When I first moved to Los Angeles, I ended up getting a job go-go dancing at Club Tigerheat. What is Tigerheat? Well, Tigerheat is a popular 18-and-over gay club that I frequently threw up in, but from what I can remember, it was a blast! Is there anything more thrilling than being in your underwear in front of 1,800 people? I mean, they really loved me! Well, except the people who threw ice at my head. I don't think those guys liked me.
I will never forget nervously walking into the roped-off area behind the stage that first week. The other go-go dancers were stretching, doing sit-ups, and having a heated debate about body glitter. The topic of age came up, and everyone in the room began to compare birthdays. The boys were 20 or 21, with a few veteran dancers in their mid 20s. A wise drag queen peered at me through the reflection of the mirror as she put on dreamcatcher earrings. "How old are you?" she asked.
"Eighteen," I said softly. The room fell silent.
The drag queen looked down at the floor. "I'm jealous of your youth," she stated simply.
Early in my go-go dancing days
That was 11 years ago. And although I don't have any big hang-ups about getting older, I am now approaching that age where I thought I'd have it all figured out. And my life today is not exactly what I imagined it would look like at 30. I'm a professional actor and writer, so I never have money. My car door has been duct-taped shut because it fell off four months ago. (I crawl through the passenger side.) Gold's Gym calls me occasionally to tell me that I owe them $30. You know, normal-people stuff. But despite all that, I've never been happier, because I'm doing exactly what I always wanted to do: embarrass myself for a living.
In this last episode of Go-Go Boy Interrupted, Danny reflects on 12 years of partying in L.A. with nothing to show for it. Now he is jobless, friendless, and, worst of all, not in his 20s anymore. What he does next will surprise you.
If you are in the L.A. area, check out the full sketch show Go-Go Boy Interrupted at the Groundlings Theater. For more information, click here.