Cape Town - Wanted: Charming, ripped, and must be willing to work in the buff.
Not many men can say they go to work in nothing but a collar and bow tie, a pair of cuffs, and an apron. But for the team at Butlers in the Buff, this is their biggest selling point. That, and that they’re pretty good at serving drinks, too.
If there are men out there who want to ditch their suits, the company is looking to hire and will hold their Cape Town auditions tomorrow (August 22) and on September 5.
“Part of our policy is that they must be good looking. But personality is most important. Most women want the muscles, but they also want a charming, chatty, fun guy,” says Stacey Bramhall, director of the agency.
The male order company started in the UK 12 years ago. Kobus du Toit worked as a butler in England, and last year decided to bring the franchise to South Africa.
The agency has 100 butlers on its books, and the demand has been growing steadily, says Bramhill.
Getting your kit off for a room full of women can be a daunting thought. “The first job was only a bit nerve-racking for the first five minutes. But as soon as you start serving drinks and mingling, you forget your bum’s on show,” says Butler Ben from Cape Town.
He says the reaction from guests is always positive. “They love the idea as it’s not sleazy, it’s just fun,” he says.
In fact, there are strict rules against sleazy behaviour. Other than hooking in an arm for photos, harassing and pawing the butler is not allowed.
Women can be notoriously jealous of other women ogling their men. But it was Butler Ryan’s girlfriend who first told him about the job and encouraged him to apply. He was a bit hesitant at first, thinking he wasn’t buff enough. But Ryan, from Bellville, soon came to learn that women aren’t looking for huge bodybuilders. Instead, the frame should be more athletic, coupled with the right personality.
Ryan says he can earn in two to three hours of work on a Friday or Saturday night, more than what he would during an eight-hour shift in a bar.
“The parties are good fun and different every time,” he says. He’s worked at people’s homes, rented villas, even on a catamaran cruise around the harbour.
And how do the people in Ryan’s life feel about his work?
“My mom loves it, too. She’s trying to get her friends to have a party so she can have a butler there – not me, of course.”
Andreas from Claremont has been a butler since January, and describes it as a dream job. “I get paid to party and make lots of women smile,” he says.
For the most part, he works at bachelorettes, but there are birthday parties and ladies’ nights, too. One of his most memorable jobs was being the butler for a granny’s 80th birthday.
Like Ben, he quickly forgot that his bottom was on show, because “you get on with serving drinks and chatting to the ladies”.
Perhaps Andreas has one up on his colleagues, being a personal trainer by day. He first heard about it from a friend at gym, and both of them signed up.
His mom also knows about his part-time job. “She was surprised at first. But now she sees I’m saving money, not spending it, she’s happy.”
Butlers earn R250 an hour to mix and serve drinks, and also snacks. If you want, they’ll even do the dishes. And if the weather permits, the butler will braai for you… provided you give him a full-length apron.
“Getting paid to socialise, what’s not to like,” says Andreas.
Online auditions will be held via Skype. Those who are interested should visit www.butlersinthebuff.com/sa to be assigned a time slot.
Cape Argus