ABOUT THE CLUB / ABOUT GUAM

Tucked in the Western Pacific Ocean lies nearly 2,000 small islands, the most populated and sophisticated of which is Guam.  The island of Guam is actually a territory of the United States, making it our westernmost shore.  While Guam boasts beautiful white sand beaches and crystal clear ocean waters at bathtub temperatures, it also features many American-style amenities.  For examples, they had the world’s largest McDonalds, the world’s largest K-Mart, 7-11s, Baskin Robbins, Subway and adult nightclubs.

“Adult nightclub life here is very acceptable to the population,” says Patrick Nelson, owner of the Club USA gentlemen’s clubs in Guam.  “Half of my customers at night are couples; the crowd isn’t dominated by men.  We’ve seen entire families come in on Father’s Day.  It’s definitely not taboo to say you went to Club USA last night.”

And as Nelson explains, the island’s seeming acceptance of adult nightclubs isn’t the only thing that separates his club from its counterparts in the states.

“I was in this business for a long time before I ever saw my first adult club in the U.S.,” says Nelson, who has spent most of his life in Guam.  “When I saw that club I was very disappointed.  Yeah it’s nice to have 150 girls, but I didn’t like the atmosphere.  In Guam, we’re used to sitting down and talking to the girls.  “But when I went to my first club in the states, some girl walked up to me and asked if I’d like to have a lap dance,” Nelson continues.  “I really didn’t know what a lap dance was, so I said, ‘No thanks.’  Then she says, ‘Okay, f- you’ and walks away.  That was a shock to me because everything here is so friendly.”

With a population that maxes out at about 160,000-only 60,000 more people than regularly attend Michigan University football games-it’s easy to see why Guam has that Cheers “where everybody knows your name” vibe going.  But for Club USA, the population provides a challenge.  In order to meet that challenge and remain the hottest adult nightclub in Guam, they’re luring entertainers from the states.

“We’ve got a nice little tropical island here,” says Nelson, who has been importing girls from the continental U.S. to work at clubs in Guam for quite a few years.  “The girls can sit in the sun, swim in the beautiful blue and green ocean, surf, and see turtles and dolphins while they’re scuba diving.  We’ve got the sun shining almost everyday.”

Though there are many similarities between clubs in the states and Guam clubs-there is stage dancing, lap dancing (if the dancer wishes) and flirtatious conversation with customers-there are also differences.  Dancers at Club USA work eight-hour shifts (7pm-2am), six days a week, but are paid weekly salaries ($450) and keep all of their stage tips.  There are no bothersome “distance requirement” between dancers and customers-and the legal drinking age is 18.

And while many of the mainland America’s adult nightclubs revolve around lap and table dancing, Guam’s clubs revolve around conversation.  At Club USA, customers pay $20 to sit and have a drink with the entertainer of their choice (the dancer keeps half, the club keeps half).  It’s a format that the customers enjoy, and many girls seem to thrive on. “Probably 90 percent of the money the girls make is from selling drinks while talking to the customers,” says Nelson.  “If you’ve got good girls with popular shows, guys seem to come out and hang out with them all night.  Some girls are great at selling drinks and getting the party going at her table, and she’ll do very well.  Every girl tries to find her niche.”

Club US offers contracts of three months to interested entertainers (78 days of work completes a contract).  To further lure entertainers to the island, Nelson offers to pay for the entire flight (which totals upward of $1,800), provided the entertainer serves the length of her contract.  According to Nelson, however, that is rarely a problem.

“90 percent of my girls stay for a year or more,” says nelson, noting that Club USA also provides housing for the entertainers.  The girls share the utility bills, “I’ve had girls that have paid their way through medical school working here; they’ve gotten Doctor of Psychology degrees.  We really try to help the girls protect and saver their money.  And with so few expenses here, they can do very well for themselves.”

If you’re thinking an adult nightclub can’t possibly thrive entirely on a population totaling on 160,000, you’re right.  But Guam is actually a U.S. Military base-which means young, horny soldiers.  And lots of them.

“Guam is at a crossroads between the Pacific and mainland USA, which means ships stop here for fuel or supplies and give the guys a couple days of R&R.  We also have three Triton submarines stationed here, as well as the largest Air Force base outside of the mainland U.S.  And the aircraft carriers come in with over 7,000 soldiers on them.”

Guam also gets its share of tourists, especially from Japan.

“We’re located right in the middle of the tourist district of the island in Tumon,” nelson explains, noting that countries like Australia, Japan, China, the Philippines and others are only a short flight away.  “And Guam is right behind Hawaii as far as Japanese tourism money goes.  The Japanese know how to spend money, they know how to have fun- and they love American women.” 

For the soldiers, the American entertainers make them feel like home; for the Japanese tourists and the local Guamanians, it gives them a taste of the exotic.  Whatever the reason, mainland exotic entertainers do very well In Guam-provide they approach the club with the right attitude.

“A lot of it is attitude out here,” says Nelson.  “If you get off the plane and think your you-know-what doesn’t stink, you’re going to have problems.  These guys have seen everything.  Even the top porn stars have been here.  Guam is definitely spoiled in that way.  But with the right attitude-a friendly, outgoing attitude-there’s no telling how well a girl can do.”
          

  -story by Dave Manack

For more information on becoming an entertainer at Club USA Showclub, fill out a questionnaire.or call 671-646-5653/4.  If no answer, please leave a message and phone number to call you back.

Facts on Guam
Unincorporated territory of the U.S.

Location:
In the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines and directly north of Australia

Size:
About three times the size of Washington D.C (30 miles long, 8 miles wide)

Climate:
Tropical marine; generally warm and humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season from January to June, rainy season from July to December; little seasonal temperature variation.

Standard Time:
Guam is 15 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time (New York) and 12 hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time (Los Angeles)

Official Languages:
English and Chamorro

Population:
160,000 (estimate) Native Guamanians, the Chamorros, make up a little less than half of Guam’s population, with Filipinos making up another 25%, Caucasians 10% and the final 18% a combination of Chinese, Japanese, Korean and others.  Department of Defense employees and dependents contribute 14,000.

Currency:
U.S. dollar