Featured in Several Podcasts Promoting Exxxotica Expo
April 8, 2026–Chicago, IL — Strip club king Mike Dickinson, manager of the world-famous Admiral Theatre in Chicago, will be hosting a seminar during the Exxxotica Expo called “Beyond the Pole: The Secret Lives of the Strip Club” this Sunday, April 12 from 2:15pm to 3pm located in Seminar B.
The industry visionary Mike Dickinson will pull back the layers of one of the most misunderstood businesses in the world.
According to the Exxxotica Expo website Dickinson will be discussing the real economics of strip clubs, where the money actually comes from, the psychology behind customer behavior, loyalty, and fantasy, how dancers and entertainers build personal brands and long-term income streams, the power dynamics between management, entertainers, and clientele and common myths vs. the reality of the industry.
Dickinson will also be at Chicago Exxxotica all weekend from Friday, April 10 through Sunday, April 12 at the Admiral Theatre booth (#518) with a bevy of beauties who are dancers at the club and on Saturday, attendees will have the opportunity to meet reality show TV star Pumpkin who will be doing a special meet and greet before she appears at The Admiral Theatre at 11pm and will take over the stage later that evening.
“Pumpkin IS relevant and influential in 2026,” says Mike Dickinson, Regional Manager Pony Clubs. “Her OnlyFans announcement made worldwide news so it was an absolute no-brainer to book her for the biggest weekend of the year in Chicago.”
This week Mike Dickinson interviews promoting Exxxotica have been released including his interview on Sapphires Earplay where fans may listen here https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/behind-the-pony-doors-with-mike-dickinson/id425291233?i=1000759026180
“Mike may look like your average Southern gent, but when night falls you can find him in the VIP of one of the largest strip club franchises in the US,” says Mehgan Sapphire. “The Pony is America’s #1 strip club chain and Sapphire’s inviting you to the champagne room.”
His interview on “In The Tub” was just released here https://www.inourtub.com/episodes/episode-216-mike-dickinson/
“As we prepare to head out to Chicago for Exxxotica we are joined by Mike Dickinson, never heard the name you may say, well you’ve seen the results of his work,” say hosts The Burghs. “His experience managing, promoting, and navigating the wild world of gentleman’s clubs across the country has him as one of the premier general managers in the industry. Currently overseeing numerous Pink Pony clubs in the Midwest along with the Admiral Club in Chicago and others he has his hands full and joins us today to talk about that. You get to a club, pay your door fee, grab a cocktail, and enjoy the evening. But what happens to allow you the entertaining evening you have, we discuss with Mike and what it takes on the back end of the business. We also discuss some of the upcoming after parties that are being held at the Admiral Theatre in Chicago. This is a great conversation that sheds a different light on adult entertainment giving us and you the listener a behind the scenes peek.”
Mike also joined Pumpkin on WTF-TV in New York City last week https://youtu.be/gD_jLAfvrqA?si=KVsKtudIbdTBHTYk
The World-Famous Admiral Theatre is located at 3940 W Lawrence Avenue, Chicago, IL 60625 and you may call them directly at (773) 478-8263.
For more information on the Chicago Exxxotica Expo go to https://www.exxxoticaexpo.com/
You may follow Exxxotica on X at https://x.com/EXXXOTICA on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/exxxotica/ and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CelebrateSexy/
You may follow the Admiral Theatre on X at https://x.com/admiraltheatre and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ADMIRALTHEATRECHICAGO
You may follow Mike Dickinson on X at https://x.com/IamMrMikeD on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/iammrmiked/ and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheRealMikeDickinson
About Mike Dickinson:
I am from Richmond, VA and when I started in high school, I saw the People vs Larry Flynt and was really inspired and the day I got my PHD at DCU in Public Policy. I had a job interview at a bar. I said I wanted to rule the world of strip clubs and I was a DJ that same night.
As soon as I could in Richmond, I went to The Candy Bar as soon as I turned 18, a small strip club. I liked that it was that you have to be good at business and creating and you have to be able to navigate people, people of all walks of life.
That was 2007 my first job and then I became a manager a few weeks later I was in Richmond for 15 years he owned all of the clubs in the Richmond area I love to juggle multiple projects he wanted he dominate,
Right around the time of Covid I was trying to start a new project Jerry Westlin I had done everything I could do and I wanted to get to the next level and help me buy a club he was expanding to TN and said would you like to help me run this club in the middle of nowhere and you can whatever you want. The Pony clubs are like the NY Yankees of strip clubs.
Covid was very bad and everything had shut down and for me it was 7-8 month of not doing anything. This is how I transitioned.
Back when I first started when I was a guest you would open the doors and people just came. These days you have to draw people in and get good value. Events that draw in a new audience. People don’t have the same amount of extra money. The new generations lost their socializing years and they are awkward and there are more ads for arrangements than relationships. People are wise they know the fantasy isn’t real there’s no Santa. I think people will always want to go to strip clubs to interact with real people and nothing will ever be able to replace that.
About the World-Famous Admiral Theatre:
The Admiral Theatre is one of Chicago’s most storied entertainment venues. With a legacy spanning generations it remains a pillar of the city’s nightlife — known for its theatrical atmosphere, historic roots, and electric crowds. The Admiral continues to be a cultural icon and a Chicago destination.
