Man About Town

Die-Hard Fan or Demented Pervert?...You Tell Me....

2011-12-21T17:43:00.008-05:00

Ok boys and girls, today I have a good one for you, but first let me give you a little back story.

For those who didn't know we're bringing back the Amateur Night DVD series in January 2012. As it so happens, Xtreme Magazine ran our ad a month early and much to our delight, we've already got people hungry and eager to buy it.

Though most of the letters we get in the mail are pretty straight forward, some (like the one I'm going to share with you) make you scratch your head and wonder.

Anyway, without further delay, get a load (no pun intended!) of this particular letter we got from a guy in Connecticut (BTW, I typed it exactly as is. There are no mistakes or typos in it):

Can you please send me the DVD-a regular DVD, not a Blu-Ray. I love viewing beautiful naked women. Don't worry, the check is good, but money and trust don't coexist. But I don't want the video-if there is any men or man-woman sex action on it. No men. Just, just, hot, naked babes. Please rush so I can add to my video collection of all the women I have already peeped at. Thank you.

(name withheld for obvious reasons!)

So there it is, you tell me.... Devoted fan or a depraved, demented perv.... I guess it's all a matter of opinion and either way you look at it.... A sales's a sale. A customer's a customer. A dollar's a dollar I suppose.

Anyone care to comment on this one?...

Who wants to be a CEO? (Part 1)Thousands of things....

2011-11-15T21:10:00.009-05:00

What can I say? Normally when I sit down to update this blog I like to write something that I can really sink my teeth into. But because I'm heading to NYC in a couple of hours I'll have to make this one a quickie.

Nonetheless. Think of this as the start of a blog-within-a-blog. A series of updates targeted at one specific topic. In tonight's case, the daily dilemmas of the business arena are brought to light.

I call it an arena because just like the gladiators of ancient civilizations, in business only the strong survive. Really, the blue-collar worker typically only see the glitter in the modern day corporate business world and rarely the savagery.

For once in my life I'd like those of you on the outside looking in to understand the day-to-day frustrations and hardships of running a company. Oh sure, being a manager has it's perks but it more often than not it has its share of pits too.

Being the CEO of the A-3 Enterprise Group has it's share of those pits. Everyday's a roller coaster ride of emotions, setbacks, uphill climbs and let downs. I call this update "Thousands of things" because that's exactly how many little details I have to deal with day-to-day.

Everything from keeping the expenses paid to internal conflicts to physical plant to a defective gidget-gadget is part of my responsibility. Oh, and did I mention the economy hasn't helped things to date.

The loose ends never end and sometimes I can't even remember what day it is. Cynical? Maybe. But for all the romance associated with being in upper management I'm reminded every day about that old adage of "All the glitters isn't gold."

Does this mean that I'd rather work the 9 to 5 for someone else. No. Financial freedom has always been high on my priority list but as I've been saying for years to anyone who'll listen, with freedom comes massive responsibility.

HERE'S A GREAT ARTICLE THAT I THINK SUMS IT ALL UP NICELY

Partying A Winter Wonderland (Part 1)I Dont Like Winter But....

2011-11-06T01:45:00.001-04:00

I don't like winter.... In fact, that's an understatement, I downright hate it. Gray clouds that stretch on forever, naked trees, everything freezing up and snow, oh how I hate the snow. Probably, the only thing that I can honestly say that I like about winter is saying how much I hate it!

As I write this the temperature outside is steadily getting colder by the day. But even as much as I hate to admit it, there is a somber beauty to winter that even I can't ignore....

If you're from the southern part of the U.S. you probably won't understand a word I'm saying, but the winter season does provide an atmosphere of party culture unique to anyplace in the warmer climes of the planet....

Footsteps crunching in the snow, icicles gleaming like crystals in the afternoon sun, people bundled with earmuffs, hats, knitted scarfs, trendy coats. Guys and girls walking hand-in-hand through our own party district clinging desperately to each other, trying not to lose their bearings on the icy walkways.

Yes, despite my personal dislike for the winter season (at least here in good ole' northeast Pa.) there is a culture that goes without question and nowhere is that culture illustrated better than in the (4) photos above taken from our former headquarters in downtown Wilkes-Barre, Pa..

On that note, I'd also like to say.... Spring Break here we come!

