Conventional Wisdom: Tampa's spicier reputation

Conventional Wisdom Facts, features and fodder for RNC Tampa from local experts at the Tampa Bay Times [Fourth in a series] XXX Marks our spot (or does it?) It seems that whenever Tampa gets awarded a major event such as the Super Bowl and now the Republican National Convention, the words "strip club" seem to follow. For better or worse, the area has a reputation as a mecca for adult entertainment. Tampa Bay GOOGLE-A-GO-CO 152 Number of times "strip capital of the world" and Number of stories that mention Tampa and strip clubs along with the 2012 GOP convention. "Tampa" show up in a Google search. 33 THE REAL STORY 50 Number of strip clubs in the Miami/Fort Lauderdale corridor Number of strip clubs in the entire Tampa Bay area 30 Number of strip clubs in Tampa 20 #1 # 2 #3 Rank, behind Las Vegas (#1) and Cincinnati (#2) that Tampa ranks in the nation in adult entertainment establishments per capita. FOLLOW THE MONEY Cost of a Gold Club Disputed bill that a patron of Bliss in Clearwater is suing over for one night of fun: sky box per hour; it includes private stages with stripper poles, private bars and a discreet entrance. $750 $50,000 Actual bill that the aforementioned patron says he spent that night, which included some Michelob Ultras and a few lap dances: $500,000 to $700,000 $625 Amount, in 2003, that Tampa's major strip clubs averaged bringing in per year. $65,000 Average salary a stripper makes working five days a week, six hours a day at one of Tampa's major clubs. CAN I SEE SOME ID? 20 18 44 Legal age to strip in Florida. Number of years Night Moves magazine has held its annual adult Age of (likeliest) the oldest stripper ever at Mons Venus. Peggy Justus famously danced at the club in the mid-2000s at the same time that her 24-year-old daughter performed there. entertainment awards show in Tampa Bay. #1 XXX-TRA CREDITS 39,000,000+ The amount of money Magic Mike made opening weekend. The 2012 summer flick was fillmed in Tampa and the film's plot focuses on the city's adult entertainment industry. 1976 The year Joe Redner and a group of investors launched Tampa's first nude club, the Night Gallery, on Hillsborough Avenue. Redner now owns Tampa's most widely known club, Mons Venus. 4 2001 Odyssey Number of A landmark on Tampa's Dale Mabry Highway, the nude club features a VIP private lap dance room shaped like a spaceship. special VIP rooms added at Scores Gentleman's Club & Steakhouse to accommodate RNC business. ORYSSEV IF YOU GO ... (AND WE'RE NOT TELLING) 5.6 1.4 Distance in miles to Tampa's best known strip club, Mons Venus, from the Times Forum, where the RNC will take place. Miles to the closest strip club, Full Nude Ultra Lounge, from You are here the Forum. $10 Noon $30 Average cost for a lap dance, plus tip. $50 Midnight Strippers are independent contractors. Dancers sign a contract to work in the club and agree to work a few six-hour shifts a week but $20 Average cover to get into a club. come in whenever they want. They also pay the house "stage fees" to work: $10 at noon all the way up to $50 starting at midnight. That lets them keep tips and lap dance money. $10 Possible ATM fee to expect. $22 $22 In case you desire more than eye candy... $12 $9 $7 Grouper nuggets Lobster bisque • Chicken Marsala Asian steak salad • Bourbon salmon Gold Club Scores The Penthouse Club Credits: Justin George reporting, with additional Tampa Bay Times information from Politifact.com and assistance from Times researchers Caryn Baird, Carolyn Edds tampabay.com and John Martin. Photos: Warner Bros., Dirk Shadd | Times Illustration and design by Lee Glynn | Times Sources: Exotic Dancer publications, Magic Mike opening figure from www.imbd.com FLORIDA