been drpped. A big clack eye for the Hard Rock. Wanting burgers we went to the Landshark where we were also told it was closing. A friendly waiter said never mind and took s to his table where we had a great view and enjoyed a Caribbean Burger (frilled pineapple on top.
On Wednesdau we were planning on dinner with Drew and Lenny from NightMoves but a Ricky got involved with Katie Sutra and her mermaid costume. Drew and Lenny couldn’t wait. Now it was just the two of usRicky ran into Lolly Topps and it was three. On the way to an Italian restaurant we met Shay Lynn and Olivia Pearl out on the street and we all marched off to dinner. we ate atRistorante Fratelli Milano.
Clowning Around
with BJ McNaughty
at Bellas Cabaret
BJ is one of the best in the business Her show is unique and most entraining. Seriously, have you ever seen a clown high up on a stripper pole give a penis shape balloon a blow job? We’ve got the photo to prove it! Her show at Bella’s was the perfect climax to Expo Miami.
