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High Heel Shoes (or Work Boots) and A Santa Hat Are All That's Required

CHICAGO, Nov. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- In spite of the more politically correct times we live in - or maybe because of them - holiday parties featuring exotic dancers, strippers (both female and male) and more may be more popular than ever.

While hard to quantify because of client privacy, one Chicago-based company says business is booming and hopes it's a sign that times have indeed changed, with exotic dancing and dancers getting some long overdue respect.

Gia, who has worked at the Chicago's Grin 'N Bare It for several years, says business is up and people seem more open today to hiring strippers for holiday parties and other events than at any time in recent memory.

"We're seeing a dramatic increase in bookings this year," Gia said. "Maybe with a down economy and dreary news everywhere people feel it's worth a few extra dollars to spice up the holidays," she said.

Once considered taboo, exotic dancers are - well not so exotic anymore. Stripper poles and classes have been added to the fitness regimens of a wide cross-section of women across the country. Additionally, popular television programs like The Sopranos and Mad Men, have struck a chord with a huge audience looking back on less "pc" times fondly.

And while many publicly-owned companies may not hire strippers for their relatively tame holiday events, smaller privately-owned companies are free to celebrate in a more non-conventional ways.

The dancers seem to enjoy holiday parties too, said Gia. "They tend to be less raunchy than a typical bachelor party," she added. "Although I did lose one of my best bras to a punch bowl last year."

The other difference, according to Gia, is that male dancers are often invited to the same party as female dancers.

"It's fun when our male dancers are booked with the girls," said Gia. "The women in the audience get just as into the female dancers as the male dancers, although the male audience tends to go out for a smoke when the male dancers perform."

The wildest party with a male dancer? According to Shane, one of Grin 'N Bare It's male dancers, at a women's-only party attendees got so into it they brought out belts and whips and started biting, hard. "I had to go out the bathroom window," he said, "and I haven't heard the end of it yet."

Grin 'N Bare It, also known as Strippersofchicago.com, started 30 years ago as a company offering singing telegrams and other novelty acts. "Strippers became the most popular part of the business pretty fast," Gia said. Does the company still offer singing telegrams? "Sure," Gia said, "although we have to get naked while we sing."

For more information call 312-337-3800 or go to strippersofchicago.com.

SOURCE Grin 'N Bare It