The East Coast’s #1 Male Revue Show Performed Outside in Midtown Manhattan July 13, 2019
On a hot afternoon in New York City, something unheard of happened: the city blacked out. Power outages raced through electricity lines, stopping the beating heart of the world. Broadway shows were forced to stop, performers like J-Lo had to cancel their shows, and transportation came to a standstill. Photographers rushed to catch a once-in-a-lifetime photo from across the river – the city that never sleeps was being forced to sleep. It all happened on July 13, 2019.
As part of the massive New York City entertainment industry, Hunk-O-Mania, a male entertainment venue that has been wooing women and partiers since the 1990s, was affected by the power outage. Suffering the biggest loss in 22-years, the company didn’t know what to do at first. Owned and operated by serial entrepreneur, Armand Peri, he knew they had to use this lack of power to fuel something special.
“Many of our parties, especially bachelorette parties, book our venue months – if not years – in advance,” said Peri. “We owe them a show of a lifetime, because this is one of the most memorable days of their lives. That night, we had a slew of bachelorette parties booked, waiting to take in everything we have to offer. When the lights went out, there was panic, disappointment, and sadness – what were we going to do?”
Saturdays are typically the busiest nights of the week at Hunk-O-Mania, where women flock to see the likes of Rudy Bundini, greased up, performing, and dancing for their spectacle. As one of the most successful international male models in the world today, Bundini is the kind of performer that women line up to see hours in advance.
“I absolutely love what I do, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s incredibly important for me to be able to put on the show these patrons desire. Some of them have traveled from halfway around the world just to sit in our seats,” said Bundini. “When those lights went out, I knew I still needed to perform. It’s just that this time, it might not be in a venue we have grown so accustomed to.”
With not much time to formulate a plan, Peri, Bundini, and other performers on staff that night got together. Considering the Hunk-O-Mania venue, like most New York venues, is incredibly dark and packed in for nightlife, typically relying on artificial lighting to make their magic, they had to take the show to the streets.
Dancing in the Streets
The electricity failed before the Hunk-O-Mania show could even begin, with most clientele still outside, waiting in line. Patrons scrambled, talked, feverishly checked Twitter, and considered going back to their hotel rooms, giving up on the performance they had waited all year to see.
But, before all hope was lost, Bundini led the Hunk-O-Mania show outside, right into the streets of New York City. Despite the hot temps, humidity, and setting sun, the dancers, strippers, and entertainers did what they were born to do – they entertained the droves of women, dressed up and ready to celebrate their brides to be.
Right on the New York City sidewalk, women gasped, cheered, hugged, and took plenty of photos, seeing what they had paid to see: hot, sexy, and greased up men dancing in unison, parading around and impressing women near and far to the performance. As a crowd started to form with passer-byers noticing the spectacle, the men continued to perform, giving it all they had.
As the show wrapped up, the dancers walked around the greet the women, take pictures, and bond in everyone’s bewilderment at a New York City blackout. It was one of those experiences that is hard to describe if you weren’t there – everyone came together in a way that only New York City knows how to do.
A 40-Year Anomaly
It had been more than 40-years since the last blackout of this size in the greater New York City region, with the 1977 blackout that impacted multiple boroughs. There are still many unanswered questions when it comes to the cause of the blackout; not to mention, plenty of media coverage claiming there could be another one this month.
But if there’s one thing for certain, a city-wide blackout isn’t going to stop the muscles and brawn behind the Hunk-O-Mania team.
“This is exactly who we are. We are a team of men that have overcome adversity, utter poverty, and criticism, bonding together over our love of performance, comradery, and this amazing city. I am more proud than ever before to be leading this group of men into the future. Nothing can stop us,” said Peri.
About Hunk-O-Mania
Hunk-O-Mania is a male revue and strip club show for women, with venues in New York City, Atlantic City, Chicago, Miami, Boston, Philadelphia, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles. Presently the #1 high energy male revue show for the entire East Coast, women, bachelorette parties, and groups of friends travel from around the world for a chance to catch the men in action.
Founded by Armand Peri during the 1990s, the male strip club performance show has grown and expanded across the country, with areas of service that extend well beyond their Hunk-O-Mania venues.
To book a Hunk-O-Mania show, please visit: https://www.hunkomanianyc.com/.