DJ Walt Worek

 

Growing up in an Italian family in Philadelphia, Walt Worek remembers Sunday dinners well. The main course? Ol’ Blue Eyes.

It should be no surprise then that Sinatra Sundays translated into a musical inclination in adulthood. Previously a part-time DJ who spun weddings and at local bars, Worek is now a resident DJ at Savannah’s On Hanna in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the state’s capital. He also assisted in the opening of Bucks Cabaret in Philadelphia and is currently helping with the relaunch of Mustang Sally’s in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania.

ExoticDancer.com spoke with Worek—on behalf of StripJointsMusic.com and our monthly Spotify series—about DJing in a state capital, his tip for new entertainers and what else fancies his musical palate. And don’t miss Worek’s personalized Spotify playlist right here!

ED: When and where did you start working as an adult club DJ? What brought you into the industry initially, and what made you decide to stay once you got there?

WOREK: I started in the industry in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. I was always a DJ part-time and I spun weddings, local bars. One day in 2011, I saw a Craigslist ad for a club looking for a daylight DJ. I had no clue until I called that it was Savannah’s On Hanna. I got an audition, was asked for a second audition on night shift and got the gig. It was easy work, and the GM at the time, Jonas Hair, was a big inspiration and help. Four months later, I was offered some night shifts. Soon, I was making more at the club than my other job. I’ve been rocking Savannah’s On Hanna every night I get in the booth.

ED: Talk about the market where your club is located. How competitive is it, and how does your club maintain its popularity in a competitive market?

WOREK: Our market is actually kind of unique. Being the capital of Pennsylvania, we get your locals, lawmakers, casino personnel, conventioneers. Plus, with our close proximity to Hershey, Pennsylvania, we usually get a good post-concert crowd. We are currently the only gentlemen’s club with a full bar; the others are more BYOB-type of establishments. Our clientele looks for a more upscale environment and we deliver seven nights a week, 365 days a year. Diversity is the key, not only for entertainers but for music as well.

“I have taken more of an out-front position as host of the events, as opposed to just being ‘the DJ.’ As far as what role DJs play in the overall success, we are the director, in a sense, of the party. If a guest has a bad time, 90% of the time they will say the reason was the DJ was terrible — not the drinks were watered down or the entertainers were boring, it’s gonna be on the DJ.” – Walt Worek

ED: What role do you feel you’ve played in the success of clubs where you’ve worked, and what role do you believe a DJ plays in the overall success of a gentlemen’s club?

WOREK: When I first was starting out, I felt like I was more of a human jukebox. As time wore on, I felt like I was just spinning my wheels. I had discussions with the management and our owner Phil Dobson, and we weren’t as instrumental in the events we brought to our customers, Once I was brought into P.A.N.D.A., things started to take off. I have taken more of an out-front position as host of the events, as opposed to just being “the DJ.” As far as what role DJs play in the overall success, we are the director, in a sense, of the party. If a guest has a bad time, 90% of the time they will say the reason was the DJ was terrible — not the drinks were watered down or the entertainers were boring, it’s gonna be on the DJ.

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ED: How hard is it, as a DJ, to play music to a diverse crowd of customers—as well as the entertainers—and keep everyone happy? What’s your strategy when it comes to this juggling act?

WOREK: I truly believe my background as an event or local bar DJ is a huge help because you have to be able to read the clientele. I have always said any shift is like a living breathing thing and can and will change on you at a moment’s notice. After being with the club so long, my entertainers realize that if I drop a song that’s not on their “dancer cards,” there’s a reason for it—from the flow of the club to the money potential that they can make. Everyone has a part to play in the juggling act, from entertainers to DJs to management. You all are a team.

ED: If you could change one thing about the strip club industry, what would it be?

WOREK: Honestly, the new crop of entertainers need to understand that yes, they are gorgeous—they have been told this all their lives—but that doesn’t mean thousands of dollars are going to fall at your feet just because you step on stage. You have to earn it and they, the entertainers, are not tipping themselves on stage. It’s more about the customer than the entertainer.

ED: What is your favorite music to play on a busy Saturday night at the club? Conversely, when you’re not in the club, what music do you prefer to listen to?

WOREK: I personally love all music. It’s not unusual if you were to look up into the DJ booth at Savannah’s on one of my nights and see me bopping around, dancing, having a good time whether it is to AC/DC or French Montana. On the rare nights that I am off, this is gonna sound strange, but I listen to sports talk radio or CNN. I think every DJ just needs that break. When I do listen to music, it’s usually ’80s, ’90s, hip-hop, or rock from the same era.

ED: If you could see any concert or lineup of artists, living or deceased, who would it be and why?

WOREK: I have a few, and these are in no particular order. I grew up in an Italian family in Philadelphia so Sunday family dinners were Sinatra Sundays. So Frank Sinatra would be one just for nostalgia. I have checked off quite a few recently. if I could I would like to see Five Finger Death Punch, with Bad Wolves and Granny 4 Barrel in support. And I am sure this will be an unpopular opinion, but the Motley Crue, Poison, Def Leppard, and Joan Jett tour.

Here’s more on Walt, courtesy of StripJointsMusic.com!

Where do you originally hail from: Like the Fresh Prince, Philadelphia born and raised
Current Club: Savannah’s On Hanna, Harrisburg Pennsylvania; Mustang Sally’s Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania
Years employed at the club: At Savannah’s officially nine years on March 27th
Years in the industry: 9 Years
Favorite recording artist: I plead the fifth! Too many to mention.
Industry hero: Jay Levy
Favorite feature entertainer: Annie Lane
Favorite DJ or industry pro: Jeremy Sweigert is my favorite DJ; industry pro is Dane Hansen
Favorite part of your work night: Watching customers dancing in the aisles, having a good time, and throwing tons of cash.
Pet working peeve: Entertainers late to stage, I hate an empty stage. Seriously, the dressing room is 10 feet from the stage and there is a speaker in the dressing room.
Advice for fellow club DJs: Learn something every day. Respect the staff, management and the entertainers and the respect will be returned tenfold. Be open to others’ opinions. Don’t get butthurt, and if you want to know more about P.A.N.D.A., find me on Facebook.

Check out Walt Worek’s personalized Spotify playlist right here, courtesy of StripJointsMusic.com!

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