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Déjà Vu (company)
Encyclopedia
Déjà Vu Consulting, Inc. is a U.S.
company which owns about 75 strip club
s in 16 U.S. states, as well as one club in Toronto
and one in Paris
.
The company is headquartered in Lansing, Michigan
; it was founded and is controlled by Harry Mohney, who partners with Roger Forbes and opened his first Déjà Vu strip club in Seattle in 1987. At the time, his main business was the large-scale distribution of pornography
.
The strip clubs are called "Déjà Vu Showgirls" "Little Darlings" or "Dream Girls" or (by agreement with Mohney's long-time friend Larry Flynt
, who is not involved in the management of the clubs) "Larry Flynt's Hustler Club" and "Hustler Barely Legal". Déjà Vu also owns most of the adult theatres and clubs in San Francisco; these however carry different names.
The clubs typically aim for a clean and upscale atmosphere and offer fully nude or toppless stage dancing as well as lap dance
s. Many do not serve alcohol, to avoid stringent liquor license requirements. Several clubs have associated boutiques selling sex toys, cigars, Déjà Vu merchandise etc. The chain used to organize nation-wide competitions for the "Déjà Vu Showgirl of the Year" "Showgirl Spectacular" and "Pole Princess", but these competitions were ended in 2010.
Dancers in the clubs have the legal status of independent contractor
s. Their income results from tips and lap dance fees; about one third of this money is handed over to the house and other employees. In a landmark case in Minneapolis in 1994, dancers at the Déjà Vu club there won the right to be recognized as employees, arguing that they did not have full control over their working conditions. This resulted in payment of back wages and led to similar cases in several other states, often ending in confidential settlements out of court.
Repeated attempts to unionize the Déjà Vu-owned clubs in San Francisco (modeled on the earlier unionization of the Lusty Lady
peep show there) have been unsuccessful. In 2005 the San Francisco workers sued the company; the suit was settled with the company agreeing to pay hourly wages of $22.50.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
company which owns about 75 strip club
Strip club
A strip club is an adult entertainment venue in which striptease or other erotic or exotic dance is regularly performed. Strip clubs typically adopt a nightclub or bar style, but can also adopt a theatre or cabaret-style....
s in 16 U.S. states, as well as one club in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
and one in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
The company is headquartered in Lansing, Michigan
Lansing, Michigan
Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan...
; it was founded and is controlled by Harry Mohney, who partners with Roger Forbes and opened his first Déjà Vu strip club in Seattle in 1987. At the time, his main business was the large-scale distribution of pornography
Pornography
Pornography or porn is the explicit portrayal of sexual subject matter for the purposes of sexual arousal and erotic satisfaction.Pornography may use any of a variety of media, ranging from books, magazines, postcards, photos, sculpture, drawing, painting, animation, sound recording, film, video,...
.
Larry Flynt
Larry Claxton Flynt, Jr. is an American publisher and the president of Larry Flynt Publications . In 2003, Arena magazine listed him as the number one on the "50 Powerful People in Porn" list....
, who is not involved in the management of the clubs) "Larry Flynt's Hustler Club" and "Hustler Barely Legal". Déjà Vu also owns most of the adult theatres and clubs in San Francisco; these however carry different names.
The clubs typically aim for a clean and upscale atmosphere and offer fully nude or toppless stage dancing as well as lap dance
Lap dance
A lap dance is a type of sex work performed in some strip clubs in which a naked or topless dancer performs an erotic dance either in immediate contact with a seated patron, or within a very short distance. With full-contact lap dances, the stripper may engage in non-penetrative sexual contact...
s. Many do not serve alcohol, to avoid stringent liquor license requirements. Several clubs have associated boutiques selling sex toys, cigars, Déjà Vu merchandise etc. The chain used to organize nation-wide competitions for the "Déjà Vu Showgirl of the Year" "Showgirl Spectacular" and "Pole Princess", but these competitions were ended in 2010.
Dancers in the clubs have the legal status of independent contractor
Independent contractor
An independent contractor is a natural person, business, or corporation that provides goods or services to another entity under terms specified in a contract or within a verbal agreement. Unlike an employee, an independent contractor does not work regularly for an employer but works as and when...
s. Their income results from tips and lap dance fees; about one third of this money is handed over to the house and other employees. In a landmark case in Minneapolis in 1994, dancers at the Déjà Vu club there won the right to be recognized as employees, arguing that they did not have full control over their working conditions. This resulted in payment of back wages and led to similar cases in several other states, often ending in confidential settlements out of court.
Repeated attempts to unionize the Déjà Vu-owned clubs in San Francisco (modeled on the earlier unionization of the Lusty Lady
Lusty Lady
The Lusty Lady is the name of a peep show establishment in the North Beach district of San Francisco. It was also the name of another now-defunct location in downtown Seattle...
peep show there) have been unsuccessful. In 2005 the San Francisco workers sued the company; the suit was settled with the company agreeing to pay hourly wages of $22.50.
Sources
- Sex Trade Workers Organize, by Rebecca Kavoussi
- Stripping, a First Hand Account
- Collection of newspaper articles about Harry Mohney
- Information on Harry Mohney, compiled by Luke Ford
- Battle of the Peeps, by Jay Allen Sanford
- Justice for Strippers, SFist, 2005-12-12