Jimmy Edwards: The calm behind Bucks Wild

 

Jimmy Edwards found himself at a crossroad in Dallas in 1995.

Edwards had just wrapped up a stint as the tour manager for Deep Blue Something, the band behind the smash “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” touring with the likes of Alanis Morissette and then an “up-and-coming” band called No Doubt.

“I started going to a club called Cabaret Royal (in Dallas) owned by Duncan Birch,” says Edwards. “They asked me if I wanted to try out working at their gentlemen’s club. I accepted and the rest is history. I stayed in the industry instead of going back to touring, as Deep Blue Something never really went on another big tour. I felt my skills, although good for the music industry, also worked well in our industry, and I simply loved the job and the people.”

 

ED spoke with Edwards — now a regional manager with Bucks Wild in Dallas — about joining the Bucks brand, hosting the EDI West, and his current musical tastes. And don’t miss his personalized Spotify playlist, courtesy of StripJointsMusic.com!

ED: How long have you been with the Bucks clubs, and what do you think makes the Bucks clubs different than other clubs in Texas and across the U.S.

EDWARDS: I have been with Bucks for a little over three years.  I had been working for Jaguars Company for about seven years continually as a general manager in several of those locations. RCI came in and purchased all the Jaguars locations except Jaguars Dallas. Curtis Wise came in a little over three years ago and purchased the Jaguars Dallas location to add to his already successful Bucks Company. I had been the general manager of Jaguars Dallas at the time and I was lucky that Curtis felt he could use me in his growing new brand.

I believe that what makes the Bucks brand stand out is that people get a great value and excellent service for their money. Patrons want to have a great time, with beautiful ladies, cold beer or drinks, but not everyone wants to buy a $1,000 table. In all of the Bucks clubs, we have VIP sections and high-end areas that you can definitely spend big money. However, you can also go into a Bucks Wild which is BYOB and Nude and not buy a single drink. You can visit a Bucks Cabaret on a Tuesday for $2 Tuesdays. I believe there is something for every customer in the Bucks Chain — value, beautiful women and most importantly, great service.

ED: What are the unique challenges of being a club manager, especially in such a competitive club market as the Dallas/Fort Worth area?

EDWARDS: I don’t think our challenges are any different in this industry than other competitive markets. Just as all businesses, we need to evolve with the times, we have to be innovative with promotions and parties. We try to look a few months ahead on trends and capitalize on what we think will be good in the future.  Every idea isn’t a home run; however, it keeps our clubs fresh and relevant. The constant flow of new ideas, promos and specials keeps us competitive and did I mention, great service is a must.

EDWARDS: What I enjoy most about features is their unique shows and abilities. You never know what they are going to bring to the show. These features are dedicated and many people don’t know how much work goes into their performances until you see one in person. We are excited to be a host for EDI West this year to see all the wonderful performers and there shows. It will be an exciting weekend at our Bucks and Bucks Wild locations.

EDWARDS: The Bucks and Bucks Wild approach to music is simply that we want high energy, just the hits, and to evolve with the times. There are songs from every era that you can play for sure.  Music creates atmosphere and we want that atmosphere to have energy, bring everyone a sense of good times, and importantly pay attention to your room. You have a different crowd on different nights. Don’t play the same 100 songs every night because the DJ thinks these are the songs or doesn’t want to watch his/her crowd. Music is the catalyst to a great time. Never let your DJs become complacent.

EDWARDS: I always like to see Rush, they are masters of their musical craft. I would have loved to have had a chance to see Jimmy Hendrix just to see if the hype is real. As far as current artists I would probably go see Taylor Swift, not because I like her music, but apparently, she has the best concert show out there, in the modern era of lazy pop bands. Don’t crucify me for this, I am interested in the entertainment!

Where do you originally hail from: West Covina, California

Current Club: Bucks Wild Dallas/Fort Worth

Years employed at the club: 3 years

Years in the industry: 24 years

Favorite recording artist: Rush

Industry hero: Niko Foster was the founder of the Jaguars Chain, owner of the very successful PLUSH night club and GATSBY night clubs in Dallas, TX. Niko is now a movie producer.

Favorite feature entertainer: Stormy Daniels

Favorite industry pro: Rich Richardson was the former general manager for several of Duncan Birch’s clubs, then became CEO of the Jaguars Chain and is currently partners with Curtis Wise in several Bucks Wild Locations such as Houston and Ft. Worth, Bucks Cabaret Philadelphia, and Bucks Racks and Ribs in Greenville, South Carolina.

Favorite part of your work night: That part of the night that every lap is full with an entertainer, with smiling customers spending money!

Pet working peeve: When an employee walks over a napkin or piece of trash.

Advice for fellow club managers: This industry is a marathon, not a sprint. Take your time, learn from everyone. Work hard and you will get your due. Be prepared to earn your success!

Don’t miss Jimmy Edwards’s personalized Spotify playlist here, courtesy of Bob Chiappardi and StripJointsMusic!