Manpower hunk lifts lid on shows
MANPOWER hunk Kurt Joseph has lifted the lid on life in one of the world’s biggest male revue shows ahead of a Gold Coast performance tonight at Southport Sharks.
Biting and “a lot of blood” can be part of the show when guests get excited, but Kurt says he loves being part of a production that is “really rewarding”.
“The new show is really tight, it’s looking the best it has since I’ve been here and that’s going on eight years,” said Kurt.
“It’s a lot of excitement, a lot of energy, the guys are really pumped to get on the road and do their thing – people don’t know just how big the production is so we’re excited to bring it home.
“It’s not like your typical grimy, sleazy strip show – it’s a Vegas production. A big thing people say is it isn’t anything like what they expected.”
The production itself has been going for over 30 years, started by Billy Cross when he assembled a troupe of good looking, everyday Gold Coast blokes and turned them into a global phenomenon.
“I was a DJ back home for 10 years touring around. I worked at Radio Metro and used to play at Summafieldayze and things like that. Billy Cross did a lot of the organising for that so asked me if I had a friend who would be interested in joining Manpower,” Kurt said.
“I saw what they were doing and was following them on socials.”
Realising he wanted a slice of the action Kurt reached out, landing a gig with the group in 2015.
“It’s pretty crazy, I didn’t know how big the show was in America until I got here” he said.
“We’re on TMZ, they wait for us at airports – it was nothing like I expected.
You’re like a pop star – it’s really weird. We’re on about 20 billboards across the city, on the side of taxis. It’s pretty crazy to see yourself like that.”
With Manpower a roaring success, audience members have been known to get “too excited” over the course of the show’s 20-year Vegas residency.
“Girls like to bite and scratch and if you get injuries like that there can be a lot of blood,” Kurt said.
“I always say if you did that at a female strip club you’d be in jail. I think it’s just how society is I guess.
“It’s not very often and it’s just from excitement – you never really know what people are going through, sometimes they grab you and don’t let go.
“One of the best things about this job is after the show people come up to you and tell you you’ve just made their year or their month … like something bad hap
pened in their life or they may have lost someone and they’re able to leave their problems at the door.
“It’s really humbling hearing that, you’d never even think you’d be capable of making that kind of impact, so it’s really rewarding.”
Excited to return home after four years, Kurt’s first stops are Nook Coffee and Paddock Bakery.
“I’m looking forward to getting back to the Gold Coast and having some proper coffee and food,” he laughed.
“Family, good coffee, great energy – back home at the shows the girls are always a little crazy and we love that.
“We want them to be yelling and screaming and having fun because you’re taking your clothes off to hundreds of people – you want to get the energy back that you’re giving out.
“I just can’t wait to get home.”