Question - Where are all the men?

Burlesque clubs in the UK have experienced a boom in door numbers over the last three years and this is great news, it’s an industry that empowers women in a truly positive way. Girls can be sexy and feminine without the stigma attached to stripping in the classic sense. The fact that women are creating careers for themselves by teasing the be-Jesus out of folk (without actually taking all their clothes off) has caused hordes of women to take a huge interest in watching and supporting this phenomena.

Yet there is a crisis developing in our burlesque clubs across the country, the lack of male customers. Hard as it may be to believe, a large number of males we talked to are wary of burlesque, they feel they would be perceived as perverts or misogynists by taking in a show.

Many stay away fearing embarrassment or intimidation by standing side by side to an empowered and culturally aware woman watching another woman strip. Perhaps you may think that’s what these women want, a man free zone for feminist back slapping? No! Nothing could be further from the truth. We talked to a large sample of women who we noticed heckling and cheering at the front row at popular burlesque joint last week and they all responded to our question with, “We want more men here!”

The burlesque environment is the perfect catalyst for dating and relationships with a great modern and socially enlightened group of people. Sexually emancipated yet up for it in a big way and what could be better for these eligible men than a 70/30 ratio of turned on women in their favour?

Converting women to burlesque is easy but men still feel the hangover of the oppressive 1908’s ball bashing Ben Elton new man travesty, and what was our reaction to that? Lad culture, lets face it, those lad mags are nothing more than the remarketing of soft porn with a few gadgets and motorbike reviews thrown in.

So this is the time for an armistice for all concerned, it’s ok to watch a woman express her sexual femininity without looking over our shoulders to see if Germaine Greer is standing behind us wielding a huge axe. Here is a place where intelligent men and women can meet and discover we may be similar but we are so different, let’s celebrate these differences. Where else could a man meet a cool sophisticated woman with an open mind and positive attitude towards a women being sexy and applaud it?

As I was writing this article a male friend popped in to visit me and I asked him the question. He told me he thought that women would be offended if he got excited and shouted, GET EM OFF! It would make him appear like those drunken sweaty men in some working men’s club leering and heckling at some poor and struggling stripper. I can see his point, so what do we do to address the situation?

Burlesque performers both male and female are driven by the reaction of the audience, they need hooting and shouting, they need whooping and screaming! Give it up whole heartedly and vocally boys and girls because your burley performers need you! Your burley partner is waiting for you and he or she could be the love of your life.

Calling all real men of the UK, your burlesque club needs you!

Sian Reed – single burlesque fan