‘Prostidude’ begins work

Nevada's first man of the house is about 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighs 180 pounds and performs under the name of Markus.

Actually, at last check, he hadn't done any performing yet.

The first licensed male prostitute in the state's history officially started work on Thursday at the Shady Lady Ranch 150 miles northwest of Las Vegas, but by Saturday night he had yet to see his first customer.

The brothel's owner, Bobbi Davis, said she has gotten a couple of inquiries from curious women, including one who talked about making an appointment later this week, but no one had made the trip just yet.

Most of the calls to the Shady Lady lately have come from the media.

Davis and her small Nye County bordello have made headlines around the world since she won state and county approval to add men to her lineup of sex workers.

So far, Markus has granted just two interviews -- one with "Details" magazine, the other with ABC's "Nightline" -- but Davis said she has asked him not to talk to any more reporters.

She said he "didn't give good interviews," but she declined to elaborate.

Davis may be referring to the "Details" article, in which he compares himself to a key figure of the civil rights movement.

According to "Details," Markus said becoming Nevada's first so-called prostidude is "the same as when Rosa Parks decided to sit at the front instead of the back (of the bus).

"This actually isn't about selling my body. This is about changing social norms."

Davis said Markus is about 25 years old and a little bit shorter than what she was originally looking for, "but he's mostly muscle."

On a scale of one to 10, Davis said she would "give him an eight."

Two pictures of him, including one with his shirt off, are posted on the brothel's Web site under the link "Shady Lady Men."

Markus came to the legal brothel business from Southern California, where tried his, um, hand in adult films. Davis said he apparently appeared in two or three porn movies, but he didn't like the lack of steady work and all the waiting around involved in movie-making.

"He decided that wasn't for him, so he decided to try this instead," Davis explained.

She said she warned him that there can be plenty of waiting around in the brothel business, too.

Prostitutes at Nevada's licensed bordellos generally work as independent contractors. They set their own prices, and they keep what they make, minus the fees they pay to the house to cover their room and board.

Davis said all of the sex workers at the Shady Lady, Markus included, have agreed to the same rates: $300 for one hour, $500 for two.

That price "includes anything within reason," she said.

If Markus fails to attract any customers, Davis said she will probably waive the $25 a day he is supposed to pay her for his living expenses.

"We're not going to let him starve," she said.

When asked if all the publicity has done anything for business in general, Davis laughed and said, "Yeah, it's all stopped."

She doesn't blame the media coverage for the lull; things are usually slow at this time of the month.

Just in case, though, Davis said she wants her customers to know they can safely stop in without winding up in the newspaper or on the evening news. They might be attacked at the Shady Lady if that's what they want, she said, "but they won't be attacked by journalists."

Contact reporter Henry Brean at hbrean@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0350.