We have a lot to learn from the adult entertainment industry. Scoff if you will, but I think you’ll agree once you’ve finish this well put together observanecdote.
In my daily walk home from work, I often pass by the same strip club. Bare Elegance is its name, and what a misnomer; it is by not even barely elegant. Nonetheless, to keep up the façade, the management employs a doorman. This in itself is not noteworthy, really. However, this doorman (and it’s not always the same person), is always procuring customers like a carnival barker. “Beautiful ladies inside!” or “Hot time inside, don’t miss out!” or (my favorite) “Come see these hot chicks bare their elegance!”
This fact does deserve our attention. I can’t help but wonder, what is motivating these guys to procure business. Do they get a commission? Let’s assume for a minute that they do. How does the management know who’s coming in due to the oratory skills of the doormen, who’s coming in due to the wonderful graphic design of their print ads and handouts, or who’s coming in on a mere spontaneous whim? Maybe they have some kind of written survey, or maybe the bouncer asks everyone as they come in? Maybe it has to do with the total number of patrons, or maybe these poor guys just think that one of the men they lure inside will have had such an amazing experience that he’ll include the doorman in his will, leaving him a sizeable portion of his European electric plug converter fortune.
Well, my curiosity got the better of me, and I decided to ask one of the doormen what the deal was:
Me: Pardon me, sir.
Doorman: Beautiful ladies inside, kid.
Me: Yes, thank you, but can I ask you something-
Doorman: Hot chicks, man. You won’t wanna miss this.
Me: Well, I might actually. So, why do you-
Doorman: I’m telling you, hottest ladies in Hell’s Kitchen.
Me: Well, that’s rather subjective, and I would honestly doubt-
Doorman: So go on in and see fer yourself. Come see these hot chicks bare their elegance…
Me: Hey! Why are you trying s hard to sell this place to me?
Doorman: Wha?
Me: Why are you trying so hard to get me, anyone, everyone inside to see these “beautiful” ladies?
Doorman: I don’t understand. Why am I-?
Me: Yes, why? What’s in it for you? Do you get some kind of commission that’s calculated through an entrance survey of some kind. Or does it have to do with the total number of patrons. Or do you honestly believe that one of the men they lure inside will have had such an amazing experience that he’ll include you in his will, leaving you a sizeable portion of his European electric plug converter fortune?
Doorman: What? Nah. I just, I dunno, we all do it. I dunno why. I guess I just feel like I should try to drum up business. I mean, I guess it’s ultimately good fer me fer the place ta do well. Ya know, trickle down ‘n all I guess.
And there was my answer. Amazing, really. The proprietors of Bare Elegance were clearly excellent managers, able to motivate a workforce with no apparent employee compensation whatsoever. It may behoove anyone keen on studying the art and science of business to examine this establishment, indeed extrapolate my case-study to see if this phenomenon is prevalent throughout the entire adult entertainment industry, and if that turns out to be the case, develop some over-arching theory explaining it. But don’t expect anything even barely elegant.