There’s this stereotype that male strippers are broke. Or another that the men dancing for Chippendale’s are gay. Or that only the ugliest, loneliest, least desirable women would ever set foot in a male strip club. Or at least these were so-called truths I absorbed as a ‘90s kid. “Name of the Game,” a new documentary directed by William Forbes and Douglas Skinner, challenges all of these beliefs and more. Plus, if you’re attracted to men, there’s some eye candy.
Interestingly, there’s only a brief mention of Chippendale’s because that’s not this doc’s focus. This is a Black story, spotlighting the Black male dancers of Southern California. According to the dancers, Chippendale’s was a white scene. Black strippers functioned as sidekicks or blended into the background, never taking the stage as main acts. That’s why, from the late 1980s to the early 2000s, Black clubs like The Right Track, Tigers, and The Boom Boom Room thrived. They had a captive audience—mostly Black women—and were Black-owned to boot.
From money to incarceration to gender equity, “Name of the Game” explores serious issues, while still delivering on fun and drama. Many of the dancers came from low-income backgrounds, broken families, and prison. Gang-banging wasn’t necessarily a thing of their past, either. Some of them kept up with it while continuing to dance. While a dancer could make thousands of dollars in a single night, money management could be a challenge. Coming from poverty usually meant a lack of financial education and led to a scarcity mindset. If a man was leaving prison and had a certain body type, sometimes dancing seemed like the best option. Unfortunately, going into adult entertainment didn’t automatically conquer a man’s internalized misogyny. The documentary brings up how male dancers would still resort to violence against women, whether other entertainers, managers, or even audience members.
That does not mean all male exotic dancers are women-haters. In fact, the popular dancer Hena C says that success in the game means “loving women.” The gentle soul talks about noticing a woman’s “beautiful eyelashes” or vibrant energy, regardless of her level of conventional attractiveness. He seems to soar because of his ability to be present with women and entertain them no matter what. This insight into Hena C’s gifts shows how male exotic dancing can raise spirits, even becoming a public service.
“Name of the Game” opens in New York on August 9th and in Los Angeles on August 15th.
Leave a Reply