Adult entertainers thriving as South Australian women become ‘more accepting’ of stripping, demanding more intimate experiences

The rise of SA women requesting a different type of service means business is busier than usual. Adelaide’s top male strippers lift lid on the new trend earning them mega bucks.

Entertainer Mick works for thriving business Aussie Hunks, an agency for topless waiters and strippers. Picture: Supplied

When Leigh Williamson started out in the adult entertainment industry 18 years ago, he was a waiter and a stripper for Madame Josephine.

Now the co-owner and co-director of Aussie Hunks and Busty Babes with partner Jasmin Brown, he no longer performs but oversees some 200 “entertainers” who do.

“I feel like Adelaide is busier and doing better than ever,” Ms Brown said. “Our numbers have definitely increased.

“I feel like Adelaide has always been a bit quieter, you know a church town, hadn’t caught up to the other states but we’re definitely moving into a stage now where we’re busier than ever.

“I think it has to do with OnlyFans, We (South Australians) are more open and accepting.”

What Covid did for the adult entertainment industry

Pole Position club owner Anthony Prideaux attributes the boost in business to Covid lockdowns, which had South Australians itching to get out of their homes as soon as restrictions were lifted.

“We’ve been here almost 20 years now and the year of Covid and ever since have been the best three years we’ve ever had,” he said.

Since Covid, groups have shrunk from some 30 to 40 people attending a traditional buck’s or hen’s night to smaller groups of two to five people.

The group size has not seemed to slow business, however, as smaller group bookings have become more frequent.

“Two years before Covid, we used to get 20- to 30-people buck’s shows but now you’ll be lucky to get five people in a group,” Mr Prideaux said.

“Probably about 60 per cent are return customers and only 40 per cent will be walk-ins.”

Aussie Hunks entertainer Dane serves drinks as a topless waiter. Picture: Supplied

Mr Williamson and Ms Brown have seen a similar trend with Aussie Hunks and Busty Babes.

“We get so many more groups of just two to three girls, who pop in to a stage show on Saturday night and they’re coming back more regularly,” Ms Brown said.

“Before, you’d wait for a hen’s party but because it’s so much more accepted now and it’s just a fun night out, we get so many more groups in small numbers, it doesn’t have to be a large group anymore.

“There’s a lot more girl’s nights, boy’s nights, birthday parties, football nights – everything.

“Since Covid I would say, so the last two years, we’ve just seen a massive influx for general weekend.

“A lot of last-minute bookings, like ‘oh we’re just having a barbecue, got all the boys together, could you send some girls over?’

“The phones are ringing hot with last-minute parties.”

Businesses are seeing a trend of groups of two to three woman booking private entertainment. Picture: Supplied

Their business has expanded Australia-wide and Mr Brown said male entertainers were often booked by women wanting to add fun to their events.

“We do golf tours, fishing charters in the Northern Territory,” Mr Brown said.

“So for example, at a fishing charter, the women will go out on the boat and sometimes they want a show, sometimes they want to be served drinks while they’re fishing, sometimes they just want the company of the men and to have a laugh.”

OnlyFans has drawn the line between entertainment and sex industries

Another adult entertainment agency in Adelaide that did not want to be named said there was a clear distinction between strip clubs and sex workers.

“These two categories generally don’t intertwine or cross.

“Girls working for topless agencies and strip clubs generally don’t mix with girls from the sex industry and even get offended if they are labelled as sex workers.

“This is why when Covid hit and OnlyFans really took off, it was interesting to see topless waitresses cross the line or enter the world of xxx and very explicit content online.

“A lot of the topless waitresses and strippers at clubs are your everyday student, single mums, office workers.

“They want to keep it private and keep the work to some good, clean, cheeky fun by going topless or nude for some guys.

“At buck’s parties, mobile phones and cameras are generally not allowed as the girls don’t want to be filmed on the night.

“Covid saw a lot of girls actually transcend to OnlyFans and be part of very explicit content, this was totally new ground for a lot of them.”

Mr Prideaux said the rise of OnlyFans had only been a temporary enticement for some of his employees.

“OnlyFans had a great following during lockdown and a lot of our girls were doing it then and then realised actually making a living out of it is pretty hard work.”

The Pole Position in Pirie Street has undergone a complete revamp of its exterior and interior. Picture: Michael Marschall

Ms Brown said OnlyFans was a necessary source of income to many of their 200 employees.

“For most of them it’s their second job, girls are looking at extra avenues where they make extra cash.”

For public venues such as The Pole Position or 273 Hindley Street, where Aussie Hunks holds their Saturday show, the distinction between selling entertainment and selling sex is even more important.

Mr Prideaux said Thursday poker night or a theme night once a month on a Friday such as Mexican night aim to keep the entertainment light with “less focus on the girls”.

“As long as you keep changing with the times, people will always want a good time.”