The Topless Prophet by Alan Markovitz review

About the Book:

One man’s story of what it takes to run a strip club empire –the dangers, secrets, pitfalls, surprises – and rewards –and the business lessons learned.

What is it really like to open and run a successful string of strip clubs?

“It’s not what you think it is,” reveals Alan Markovitz, author of a new book and owner of the nation’s leading gentlemen’s club.

Topless Prophet: The True Story of America’s Most Successful Gentlemen’s Club Entrepreneur offers a rare glimpse into the world of gentlemen’s clubs, taking us behind the scenes of the operations of one of the nation’s most successful club owners. Where other books provide insight on the scandalous side of strippers, escorts, and x-rated entertainment, Topless Prophet is as much a business book and autobiography of an ingenious entrepreneur as it is an exploration of what goes into staying on top of an industry filled with cut-throat competition, corruption, celebrities, and beautiful women who make a living dancing.

In this moving memoir of Alan Markovitz, who owns several Penthouse Gentlemen’s Clubs and the country’s No. 1 ranked adult entertainment club (The Ultimate Strip Club List (www.tuscl.net), The Flight Club, we are treated to a first-hand account of a Detroit businessman who has helped change and grow an industry while overcoming many challenges, some life-threatening, some business-endangering. He has spent nearly the past three decades reformulating the ultimate fantasy setting for men.

“The business of entertainment has a lot of glamour and glitz – and beautiful women for sure — but it’s filled with many forces that can challenge and chew you up in no time,” says Markovitz. “The key is to think ahead, exceed expectations, be ready for a fight, and be wise enough to know when to walk away.”

Markovitz’s story begins with humble roots growing up in the Jewish middle class neighborhood of Oak Park, Michigan, the son of a television repair shop owner. We come to learn of the vision, grit and gumption that he possesses – and is very much needed – to succeed in business.

There are 2,500 topless clubs in America with gross revenue exceeding $7.5 billion. Topless clubs entertain an estimated 1,000,000 customers every day and employ 350,000 workers to serve them. Topless clubs serve more alcoholic beverages (and, I would add, at a higher average price) than any other type of nightclub and are open more days and hours than any other type of nightclub. Of particular significance, topless clubs pay more state and local taxes than any other type of nightclub and receive less corporate branding than any other type of nightclub."


About the Author:

Born and raised in Detroit, Alan Markovitz transformed a modest bar on Eight Mile into the first prototype of the truly modern gentlemen's club and parlayed that triumph into a string of wildly popular and highly profitable topless venues that continues to expand today, both in Michigan and around the country. Backed by his father, an Auschwitz survivor, Markovitz has boldly and permanently imprinted his own special brand onto one of the oldest businesses in the world--wine, women, and song.

My Review:

I found this memoir to be facsinating. My ex and I at one point in time thought of opening a club such as this. Topless Prophet by Alan Markovitz gives us all the gritty details about drugs, violence, sex, and drinking, biker gangs and mafia hitmen. I am so glad I talked my ex out of opening that club. Some of his stories are gripping and some are extremely funny. Alan Markovitz is a very successful man. He has accomplished quite a bit in the business world and in the topless industry. However, in his writing, that accomplishment comes across as arrogance. Though to be fair, he has quite a bit to be arrogant about.
I recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn more about the perseverance needed to make it in the business world. This book is entertaining with all the behind-the-scenes stories and the lessons about good business practice.

Disclosure- I have received no compensation other than the offer of free product to review and/or giveaway. Any opinions expressed on here are my own. My reviews are never reviewed or edited in any way by sponsors.