When you step through the doors at 4Play Lounge, the first person you see is a hostess. Her job is to tell you about the club and show you to your table. Not many people know, however, that this is not all a hostess does in the course of a night. We spoke to Sophie, head hostess at 4Play Lounge.
4Play Lounge: How long have you been working at 4Play Lounge and what is your role?
Sophie: Around two to two-and-a-half years. During this time, the management was happy with my work, so I now lead the hostess team, which means I have the extra task of scheduling and managing the other girls.
4Play Lounge: What does a hostess do at 4Play?
Sophie: Basically, the hostesses oversee the night’s events and have a number of tasks to take care of as a team. A hostess guides and assists the guests right from the moment they walk in. We also answer incoming calls, manage table reservations and help with the free taxi service. There is a separate hostess who organizes the shows. The VIP hostess is responsible for our VIP mezzanine, including liaising with guests and coordinating the girls and shows. Of course, we also have the important job of sales, providing information to guests and handling any problems that arise.
4Play Lounge: How do the responsibilities of a hostess differ from those of a dancing girl?
Sophie: If I tell someone I am a hostess at a strip club, they generally think I entertain the guests, have them buy me a drink and chats pleasantly with them. Our job is completely different. Although it is important to have a good relationship with guests, there is a very clear dividing line between the two jobs in terms of both how we behave and present ourselves.
4Play Lounge: What kind of contact does a hostess have with guests?
Sophie: In effect, the hostesses are responsible for everything that happens on a night at the club. We play an important role in creating the right atmosphere, so it is essential that we gain the trust of guests. It is important for them to know they can turn to us as soon as any questions or problems arise. A hostess has to be extremely assertive, whether she is working as a VIP or door hostess.
4Play Lounge: Have you ever been on a date with a guest?
Sophie: No! We go to 4Play to work. This takes up all our time, so we do not even have the opportunity to get to know our guests better.
4Play Lounge: Do you have any negative experiences of 4Play or any other club you have worked at?
Sophie: I can’t really think of any examples. Of course, night work is stressful – but I think that is true of any type of work. I haven’t had any incidents where I have had to confront someone. 4Play Lounge is a very safe place, which is one of the reasons I like working here.
4Play Lounge: Can you drink alcohol at work?
Sophie: No, and it wouldn’t be a good idea. The job is very complex, so the ability to think clearly and maintain a high level of concentration is essential.
4Play Lounge: Do you get to choose what to wear or do you have a uniform?
Sophie: Hostesses have a set dress code. The girls have to wear long black dresses – these are made by a local designer – which makes us recognizable as we all have the same outfit. We were recently joined by András, the first 4Play host, whose dress code is black pants and shirt, with a blazer in cooler weather.
4Play Lounge: Do you have previous experience from other strip clubs?
Sophie: Yes, I have worked in other gentlemen’s clubs. You can’t really compare the two, because 4Play Lounge is so different. The management here is totally straight with the guests and its employees – if I had known this earlier, I would have come here right away. In my first place, my main task was similar, but everything that went with it was different – which is really a big deal for the guests. It was a small Hungarian bar and the management had a completely different attitude to what I have experienced at 4Play. It is no coincidence that anyone who comes here once is certain to only return here in the future.
4Play Lounge: As you have said, 4Play Lounge cannot be compared with the other Budapest strip clubs. What are the key aspects that set 4Play apart?
Sophie: In terms of size, this is certainly the case – you won’t find a strip club with almost 1000 square meters of space anywhere else in Budapest. Most clubs are completely or partially below ground level, but we are above ground, while the private and VIP rooms are on the first floor.
There is a good reason why we consider 4Play Lounge to be one of Budapest’s best striptease clubs: we had 12,000 more guests in 2019 than 2018! The numbers don’t lie. A lot of people have tried to compete with us, but they have not succeeded (fortunately). We are constantly doing our best to be the best and provide a quality service.
If you look at our staff, you will see that the management has high expectations in every area, and that applies to the security, hostesses, bar staff and dancing girls. They demand a customer-orientated attitude from everyone, which comes naturally to most of us. Personally speaking, this is very close to my heart, so it’s no coincidence I have been here for over two years – which is also a record for me.
4Play Lounge: What are the other reasons you like to work at 4Play Lounge? Why did you decide you wanted to work at a strip club?
Sophie: For me, this whole striptease bar thing was quite conscious as I always worked in hospitality and I like nightlife. I find it useful to work at night as it allows me to get on with my own things during the day. As the hours here are fixed and there are no last-minute changes or overtime, I have a lot of time during the day. Of course, it is important that the management is also very fair, they pay attention to their staff and are flexible if something comes up. It is also important to remember that the hostess team is also a close-knit, strong group and we often support and help each other as friends.
4Play Lounge: What is it like to work in a striptease bar as a woman?
Sophie: That’s a very tough question. It is strange to have so many women working in one place, which is bad in some ways but also has its good side. It is very inspiring that everyone has their own life path, everyone has a different opinion and we all approach problems and situations in our own ways. We learn a lot from this, of course, and it allows our understanding of how people work to develop, which we can also put to use as women. It is certainly good training for life.
4Play Lounge: As we reach the end of our interview, we have one last question: How do you like to relax after work?
Sophie: As work finishes in the early hours, the first thing I do is sleep. As far as my hobbies are concerned, I sometimes feel it is better to do them before work – these are the usual: sport, reading and spending time with friends. 😊
4Play Lounge: Thank you for your time. We wish you continued success in the future!
Did that put you in the mood? Apply to join our hostess team! Send a resumé with a photograph to info@4playlounge.com today!
