A new events management company has laid bare plans to shake up Hong Kong's entertainment industry. And while all business involves a degree of risk, Outside the Box's first venture is also a little risque. The firm is bringing out Gold Coast-based male revue Hotbodies Australia to present a series of shows at the Hard Rock Cafe in Tsim Sha Tsui at the end of February. Outside the Box director Justin Dann believes that despite Hong Kong's relatively conservative image, its citizens like a party as much as the next person. 'It's a hole we've seen in the market, no-one had done it for a long time and it's something a bit different. 'It's a bit of a hit-and-miss kind of thing,' Mr Dann said. 'We're hoping it's going to be a hit, but it could be a miss.' Billed as 'striptease without the sleaze' Hotbodies has been operating out of Surfer's Paradise for three years. Owner Jazz McPherson is looking at the Hong Kong shows as a first step towards branching out in Southeast Asia. 'We're hoping to get out to a few other countries as well,' Mr McPherson said. 'We'd like at some point to be setting up some ladies nights throughout the region.' It had been tough getting to the point where the troupe was ready to head overseas. 'It doesn't happen overnight. If you're made of money it's a lot easier, but it's been hard slog for us to go international.' Mr Dann said because the group was smaller than a lot of other revues, crowds could expect a more intimate experience. 'There is a lot of interaction with the crowd - a lot of games they play with the crowd and giveaways and prizes.' If the shows worked out then more gigs at other Hard Rock's around the region would follow. 'We really just want to build ourselves a reputation over this year so that next year we can really start pushing ahead and sort of try and take a few of the events that other people are currently doing.' You could describe his ambition as, well, naked.
