I'm a full-time male stripper who makes up to $4,000 a week performing around Australia. Fans have asked me some wild things, but this really is my passion.
- Jaxon Human is a full-time male stripper who works for Magic Men Australia.
- He makes up to 6,000 Australian dollars a week, or about $4,000, during peak season.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with a 29-year-old male stripper in Melbourne, Australia, who goes by Jaxon Human. Insider has verified his income with documentation. The following has been edited for length and clarity.
I'm a male entertainer with Magic Men Australia. When I was 16, I was accepted into a program called Sports Education Development Australia, where I studied physiology, well-being, and nutrition fundamentals. I've also completed an International Academy of Physique Conditioning course, which enables me to prepare athletes for bodybuilding competitions. I started working for Tennis Australia in October 2011 and worked there for five years as a senior coach for a variety of player levels.
I earned these certifications and got into fitness as a backup plan for when performing isn't an option anymore. Dancing and entertaining have always been my passion. Whenever I had the opportunity to dance and take my top off, I would. I knew being a male entertainer was what I needed to do.
In 2012, I started my journey as a male stripper with Magic Men Australia, and I'm now a full-time stripper. During wedding season, from around September to May, I earn up to 6,000 Australian dollars, or about $4,000, a week, after taxes, which includes private bookings, tours, and resident shows. During the offseason, I earn up to AU$3,000. I don't get tipped — I'm paid an average of AU$200 to AU$500 per resident show, depending on travel to the job.
I applied for Magic Men Australia when I was 18
A few weeks went by, and I didn't hear anything back. I got fed up waiting for a response through email, so I gave them a call, introduced myself, and expressed how keen I was for the job.
That same day, I went into Magic Men's resident venue, Love Machine, in Melbourne. I expressed my interest and passion for male entertainment, and I auditioned with a mini stage performance. Then I was given the opportunity to perform the following weekend for the first time.
Going into the night, I didn't know what to expect, and my nerves were a 10 out of 10. When I arrived at the venue, I took a deep breath and felt like this was where I was meant to be.
Five minutes before my first performance, one of the other Magic Men performers said to me, "Kill it, bro. You got this." I heard this, took a deep breath, and it was showtime.
After my first performance, the owner gave me extremely positive feedback. I began to perform at shows and private bookings for occasions like bachelorette parties.
Now, 12 years later, I'm one of the main faces of Magic Men Australia, and I tour every week around the country to perform. I'll soon be heading to our first monthlong international tour in Canada.
I've also built a following on social media, and some wild things have happened
Later that year, I walked my first runway at a department store and was chosen as a cover model for a story on Wattpad, a social-storytelling platform.
I'm not an influencer, and I don't make money from social media, but I post content to keep my following engaged and grow my platform. So one day, when I launch a business, I have the marketing side ready.
I've gotten some wild messages. One time the most innocent-looking lady on Instagram offered me $500,000 to go and live with her in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, all expenses covered. A fan also once asked for my toenail.
I start my day by prioritizing nutrients and fitness
I aim to get a minimum of seven hours of sleep a night so my body feels recovered and fresh for the next day. I typically go to sleep at about 10 p.m. I wake up at 6 a.m. and go for a walk to get my morning coffee and banana bread.
After my walk, I hop on my laptop to do some admin work, such as replying to emails, mixing music for future shows, and setting goals to keep myself accountable before eating a pre-workout meal. I make sure I hit the correct macronutrients and follow a training program. About noon, I head to the gym to make sure my physique stays top tier.
After the gym, I head home and make something for lunch such as seasoned chicken with potatoes and vegetables or seafood with herbed rice and vegetables. I also prepare dinner so I can kill two birds with one stone.
Between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. is my social-media time, which includes filming content and replying to any direct messages.
My shifts at Magic Men Australia vary
The typical length of a shift varies because of many factors. For example, if it's wedding season, we'll have a lot more bachelorette parties.
My most requested outfit is "Sons of Anarchy"-themed. I also dress up as a fireman, a character from "Peaky Blinders," a Michael Jackson backup dancer, a "Fifty Shades of Grey" character, and a police officer. The act that I'm the lead dancer for is "Sons of Anarchy"-themed, and all the other outfits are for when I dance backup to other performers. I get a spray tan once a week so the lighting on the stages doesn't make me look washed out.
When I'm on tour, my shift begins at 6 a.m. Thursday mornings, when I head to the airport to travel for an interstate performance. The doors open about 6 or 7 p.m., and the shows will end about 11:30 p.m. I perform Thursday and Friday nights. Then we make our way back to the hotel for an early flight back home to Melbourne for our resident show on Saturday night.
Five minutes before hopping onstage, all the boys get in a huddle, we put our hands in, and, on the count of three, we say, "Don't forget the choreography." This reminds us why we do what we do and allows us to get into a positive mindset to put on the best performance for the audience. We work hard to maintain our stage performance and always be at our best, so this little huddle reminds us we're in it together.
The reason I do this is that I love to perform. I never think of how much money I'm going to make — what I do is my passion.