I love Boston and Chicago, both full of good people, longstanding tradition, and friendships that stick. But for some strange reason I've lived in San Francisco for 16 years and before that I spent over a decade in NYC. The one thing that both those latter two cities have in common is that they are fickle by nature with a demanding public that speaks its mind. You can barely find a restaurant that has lasted 30 years in either city. Thus, the achievement of the Exotic Erotic Ball in San Francisco is a true milestone.
I've been to the Exotic Erotic Ball 9 times myself, and I've met a number of great people I'm proud to now call friend. Not to be rude or gruff, but I also once had sex in the bleachers with a platonic female friend and on another occasion got the best blow job of my life in a corridor from someone whose name I never got. It would be so easy for me to espouse that you should attend this show because it is the wildest and sexiest show around, which it is, but that's not my message here. I am going to take a different tact and call this show unique and special, and tell you that's why you should be there - to experience the truly unique, and to partake of the truly special. In so doing, perhaps you will generate one or more memories which will last you a lifetime.
(Pricasso the Penis Painter is coming back to the Exotic Erotic Ball for the second year in a row - all the way from Brisbane, Australia!)
First, I'll tell you why it's unique. It's a combination of 5 things - you've got tons of sexy on-stage entertainment with real production values, you've got all the funky fashion that comes with Halloween dress-up, and you've got lots of on-site nooks and crannies that get filled with exhibitionism that comes with the oddball way the Cow Palace is shaped and designed. Then you've got all the participation which this event gets from the adult industry - which means porn stars and sexy toys and porn star wannabe's at every turn, and then finally there is the sheer scale of all of this occurring in a setting with over 10,000 people at one time. It's true sensory overload - sights, sounds, and smells bombard you at every turn. And you do the math - where else can you see more hotly dressed sexually liberated fans of freedom in one place? Are all of them hot? No. But they are all real, and they are all happy to be there. And a lot of them are hot, and not just hot, but smoking hot.
And now I'll tell you why it's special and important. As a nation, we've just spent 8 years living under a lying and conniving government who would have no problem denying its constituents even the most basic liberties. Forget what you think of the new administration, because if you are reading this article on this website, you have got to embrace the fact that this new guy is, at minimum, at least not the other guy. The Exotic Erotic Ball has maintained a political consciousness over the years, without standing on a soapbox. They have been irreverent, usually with good humor. I was there when they paid tribute to Larry Flynt for his contribution to freedom and dubbed him as the one man who truly took a bullet for the cause and I felt the chills when they wheeled him in and the crowd gave him a standing ovation. I was there when they conducted mock same sex marriages smack in the face of the failed state-wide proposition and people applauded that too. And I remember the furor that resulted after they issued an uproarious though offensive press release pronouncing that all half-size people would get into the next event for half price. Clearly, Ball founder Perry Mann has never been one to take himself too seriously and yet, he has managed to maintain the Ball's image as a real contributor and leading proponent of personal freedoms. And when you combine that image with the climate of change we are undergoing and the momentousness of the 30th anniversary, you get a convergence of factors that is not only unique, but "special".
Perry Mann (pictured above) gave me a few minutes the other day on the phone. Here's a transcript of that interview:
RC: Thirty years, Perry - that's a long time. Did you think you'd make it this far?
MANN: No, I did not. When I started the Ball, it was a small party in my apartment to raise money for my friend Louis who was running for President under the Nudist Party. His slogan was "I have nothing to hide". (Laughs) I had no clue what it would become. Over time, as I went through much personal travail, I learned to be grateful for many things. I'm especially grateful to be here for this.
RC: Leave it to you to come up with a double entendre for the number 30 with "XXX"!
MANN: Well, the 30th Wedding Anniversary is Pearl, so we were sitting around making all these lame pearl necklace jokes, looking for a better marketing hook. As soon as we realized that the Roman Numeral for 30 was XXX, we knew we had it.
RC: The Ball has received so many accolades - and you must have had so many highs. Looking back, what makes you the most proud?
MANN: Unfortunately, some of those "highs" you mention have diminished my capacity to remember. (Laughs) The thing I am most proud about - and this is hard to explain in a few words - is that the Ball hasn't lost its message or its edge despite the growth. I think we've kept a political sensibility without overtly taking a broad position or being overbearing. A lot of people who attend every year see us in a twofold manner - as a giant sexy party, and as a celebration of freedom. I like that.
RC: What about disappointments or regrets?
MANN: My biggest regret is easy - losing my partner Louis tragically in 1995. He would have loved to see this.
RC: What can you tell us about the 30th Anniversary Exotic Erotic Ball?
MANN: I can tell you that I am pulling out all the stops, we're taking over the entire Cow Palace - the arena and both exhibition halls, and this will absolutely be the show to end all shows. The entertainment focus is partly on sexy groundbreaking stuff, and partly on bringing back the best acts from previous years. But the best and most satisfying part of this is for me is all the people coming from out of town.
RC: Do you encourage people from out of town to attend?
MANN: Do I encourage it? I love it! That's what makes it an EVENT. We've taken exclusive floors at the local Radisson which is a great property with an indoor pool, so everyone on your floor is going to the Ball and the party begins at the hotel. We put together a $669 VIP ticket and hotel package that covers two people which even includes some spending money - it's the best deal we have ever offered. My partner and I both grew up in the Northeast, you know, so I say what I mean. And not to be immodest, but people know that if I say I'm pulling out the stops for this anniversary, I'm one guy who knows how to do it.
RC: How do you see the future of the Exotic Erotic Ball?
MANN: I don't over-think that. We'll stay true to our roots, not take ourselves too seriously, put on a great show, and remember to give back.
RC: And what about the future of America and the world?
MANN: Does anyone really want my opinion? I can't speak for the world, and I'm not the fearful type so I don't worry about what I cannot control. As for America, I think that pure capitalism is having a rough time, and maybe rightfully so. I like the guy we have in charge now, so let's hope he has answers. I'm just a guy who throws a big sexy party. And my next one is October 24 at the Cow Palace, the one party you do not want to miss!
In closing, the 2009 Exotic Erotic Ball is a unique event celebrating a milestone anniversary, and a special event occurring during a new chapter in our history. Everybody talks about change, but you know how you can tell when you are really in the midst of it? It's when you turn on the TV and you hear things that inspire you to look forward to the future, and you hear things that inspire you to embrace a pleasant throwback to a bygone past - both at the same time. If you believe in the positivity of sexuality, and the preservation of personal freedoms, the Ball is a microcosm of both, and all signs point to this celebration being one for the ages. Plus, I know Perry's got something special up his sleeve, San Francisco provides the latitude for almost anything, and damned if I'm going to miss out on that!
When you consider the cheap airfares to and from hub cities these days and the package prices being offered by the show, you really do get a value proposition for something of true value here. So I'll see you at the show ... right? And hey, when you see a sort-of handsome guy in a black leather kilt snapping pictures with his Palm, be sure to come by and say hello.
Editor's Note: For tickets and all other details, visit http://www.exoticeroticball.com/.
