The Final Ballot will go live on July 10, and the winners will be announced at this year’s EXPO in Dallas!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Following the pre-nomination voting process, which occurred in mid-June, ED Publications is pleased to announce the official nominees for the 2024 ED’s Awards (the complete list is available below).
The Annual Adult Nightclub & Exotic Dancer Awards Show — popularly known as the ED’s Awards Show — is the ONLY national awards show for the multi-billion-dollar adult nightclub industry and is produced by ED Publications. The show is slated for August 27, 2024, at the famous Gilley’s Dallas from 9-11 pm, with a reception (sponsored by Exposé in San Diego) from 7-9 pm (tickets are $59-$79).
Established in 1998, the ED’s Awards Show is the marquee event of the Annual Gentlemen’s Club EXPO, the only national convention & tradeshow for the gentlemen’s club industry since its inception in 1993. This year’s EXPO is being held for the very first time in Dallas, Texas, long considered one of the legendary markets for adult nightclubs.
The 2024 ED’s Awards Show will be hosted by top comedian and Fort Worth, Texas native, Shane Torres. Torres quickly made a name for himself when his first comedy special — “The Blue Eyed Mexican” — became a hit in December 2023. Vulture named it a stand-up special “not to be missed,” noting that Torres has a “beautiful directness and keen sense of good storytelling and … a refreshing combination of delicate and obscene.” Shane has been seen on Conan (not once, but twice!), The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, NBC’s Last Comic Standing and much more! He’s also been a special guest on “Bertcast” with Bert Kreischer, Barstool’s KFC Radio, and his own podcast, “No Accounting For Taste” with Kyle Kinane.
The Final Ballot for the 2024 ED’s Awards will be available for voting at www.theEDawards.com, from July 10 through July 24!
A brand new ED Award has been established and will be presented for the very first time this year: The Don Waitt Industry Ambassador Award. This award celebrates the memory of ED Publications and EXPO Founder, Don Waitt, who passed away suddenly this past March.
“To properly reflect the legacy that Don left in this industry, we’re introducing an annual ED Award that will be presented to an individual who has helped move the industry forward in a positive way,” says ED Publisher Dave Manack. “This award will allow us to evoke his name and ensure that it is synonymous with his mission: To elevate the industry and make those who work within it feel proud. I’m looking forward to presenting this award in Dallas during EXPO 2024, a fitting location as Don initially launched the first EXOTIC DANCER Directory while living in Dallas/Fort Worth. We hope you’re all there to celebrate his legacy.”
For over 25 years, the ED’s Awards Show has honored the country’s top adult nightclubs, touring feature entertainers and club staff. The categories for clubs and entertainers have evolved over the years to keep pace with the industry’s evolution. Today, awards are given to clubs in four regions—East, South, Midwest and West— in the Club of the Year and “Small” Club of the Year categories. There are also awards for “Feature” Club of the Year (clubs that book touring feature entertainers regularly), and Urban Club of the Year.
The most prestigious club award is “Overall Club of the Year,” a category that showcases the top clubs from across the U.S. These clubs have either won or were nominated in their award region multiple times. In 2022, a new award was established — “Overall Small Club of the Year” —and celebrates nominees from across the U.S. that represent clubs that are either in smaller club markets or are venues that are not “mega-clubs” (i.e., less square footage). The ED’s Awards also honor club staff, as they are often responsible for helping their clubs succeed. These categories include General Manager of the Year, DJ of the Year and Club Employee of the Year.
The Entertainer Awards were also revamped in 2022. Reflecting the positive reception to the ED Awards in 2021, the ED’s Awards Show now boasts on-stage performances by the two finalists from the 2024 EDI East and West contests. Note: The Finals of the EDI East and West competitions (sponsored by Lauren Phillips) will once again be decided during EXPO. The top two finishers from the EDI East and EDI West’s Showgirl Division — Autumn Knights, Justice, Phoenix Phires and Nia Nebula — will compete during EXPO on Sunday evening, August 25, at Bucks Cabaret in Dallas. The top two finishers will then move on to perform during the main ED’s Awards Show on August 27. (The EDI contests are sponsored by The Pony Clubs and Bucks Cabaret.)
Finally, ED Publications inducts at least one industry professional each year into its Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame is reserved for those individuals who have helped improve or transform the adult nightclub and/or feature entertainment industries over the course of their careers. Find out who’s been inducted into the ED Hall of Fame over the years!
Congratulations to all of the 2024 ED Award Nominees! Voting begins at 3 pm EST on Wednesday, July 10, only at www.theEDawards.com (note: the ED Awards website is now hosted by third-party website design firm RhythmQ), and will remain live until July 24.
