While contemplating the theme for this year's 2008 Gentlemen's Club Owners Expo—the industry's national convention and tradeshow for the owners and operators of adult nightclubs from coast to coast—Exotic Dancer Magazine, the industry's national trade magazine, decided to dedicate this year's convention to the all-important general managers at all of those clubs.

The 2008 Expo will be held August 24-27 at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas; for more details log on to www.theEDexpo.com or www.exoticDancer.com

''After 15 years of producing the Annual Gentlemen's Club Owners Expo, we are finally offering an official salute to the men and women who spend more time in adult nightclubs than anyone else. Aside from those club owners who also double as the GM, general managers are the ones who eat, sleep and breathe the club they run,'' says ED Associate Publisher Dave Manack.

''The GMs are the ones in charge of bringing in new entertainers and, more importantly, keeping them there. They manage the club's inventory. They train and supervise every employee, from bartenders to floormen to waitresses to security personnel. They create and run club advertising and promotions. They handle critical incidents and situations that may occur in the club.

''The truth is, we could go on and on and on. A good industry GM does a little bit of everything, every day. And if one single person can make or break an adult nightclub, it is their GM,'' says Manack.

''I believe general managers set a club up for success or failure,'' says David Benham, owner of the Night Trips clubs in Oklahoma. ''There is no in-between with this position. Accepting mediocrity with your GM is kind of like giving your club cancer. It will slowly eat away at your bottom line.''

Success or failure rests on their shoulders. No pressure, right? But surprisingly enough, that's not how they see it. Of the general managers ED interviewed for a recent cover story, every one of them, with no exceptions, absolutely loves their job. They love the interaction with club employees, entertainers and customers. They love the high-energy vibe of a crowded club on a Saturday night. They love it when a promotion they planned hits a home run. They love being a GM in an adult nightclub.

''We're in the hospitality industry, and it's our job to serve the people and make them happy,'' says ''Big'' Mike Whitlow, GM of the Bare Assets club in Holiday, Florida. ''And what makes me happy is when I walk in and I see a full club of people and they're partying and having a good time. That's the best part of my job right there.''

A good GM doesn't mind being the first one in the club and the last one out. They don't mind getting phone calls on their ''days off''; in actuality, they never really have days off. They're like the pitcher who comes in with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth. ''Give me the ball,'' they'd surely say, ''I'll get us out of this one.''

At Expo 2008, in addition to the panel sessions and workshops that are geared toward general managers, including ''GM on the Hot Seat'' and ''GM, Club Owner or DJ — Who's the Real Big Dog?'' the convention will be honoring industry GMs with regional and national awards for the first time ever. To vote for your GM as the national GM of the year, visit www.ExoticDancer.com or www.theEDexpo.com, and let the industry know why your club's GM deserves to win.

The convention organizers are offering half-price Expo registrations ($145) to all industry general managers, as their way of saying thanks for all that they do each and every day to make their club, and the industry itself, better.

Says Manack, ''So club owners, as a bonus for their hours of hard work and dedication to your club, why not bring your GM with you to Expo 2008? The panel sessions and workshops will provide them with knowledge that they can't find anywhere else. They'll be able to meet and share information with fellow GMs, club owners and other industry pros. They'll be able to see some of the newest and best products and services available to adult nightclubs at the Expo tradeshow. They'll be able to kick back and enjoy themselves at some great nightly parties, including the 'Rock 'n' Roll' Awards Show at the Hard Rock. They'll be able to learn, enjoy themselves, and be part of an event that they'll remember for the rest of their lives.''

See you in Vegas!

For more info, call (727) 726-3592 or log on to www.theEDexpo.com or www.ExoticDancer.com