Backstage Boo-Hoos....

2011-10-10T01:25:00.007-04:00

Admittedly this entry is a trifle late should having had been plugged a day or two ago but how does the saying go.... "Better late than never...."

Anyhoots....

It's October 10 (Columbus Day & my Birthday I might add) and another Amateur Night at our resident Gentlemen's Club has come and gone along with another group of ambitious young amateurs. But like anything that involves young girls, what always seems to remain is the daily drama that goes along with having a group of attractive femme fatales competing for a common crown.

Seriously, I got my first taste of this combativeness a few years back documenting Hooter girls pageants a way down south in Dixie. Now mind you, we're talking about a land where the southern talk is sweeter than honeysuckle and the cups of friendliness seem to runneth over.

On stage everything looks snappy and happy as the buxom beauties strutted their way down the red carpets in the hopes of walking away with the grand prize, all the while epitomizing the morals of sportsmanship and support. But backstage, however, the real story came to play as the tears fell and tempers flared as those same sporty contestants, forced to accept defeat, go off into their own-worldly tirades and temper tantrums.

That was then and this is now but the story today is pretty much the same. Same script-different cast, just leave blanks for the names of the contestants.

Maybe it's just me, but it seems that there's far more difference between men and women than just the typical old "He's from Venus, she's from Mars" mentality (or did I say that backwards?).

I mean there's an aura far from eloquent about the sportsmanship ethics that come into play when a group of girls get together for a not always-so-friendly game of strip poke her.

I say this because men are admittedly competitive with each other by nature and it's often through machismo and bravado that we illustrate this. Women on the other hand, though seemingly soft and delicate on the outside have a competitive (and combative) streak within them that rivals that of even some of the most die-hard masculine macho men.

Icy stares, behind-the-back whispers and the ever so popular, "Did you see what she was wearing?, are all weapons in the female's arsenal of backlashes that make for a climactic end to a dramatic beginning (or did I say that one backwards).

This month's amateur winner managed to pull off her victory in the last round much to the surprise of many. Well deserved?... I'd say so but alas, not everyone involved shared her happiness nor revelled in the joyousness of her occasion.

On stage, the crowd thundered and cheered as the victory song wailed and the petite, pink-bowed little ginger took the crown for October. Back stage the tempers flared and speculations flew as to whether the winner secretly had ties with the decision makers.

The thrill of victory?... The agony of defeat?... Or just another night backstage at a strip club?...

I don't know.... Just a thought.... But maybe I should start another blog called Strip Club Drama.... Any supporters off this concept?

Welcome To The Party....

2011-09-25T03:01:00.009-04:00

The challenge of recording people in their everyday lives has been a passion for photographers since the first 35mm cameras nearly a century ago. This candid approach to photography, also known as street photography, was widely heralded as a more true and accurate record of everyday life. As photographers became mindful observers the events, objects and scenes they recorded remained untouched and unaltered. The photographers intentions (and sometimes even their presence) remained a secret.

My own challenge began when I froze the rear posterior of a local bartender. Although I knew next to nothing about photography at the time, in that microsecond the shutter clicked a lifelong passion was born.

Since then I’ve taken thousands of party shots and from a purely visual standpoint you could say I was successful in making many nice images. Despite that I found myself lacking. Something was missing. I wasn’t getting the whole picture.

I realized that I wanted more than just images-I wanted information. Information about the people, the places and the events that made these images possible. Bits and pieces of information trickled my way via magazines, videos and other such media but much of that information was too vague in terms of who, what, where, why and when. Only through research and thousands of traveled miles did I find satisfaction in documenting and recording the worldwide party scene.

To be sure, the biggest problem I faced when starting out was where to start. Well known events like Mardi Gras and Spring Break were good targets but they required large budgets. Even more, I wasn’t satisfied with a handful of events in a few select places. After all, parties were everywhere. From the east coast to the west. Up north and deep south. In big cities and small towns. In bars and nightclubs, campus dorms and country clubs. Partying is a year round activity-in every corner of the globe be it Springfield U.S.A. or Spring Break U.S.A.. The fact was-and still is, that anywhere there are people, there are parties.

With that in mind I decided to start in my own backyard. As I set off into the wide, wide world of the unknown social arena I found myself confronting the same problem-finding the action. Word-of-mouth seemed an unreliably fruitless way of gaining information and partycrashing was often met with cynical reluctance. As I combed the streets I found myself asking the same daunting question, "Where’s the party?"