Overall Club of the Year
Note: This is a “national” club award, celebrating the top clubs in the US over the past 12 months.
Scarlett’s Cabaret, Miami, FL
Rachel’s Palm Beach, West Palm Beach, FL
Scores Gentlemen’s Club, Mooresville, NC
Bucks Cabaret, Fort Worth, TX
The Pony Club, Memphis, TN
Larry Flynt’s Hustler Club, Washington Park, IL
The Men’s Club, Dallas, TX
Magic City, Atlanta, GA
Overall “Small” Club of the Year
Note: This is a “national” award that celebrates nominees from across the US that are either in smaller club markets or are venues that are not “mega-clubs” (i.e., less substantial square footage).
The Pony Club, Evansville, IN
2001 Odyssey, Tampa, FL
The Library Gentlemen’s Club, Las Vegas, NV
Blackjacks Gentlemen’s Club, Elgin, IL
Hi Liter Club, Phoenix, AZ
Savannah’s On Hanna, Harrisburg, PA
The Treasure Club, Greensboro, NC
Deja Vu Showgirls, Stockton, CA
“Club of the Year” East
East Region includes: New England, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, Washington DC
Cheerleaders, Pittsburgh, PA
Centerfolds Boston, Boston, MA
Delilah’s, Philadelphia, PA
Gentlemen’s Gold Club, Baltimore, MD
Larry Flynt’s Hustler Club, New York, NY
The Penthouse Club, Baltimore, MD
Rick’s Cabaret, Portland, ME
Spearmint Rhino, Lexington, KY
“Small Club of the Year” East
Club Alex’s, Stoughton, MA
Controversy, Pittsburgh, PA
Bucks Platinum, Columbus OH
Peppermint Hippo, Akron, OH
Millenium Cabaret, Bedford, NH
Thee Gentlemen’s Club, Louisville, KY
Godfathers Gentlemen’s Club, Wheeling, WV
Headlights Gentlemen’s Club, Newport News, VA
“Club of the Year” South
South Region includes: Arkansas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Florida
Thee Dollhouse, North Myrtle Beach, SC
The Furnace, Birmingham, AL
The Pony Club, Huntsville, AL
Reign Ladies’ and Gentlemen’s Club, Clearwater, FL
The Gold Club, Charlotte, NC
Michael’s Mens Club, Broussard, LA
Larry Flynt’s Hustler Club, New Orleans, LA
Cheetah Lounge, Atlanta, GA
“Small Club of the Year” South
Clermont Lounge, Atlanta, GA
The Mouse’s Ear, Johnson City, TN
Club 27 Cabaret, Clermont, FL
Lust Gentlemen’s Club, Greenville, SC
Bare Assets, Holiday, FL
Trophy Club, Greenville, SC
Teasers, Key West, FL
Deja Vu Showgirls, Tampa, FL
“Club of the Year” Midwest
Midwest Region includes: Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois, North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Oklahoma
Big Al’s, Peoria, IL
Bazooka’s Showgirls, Kansas City, MO
King of Diamonds, Inver Grove Heights, MN
On the Border, Franklin, WI
Deja Vu Showgirls, Kalamazoo, MI
Rick’s Cabaret, Minneapolis, MN
Spearmint Rhino, Minneapolis, MN
Night Trips, Tulsa, OK
“Small Club of the Year” Midwest
Country Rock Cabaret, Sauget, IL
Hop Scotch Club, Fort Pierre, SD
The Foxes Den, Winner, SD
Kappa Men’s Club, Kappa, IL
Lickety Splitz Gentlemen’s Club, Wausau, WI
New Shakers, La Motte, IA
Fantasy’s, Traverse City, MI
Shooters Showgirls, Hurley, WI
“Club of the Year” West
West Region includes: Texas, Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Oregon, Washington, California
Deja Vu Showgirls, Colorado Springs, CO
Bucks Wild (North), Houston, TX
Exposé, San Diego, CA
The Lodge, Dallas, TX
Platinum 84, Denver, CO
Sugar’s, San Antonio, TX
Rick’s Cabaret, Odessa, TX
Gold Club, San Francisco, CA
“Small Club of the Year” West
Angelwitch Cabaret, Lubbock, TX
Aladdin’s Dream Boutique & Gentlemen’s Club, Laredo, TX
Teasers, Three Forks, MT
Snooty Foxx, Colorado Springs, CO
Minks, Las Vegas, NV
Peppermint Hippo, Reno, NV
4Play Gentlemen’s Club, Los Angeles, CA
Devils Point, Portland, OR
“Feature Club of the Year”
This is a national award for clubs that book feature entertainers at least once per month.
