Brothel seeks men with 'it' factor

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The job has its perks. Pay is excellent. Hours are sociable. The surroundings are clean and comfortable, if a bit chintzy, and you're guaranteed to meet fascinating women.

The catch? You are required to have sex with them.

A Nevada brothel is seeking men with what its advertisement describes as a "good work ethic" and a "willingness to please", to join the ranks of the world's oldest profession and become America's first fully legal male prostitutes.

Bobbi Davis, the owner and madam of the Shady Lady Ranch, is interviewing applicants, who must be aged between 21-40, and have submitted two photographs ("a head shot, and a body shot, no nudes"), plus a short biography.

"I'm looking for the 'it' factor," she says. "By that, I mean the intangible something, which only a few people have, that makes you really want to know them and be around them. We've had around 160 applications, from people from all walks of life, and I'd say only about 20 per cent of them have it."

The recruitment drive comes after Davis, whose bordello sits on a remote stretch of highway to the east of Death Valley, 240 kilometres northwest of Las Vegas, successfully campaigned to secure a change in state law to allow male sex workers to receive professional licences.

Previously, all Nevada prostitutes were legally required to undergo monthly cervical exams to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted disease.

"Obviously, that was impossible for men, so we couldn't employ them," says Davis.

The Shady Lady has employed women for years.

But the tricky economy has prompted her decision to branch out.

"There's a demand for it," says Davis. "Since we started looking for men, I have received emails from at least 60 women who are potential clients. Their needs are simply not being catered for anywhere else."

Davis has been unable to establish whether new recruits will be able to muster the "enthusiasm" to cater for multiple clients.

"It's one of my first questions at interview. There are some men who reckon they can only perform once or twice a day, and others who say they can cater for two or three customers. Viagra might help." Davis says for the time being, the Shady Lady will resist the temptation to serve the gay community.

- INDEPENDENT