I decided to build Partyclique.com while that question (and frustration) was still fresh in my mind. Throughout the site I share with you people, places and events. As well, images and information from Partyclique’s worldwide network are included. The images and information are intended to pique your curiosity as well as give you a point of reference in your own search for the ultimate hurrah. Throughout the Partyclique universe I’ve tried to compress as much visual and verbal information as well as party spirit as possible.

But first a warning:

The overall impact will be different for everybody. Some will think of it as a treasure chest of high-octaned, super-charged moments. Some will think of it as an amalgamation of illicit activity and the basis for the ever-impending new world order. For the die-hard party goer it might give insight into the social arena much deeper than what was available until now. To the brand new up-and-comer it might serve as a road map for your next party foray. Perhaps, best of all, people the world over might just remember what they were doing in their own lives during these moments.

How does the saying go? "A picture’s worth a thousand words." Few adages could be more true. For me, an image taken from the world of Partyclique isn’t just worth a thousand words, to me it’s worth a thousand memories and a thousand emotions too.

All of my life I’ve excelled in the arts. Drawing, sketching and painting. Design, music, literature and now, photography. For these reasons I naturally have a great love and appreciation for good art, but no man-made image will ever rival the raw, real life experiences captured in Partyclique.com and its family of affiliates.

Like anyone else, I have my own feelings about Partyclique but what about you?

Whatever you ultimately get from it, Partyclique.com is a social forum and a photographic storybook based on the world of party culture. Like all of my life’s endeavors Partyclique is a labor of vision, love, and passion, but unlike photography where my only client was myself, Partyclique’s client is the world.

Partyclique.com is a 24-hour, 7-day worldwide social network. There’s never a cover charge and no memberships are required. What’s more, unlike many of the parties I’ve crashed, in the house of Partyclique.com there’s always room for one more.

Welcome to the party. --Aaron Cupil

The Essence of Party Culture

2010-08-29T15:00:00.033-04:00

Forward by Aaron Cupil

It was July 2004. That's when the party started on a hot summer night in Pittsburgh as a routine scouting mission turned into Steel City gone wild as a bachelorette party of nine thrillseeking party girls, barhopping across the Strip District,
gave me my first hands on glimpse into the world of nightlife in the fast lane.

Whether it was flashing for traffic, showing off thongs or making out with each other is uncertain, but it was then that I learned.... Nightlife and partying is a culture.

Like a tattoo, the mark that night left on me was indelible. And so it was there that the journey began. A journey that would take me into the cracks and crevices and corners of America in an effort to document this thing I called party culture.

Along the way there were good times and there were hard times.

Through it all we fought, we loved, we laughed, we struggled and somewhere along the way we found time to have fun.

There were tens of thousands of miles traveled, tens of thousands of dollars spent, tens of thousands of dollars lost, and tens of thousands of man hours toiled.

There were the bars (so many bars). Nightclubs, strip clubs, college bars, venues, dorms, house parties, stages and basements.

There were the cities. America's great cities. Metropolitan meccas. Bricks and mortar. Urban renewal, small towns, back alleys, back rooms and backstreets.

There were the people. So many wonderful, crazy people. DJs, Club owners, musicians, promoters, thrillseekers, assholes, models, (emotional) headaches.

There were the parties. Oh the parties.... Wild nights. Lazy mornings. Hangovers.

There was the culture (Don't you just love the flavour!?).... Party districts, neon signs, city lights, cheap booze, exotic drinks....

There was the sound.... The sound of the underground.... Good music, high horsepower, bed springs squeaking, moans, groans, screams and shouts....

There were the women. Lots and lotsa women.... Bad jokes, even worse pickup lines, hotel rooms, one-night stands, forgotten names, broken hearts. Even more headaches....

Through it all we've made friends and we've made enemies. We've been praised to the skies and we've been left out in the cold.

We've been labeled as saints and we've been labeled as sinners.

We've been called all around good people and all around bad people.

We are Partyclique.com....

And this is the essence of party culture. Aaron Cupil

Forward taken from the forthcoming book:
Partying Like Rock Stars: On The Scene with Partyclique.com

by Aaron Cupil