Private Dancer Media Network

East Cape Girardeau, MO – I have to admit, when I tell people how much I travel I get two responses. One being, “That must suck.” And the other, “That must be so cool.” Honestly, they’re both true. While I love traveling because I learn so much and meet new people, I don’t have a lot of control over where I travel. People are under the impression that I am in locations like Milan and Paris every week, when in reality the destinations are unrecognizable to most.

Before I left for this gig, I saw my college roommate in New Orleans and she asks, “So where are you going this time?” And I said, “East Cape Girardeau, Illinois.”

Now my friend is very well traveled herself. She was in the Peace Corps and her parents are each doctors who took her abroad with their mission work as she grew up. “Ah, the Midwest, ” she blankly stared at me and said forcing a reassuring smile. “Never heard of it… have fun.”

Everyday is an adventure as we headed on our pilgrimage this week to East Cape (Fear) Girardeau.

Tony Batman is good at a lot of things, but he lacks in the area of remembering names and places. This is how some of our conversations go.

Tony: “I was talking to Derrick the other day and that girl we met, Rebecca?”

Me: “Stephanie.”

Tony: ”Right. So she works for that printing company Flyers R Us.”

Me: “Adco.”

Tony: “Yeah, Adco. So Adco has a special on flyers that we should look at.”

Needless to say, East Cape Girardeau quickly became “Cape Fear” Gibraltar when we arrived and found out that the hotel had no fitness center. However, there was a hospital across the street with a fitness center, which was more like an Olympic training facility. It was such a refreshing change from the monotonous treadmills and in-room leg weights.

The guy who gave us our passes asked us what we were doing in town. After we told him he said, “Oh, one of The Pony’s managers plays on our dodgeball team. We’re having a match tomorrow.”

We had to see this. But unfortunately, we found out we had a radio show at about the same time so we ended up only getting to see the dodgeball teams warm-up.

I was the ‘Buzzer Girl.’ Seeing them play brought back a youthful feeling of nostalgia, only this was serious with the strength of a grown man throwing the ball rather than a twelve-year-old and they were brutal. “Wanna play?” they asked me and Tony.

“Uh, no. I’m fine just pushing the buzzer,” I answered. I could just see me being pelted with balls flying at Mach 4 and then showing up at the radio spot. I would look like that cat from Pepé Le Pew who is all made up and then she falls in the water and comes out looking all ragged and haggard, coughing and weezing.

The radio show came up quick so we drove downtown (about ten blocks) to Real Rock 99.3 to visit with Kirby the DJ who ended up being very cool and accommodating.

Tony documented the whole thing with the camera and sure enough the conversation went to The Bad Girls Club. Kirby pointed at Tony and said, “You look so familiar. Do I know you from somewhere?”

The hour flew by with other guest Hollywood and James. I don’t think I have ever had a radio spot go so smoothly and had so much fun at the same time.

Another thing about Tony is, he hates when his hair gets “too long” so we looked for a barber in town.

In this one horse town, the first barber we found was just sitting in his chair talking to a guy when we walked in. “I’d like to get a haircut,” Tony said.

“You need an appointment, son,” the barber who was doing absolutely nothing answered.

Oh boy, here we go, I thought. “I need an appointment? Well, you would be the first that has ever told me that. I mean, I just need a clean up and I have to get an appointment. You know what, never mind,” and we walked out with Tony murmuring something about stupid appointments.

The next barber shop had a sign out front that looked like something you might see in the background of a 1960’s photo with Dr. King marching with a group of people. We hesitated at first, then went in.

The seats were full. “I’ll get to you, sir. I’d estimate that it will be about forty minutes. Why don’t you and your lady friend have a seat.” We were in 1960.

I went to pick out a magazine. “I don’t reckon we have any ‘girlie’ magazines, ‘cept for that Sports Illustrated there.” The step back in time was astounding.

“So what are you and your lady friend doing in town, because you definitely don’t look like you’re from here?”

Tony explained we were hired to work at The Pony. “Oh yea. I used to go across the bridge over there to get my lottery tickets. Then they started selling ‘em on the Missouri side here, so I don’t go over there no more. What’s your lady friend’s name?” Oh boy. Tony told him.

“You mean like the car?” This is the where I looked at my watch praying that 40 minutes was up.

Finally, it was Tony’s turn. “Say, do I know you from somewhere?” the barber asked. Tony nonchalantly said, “No, I don’t thinks, so I just need a little off the sides.”  Ah, the adventures of doing maintenance while on the road.

The club was indeed across the bridge. As a matter of fact, you cross the bridge, you see the “Welcome to Illinois” sign and then you see the pink neon synonymous with every Pony club.

The thing that stands out about this club was how nice the house girls were. You never know how they are going to take you due to the fact that it is their house, or what other things they have gone through with previous features, so each week is an enigma. These ladies could not have been more supportive as they sat front row every show and cheered.

Part of their appeal was their fresh youthfulness, young women are so free with a smile, and they smiled a lot. They seem to live in the moment and it made them fun and uplifting to be around, that and they were so attractive. I anticipated every show because I could bring them on stage and do whatever I wanted.

One dancer in particular named Keely had the best butt. It was so firm and perfectly round. It fit so well in my hand. I love my job sometimes.

The exploration of East Cape (Fear) Girardeau came to a close when we were in the bank the following day. As we walked I heard a voice “Hey folks, how are you doing today?” He pointed at Tony and asked, “Do I know you from somewhere?”

Next week we are off to make the far and expansive journey to… Poplar Bluff, Missouri, which is about 91 miles from East Cape (Fear) Girardeau. The plan is to go do some dancing, have some fun, and end the week at our final Pony club.

Schevelle is an award-winning feature entertainer and a Private Dancer Magazine cover model for November 2007. She contributes regularly to the Private Dancer Media Network as well as Private Dancer Magazine. You can find more on Schevelle by going to www.Schevelle.com/ or follow her on twitter at www.twitter.com/TheSchevelle.