Archibald’s, Washington, DC
The Pony Club, Pensacola, FL
Deja Vu Showgirls, Nashville, TN
Maximus, Wichita Falls, TX
Rick’s Cabaret, Pittsburgh, PA
Southern X-Posure, Morgantown, WV
Kandy’s Adult Playground, Waterford, PA
Scarlett O’Haras, Sioux Falls, SD
“Urban Club of the Year”
This is a national award for clubs that feature mainly entertainers of color and are located in larger cities (such as Atlanta, Miami, New York City, etc.)
Blue Flame Lounge, Atlanta, GA
Diamonds of Memphis, Memphis, TN
Booby Trap on the River, Miami, FL
Club Spades, New Orleans, LA
Legends, Detroit, MI
Girl Collection, Las Vegas, NV
Club Onyx, Charlotte, NC
Diamond Dolls, Daytona Beach, FL
The club staff award categories
General Manager of the Year
• Heidi Santanello, Diamond Cabaret, E. St Louis, IL
• Julio Quin, Thee Dollhouse, Myrtle Beach, SC
• Steven Culver, Kandy’s Adult Playground, Waterford, PA
• Todd Trause, 2001 Odyssey, Tampa, FL
• Lucas Reddoch, Bucks Wild North, Houston, TX
• Dane Hansen, The Pony Club, Pensacola, FL
• Michael “Wolf” Abrams, Hustler Club, E. St. Louis, IL
• Michael Daigle, Michael’s Men’s Club, Broussard, LA
Club Employee of the Year
This award is for all areas of club staff other than GMs and DJs; bartenders, wait staff, floor hosts, house moms, etc.
• Alex Tierney, Regional Manager, The Pony Clubs
• Shyenne Valenzuela, Bartender, Rick’s Cabaret, Austin, TX
• Andrew Barthel, Barback, The Penthouse Club, Tampa, FL
• Brittany, Bartender, Hop Scotch Club, Fort Pierre, SD
• Laurie Garrison, VIP Manager, Centerfolds Cabaret, Las Vegas, NV
• Max Stoll, Manager, Spearmint Rhino Gentlemen’s Club, Minneapolis, MN
• Chris Patterson, Corporate Executive, Bucks Cabaret
• Charlee Daniels, Manager, Godfathers Gentlemen’s Club, Wheeling, WV
DJ of the Year
• Nicky Stobaugh, Larry Flynt’s Hustler Club, Las Vegas, NV
• David Hulme, Bucks Cabaret, Dallas, TX
• Billy Sugars, Sugar’s, San Antonio, TX
• “Wild Bill” Fields, Gold Club, Tampa, FL
• Walt Worek, The Penthouse Club, Baltimore, MD
• Stacey Wiggins, Christie’s Cabaret, Brunswick, OH
• Jeff Vitolo, Hush, Tampa, FL
• Michael Davis, Private Dancer, Columbus, OH
The entertainer award categories
Feature Entertainer of the Year
This award differs from Entertainer of the Year Awards of the past, as it seeks to award the most popular and frequently-booked entertainer in the industry, including “adult movie” entertainers.
Michelle Lynn
Brett Rossi
Angel Beau
Justice
Autumn Knights
Phoenix Phires
Raychel Revolver
Shar Zayn
Newcomer Entertainer of the Year
This award is for entertainers who have been touring as feature entertainers for less than 3-4 years.
Veronica Knoxx
Nova Baby
Maddy May
Miss Galaxy
Chère Noble
Claire Fae
Saint Anique
Nikita Knight
Club Favorite Entertainer of the Year
This award is for feature entertainers who are consistently booked and re-booked into clubs all year.
Nia Nebula
Lauren Phillips
BJ McNaughty
Ms Parker
Ella Hotwheels
Tiny Texie
Lauren Lotus
Hayla Faye
International Entertainer of the Year
This award is for entertainers who are primarily based outside of the US, but are actively competing in industry contests.
Cherry Pop
Charlie Chaser
Bree Vybes
Ciara
Kruella Kraken
Nicky Ninedoors
Tia Carrera
Rachel Rampage
Miss ExoticDancer.com of the Year
These entertainers have each been featured as “Miss ExoticDancer.com” of the month from September 2023 through August 2024
Farley Lynn
Saint Anique
Shortcake
Pandora Moon
Dani Steel
Lauren Lotus
Rachel Rampage
Chère Noble
Tia Carrera
Nikita Knight
Willow Eve
Claire Fae
If you’re a nominee, please feel free to take this graphic and use it to promote your nomination on your social media and/or website!
