I spoke to a guy who became a male stripper after graduating from UMass

I wasn’t sure what to expect walking into this interview. Was he going to bust a move? Was he going to be overtly obvious about his job? Was he going to pull the ‘boyish charm’ card? Perhaps one that would rival Channing Tatum’s in Magic Mike?

Nope.

When I was approached by a man in business attire it definitely threw me off. The Tiger, his stage name and how he will be referred to throughout this article, was certainly more professional than I had expected. But he was open and honest and willing to talk, and when we sat down he immediately began filling me in about his interesting past.

He was released from the Zoo in 2014, graduating with a major in Engineering. In fact, it seemed like his college career was more normal than most: He was on the boxing team and was the UMass Minotaur, which he claimed helped to boost his confidence for his… later adventures.

I eventually eased into asking him questions about his dancing career, and he told me that yes, his days of exotic dancing were behind him – he now designs and drafts equipment and components for fighter planes. However, he does still work as a male model on the side, as well as selling artwork when he can.

How did he get his name?

The Tiger was ripped. “I was in the best shape of my life,” he said, “In fact, my muscles were so big, they looked like stripes – especially when I flexed.”

One of this king of the jungle’s responsibilities at the club was to kick men out who were getting too frisky with the female dancers. “I used to roar and growl while busy bouncing people from the club, literally carrying grown men out of the club kicking and screaming,” he says. And we’re not talking some guy shouting here – we’re talking a roar.

He said he would make sexy, guttural, animalistic noises and growl in women’s ears. Then he’d crawl over to the other ear and meow like a kitten.

Katy Perry eat your heart out.

How did he get into stripping?

“I started at the age of 26. After quitting my job in life insurance sales management, I waited on tables, but that didn’t make ends meet.

“Eventually I returned to the same club I went to six years beforehand, where I declined a job after getting interviewed at the age of 18.” Aww, The Tiger was shy.

Fast forward to age 26, and The Tiger was ready to earn his stripes. “One of the current dancers, who’s stage name is Seth, was giving me and my friend Adam tips. He correctly guessed our underwear sizes, and told us to buy ourselves some athletic underwear.

“I was hired at the club and ended up dancing for two and a half years before retiring.”

He also told me to tell my readers that might be interested in seeing some real life Magic Mike to go to X-Room (WARNING: LINK NSFW) in Springfield, but remember to “go carefully and expect to see stuff you’re not used to seeing.”

Has he ever felt objectified?

“I was extremely shy growing up, so for me, getting compliments and gaining the attention of the guests was awesome. Being the sexual object that everyone wanted was f*cking cool, but it did get old really fast.

“My experience made me realize how it feels to be a woman, and how they are often seen as these beautiful, majestic, sexy creatures that everyone wants. I sympathized with the ladies I saw who were being harassed by guys that wouldn’t leave them alone.”

What is the weirdest request that he’s gotten?

Tiger explained that there were two types of weird: fetish weird and gross weird.

For “fetish” weird, he told me that at least ten people have asked to lick his armpit. “During a lap dance, someone actually tried to – like they stuck their tongue out.”

As for gross weird, he’s been propositioned for sexual favors, which is totally illegal, and borderlines on prostitution. He says he has declined everyone who has ever asked.

“It’s exhausting. You get money for leading people on, and then you never see them again.”

His most embarrassing moment?

He had a bit of a temper tantrum, and quit while he was onstage.

“One of the members of the audience kept putting her drink on the stage, and I kept putting it back on the bar so that it wouldn’t be knocked over.

“After a few times of putting the drink on the bar, it got knocked over and the patron complained. The bartender then asked me to buy not just one drink, but an entire round of drinks which is illegal.”

He may be a wild animal on stage, but he was adamant about staying within legal boundaries. He walked out and found his manager. After his manager cleared up the situation, he was allowed to return for his Friday night shift.

As we continued chatting, I asked him if he could expand a little on dirty dancing. He told me that while female strippers dance ‘sensually’, male strippers dance to show their ‘athleticism’ and ‘man power’, in order to “turn the ladies on.”

“There is a psychological theory that being the most valuable man in the room will help get more tips, and that by showing off, a dancer can earn more,” he explained.

When I finally asked him where all the confidence came from, seeing as he told me he was shy growing up, he said, “I took notes on how certain confident guys acted in movies, and then I would fake the confidence until I felt confident.”

Plus, all the free booze certainly helped.